How Great Shall Be Your Joy....My Testimony of Primary and Visiting Teaching

**names have been changed**

I want to share two things with you involving blessings and the church. Both came full circle this week for me, one of them tonight.

First of all, we have a house!!! Yea!!!! It just passed inspection, and we close on the 14th!!!

Well, when I got set-apart as the primary chorister almost a year ago...I was promised two things. I was promised, that if I put my heart and soul in this calling, that these children will know the gospel and Christ through me and through song, and that everything will fall into place the way it is needed in our own lives. Well, I did put my heart and soul into this calling. I love it so much! It is my favorite calling by far.

Sunday was the primary program, and the kids sang AMAZING!!! I was soooo wired after wards b/c I was sooo proud of them!! As I walked into the Primary Room from Sacrament, it hit me and I knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that EVERYTHING came true. These children DO know Christ through song!!! And although it has been overshadowed by some grief (car accident, my dad, my friend's baby dying)....our life has worked out. We've become more financially stable, I was FINALLY able to have my breast reduction surgery, and we are moving into our own house!!!!! We are getting twice the house for about $250 less!!!! You can't beat that!!!! My life has been soooo blessed and I know it is in part because of my calling.

The second is the wonderful blessing of being a visiting teacher. My life long friend Terri (the above-mentioned friend who lost her baby) and I re-connected in this ward. She was in Primary with me and also my V.T. Companion. Without her, I probably wouldn't have done my v.t., as I hadn't received a testimony from it....as I've never had regular v.t.'s.

Well, we got an inactive sister. Sara. She let us in, and we had a WONDERFUL time!!! I remember telling Terri that I had a strong impression that her and I were the key to getting her back to church....and we were. We watched her grow and start coming every week. Then, she got a calling in Primary....soon her hubby started coming. Now they are regulars. They pay their tithing and are soooo close to going back to the temple, it's amazing!!!

Well, I swung by to visit with her, as this is probably my last month to visit her, being we're moving next month, and Terri moved this month out of the ward. We sat and talked. She thanked me for coming and doing our v.t.ing. She said, " I have had visiting teachers come and visit me, and I've always welcomed them in and thanked them for coming...When you and Terri first came into my home, you had this Spirit about you both....I forgot what it felt like, and I want that back in my home. I don't want it to ever leave again." I told her how proud and amazed I am to see this change too, but we cannot take all the credit, for she's come along way too in changing.

After I left, I was just in tears, so grateful, so full of joy. I'm reminded of the scripture, "And if ye bring even one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy." Well, my heart is about to burst. One person can make a HUGE difference in someone's life....and my joy is for her...

I just needed to share these things, for my heart is about to burst out. I have a strong testimony of this gospel, and of the Primary and Visiting Teaching....How Great Shall Be Your Joy indeed.....

We Bought a House!!!!!!!

We Have a HOUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It just passed inspection! We close on the 14th!! I'm doing cartwheels!!!

It's out in Lemon Valley (a suburb of Reno).

It is 1675 sqft.

The Ironic thing? We will have almost DOUBLE the house (we live in 950 sqft duplex) for about $250 less a month!!! You CAN'T beat that!!!!!!!!!!!

It's going to be our own home too!!! I'm sooo excited!!! We did qualify for a home loan through the bank, but Aaron's Gma is loaning us the money. We'll pay a little less interest, and she'll be getting more interest than it would be just sitting in a bank. It's a win/win situation. :-)

It's in a court, single story, 3 bed, 2 bath. It's beautiful!!! I can't wait!!!!!

I'll post pics as soon as I can!!!!

My Dad Died Last Night...

I got a call about 2:30 last night saying my dad was in the hospital, he had a massive heart attack. And they were still working on him, but it didn't look to good.

At 3:20, my brother called me back saying "He's gone". A deafness rang in my ears. I sobbed violently while Aaron held me in his arms until I fell asleep.

I'm so glad I was down there last week. I was able to spend sometime with my dad before he went.

And now? I'm off to Vegas again....

These are the last pictures I have of him....so I thought it right to post them.

He had his faults, his short comings, but he was a great dad growing up. He taught me many things....my favorite memories are of him teaching me how to fish.

Cariol Roy Dobbs 5/28/45-8/21/09

At my mom's Birthday dinner

Holding up Xander at the Aquarium


Mom, Dad and Xander

Xander's First Baseball Game!

Daddy and Me having our own fun. ;-)
Having Fun!!!

Da da da da da! CHARGE!!!! Xander's really getting into the game!

Me and My Sissy, Angel!

The beginning of the game, they we're soooo enthralled!!

So, we have an AMAZING new stadium and a new minor league team (it's the AZ Diamondbacks Minor Team) called the Reno Aces. So, we went out, and had a GREAT TIME!!!

More Vegas Photos

The Ride Home....I SWEAR I'm looking at the road!!
Xander at the Silverton Casino...a REALLY cool Aquarium!

Aaron and Xander at the M&M Factory

Me and My Momma!

Happy Birthday Mom!! At the Claim Jumper.

Lion King, Vegas, Family, Recovery

So, I'm still recovering from having my boobies hacked off, but I'm feeling much better! Just had my staples removed yesterday! Feel SOOOOO much better with those out!!

We also went to Vegas, saw Lion King in Play form and hung out with the folks. I'm going to add more photos in a minute, in another post, as you can only add a few at a time. :-)

We had great fun! Lion King was Phenomenal! Xander loved it!!! It was positively amazing!!

We stayed at my folk's apartment, hung out with my bro and his wife a lot, and also got to see an old friend that I hadn't seen in over a year! Heather, Welcome to Vegas, can't wait to see you more!! :-)

Outside my folk's apartment....for reference...Xander is 3 1/2 feet tall....

Uncle Monkey and Xander sword fighting with Japenese Practice Swords

Xander with Cousin Bailey! So cute!!!

Me and my bunny!

Pic of Show.

No Mas Pechos!!!

The boobies are gone! i just got home this morning. They took of 5 pounds total!!! And I'm still a "Full 'D'". Crazy!!

So, I'm feeling ok, still sore, and my incisions feel like they are itching....so, that's not fun at all!!

Thanks for all your well wishes! I should be up on my feet in no time!!!

Chelle }}i{{