SURVIVORS CLUB

Listening to the radio this week I was intrigued with the topic entitled the 'Survivors Club'. The commentator used his hour to discuss the need to follow simple steps to survive the economic downturn. As I listened to this I was reminded of the talk from Elder Wirthlin's October Conference address, entitled, Come What May and Love it. In his talk he gave 4 steps to react to adversity which will help lead us toward times of growth and happiness:

1. Learn to Laugh "The next time you're tempted to groan, you might try to laugh instead. It will extend your life and make the lives of all those around you more enjoyable'.
2. Seek for the Eternal With an eternal perspective we can take great comfort as 'the very moments that seem to overcome us with suffering are those that will ultimately suffer us to overcome'. Look to Christ and Live.
3. The Principle of Compensation "The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those who love the Lord will be added unto them in His own way. While it may not come at the time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with the tears of rejoicing and gratitude."
4. Trust in the Father and the Son "He who descended below all things will come to our aid. He will strengthen us in our weakness and fortify us in our distress. He will make weak things become strong"

"Adversity, if handled correctly, can be a blessing in our lives. We can learn to love it. As we seek for humor, seek for the eternal perspective, understand the principle of compensation, and dray new to our heavenly Father, we can endure hardship and trial."

Today after reading an address given by President Hinckley at BYU I came across a portion that was timely then as it is today,

"We are experiencing a serious economic downturn. You read of thousands of layoffs. This may be a difficult season for you. You worry much about your personal affairs. You worry about money. You worry about marriage. You worry about the future.There may be some lean days ahead for some of you. There may be troubles. None of us can avoid them all. Do not despair. Do not give up. Look for the sunlight through the clouds. Opportunities will eventually open to you. I finished the University of Utah in 1932. It was the very bottom of the most serious depression of modern times. The unemployment rate in Utah was then more than 30 percent. There was much of cynicism. It was a time when men stood in soup lines, and some committed suicide in despair. But somehow we managed to eat and keep going. Opportunities gradually opened, first here and then there. In 1982, I spoke at the fiftieth anniversary of my graduating class. I met there men and women who had become prominent in many undertakings. They had begun almost in poverty. But they kept climbing upward. They had become leaders. They had looked for the positive in life, praying with faith and working with diligence.

No matter the circumstances, I encourage you to go forward with faith and prayer, calling on the Lord. You may not receive any direct revelation. But you will discover as the years pass that there has been a subtle guiding of your footsteps in paths of progress and great purpose."

That address was given, September 9, 2001, two days before 911. It could have been give today concerning our economic down turn. The message given then is as applicable then as it is so today. Opportunities will come in time. Now is the time to be focused and faithful. We must be positive, faithful and diligently working to solve our problems. I'm grateful to have the truthfulness of the Gospel that makes it all possible. Through it we can all become survivors.

WE'RE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD....

With all of the doom and gloom in the headlines and the cold grey of winter we decided to escape to the Magic Kingdom and make our dreams come true.....at least help us forget our present worries......It may be our last HOO-RAH for a while with the state of the economy and national debt spiralling out of control...might as well spend while we can....

Anyway we loved the sun, views, and especially our children...What more could we ask for.

Home Improvement Continues

Home improvements continue despite our opportunity to list the house this year. Due to the downward economy we are hoping for a house rental option instead. It will certainly make a nice rental if anyone is so inclined. Send them our way. Check it out!

Colorado Dreaming

I love the red rocks. Last weekend we were Colorado viewing prospective home sites. I wish we could be there now. We enjoyed having Aaron & Kim travel with us from Castle Rock to Colorado Springs. Beautiful environs. No wonder they called the red rock park we visited, "The Garden of the Gods". The weather was unusually warm....high 60's and low 70'. Perfect weekend to be out and about, not to mention the blue sky. I really needed the sunshine since it is so gray in Washington at this time. We love the prospect of having a new and different environment to explore....we just wish it were alot easier in making it happen sooner rather than later.....

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS!

It’s beginning to look alike lot Christmas! Seattle has been inundated with a cold spell and lots of snow for the region. Because of the extreme cold temperatures—20’s, the snow is powdery…..just like the Rockies!! I LOVE IT! It is now sunny and beautiful, at least for awhile before the snow dumps again tonight and through the weekend. It is suppose to bring 90 mph winds so outages are predicted here…….Time to get out the generator---wait, we don’t have one…..Frank, I know what I want for Christmas. He left at 6:00AM this morning to pick up the last one before they were all gone.

I’m thankful I have been able to work out of the house and avoid the slick and unkept roads. When it snows here there isn’t enough snow removal equipment and it gets ugly. Cars were strewn between buses up and down off and on ramps to the freeways---YIKES. I LOVE THE SNOW WHEN I DON’T HAVE TO BE ANYWHERE AND CAN ENJOY THE WINTER WHITE WONDERLAND DRAPED AGAINST THE BRILLIANT BLUE SKY.

I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES--MERRY CHRISTMAS!

2008 FISCHER FAMILY
My soul delighteth in the things of the Lord. (2 Nephi 4:16)- His law, His life, His love. To delight in Him is to acknowledge His hand in our lives. As we commemorate this Holiday season we would be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge His hand in our lives this past year. We experienced several months filled with tremendous ups and downs. We were thrilled that Jonathan accepted a call to serve in the Brazil Rio de Janeiro North Mission. Shortly after Jonathan left, Aaron was unable to work due to varying physical ailments. Being diagnosed with Celiac and Addison Disease he was inundated physically, emotionally, and financially. My soul delighted with the overwhelming response from his friends as they helped shoulder his affliction with money, food, and love. I know that the Lord’s tender mercies and miracles, large and small, are real. They come in His way and on His timetable. Sometimes it is not until we have reached our extremity. Aaron was healed and is once again making his way back among the living. During Aaron’s struggles however, Frank experienced a few of his own. Frank suffered Encephalitis this summer and was hospitalized twice. I once again was amazed and touched as I delighted in the tender mercies that the Lord extended to Frank and I through faithful friends and family. From many prayers to food assignments, we witnessed the miracle of earthly angels. My soul delighted in the things of the Lord as I witnessed the power of the priesthood bestow promises of health to loved ones that were suffering. Amidst these family afflictions, miracles continued as we delighted in the birth of our first grandson that brought joy and hope into our family that once felt feelings of despair. It was such a contrast leaving the gloom of Frank’s hospital situation to find joy in another hospital with a floor filled with new born infants. A room with a daughter beaming with love for a child she so willingly labored to bring forth into this world. Just as in centuries past the miracle of an infant birth brought joy and hope to all mankind. We love to honor his Name. Our souls have been lifted and our hearts have been given cause to rejoice as we know that our Redeemer Lives!

We love the Lord, in Him our soul delights.

Look Kids The Garage has a New Cabinet!

The garage is even getting a face lift!