By Ricky Pieper

My name is Ricky and i like doing arts and crafts and doodling on paper. my favorite colors are blue and red. my favorite pastime is looking at cars and drawing them. I like to play guitar, skateboard, ride bikes, play basketball, football, and baseball. I enjoy reading action/adventure/mystery/and fantasy books. I also like building model cars, and looking at car magazines.

My favorite scripture is: John 3:16- "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever beleiveth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life."

My testimony : I know heavenly Father lives and in the second coming he will save all who followed him and they will be brought up to heaven to live with him and God. I know that Thomas S. Monson is our prophet now and I know heavenly Father will forgive us if we ask in sincerity. I know that Joseph Smith was the first prophet in the Latter Days. And i say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Family Book

In addition to reading the Book Of Mormon we are also reading a chapter book as a family. It's "Charlie's Monument" By Blaine Yorgeson. It's an incrediable book. I first red it at about Rick's age. We've deceided anyone who can get a copy should. Hint I bought mom's copy 28 years ago, and she still has not read it. So we've challenged her to read it, upon it's return. As we have been reading these items we realize there are some real things we want to keep close to our hearts. So we've made a family treasure Chest of simple truths. In it we have a slip that erads "God never makes a mistake." I guess I should explain that Charlie is disabled. We have Rocks that say " Love, Hope, Charity, Faith, Forgiveness, Random acts of kindness, Gratitude" We will continue to add Rocks as Charlie added Rocks to his monument, because each rock signifies a quality we want to add to ourselves or celebrate the fact that we already have it. In this book we are also learning the importance of random acts of kindness. And how those simple acts have touched our lives just as much as anyone elses. We have challenged ourselves to look for those moments we can add happiness to everyones world. I can't tell you how to explain the simple joys a mother feels watching her children grow physically, spiritually, and mentally. Some of you know the trials we have met in the last 5 years and they have been numerous, but there is finally a calming and a growth from all 5 of us. I can say I feel truley blessed to have these four boys in my life, and the gospel. It's amazing the strength we can gain from one another. Iknow the gospel is true and that Monson is a true prohet in these latter days. I know as we have continued to study the scriptures the simple and plain truths become so apparent more and more each day. I am grateful for my parents who add so much to me and the boy's lives. I am actually quite thankful for each of my brother and sisters. We may not agree on all subjects but each one of you add so much to my life. I can't imagine where I would be if just one were missing. Although I've lost contact with some off and on, no the times we've shared mean so much to me. Once again I thank Heavenly Father for the blessings he's given me and for showing me who I can become. Okay I suppose this entry is becoming long. Lest we forget the boys have learned the second article of Faith. "We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression" Eddie Ray is especially proud of himself. Those are big words!

The Fall

I'm going to spare you all pictures. But apparently I am still quite talented. While picking up kids at Edison I hit a patch of ice I almost caught my self. Except as I was catching myself I did it on pile of sand. The Good news is my head, Left thigh, & left shin Do Not Hurt. Unfortunately everything else does! The boys are so excited, Eddie Ray keeps saying let me see then when he sees it. He turns away, he just can't look. Dan made me a cool picture to replace the one he made in 2004. They are such wonderful boys.

Scripture Study

In addition to reading the scriptures this time we are trying to bring them to life. We bought Heros Lessons from the Book of Mormon by John Bytheway. It's an excellent tool. It can be purchased from Desert Book Club. We also bought American Mormon, I wasn't that impressed, and the RM.

Blogging

I can't wait to figure out my issues with posting. But honestly the best part about blogging is I get to reflect on current activities we are doing. Then I can truly sit back and be amazed by what all life has to offer. My boys loved attending Grandpa's solo. Lil Dan sang the chorus to Old Man River the whole way home. All he asked for at Christmas is he wished Grandpa would sing "I'll Be Home For Christmas". He wishes it we're on his MP3 player. They also enjoyed seeing their cousins again. At scripture study tonite for Jacob Chapter 3 & 4, We made tin foil plates. Eddie Ray was frustrated because the pen didn't work on foil so well. Tonight was really his first experience with engraving. But we all took the time to write in our Journals our testimonies. And we Thank Aunt Marianne for the cool journals we had to write in. As soon as the boys get a new journal they journal in it, even if they have tons of pages left in the last. It is just wonderful to watch the growth in all 3 of our young men. I learn so much from them daily. Rick and Dan both challenged themselves to make the next rank in scouting by the end of summer.