It's officially the month of Christmas!

It’s officially the Month of Christmas! 

We made it!  It is finally upon us – Christmas month in December has begun.  My favorite holiday of the entire year.  I even stayed up late wrapping some gifts last night. I have a hard time going to bed early because there is so much I need to do and not to mention that tomorrow we are going to give a talk. 

As this is my first blog post during the Christmas season I wanted to take a moment to share what I feel to be the most important part of Christmas – Christ.  I think the following excerpt expresses it best: 

“Finding the real joy of Christmas comes not in the hurrying and the scurrying to get more done. We find the real joy of Christmas when we make the Savior the focus of the season. 

Born in a stable, cradled in a manger, He came forth from heaven to live on earth as mortal man and to establish the kingdom of God. His glorious gospel reshaped the thinking of the world. He lived for us, and He died for us. What can we, in return, give to Him? 

I love the words penned by the English poet Christina Rossetti: 

What can I give Him, 

Poor as I am? 

If I were a shepherd 

I would bring a lamb.

 If I were a Wise Man 

I would do my part, 

Yet what can I give Him? 

Give my heart. 

Our celebration of Christmas should be a reflection of the love and selflessness taught by the Savior. Giving, not getting, brings to full bloom the Christmas spirit. We feel more kindly one to another. We reach out in love to help those less fortunate. Our hearts are softened. Enemies are forgiven, friends remembered, and God obeyed. The spirit of Christmas illuminates the picture window of the soul, and we look out upon the world’s busy life and become more interested in people than in things. To catch the real meaning of the spirit of Christmas, we need only drop the last syllable, and it becomes the Spirit of Christ.”  – Thomas Monson 

May we all remember the true meaning of Christmas and may we celebrate the holiday in a way that pays tribute to Him and the sacrifice he made for all of us.  I think the best way to do that is to follow the advice given in this statement: “If you desire to find the true spirit of Christmas and partake of the sweetness of it, let me make this suggestion to you. During the hurry of the festive occasion of this Christmas season, find time to turn your heart to God. Perhaps in the quiet hours, and in a quiet place, and on your knees—alone or with loved ones—give thanks for the good things that have come to you, and ask that His Spirit might dwell in you as you earnestly strive to serve Him and keep His commandments”  – Howard W. Hunter 

I believe that magic happens at Christmas.  I truly do. And may all of us remember the person whose birth we celebrate, Jesus Christ. 

Con amor,

Vero

End of another amazing Seminar!

From November 26th to November 30th We attended a Mission Leadership Seminar held in Cebu. This was a treat for us since we love getting to know people in other areas of the Philippines. In Cebu people speak another dialect " Cebuano" The Pajaros are currently the Mission Presidents there so we visited them when we first got in. Their son went on a mission to Argentina so it was fun to listen to him sing us in Spanish. It is always wonderful to visit with dear friends.

What I learned at this Seminar is that there is an urgency to find gathered Israel. They are those elect people who if they knew of the gospel would join in and how do we know who they are? We don't really know so we need to ask around and those who would be receptive to receive the message will join. They were pre ordained before they were born. We learned about the Abrahamic Covenant. The gathering of Israel is taking place as we speak. We are gathering gatherers.

There 2 promises:
Scattered Israel to be gathered and
The second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

As mothers and grandmothers we need to teach our children and grandchildren to serve a mission and prepared them for that! How do we go about it? One by one and the Book of Mormon is the tool to use when gathering Israel. In the Book of Mormon missionaries are asked to read 10 pages every day and to mark every reference to Jesus Christ. We all need to be gospel scholars. We need to use the Bible as a common ground. The Book of Mormon teaches us to be better parents.

Baptism is part of the doctrine of Christ and the goal for each missionary for his investigator. We need to teach people, not lessons. When you pray saying Heavenly Father, I love you but our actions are different we are liars. Satan is attacking us and wants to erase His name so it is important that we use the correct name of our Religion. When we are referring to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we are preaching of Christ.

Do not let any day go by without reading the scriptures, powering and reflecting.

Con amor,
Vero

Christmas trees no more

I found a post written three years ago on December 2015

Apparently the White House referred to Christmas Trees as Holiday Trees for the first time this year, which prompted Ben Stein, to say, on CBS Sunday Morning, 

My confession: I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejewelled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are, Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a nativity scene, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Hurricane Katrina). Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'

In light of recent events... terrorist attacks, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said okay.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell.
Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. 

Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. 

Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing yet?

Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

Pass it on if you think it has merit.

If not, then just discard it.... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what a bad shape the world is in.

My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,

-Ben Stein

Something to think about.

Con amor,

Vero

Light the world

Last night was the temple lighting event where all the lights were turned on at the temple grounds. What I loved about this event is that people from other faiths were invited to attend as well. 

Earlier that day we went to the Mega Mall for the ribbon cutting and to introduce the newest invention for giving to charities. This is a giving machine where you can donate money to your favorite charity starting today until the end of December. 

I made my donation to Caritas, Unicef and the Purple Center Foundation. Representatives from these organizations were in attendance also. There are only four of these machines in the world and the Philippines was chosen to have one. 

We also let people know of the traditional awesome challenge for all of us to “light the world” in 25 ways over 25 days as we lead up to Christmas.More than 800,000 have already joined the challenge and that number keeps growing. 

 It’s a challenge meant to help us focus on incorporating more Christ-like attitudes and behaviors in honor of this Christmas season. How awesome is that! And what a great way to make sure we keep ourselves focused on the things that are most important during this holiday season rather than having our minds get caught up in all the meaningless busy hustle and bustle that can go on. 

Since its only November 24^ththat means we will be starting earlier today and make it a 32- day challenge but that’s okay because in the Philippines Christmas is celebrated starting in September so remember take the challenge and start your light up the world by doing acts of kindness each day. 

Con amor,
Vero

We got the best working for us

“Do what is right, let the consequence follow.”

That quote is a quote that has been on my mind every single day since the auditors came and to look at our books. We always hope that nothing fishy is going on in our office and that every transaction is accounted for. That quote has come to mean a great deal to me in my life and the truth is that it is living by that quote that I attribute the successes that have happened in Daniel’s life and it is living by that quote that you will find the greatest successes in your lives. Thankfully, the audit came fine and nothing serious or of concern was found. 

 I believe the blessings we enjoy in life come as a direct result of that integrity and dedication. 

I wish I knew how to express the depth to which I believe in the power of Integrity. Your reputation of honesty and integrity is worth its weight in gold in all of your business relations, your human relations, and your relationship with God or the higher power you believe in. Some time ago we were asked to give a talk on this very subject. There will be so many opportunities in your life to take a shortcut or do the wrong thing or even to justify bad behavior as a reaction to someone else’s bad behavior – DON’T EVER FALL FOR THAT! Don’t. It will never be worth it. 

“Character is doing the right thing when nobody’s looking. There are too many people who think that the only thing that’s right is to get by, and the only thing that’s wrong is to get caught.” ~J.C. Watts 

I can assure you that there will be times that doing the wrong thing will look so much easier and it will appear to guarantee the outcome you want – that will always be the temptation – But when it’s all said and done doing the wrong thing will never bring you lasting happiness. It just won’t. So when times are tough and you are struggling, just remember to say: 

“God grant me the courage not to give up what I think is right even though I think it is hopeless.” ~Chester W. Nimitz 

I realize that it is not always an easy thing to have the courage to do the right thing, no matter what. Sometimes there are consequences that can hurt you or others when you do the right thing, but it is still always the best choice to do the right thing. When you do the right thing it will always work out in the end. Maybe not as fast as you would like and not always in the way you would think – but I can promise you this, if you do what is right then in the end it always works out right… so if something hasn’t worked out right yet, then it is simply not the end. Trust that. I promise that it’s true. 

Live your life in such a way that when each day comes to a close you can look in the mirror and say, or you can kneel down to say your prayers and say, “Today I did the right thing”. Nothing will bring you more joy and satisfaction than being able to close each day knowing that you did what was right. 

In case I haven’t expressed this lately, I want the people my husband is able to work with each day to know that we think you are all amazing and we appreciate all of you for having character and integrity and for upholding our area office culture of doing the right thing. I am so proud of all of you and I am so honored to associate with you. You are the best team any boss could ever ask to lead. Truly. I love you all and thank you for being there for us when we needed you. 

Con amor,

Vero

"I can't believe I ate the Whole thing"

It’s thanksgiving  and I like each year I say: " I can't believe I ate the whole thing" 

Each Thanksgiving in the United States people get together to share a meal. Our family used to go around the table to share what we were grateful for that year. It is a tradition we never miss doing. And every year in the back of my mind there is something I am truly grateful for on Thanksgiving, but I’m always too embarrassed to say it out loud, but this year I am going to own it…this year I say “Thank Heaven for Stretchy, loose clothes!!!” I couldn’t survive Thanksgiving dinner without them!

A few years ago I found this poem and I like it so much that I have to share. It’s called T’was The Night of Thanksgiving:

T’was the night of Thanksgiving,

But I just couldn’t sleep.

I tried counting backwards,

I tried counting sheep.

The leftovers beckoned,

The dark meat and white.

But I fought the temptation,

With all of my might.

Tossing and turning,

with anticipation.

The thought of a snack

became infatuation.

So I raced to the kitchen,

Flung open the door,

And gazed at the fridge,

Full of goodies galore.

I gobbled up turkey,

And buttered potatoes,

Pickles and carrots,

Beans and tomatoes.

I felt myself swelling,

So plump and so round.

‘til all of a sudden,

I rose off the ground.

I crashed through the ceiling,

Floating into the sky,

With a mouthful of pudding,

And a handful of pie.

But I managed to yell

As I soared past the trees

Happy eating to all,

Pass the cranberries, please!!

May your stuffing be tasty

May your turkey be plump.

May your potatoes and gravy

Have nary a lump.

May your yams be delicious,

May your pies take the prize

And May your Thanksgiving dinner

Stay off of your thighs!

-Lauren

Have a great Holliday everyone and eat a lot of turkey for me because here in the Philippines this day is like any other ordinary day. Except that today we went to Clark in the Subic Bay area for some training and yes, they fed us a ton! 

Con amor,

Vero

Thanksgiving every day

I can’t believe that Thanksgiving is tomorrow.  Time has flown this season!  As I started to wrap some Christmas gifts, it hit me that I hadn’t even taken one moment to think about Thanksgiving yet. I have been so wrapped up in Daniel's Christmas gift that the holidays had taken a back seat. But now that I went to pick up his gift, I really want to get into the spirit of Thanksgiving!  I love the Thanksgiving holiday because it is the perfect time to focus all your attention on feeling grateful and giving thanks even when is not celebrated in the Philippines. I love the quote:

“Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action.” –W.J. Cameron

So with Thanksgiving coming quickly I made of list of some actions we can take to really get into the spirit of Thanksgiving not only one day but every day. 

These are some examples:

Invite a neighbor to dinner. or take a Thanksgiving dinner to a family in need. You can either let them know ahead of time or you can leave a big frozen turkey on their doorstep with a box of Stove top stuffing and mashed potato flakes so they have all the ingredients to cook the dinner for their family.

Visit someone who is sick or go to a Children's hospital or any hospital and take stuffed animals or kids’ books or games to leave with the patients who will be stuck in the hospital for Thanksgiving.

Send a note to a family member or a friend expressing appreciation or send a care package to soldiers overseas. Being away from home is hard enough but being away from home on a holiday is the worst. Send a care package over and include some fun holiday movies on DVD to entertain them.

Visit a home for the aged at a rest home who are alone on Thanksgiving. Listen to their stories. Ask them for life advice.

Donate to a food pantry or food bank or shelter. Not only do they need food but they need coats and blankets to help keep people warm.

Invite someone alone to join your family for Thanksgiving dinner. Nothing is worse than being alone on a holiday. Most people won’t admit they don’t want to be alone so you have to be the one to reach out and invite them to join you.

I think that last one is so important. Being alone on the holidays should never happen to anyone, and the only way to avoid that is if all of us are willing to look around at the people we know and make sure that we reach out to anyone who may not have somewhere to go and include them. What better way to show Thanksgiving in action? And they may just end up blessing your life more than you bless theirs.

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.”  – Melanie Beattie

Have a blessed grateful day tomorrow everyone! 

Con amor,

Vero