Remembering at Christmas Time

This little seven year old (just turned eight in November) is such an inspiration to me.  Certainly a God-given talent and gift.  Her mother died of ovaerian cancer two years ago.  She was a devout believer in Christ and a gifted gospel singer herself.  I can't help but believe, that this little angel girl is receiving some very special tutoring from the other side of the veil.  There I go again.

Family Christmas Party 2010

Thanks to all who took time out of their busy holiday schedules to gather for the annual Eborn family Christmas party.  Jared and Shana were the hosts this year and we really appreciate their super effort.

I know I speak for everyone, when I say thanks to them for helping us all to have a great time and to enjoy one another's friendship and love at this special holiday season.

We didn't get a lot of pictures, but here are a few that Iris was able to capture with her camera.  You know we love pictures of the family.

                                                                  Shana and Emily

                                                               Ryan and Tristan

                                                                             Samuel

                                                     Samantha, Rene, and Maddie

                                                           Kinsey and Megan

Some of the crew

Uncle Jared and Tristan, the tallest and the shortest, at least for now.

Now there is a bunch of beautiful people.

Avery and Melissa

 Rene, Tanner, Megan, and Maddie

Jared, Shana, Kinsey, Emily, Melissa, and Sam

Philip, Megan, Garrett, Gavin, and Libbie

 Sorry we didn't get a real full family group photo, but we were glad that all of you came and hope you enjoyed the great meal and the some of the fun of the Christmas season together.

Hope JT doesn't get transferred to Yakutsk!!!

I've always been a little curious, maybe to much so.  I was thinking about JT/Elder Eborn in Siberia.  I think I'm going to start praying that he gets to go to Yakutsk.  It's a city of 200,000 in his mission connected by land via a single 750 mile road.  Our JT would really have some stories to tell if he were to be transferred there. Winter time is great, -50 degrees most of the time on good days and the sun barely comes up before it sets.  Then it starts getting cold.  At least the roads are solid and have a temporary bottom.  Count your blessings.

Is it very far? Go figure.

As you all know we work at the Logan Temple.  Since we started working there , I have developed a keen interest in family history and the associated temple work.  Over the last year I have researched and submitted many names to have the ordinances performed in the temples of the Church, when this is done these ordinances may be done in any of the Church's 134 operating temples around the world.  We submitted these names when we realized that there were so many that we would never be able to get all the work done ourselves or even with the assistance of family, friends, and ward members.  One of the names I submitted was a William Ebourne, an alternate spelling of our family name, who is a distant cousin and had lived in England many years ago.  On Thursday last, I went to work on our regular shift.  The first assignment I had was at the New Name booth.  As I took my position, the very first name that was presented to me was, William Ebourne.  I was surprised and thought that it couldn't be just a coincidence. After all, these names were sent  all over the world and most of the temples are open for many hours each day.  What are the chances that a specific name would go through a specific area in the temple during a given few minutes, while I happened to be at that post?

A little less than two hours later I was assigned to be a receiver at the veil of the temple.  As I took my position to receive, the very first person who came to the veil was holding the very same card with the name William Ebourne.  A tingle went over my whole body and I felt as though I were in the very presence of the spirit of William Ebourne, himself.  I could not see him, but I certainly felt his presence and felt the gratitude he was feeling for the work that was being done on his behalf.  This is just one of many special and sacred experiences we have had while working in the Logan Temple these past two years. The longer I live the less I believe in coincidence or luck.  I have felt and observed, as it were,  an unseen hand that guides our lives, never forcing, but gently and lovingly directing the affairs of our lives.  It has been a great blessing to us and we feel we are blessing the lives of those who have gone before us and now need our help.  What a blessing and honor it is to serve.  The veil of the Temple is indeed very thin.