Fair Oaks 4th Ward New Bishopric

Fair Oaks 4th Ward received a new Bishopric today.
Bishop Jarrod Morgan
1st Counselor Steve Hymas
2nd Counselor Cory Wozniak

We are excited for the changes that are coming for our ward. Cory's parents were able to make a quick trip down for the change too!

Carter's Field Trip to Sunsplash

Carter's 6th grade class had their last field trip to Sunsplash waterpark today. I drove a van full of boys over & then picked them up later in the day. They had a great time in the water, even with it being a bit chilly & overcast today. Carter has had a great year and has some wonderful friends!

Campout & Service At Coloma

Cory & Carter went up to Coloma for a campout with the scouts. On Saturday morning they helped at the Pioneer Celebration. They watched over the campfire all day, which was really hot, as guests came & cooked biscuits over the fire.

Carter's 1st Youth Talk in Sacrament Meeting

Carter received an email from Jared Beal, 1st Counselor in the Bishopric to give a youth talk in Sacrament Meeting on Mother's Day. 

We would like to give you an assignment to speak during Sacrament meeting on Mothers Day. Your topic will be:

Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Your allotted time is 5 minutes. Please use prayer and the spirit while preparing. Practice speaking with your family and ask for help when needed. 

Carter's response:
Yes I am happy to give a talk. Thank you for giving me this opportunity. (Carter wrote his response all on his own, and wrote his talk by himself. I was so proud of him!)


Today is Mother’s Day, a day when people across the nation honor those women who have raised children, currently are raising children or may one day have children. My mom is the keystone in our family. Me, my dad, and my sisters are like the other stones in the archway. If we didn’t have her in our lives, like if the archway doesn’t have a keystone, my family would fall apart. Elder Russell M Nelson said in his April 2008 talk, “In Gods eternal plan, salvation is an individual matter, exaltation is a family matter.” Moms are who teach their children how to live righteously and how to live the commandments. If the children listen to their moms, they will go to the highest degree, of exaltation. I think moms are here on the earth to teach their children to live a happy life by keeping the commandments and to guide them on the straight and narrow path.

Happiness in our families will most likely be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Happiness doesn’t just come from a family being nice to one another. Prayer, reading scriptures, Family Home evening, and keeping the commandments are just some ways to make a family happy. Parents should teach their children what it really means to be a child of God; they should also teach them how to pray. Families should read their scriptures together and on their own.

Mosiah 2:41 says “And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.”

In October 2000, President Monson said the following:

When the seas of life are stormy, a wise mariner seeks a port of peace. The family, as we have traditionally known it, is such a refuge of safety. “The home is the basis of a righteous life and no other instrumentality can take its place or fulfil its essential functions.”⁸ Actually, a home is much more than a house. A house is built of lumber, brick, and stone. A home is made of love, sacrifice, and respect. A house can be a home, and a home can be a heaven when it shelters a family. When true values and basic virtues undergird the families of society, hope will conquer despair, and faith will triumph over doubt.

Such values, when learned and lived in our families, will be as welcome rain to parched soil. Love will be engendered; loyalty to one’s best self will be enhanced; and those virtues of character, integrity, and goodness will be fostered. The family must hold its preeminent place in our way of life because it’s the only possible base upon which a society of responsible human beings has ever found it practicable to build for the future and maintain the values they cherish in the present.

Happy homes come in a variety of appearances. Some feature families with father, mother, brothers, and sisters living together in a spirit of love. Others consist of a single parent with one or two children, while other homes have but one occupant. There are, however, identifying features which are to be found in a happy home, whatever the number or description of its family members. These identifying features are:

A pattern of prayer.

A library of learning.

A legacy of love.

I would like to close with a quote by Gene R. Cook:

 “I bear testimony that the Lord fulfills his promises. If we do our part, be patient, and keep the commandments, the Lord will answer our prayers concerning our families. He will bless us in our sacred duty to raise up our children unto him.” 

Mother's Day

I had such a wonderful Mother's Day. It started out with the kids giving me their homemade cards. They were unbelievable. Carter wrote a poem for me at school & I just cried & cried reading it. He's such an awesome kid. Claire made me a card & a coupon book. Kate made me a card & drawing too.
Cory surprised me with a picture he had made with the kids He took them to the park & they each held a letter, spelling out "I love you."

I had no idea they had done this & was speechless. What a great day I had!

Kate's Field Trip to the Folsom Zoo

I went with Kate on her Kindergarten field trip to the Folsom Zoo. We were able to see lots of peacocks, 2 bears, lots of deer & a bobcat. It was a nice, cool day & after the zoo the kids got to play at the park. Last Kindergarten field trip for us....sad!

Carmichael Stake New Stake Presidency

We had a new Stake Presidency put in today. President Russell M. Nelson & Elder Joni L. Koch came to make the change. Our new Stake Presidency is:
President Todd Johnson
1st Counselor Michael Childs
2nd Counselor Scott Wiggington

Since Bishop Childs was called, we will be getting a new Bishop!
President Nelson gave a wonderful talk. He gave us some advice as we raise our children:

• Teach your children what it really means to be A Child of God.
• Help them take good care of their bodies.
• Help them pray to Heavenly Father. Prayers don't need to be long or complicate.
• Learn about the Son of God.
• Read scriptures to your children.
• Dad, let your children memorize your voice as you read scriptures to them. When they get older they will read to their children, etc.
• Be worthy of a patriarchal blessing.
• Have a picture of the temple & pictures of family members in your home.
• Have a hymn book sitting on your piano.
• Help them be prepared to be a missionary.
• Learn a 2nd language.
• Get a good education & don't quit.
• Teach them to be good citizens.
• Getting an education is the difference between doing something & wishing you could do something.
• Help them learn the significance of the sacrament.
• Teach them the importance of Prophets, from Adam to Noah, to prophets in this dispensation.
• Teach them about the restoration of the priesthood.

He have an apostolic blessing to our stake. Some of the things he said were:

Feast upon the words of the Lord. Blessed us with joy & happiness in our homes & a blessing of healing & health, consistent with the will of the Lord. He knows Christ lives and the Prophet lives.

It was such a great weekend & we were blessed to have an apostle of the Lord with us.

Claire's Field Trip to Old Sac

Claire & I had a great time on her field trip to Old Sacramento. We donned pioneer clothes and set off to learn more about the early settlers in Sacramento. It was a really fun day as we went to the Old Schoolhouse & learned what it was like to be a child in the late 1800's. We also went in the Wells Fargo Museum and learned that they first started out as a transportation company and not a bank.
The day ended with a special stop at the candy store, where the kids got to pick out 2 candies for free!!

1st Swim of the Season

Claire & Kate had a fun time swimming with their friends Addie & Ava. The water is still a bit chilly, but they still had fun!