Testimony

 What is a testimony?  A simple definition according to Wikipedia is, "in law and in religion, testimony is a solemn attestation as to the truth of a matter."  Some synonyms to testimony are evidence, declaration, witness, and confirmation.

We had the missionaries over for dinner and they challenged each of us to write our testimony of Jesus Christ and to share it with others.  Today after church, we all sat down and wrote the sacred knowledge of our hearts.  I am going to share each of our testimonies here below:

Leonard's-

When I consider the story of Jesus, I am filled with hope and joy, and with a faith that I can become like him.  I believe that in Jesus the nature of Godhood is revealed to us.  That God loves us and came down to earth to live as a mortal.  That he suffered the pains of mortal life, as well as its joys.  That God did this to fully understand us, and to reach out in full love to lift us up.  I believe Christ is able to heal all our wounds, whether physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual.  And I believe Jesus calls us to join him in the Godhood.  I am overwhelmed when I think of how weak and imperfect I am, in comparison to his strength and perfection.  Yet I believe in his call to change, and that through him I can indeed change, slowly but surely, and become like him.  Jesus prayed to our Father to make us all one with Jesus, as Jesus is one with the Father.  And this call inspires me to be more loving, to reach out to the oppressed, the downtrodden, and the weak, and to try to lift them as I can.  Jesus' call inspires me to suffer, to bear with, be patient with, the weaknesses and imperfections of others, as well as my own, in the hope that through Christ we can overcome and be remade into the image of Christ.  I believe in Christ and in His love for us all, and that is what I strive to follow and emulate in my life.

Mine-

I have a testimony that God is my Heavenly Father and He knows me and loves me.  I have a testimony that I have a Heavenly Mother also.  I have a testimony that Jesus Christ is my Savior and He is the Savior of the world.  I have a testimony of these truths because I have learned them at church, and from the scriptures, and from the teachings of the modern-day prophets.  Ultimately, I have a testimony of these truths because the Holy Ghost has confirmed them to my soul.  How grateful I am for this knowledge!  I feel so blessed and lucky to have this testimony and I want to share it with others.  I have received many earthly blessings and I try to be generous with others.  The best thing I can share with others is that they are a beloved child of God and they are a part of His family.  Through the ordinances and covenants of the Temple we can have the most precious relationships with our spouse and family last forever.  I want to become a true disciple of Jesus Christ by loving God with all of my heart and by being obedient to His commandments.  I want to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ by loving everyone as my brother or sister and by helping them strengthen their own relationships with God.

Gavin's-

I believe that the Lord loves me and all the people on the earth.  I believe that Jesus Christ lived for us and died so humanity can be safe.  I also believe that the youth and the prophets are called upon by Christ.

Teague's-

I believe that Jesus Christ is our Savior.  I also believe that he is the Son of God.  Jesus gives things called miracles like the time he healed a crippled man and a blind man.  He fed a lot of people with a little boy's lunch.  And he was resurrected from the dead three days after he was killed.  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Hiram's-

I believe that Jesus Christ is the beloved Son of God.  I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross.  I believe that Jesus Christ was resurrected.  I believe these things because my parents taught them to me.  I believe these things because I read them in the scriptures.  These things make me happy.

Ali's-

I like taking the sacrament at church because it reminds me that Jesus gave his blood and his body for me so I can be forgiven of my sins.  Jesus was resurrected and went to heaven.  Someday I will be resurrected and go to heaven too.  (And she drew a picture of her and Jesus partaking of the sacrament bread and water together.)

Day 4- Agriculture Museum

On Tuesday, we visited the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum.  It's a working farm in the middle of the city.

I loved all the new and old buildings.

Kaleb said he wanted to be a farmer until he remembered how badly animals smell, ha ha!

The animals all get outside time, but have cozy homes inside the various barns.

Macy was chagrined that Daddy didn't see the sign to not pet the animals, whoops.  Florence the donkey didn't mind though.

Ali and I liked these active sheep...

...and their great curls!

This horse was huge!

This alpaca was tiny.

You know I love roosters.

Sweet little lamb.

I can't remember what type of bird she was, but I love her name, Jessica Fletcher!

Check out the piglet in the middle, just stretching out and resting.

Cute baby cow.  I love the black and white spots and pink nose.

We may not be farmers, but are so grateful for them!

And the lovely food they raise for us to eat.

Fruits and veggies...

Meat and fish...

Grains and cereals...

And of course, sweets and treats!

(Do you spy the box from Junior's Cheesecake?)

I actually do dream of us living on an orchard and raising honey bees when we retire.  We could have a cute bed & breakfast open on the weekends with a darling gift shop.  I want to call it Bumble and Honey.  Will you come and stay with us?

Day 3- Aviation Museum

On Monday, we visited the Canada Aviation and Space Museum.

I have flown countless times in my life, but I hope I never fly upside down!

I'd love to go for another hot air balloon ride though.

I love the wooden propeller.

Check out this cool camouflaged paint job. 

Hey, let's build an airplane in our back yard.  Okay!

It would be cool to have wings.

Thunderbirds!

When I was 10 I had an astronaut Cabbage Patch Kid and really wanted to be an astronaut myself.  I still remember the heartbreaking day the Challenger spaceship blew up.

I would still rather rocket into space than hang glide though.  That is way more terrifying to me.

Isn't this helicopter cute?

I swear it has eyes, a nose, and mouth, and is just waiting to be made into a cartoon.

Macy got tuckered out, but had a nice nap with Daddy's head as her pillow.

Will someone please invent teleporting next?

Day 2, Part B- National Holocaust Monument

Elder Reil encouraged us to visit the Holocaust Monument and I'm so glad he did.  It's a very somber place with big concrete slabs set at jarring angles.  It evokes a very melancholy feeling that is only appropriate.

It's a reminder to teach our children to stand up against tyranny anyway that you can.

Pindigen Park is on the southeast corner of the Booth and Wellington intersection, while the Holocaust Monument is on the northeast.  Across the street on the northwest is the Museum of War, pictured above with the 14 flags of Canada.

In the southwest corner is the Lilias W. Fleck fountain which was unearthed while renovating Lebreton Flats.  In the late 1800s, this fountain provided water for man, horse, and dog.  It was such a hot day out, I wish it still provided drinking water!

Behind the fountain was this lovely field of lavender.

Back at home, Macy finally flashed the camera one of her gorgeous smiles!