"Family Is The Center of Life" ~ Here's Our Posterity

We are getting really excited for our Roger and LeAnn Williams Family reunion planned for June. We have obtained special permission from our mission to attend our reunion. We can hardly wait to see all our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. There will be a total of 50 of us. We have some fun events planned. 

We believe in Eternal Families. Our loving Heavenly Father loves our families and wants to bless us. In our Preach My Gospel Guide it states the following: "Because families are ordained of God, they are the most important social unit in time and in eternity. God has established families to bring happiness to His children, allow them to learn correct principles in a loving atmosphere, and prepare them for eternal life. The home is the best place to teach, learn, and apply principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ. A home established on gospel principles will be a place or refuge and safety. It will be a place where the Spirit of the Lord can abide, blessing family members with peace, joy, and happiness. Through prophets in every age, including our own, God has revealed His plan of happiness for individuals and families." I believe this to be true. This is a principle that we teach in our missionary endeavors.  

I know that there are no perfect families but that we are all a work in process. In families we learn so many of the characteristics that are needed to be successful individuals and families. The home is the place that we learn patience, tolerance, forgiveness and many other qualities but most important we learn love. 

Today I thought I would share with you pictures of all of my grandchildren and great grandchildren that we will soon see. 

                                               Our oldest son, Sean & Mary's children~

Jed, Jessica, Jacob, Dana, Gillian, Jackson, Joseph, Jonathan, Jeffery, Joshua~

Our 2nd son, Travis & Amanda's children~
Karli, Kason, Ryley, Ethan and Layton, Jessica and Haven, Austin~

Our 3rd  son, James and Amber's children~

Christian, Taylor Jo, and Averi~

Our 4th daughter, Christina & Brandon's children~

Sariah, April, Abbey, Faith and Levi~

Our 5th daughter, Jenni & Michael's children~

Alyssa, Emma, and Benjamin~

Our 6th daughter, Tiffani & Dave's children~

Michael, Sarah, Kaitlyn and William~

  Our oldest Grandson, Jed & Jessica's family~
Lilly, Jessica and Myah, Jed and Jadyn~

Our  2nd oldest Grandson, Jacob and Dana's family~

Sagan, Dana and Jacob~

Meet our precious granddaughter, Averi. 

13 years ago Averi was diagnosed with a rare bone marrow disease called Osteopetrosis. You can read her story here. She is a remarkable child in so many way. She is blind and has Autism Spectrum Disorder - Savant syndrome. You can read about this here. She is brilliant in memory, rapid calculations and musical ability. For instance, if you give her your Birth date she can tell you the day of the year it is on. If you give her a date that is significant she can tell you what she did on that date. She can play the piano by ear and began doing this around age 3. She continues to learn well although will she will never be independent. We all love our sweet Averi. She has brought a great deal of joy into our lives. She is a very happy child and self entertaining. All of her Uncles, Aunts and Cousins love her. 
Take a moment and watch this short video of her running the 50 yard dash! She is our family miracle. 
https://www.facebook.com/amber.empeywilliams/videos/10209866526364306/  

Our missionary work has been very busy so I haven't been able to do any blogging. I have missed doing this and plan to carve more time out for this.  Love and hugs to all!

To All Women Everywhere ~ You Are A Miracle!

I belong to the Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is one of the largest Women's organizations in the world. As part of this wonderful institution we as sisters watch over and serve one another and other's in need.  Our motto is "Charity Never Faileth". 

Here is one of our latest requests from our General Relief Society Presidency: "We each have the invitation as women and young women to open our eyes and our hearts to see those among us who may feel alone, afraid, or uncertain so that we are no longer strangers  (see Matthew 25:35–36; Ephesians 2:19). We are invited to share our love, our confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ, and our hands to strengthen others and love them as the Savior would have us do. This is not a program; it is who we are.
With our divine nature as women, we can be a light in a darkening world. We can give hope, love, and care to those around us. We are not asked to “run faster than [we have] strength” (Mosiah 4:27). Although we can work together, we are not asked to organize large efforts. Instead we are each asked to seek personal revelation about whom the Lord would have us strengthen and love as individuals and as families. The Savior invites us to participate in a personal ministry of love and to remember His words: “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these . . . , ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40)."
As we are able we can do individual service to others in various ways and in many different organizations. Our sisters serve in hospitals, schools, community centers,  relief organizations, mentoring refugees and serving in many areas of our communities. We give a vast amount of service in our church in callings with young children, teenagers and adults.

In October of last year our 1st Presidency issued the following letter. Here is a portion of this letter. 

“It is with great concern and compassion that we observe the plight of the millions of people around the world who have fled their homes seeking relief from civil conflict and other hardships. Thanks to the generous help of our members, the Church is providing assistance to migrants and refugees in several countries.
“Many Church members have inquired how they can provide additional assistance. Members may contribute to the Church Humanitarian Fund using the Tithing and Other Offerings donations slip. We also invite Church units, families, and individuals to participate in local refugee relief projects, where practical.
“May the Lord bless you as you render Christlike service to those in need.”
In all things, Jesus Christ, is our example. “He went about doing good” (Acts 10:38). As we increase our faith in Jesus Christ, we will be motivated to give Christ-like service, which will help us become more like Him. President Henry B. Eyring taught: “Our Heavenly Father wishes to bless His children spiritually and temporally. He understands each of their needs, their pains, and their hopes. When we offer succor to anyone, the Savior feels it as if we reached out to succor Him” (“Is Not This the Fast That I Have Chosen?” Ensign, April 2015).
With over 61 million refugees in the world, there are many opportunities to provide relief, mentor, and serve close to home, in our own communities as our individual circumstances allow. There is something everyone can contribute yet, one may wonder; “What difference could I possibly make?”
Begin by seeking the inspiration of the Lord individually and as families. What would He have me do to help? What time and resources do I have? What needed skills do I have? What might we do as a family?
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught: “In the end you must do in your area what disciples of Christ have done in every dispensation: counsel together, use all resources available, seek the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, ask the Lord for His confirmation, and then roll up your sleeves and go to work.
"I give you a promise: if you will follow this pattern, you will receive specific guidance as to the who, what, when, and where of providing in the Lord’s way” (“Providing in the Lord’s Way,” Ensign, October 2011).
Providing in the Lord’s way gives us an opportunity to keep our covenants as we show our willingness to “bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light; to mourn with those that mourn; and comfort those that stand in need of comfort” (Mosiah 18:9). As we keep our covenants, our homes and families will be blessed."

As a church we have had humanitarian projects going on throughout the world for many years. This was a call for us look for even more ways to serve those in need. You can read about our humanitarian efforts here. 

                       

On April 16th of this year our Stake Relief Society  had a wonderful day of Service. There were approx. 250 sisters who came and put together various projects for refugees and other relief organizations. It was just amazing. I enjoyed every minute of my time there. 
On this day we put together kits for refugees throughout the world and also community organizations that are helping to reach those in need. We made approx. 1,000 Hygiene kits for women's personal needs in refugee camps. We put together basic everyday type needs such as soap, shampoos conditioners and etc. for some local needs. Quilts were made for hospitals and care centers. These are just a few of the projects that were put together that day.

There are even larger projects worked on when the sisters of the church meet for the yearly BYU Women's Conference which was recently held this past week.  Here's some news on this years event. I feel so blessed to be part of this fantastic organization.

With Mother's Day fast approaching I thought I would share some thoughts.

 We are all daughters of a Loving Heavenly Father. He knows our names. He loves us and wants us to fulfill our divine assignments as Women, Grandmothers, Mothers, Sisters, and Friends. As Women we have nurturing hearts and no matter whether we have children are not; we have that divine nature to care for those in need. We all can do mother like things when working with others. Even now when I am working with various families and individuals I have such strong feelings of love for them as my spiritual brothers and sisters. 

I thought I would list some beautiful messages on Women and on Being Mothers. Here are a few. 

Women of God

A Plea To My Sisters

The Role Of Righteous Women

Enjoy this following video for all of you!