February 07 Greenleaf

Dear friends and family,

For the first time I can ever remember we have canceled church because of snow. We couldn't leave our house except on horseback - the drifts are too big. It snowed and drifted all night and stopped just long enough for me to shovel before it started again. It is now coming down hard again. It is soooo beautiful outside.

Since everyone is home I'm going to have everyone type a bit of the message this time starting with Lareen.

What a treat for us to be home together especially because Brian was gone last week and leaves on monday for another business trip. We are soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo thankful for great employment and HP is very happy with how quickly Brian can get things done and with incredible vision for the future. What a great guy. We have been so blessed, God is so good to us. My brother is progressing and I can see the Lord working on him. His children are happier than I can remember. Things are not perfect and we take a day at a time. He is dating an amazing girl from our ward. I have to say that before he met her I began to see the light return to his life . It has been two years now and he and I talked about how thankful he is that time has passed and the Lord has carried us and now we are able to walk on our own a bit more. He never said it would be easy but just worth it. The girl he is dating is named Katie Wells. I know some other GREAT people named Katie. She has been home from her mission for a while and will be done with school in April. The whole situation is a miracle. They are going slow and have A LOT to figure out. They have great faith and know the Lord has all the answers. We are really excited about the family reunion this summer. The kids talk about it often. We love you all and send special prayers to Dayton and Jennifer and their children. May the Lord bless you at this difficult time.

Hi this is Jarom, I'd like to talk about what I've been doing recently. I've been working on my eagle and hope to get it before I'm fourteen. I'm playing basketball and I'm on the A team.Our school has had two snow days and we might get a third. Me and my sister Logan have been sick with a fever and a sore throat and a cough and a stuffy nose. For my eagle project I'm going to do a bone marrow drive. Well thats all thats going on with me. Love you all.

Logan ~ Hey everyone, I hope you're all safe and healthy. I am taking an art class this semester and so far it's the funnest class I've ever been in. I want to take more writing classes too, but our school has few elective choices. I'm not sure if I'll be going to a different school or not, but when school starts again, I'll hopefully know. My 15th birthday took place last month. I had a fun party, and I also got a cell phone! Texting is not one of my talents. I can't believe that I only have one year till I'll be dating and driving. Hopefully I'll be ready. I'm grateful to have such a wonderful family, thank you all for your prayers and your friendship toward my family. I love you guys!

Hannah- I am in sixth grade right now and very surprised that in 3 years I will be in high school. I have lost a lot of teeth but the most resent has split in two and the tooth fairy has probably forgotten that I even lost it. I am almost have all of my activity day book finished because i am going to be 12 this year. I am very excited to be going to Kirtland, Ohio this summer to see you all. I love you all! Bye!

Emma-last weekend Hannah and I went to Grandma Linda's house and made doll food for our American girl doll's and it was very fun.One of my doll's name is Emily and she is very cute.Bye!

Wow, I just came in from another round of shoveling... the plow did our road and really socked us in and nearly took out our mail box. A snowmobile just drove down the main road past our house. This reminds me of growing up in Idaho Falls - I've never seen it like this over here. We are sure grateful for the moisture but the roads have been very treachurous with some sad tragedies. I think that is one of the reasons the stake didn't have church today. We've had a couple of awful deaths including one in the Homedale ward that I am assigned to. A 19 year old girl was tragically killed just a couple of miles from our home on her way to school in the morning. It sure makes me think that I always want to make sure that I'm ready. What I mean by that is that I have been reminded that life is very precious and things happen fast. I want to make sure that I'm worthy to meet my maker but most important that I've always left every relationship - on a positive note. Did I hug my kids? Did I tell my wife and kids that I love them? Or, did I say something critical, leave with a parting bit of "advice/criticism" for something that needs to be improved upon?

With the passing of President Hinckley I've thought a lot about many of the messages he gave to us repeatedly. As a father he shared messages regularly of how we should always treat our wife and children with kindness, gentleness and love unfeigned. That we should be kinder to everyone - more patient on the roads, in work, with all that we deal with at all times. I feel grateful that I lived during the Hinkley dispensation and could learn from such a great Prophet of God and I hope that I can live the teachings he gave us.

I hope that the blessings of heaven are falling gently down upon all of you as the beautiful giant snowflakes we have been watching this morning.

Love, The Brian Packer Family