Let's Put

CHRIST

back into

CHRISTmas!

It's that time of the year everybody has been busy running around, buying food, presents, sending greetings cards, often spending money that we do not have ( Yes including myself) - why because it is Christmas!

Of course it is a time to celebrate, especially when you have small children, it is so nice to be in touch with Family and Friends that you do not speak to or see regular, but far too often the True Meaning of Christmas is put to one side and forgotten.

Let's All find time to fit CHRIST into our CHRISTMAS and celebrate the Birth of Our Savour.

PEACE - GOODWILL - TOWARDS ALL MEN

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

Thanksgiving and 2News at 10 Interview with David Osmond

Hope all my Special Friends in the USA had a great "Thanksgiving" - I just wish we celebrated it here in England, for me it seems a real time of warmth and Family.

It was good to wake up just before 6am this morning and to be able to watch the interview with David Osmond and his wife Valerie on KUTV 2News at 10, just minutes after it had been broadcast in the USA.

David revealed for the first time his illness was caused by the "west Nile virus"

David said in the Exclusive 2News at 10 interview "when things are going very well in your life don’t worry, it’ll change. If they’re going bad, don’t worry, it’ll change. It was Christmas Eve and we went to the MTC to perform for the missionaries and after I went home I told her, I said, ‘my toes feel numb.’

A week later, my whole foot’s numb. A month goes by, and it’s up to my knees. Then another month it’s up to my waist, then it’s up to my chest before I know it. Hits my hands, then my eyes. David: The whole time, having a hard time seeing, it’s like looking through static television. Vertigo sets in and shortly after, paralysis, the inability to even move. Then organs feel like they’re shutting down; the ability to breathe, digest and before I know it, I’m in a wheelchair and she’s (Valerie) taking care of me"

Valerie said : "We had a lot of faith and we still have faith that he’s going to completely recover. He’s doing great"

David: "I will never take another step for granted in my life. We knew there was a reason behind this and it’s that shift in perspective. Looking for that silver lining that brings the joy, brings the lessons that change your life. But I know it’s going to be positive, because I was told after our wedding in May, that I was going to be walking with a cane or maybe a wheelchair, and I’m walking today, and that to me is an absolute miracle.

More so than ever in my life, I have something to write about. Something with a message that really speaks to our hearts about our experiences in hopefully bringing not just ‘hey baby’ songs. And now that I’m doing so much better, my hands are back, my eyesight’s back, I’m playing guitar again…"

This is such good news for David and Valerie, they both are so happy and blessed together. David appears with his Brothers "Second Generation" tonight Friday 23 November and Saturday 24th November 2007 in a special Christmas Show at Thanksgiving Point, Provo, USA.

Watch the full Exclusive interview at the KUTV website at:

http://www.kutv.com/content/news/specialreport/story.aspx?content_id=bd42f79a-9079-4b9a-84f4-8903590a17da

David L Osmond "Exclusive" TV Interview

Copyright 2007 2NEWS at Ten

Anyone who read's my "Blog" regular will know the respect that I have for David L. Osmond as a most talented and amazing vocalist, from appearing on stage to the many tracks that he has had featured on albums. This Thursday in the USA for the first time people will find out about an illness David suffered in a "Exclusive" KUTV 2 News at 10 interview.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that a Friend in Utah may be able to record this for me or know someone who will.

Check out the programme trailer above.

Osmond's "Second Generation" Tribute

The "Legacy" Continues with The Osmond Family and that is True with OSMOND'S SECOND GENERATION - the son's of Osmond's Alan Osmond.

Friday 9th November the Funeral took place of their Grandpa Father George Osmond and the guy's sang at the funeral. The day before they recorded a special OSMOND'S PROGRAMME for Oprah which was transmitted across the USA, sadly I doubt it will get a UK transmission, but following the show SECOND GENERATION sang a tribute to their dear Grandpa, it is so moving and demonstrates the clear class harmonies of the guy's and lead from talented DAVID L OSMOND.

Check out the OSMOND'S SECOND GENERATION performance video from OPRAH - These genuine and most sincere guy's should have and release a new album with true classic performances like this, these songs last for Time not like many current chart records just for weeks or months.

FATHER GEORGE OSMOND 1917-2007

Osmond Family Motto - "All For One"

Father George Osmond - The Patriarch of the World Famous Osmond Family has "Returned Home" to be reunited with Mother Osmond.

My late Father was a Salvationist and they always refer to it as being "Promoted to Glory" which always gives me such a warm feeling. Father George will sure be met with "Well Done My True and Faithful Servant"

What a FAMILY Father George became Head of, 9 Children, 55 Grandchildren and 48 Great Grandchildren what a "legacy"

The OSMOND FAMILY over the years have given me great strength, my Prayers and Deepest Sympathy is with them now, may that same Strength be with them.

My thoughts are also with David Levi Osmond who I think of as a Dear Friend, David has truly inspired me and given me great strength over the years.

May God Bless You All - John

Books Books Books!

Last week one of my Dear American Best Friends Melissa was talking in her "Blog" about her love for Vintage Books and how much she is enjoying now sharing them and reading them to her cute little one year old son Jackson.

It made me think back how fortunate I was to have such a loving Family - from a very early age like Jackson I was introduced to books and before I started school I could read a little and write my name.

Now that upbrining I feel is reflected in the way my apartment is just being taken over by books, I just love them and still enjoy reading so much.

Looking back I started to think about the first books I read myself and loved around the age of six to eight and they came from the most famous author Enid Blyton (wrote of the Noddy in Toy-town Books) - she wrote a series of books about a group of children and about adventure and fun all taking place outside in the lovly fresh air, just like we also did, be it sunny, cold or raining - Mum used to go to Town shopping each Friday morning and once I had completed reading the latest book or a new one was release she would get it for me, I would rush home from school so excited.

Now it is mostly computer games or watching TV, some parents even encourage children to stay indoors for safety. Well it seems Enid Blyton and The Famous Five have had to change and instead of books to comic format and just look at the illustration from the first comic cover the children have to be oh so PC? - a lot may say that is moving with the times, but is it? I am not sure.

What do you think?

Mountain Meadows - Reconciliation?

11 September 2007 - Elder Henry B. Eyring of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day, made the following official statement at the Saints Mountain Meadows Massacre Sesquicentennial on 11 September 2007, in Washington County, Utah.

Dear Friends—

I speak today, by assignment, on behalf of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In so doing, I express their appreciation for the invitation to participate on this program.

It is important and appropriate that we meet together on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Mountain Meadows Massacre. We gather as relatives of the massacre victims and perpetrators and as unrelated but interested and sympathetic parties. We gather to remember and to honor those whose lives were taken prematurely and wrongly in this once lush and pastoral valley.

We believe it is our obligation to understand and learn from the past. For this reason, the Church responded favorably several years ago to the request of three experienced and able historians, Ronald W. Walker, Richard E. Turley, Jr., and Glen M. Leonard, to cooperate with their researching of a book about the awful event that occurred here a century and a half ago. The book they are writing is nearly complete and will be published in coming months by Oxford University Press under the title Massacre at Mountain Meadows.

Although they are Church employees, the authors have retained full editorial control and have drawn their own conclusions from the exhaustive body of historical material they assembled. They have been given full access to all relevant materials held by the Church. Two of the significant conclusions they have reached are (1) that the message conveying the will and intent of Brigham Young not to interfere with the immigrants arrived too late, and (2) that the responsibility for the massacre lies with local leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the regions near Mountain Meadows who also held civic and military positions and with members of the Church acting under their direction.

Although no event in history can fully be known, the work of these three authors has enabled us to know more than we ever have known about this unspeakable episode. The truth, as we have come to know it, saddens us deeply. The gospel of Jesus Christ that we espouse, abhors the cold-blooded killing of men, women, and children. Indeed, it advocates peace and forgiveness. What was done here long ago by members of our Church represents a terrible and inexcusable departure from Christian teaching and conduct. We cannot change what happened, but we can remember and honor those who were killed here.

We express profound regret for the massacre carried out in this valley 150 years ago today and for the undue and untold suffering experienced by the victims then and by their relatives to the present time.

A separate expression of regret is owed to the Paiute people who have unjustly borne for too long the principal blame for what occurred during the massacre. Although the extent of their involvement is disputed, it is believed they would not have participated without the direction and stimulus provided by local Church leaders and members.

We know, too, that many of those who carried out the massacre were haunted all their lives by what they did and saw on that unforgettable day. They and their relatives have also suffered under a heavy burden of guilt. No doubt Divine Justice will impose appropriate punishment upon those responsible for the massacre. Nevertheless, our continued prayer for their relatives is that knowledge of a God who is both just and merciful will bring a measure of peace to their souls.

In 1999, President Gordon B. Hinckley returned and joined with many of you in dedicating the monument that stands near our place of assembly today. The Church has worked with descendant groups since then to maintain the monument and surrounding property and continues to improve and preserve these premises and to make them attractive and accessible to all who visit. We are committed to do so in the future.

Having reflected and commented on both the past and future of this hallowed meadow, we conclude by expressing our love and desire for reconciliation to all who have in any way been affected by what occurred at Mountain Meadows 150 years ago today. May the God of Heaven, whose sons and daughters we all are, bless us to honor those who died here by extending to one another the pure love and spirit of forgiveness which His Only Begotten Son personified, is our prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Now is the time for full reconciliation between all parties concerned and hopefully this will start with the ownership of the land being put into the hands of a Trust representing all parties - In 2007 Peace can be shared by All.