Christmas Greetings from Grammy

Christmas Greetings to my Family!

I can't say it's a winter wonderland outside. Like my little Charlie Brown Christmas tree, it's pretty dull and grey, although my tree has a pretty red ball on it!

I want to thank all of you for your prayers and greetings while I was in the hospital. It's not a place I'm used to be in but I guess old age finds you in unfamiliar places. I'm feeling lots better and working at getting my strength back. I missed my Thanksgiving visit to my family and especially my babies.

I'm tickled I'll have 3 more angels next year. Isn't this what families are all about?

I want to thank Linda and Mark for taking such good care of me. I couldn't have managed without them and I'll be eternally grateful.

I wish you all a holy and blessed Christmas and happy times with your families.

I love and cherish you all,
Grammy

3rd Sunday of Advent: Joy

Third Sunday of Advent: Joy

Traditionally the third Sunday of Advent is known as Gaudete Sunday, from the Latin for "rejoice!"  The third candle represents the joy that we have in the birth of Jesus, but it is pink to remind us of Easter and the blood of Christ even in midst of the joyous celebrations of Christmastide. Nevertheless, the sorrow of Christ’s suffering and death is blotted out as we triumph in his resurrection, and we anticipate the return of Jesus in his Second Coming with joy.
This candle can also represent the covenant that God made with Israel through Moses. On one level it represents the law of Moses, the blood of its offerings prefiguring the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. On another it represents the Deuteronomic covenant that the Lord will bless those who will have him to be their God and who covenant to serve him and be his people.

"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth" (Isaiah 12:2–5)
"And he said unto me: Awake, and hear the words which I shall tell thee; for behold, I am come to declare unto you the glad tidings of great joy. For the Lord hath heard thy prayers, and hath judged of thy righteousness, and hath sent me to declare unto thee that thou mayest rejoice; and that thou mayest declare unto thy people, that they may also be filled with joy. For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay . . . And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary." (Mosiah 3:3–8)
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you." (John 16:20–22)

Suggested Carol: "Joy to the World"

The Angel’s Words to Joseph:

"When as . . . Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
"But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.’
"Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son . . ." (Matthew 1:18–25

Christmas Letter

Merry Christmas from the Cottrell Family in Omaha.

Our trips this year include: Kansas City, MO for the temple open house, Nauvoo IL, Martin’s Cove, Yellowstone National Park with Mom and Dad Cottrell, Star Valley, Rexburg ID, Salt Lake City, and trips to Iowa. Greg and Lindsey also went to Washington DC for their anniversary.

Our children bring us great joy and happiness.

Isaac (5) is enjoying his second year of preschool; it’s hard to believe that he will be going to Kindergarten next year. He surprises us regularly on the things that he knows.

Sarah (7) is enrolled in her second year of dance and loves 1^st grade. She is becoming a wonderful speller and reader.

Adam (almost 9) was baptized and confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in February. He continues piano, started 3^rd grade, and qualified to be in the HAL program (high ability learner).

Lindsey is now trying to adjust to having one kiddo at home and having five afternoons to herself. She continues with digital scrapbooking and trying to teach herself how to use her DSLR camera. She and Greg just celebrated their 10 year anniversary.

Greg stays super busy with work at Union Pacific - sometimes too busy. We are thankful for his good job and the blessing it is for our family.

 

November/December 2012 Greg Cottrell Family

 

It is probley Time for a little update on the Greg Cottrell Family.

Sarah has been enjoying dance.

The boys enjoy buiding and creating with Isaac straws and contectors.

Greg had and wonderful birthday. His big present was an ellipical.

We had wonderful Thanksgiving in Iowa. It was fun to have the Baker’s there with us and that Grammy was feeling well enough to come and have dinner and visit for a while. Mom C. Did an amazing job and with food. Lindsey will never forget preparing freash rosemary and garlic for the roasted potatoes

.

The kids/cousin and wonderful time dressing up, watching movies, doing crafts, building train tracks, playing school,  and riding the train and visiting Santa at the Mall.

Somehow  Lindsey and Tahni got roped into doing the trampolin while we were waiting for Santa.

Sarah had a wonderful 7th Birthday. Greg brought her home flowers, cousin Kaitlyn came over for a few hours. She enjoyed all her presents and loved her Hello Kitty cupcakes. 

This year we let the kids decorate the tree all by themselves (well mostly), since most of the ortaments are theirs. (They get a new one each year), They did a great job.

2nd Sunday of Advent: Love

Second Sunday of Advent: Love

The Second Candle represents the love of God that he has shared with us in the person of his Son, and which Jesus Christ showed us through his sacrifice and death. This love, the pure love of Christ, we are enjoined to share with each other.
This candle also represents God’s covenant with Abraham, promising him an eternal glory and seed as numerous as the sands of the sea. The Lord further promised Abraham that in his seed all the nations of the earth would be blessed, a promise that received its ultimate fulfillment in the coming of Jesus Christ through Abraham’s line.

"Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted. But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands . . ." (Isaiah 49:13–16)
"And it came to pass that I saw the heavens open; and an angel came down and stood before me; and he said unto me: Nephi, what beholdest thou? And I said unto him: A virgin, most beautiful and fair above all other virgins . . . And he said unto me: Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh . . . And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms. And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father! Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw? And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things." (1 Nephi 11:14–22)
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." (John 3:16–17)

Suggested Carol: "O, Come, All Ye Faithful"  emphasis on the refrain, "Oh come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord."

The Annunciation to Mary:

"And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, ‘Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.’
"And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, ‘Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.’
Then said Mary unto the angel, ‘How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?’ And the angel answered and said unto her, ‘The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible.’
"And Mary said, ‘Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.’ And the angel departed from her." (Luke 1:26–38)

First Sunday of Advent

To help make Christmas a more Christ-Centered event, I share this information about Advent. It has been compiled by Elaine and Eric Huntsman and shared online.
 

I found it here:
http://hccl.byu.edu/faculty/HuntsmanE/Seasonal-eh/Advent/index.htm

Come back next Sunday for the 2nd Sunday of Advent: Joy

The Advent Season
Remembering the First Coming of Jesus Christ, Looking Forward to the Second

The term "advent" comes from the Latin adventus, meaning "coming" or "appearance." Advent is the season marking the four Sundays before Christmas and developed as a way of helping Christians prepare not only to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ in his First Coming but also to help them look forward to his glorious Second Coming. Although Advent customs may be foreign to many Latter-day Saints, we have found that, like so many seasonal traditions, they are a wonderful way to turn our attention more fully to the true meaning of Christmas
Many Advent traditions come from Germany, where Martin Luther encouraged its continued observance as a way of teaching children and families more about the significance of the coming of Jesus Christ. It came to be celebrated by both Roman Catholics and Lutherans there and has become a common celebration in many Christian faith communities throughout the world.
One of the best known Advent customs is the lighting of the candles in an Advent wreath, a simple or decorated evergreen wreath with four candles placed in the circle and a single white candle in the center. The wreath itself represents the never-ending circle of God’s love, that he is the same and forever in his love towards his people. The green of the wreath, as in the Christmas tree, represents the hope of eternal life that comes through Christ and serves a reminder of the freshness of God’s love and promises. The light of the candles reminds us that Jesus is the Light of the World, that his birth represented the coming of the light into darkness, and that we are called to reflect that light in our lives.
The outer candles are purple, the color of royalty, although customarily the third one is rose or pink. Traditions differ regarding the symbolism of the candles. One is that they represent the hope, love, joy, and peace that come through Jesus Christ. Each Sunday before Christmas an additional candle is lit, creating a beautiful stepped-effect as the previous weeks’ candles burn down further. Scriptures can be read and carols sung as part of the lighting, which we do before family prayer. The four candles can also represent the different Old Testament covenants that God made with his servants, beginning with Noah and continuing through Abraham, Moses, and David. The central white candle is known as the Christ candle. It is lit on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and represents the new covenant made possible through Christ.
The scriptures below for each candle come from the Old Testament, the Book of Mormon, and the New Testament. While not all families may wish to observe such Advent customs formally, we hope that the scriptures and thoughts that we have selected for each of the Sundays of Advent will be uplifting and provide meaningful reflection on the season.

First Sunday of Advent: Hope
The first candle represents the hope that the message of Christmas brings us as we recall the birth of the promised king. In the dispensations before the coming of Christ, prophets looked forward to his advent with hope. Now, through the Atonement of Christ we have hope for salvation from sin and death and look forward to his return.
The first candle can also represents the first covenants that God made with the patriarchs Adam, Enoch, and Noah. In particular, God saved Noah and his family from the flood and promised them life, just as we are saved through Christ and hope for eternal life through him.
"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn . . . " (Isaiah 61:1–3)
"For, for this intent have we written these things, that they may know that we knew of Christ, and we had a hope of his glory many hundred years before his coming; and not only we ourselves had a hope of his glory, but also all the holy prophets which were before us. Behold, they believed in Christ and worshiped the Father in his name, and also we worship the Father in his name . . ." (Jacob 4:4–5)
"Therefore Being Justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." (Romans 5:1–5)
"And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal . . ." (Moroni 7:41)
Carol: "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel"

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory over the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

 

O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

Grammy's Thoughts on the Election

Wednesday November 7, 2012

Dear Family,
Today we grieve for the loss of the country's best friend, Mitt Romney.We grieve for our country now heading as the U.S. of Europe. We'll no longer be the leading power in the world. As of now we're 7th. Soon we'll be no better than any in Europe. China will be No. 1.

We grieve for all who voted for our downfall. They will never hurt financially, and their leader will steal from those who have so they don't have to worry.

God will no longer be our guiding force if our leader has his way.

We are sad and confused and don't understand why this happened. Blame the Unions, it's that simple.

Bill O'Reilly hit it on the head when he said more people want "stuff" so they knew Obama would hand it to them. In other words, the government will take care of them, the rich will get their comeuppance, and they won.

Now we must put it all behind us, grin and bear it, and look forward to 2014 when we'll have a chance to win back the Senate at least. Then work to find a new leader and get rid of everyone who has saddled us with a future socialist country if we let them.

May God bless our family. May He bless our country.

With love to you all,
Grammy