December 2, 2014 I don't know why I decided to look at this, well I do. Our daughter Caytlin is serving a mission and in the email we received this past week she said she is struggling a bit. Transfers were right before Thanksgiving and she was transferring to Greenville NC and was getting a new companion who is quite a bit older then her, but she will be the senior companion. She has told us she was feeling a little nervous about it. This week she is struggling and I had this talk I remembered from a past general conference that I knew would help her and make her feel better. I have looked for the past few days with no luck and then today it hit me! We had shared the talk I was thinking about on Cory's blog. I was then able to find it on the church website and print it for her. As I sat here and read it I was once again touched by what Elder Wirthlin had to say. It brought back so many memories, good and bad, that we had during our time there in Savannah. I remember just how much reading and listening to this talk helped me to trust in the Lord and Heavenly Father no matter what was to come. It played a huge part in my spiritual growth, in the growth of my testimony, and in helping me look for the eternal perspective instead of the worldly perspective. This talk was a big game changer for me. So while I was looking up this talk I began to read a little bit of the blog and i notice that we hadn't given an update after Cory's last surgery. I am so sorry for the delay. Please note that the surgery was done on December 10, 2013 so we are a little late with the information. Well his surgery went really well. They repaired his torn MCL and meniscus and replaced his ACL with his hamstring tendon. His recovery was quite extensive, but he has now healed completely and is doing really well. He has been taking dance classes at BYU and loving it and he goes dancing a few times a week. He is also able to play frisbee and ultimate frisbee again. So he is loving life! We also think he is finally getting close to picking a major and sticking with it. So we are loving life too! :D The only other news is that we had another grandson this past year. His name is Hartley Richard Lythgoe and he just turned one this past saturday. There isn't a day that goes by that we are not aware of how truly blessed we are. Each and everyday we feel the hand of the Lord in our lives, we continue to notice and pay attention to the little blessings in our lives each day. Those sweet tender mercies Heavenly Father sends our way are so special and I must say they can really pick you up when you are having a hard day. This whole experience has blessed us each individually as well as a family and that is something we will never forget. We have all seen how the refiners fire works in our lives and it brings a smile to our face. Enjoy this holiday season as if it were your last, make every moment count. We just never know what tomorrow will bring so make sure you enjoy everything you have. Make lots of memories, you can never have too many, and really enjoy the time you have with your loved ones. We promise, you will never regret it. Make this Christmas a Christ centered Christmas and have a great holiday season. We love you all. The Fife Family (Linda)

We just want to continue to say THANKS!

There is a new Mormon Message that talks about our opportunities to do good. Our hearts were moved that so many who did not know our son, stepped in and helped and supported all of us so wonderfully. Cory is doing really well. He will start at BYU in the winter semester full time. We love all of you so much and appreciate everything you have done for us. Love, The Fife Family

Conference Weekend Well this can you believe that it is conference weekend again already! Well todays session was great and Elder Holland was powerful and once again had very spiritual. Time has just been flying by! Cate graduated this past June and is now going to college in Cedar City. Corrine started 8th grade and is playing fall softball and swimming. Casey is pregnant again and is due i the end of November. She has been working full time as a ICU Nurse at Utah Valley Medical Center. Cory has been taking a business class online for this semester because he knew he was going to have surgery this fall. He worked for the Forest Service this summer building buck and pole fence, he loved working outside. This last tuesday he had his first surgery on his leg. They took out all the hardware,cleaned up all the scar tissue is his ankle and then did a bone graft at the top of his Tibia. The surgery went great and now he will have 10 weeks of rehab before the next surgery in December. In December they will repair his torn MCL, meniscus and replace his ACL. He says it is not a big deal, but he doctor says he doesn't know how he has still walking. Cory's answer is "you just do, I walking thru the mountains all summer working on fences". Well Cory is doing great and we all are doing pretty darn good. It has been a summer with a few surprises, but it is all good. Elder Nicholson will be coming home soon and we are all really excited for that! He is doing really well and baptizing up a storm. Aren't these missionaries great! They are all such an inspiration to us all. Well we will keep you all posted as the recovery progresses. Love you all. Dave and Linda

We are getting really close ! 3 weeks from Thursday! Can you believe it?

Well we will be heading to the airport Thursday May 16th for a 2:05 arrival time! We all can't wait and all the excitement is really getting a little nerve racking here at home. I am still not counting the days yet or I will drive myself crazy. So I just know it is his lasts transfer, I will count the days when we hit Mother's Day , until then he is on his last transfer. He has grown so much and continues to grow every week , it is just amazing to witness. Here are a few notes from his last email: Obedience (me): Yes. I feel that I am living in harmony with the Lord's will as best I am able. I realize that I fall short and make mistakes everyday, but I do my best to repent as soon as I can and then commit to doing better from then on. So far this process has been working and I find myself working with greater enthusiasm each day I wake up!!! I am finding greater joy in life as I live obediently. Study: This past week in my studies I have continued to learn about the Savior's Atonement and what it means to me personally. I've come to understand that through sincere repentance all of our mistakes can be forgiven. The great thing is that we don't have to wait for the judgement day to receive forgiveness, but we are able to feel it during this life. :) I have noticed that, and reognized more fully, that everything the Savior has done was performed out of a pure love, "charity." As I have pondered this and the importance of my call I came to the conclusion that because I represent Jesus Christ, the only option in my mind is that I MUST "love evrybody as Jesus loves me!" This past week I have been constantly reviewing the past 2 years of my life and what I've learned. The major theme that stands out to me is that as we love our Heavenly Father's children, and just give everything we've got ("leaving it all on the field" as my football coaches would say), my capacity to love grows so much and miracle are performed in front of my face... This increased love for our Father in Heaven's children has caused me to live more grateful for the blessings that I am afforded! I love this gopel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Church: This past week we saw 5 people attend church as a result of our efforts. We had 2 investigators there and the Ward just welcomed them in with such love!!! General Information: The Lord is just so G.O.O.D. This past week I've seen that as we labor diligently in behalf of our Master He will, without fail, ALWAYS pour out a blessing! I've seen areas that are struggling, and a new missionary comes and strives for exact obedience and miracles happen. It is through our obedience that we become worthy of the Lord's blessings and miracles. Our obedience is a measure of our faith, our trust in the Lord and His appointed servants..."Follow the keys." That was the last thing that I was told by President Bowman. Sure I struggled with accepting the changes @ first, but as soon as I decided to put my full faith'n'trust in you, President Jensen, I beheld miracles performed!!! It truly is amazing, even awe-inspiring to see the Lord's "divine signature" in this work as we are EXACTLY obedient. As we are willingly obedient we are able to qualify for the companionship and protection of the Holy Ghost, and as the world becomes ever more corrupt-we NEED that promised blessing and protection! I know that this is the Lord's work, that He always has His hand in our lives. I know that the Lord called Joseph Smith to be the prophet through whom the fulness of the gospel was restored to the earth in preparation for the second coming of the Messiah. I have seen my testimony grow exponentionally over these past 2 years, and I cannot think of any other way for the last 3 years to have panned out.... I'm evermore grateful for every experience I have had and am having because of the person I see myself becoming. I am so very thankful for the people that the Lord has placed in my life, to influence it for the better...Because of these people I am now able to see my true potential! I LOVE this gospel with all my heart, and I feel sorry for the person that thinks they can take it away form me on account of it AIN'T ever guna happen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you mom for the advice... and thanks for the concern for Elder Dattilo! ya know I think he might actually be your favorite of all my companions, evn more than Elder Snow. Elder Dattilo is so much like you and he has helped me to come to better terms with my casualties!!! ;P I am glad to report that he is doing much better now and has, through this trial of his faith, come closer to the Lord! Elder Dattilo is back to the same bright, cheery, bubbly person he was the 1st 3 days he was here. He and I are becoming the best of friends. Life is AWESOME (President Bowman's definition!) and the work here in Mobile is rolling forward with such great haste... It is so exhausting that I find myself taking more breaks, at the command of E. Dattilo... I'm finding that the more I just "shut my mouth, stop arguing, and do what he says" I tend to be happier and have much better days!!! It is also helping me to be more willing and submissive in everything else that is expected, required, or jsut plain axed of me. I am loving life and the man that I'm becoming.....It's incredible to look back and see what all the Lord has been able to do with a 19 yr old that was just stubborn as all git out, and to see how my heart has been softened and that I ain't afraid of being different ("Stop trying to fit in when you were born to stand out!"). That is a quote that I saw in the YW's room and it's helped me a good bit! Well that seems like a descent update...hopw you enjoy and that yall are all safe! Know that i lvoe all yall with all my heart and that I miss yall like crazy! Love Elder Fife P.S. elder Dattilo is my newest "other mother"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 1-This is Elder Dattilo... 2- Utah is the only state on this questionair...... I thought it was funny! So as you can see he is continuing to grow every week we hear from him. The blessings and miracles continue on thru this journey we have all been on. How grateful we all are for the love, support, many prayers, many fasts, and many kind acts of service we have been blessed to receive from all of you unspoken heros from All over the valley and from all over the globe. We can not thank you enough, but please know how much we love you all and that we pray for you and your families just as you have done for ours. Our families life is forever change because of good people like you who cared enough to reach out and help. We will be forever grateful for you all. If you can possibly make on May 26th at 1:00pm Elder Fife will be reporting in at the Cobblestone Building on Mill Road just north of 1200 South, right across street from Old Mill Elementary. We would love to have you all there, this mission would never have been completed without all of you and your love, support , and many many many prayers. Please come celebrate with us, it has been a job well done. Thank you. We love you with all our hearts. The Fife family and Elder Fife

Ok, so we're horrible at blogging when not a crisis!

So, I was reading through another blog of a child that was injured and left a comment. I thought, "I ought to update our blog on Elder Fife...I'll bet it has been a little while". What an understatement that is! February was the last post. Please accept our apologies.
Let me catch all of you up...
Elder Fife was last in Alma, GA. He has since been in Theodore, AL (right near Mobile, AL). He has had several different companions and has seen the work really progress there.

Before leaving Alma, GA. Elder Fife does like to work hard!

Just in August, we had to go out to Mobile, AL to wrap up some legal stuff and got to see Elder Fife and his companion, Elder Prince.

We got to see Elder Fife!!!

He is doing so fantastic. His Mission President challenged all of the missionaries to memorize ALL of the Scripture Mastery scriptures (you know, the ones they should have memorized in seminary!?). Elder Fife has found that he still has the ability to memorize really well. He has memorized all 100.

He and his companion got evacuated to Tallahassee, FL in front of hurricane Isaac. In an email to all of the missionaries (but I am sure it was aimed mostly at the Elders!) President Jensen said that he knew that many of the missionaries were praying to see a hurricane! And that all of their mothers were praying that they wouldn't. No your prayers are in direct contradiction to your mother's and you are to "stop it!". Linda couldn't have agreed more!

Elder Fife said, "It rained just a little..."

So, Elder Fife is doing great, loving life, loving every minute of his mission. 

His last email he sent to us included the following:

"I am honestly LOVING EVERY MOMENT that I have been given to serve the Lord!!!!! I honestly wouldn't change anything-past, present, and future (cuz I don't know what it holds???). That means that I wouldn't change my accident or any of it... because I know that without it I would not know what I know, the extent that I know it; nor would I be who I am today without it! I am so very grateful for the pain and suffering that I have been BLESSED to have gone through in my life....Now that may sound a bit crazy, but it really is a blessing, the trials that we face in life, cuz if ya think about it, God's gotta be trying to teach us something! Our task is to-FIGURE OUT WHAT???"

We are so amazed at the growth of our son. He is such an inspiration to us, and to so many others.

We love all of you, and keep you continually in our prayers.

Love, David and Linda

Been a while....

Just another road in Alma, GA

Cory is doing pretty well. He is serving in Alma, GA and is loving being in a small town. It is extremely rural (see photo!), and for a kid who wanted to live in the middle of a 1000 acres growing up, it is just right. The work is going well. He has enjoyed his time with Elder C. (hamming it up together) I will try and post some more pictures later. 
David

Elder C and Elder Fife "dressed up" for District meeting!

The Beginning of a New Year!

This year has been one to remember!  As 2011 comes to a close all of us here at the Fife's are grateful for each and everyday.  We have had a lot of fear, worry and much that was unknown, but with the help of our Savior and Heavenly Father we are doing great!  We look forward to a new year filled with a greater love, appreciation and understanding for our Savior, for the gospel, for our family and for the small and simple things in this life.

May you all have a blessed new year!  We love you!  The Fife Family

12/19/11 Email from Elder Fife

This is a good transfer!!! Elder Snow and myself are working with a young man named Daniel Jones who is preparing to be baptized on January 5, 2012... I am Way excited! :D Yesterday, we were talking to him about his baptism after church and who he would like to have perform the ordinances and he asked me to Confirm him and more importantly, he asked Elder Snow to Baptize him!!! We are both very excited for that... I know, from personal experience, the JOY that performing your first baptism brings. I know that it helps you to see the fruits of your labors... It is kinda like when I am teaching somebody, I can literally see a light bulb turn on as if they are saying,"Oh yeah....I remember that!" Working with Daniel these last couple of weeks has been just that. Everything we have been teaching him, he agrees with and is so willing to live/keep every commitment we leave him with. As we continue to teach him it seems like he is just radiating more & more light. He is soaking the gospel up! Daniel is literally an answer to, both mine and Elder Snow's, prayers. Annie Baggs who was baptized Dec. 8th is still down in Ocala, but she is active... We have stayed in touch with her and she said that she's been to church the last two weeks! From what she told me during her baptismal interview, I would say that she is DEFINITELY converted to the gospel. Then in working with less-actives, we have started to make some progress with Rachel Crowley, we found out who her home teachers are and are now trying to set up a day that we could go see her with them... should be soon.

My studies have really been great this week... I did a lot of soul searching and evaluating my decision to serve. I have come to the conclusion that I might have started for other reasons, but that I really am "still" out here for the right reasons. I am motivated out of a sincere desire to serve and out of love. Love for the people-those that I serve and serve with-,love for my family, and most of all love for my Savior! I have been given a lot of things, things that I am eternally grateful for. 

Cory's Test: Alma 34:40 & 41 - I love you! I will agree that the atonement is, quite possibly, one of the BASS gifts that I or you or anyone could ever receive...yes even better than me! Love, Elder Fife

12/27/11

This last week has been very different for us. Almost everybody that we are teaching is gone and out of town until school starts up again. However, there is a young black brother that we have been working with, Jerome, who accepted baptism for January 19,2012. I am so excited! Since the beginning of this transfer things in the 5th Ward have started moving along and is moving at a bit of a faster pace. I like it!!! Jerome is a solid young man who really just wants to come to know God and Jesus Christ better... That's perfect! :D During our lessons I am finding that we don't have to teach as slowly as I originally thought, but that he understands it all. I found that we just gotta get him involved in the lessons. He is such a blessing to us because at the beginning of the transfer we were praying to find several people who would enter into a covenant with God through the waters of baptism. We have so far found two and the 1st Ward sisters found Annie Baggs who was baptized into 5th Ward. Personally I wanted to find people to baptize for several reasons...1-to baptize while I'm with Elder Snow 2- to allow Elder Snow to experience the joy it brings to them and to help him to see why we do what we do 3- to remind me why I am where I am and why I'm doing what I do 4- to be able to help and to bless people's lives ETERNALLY 5- to see the joy that comes into their lives 6- to KNOW that I am building God's kingdom here upon the earth.  Another young man that we are currently working with is Daniel Jones. He is SOLID, he is truly mana from heaven...:D He is getting baptized on January 5th, the day after transfers. He's axed Elder snow to baptize him! :) He knows that might be subject to change, but if at all possible- He wants Elder Snow to baptize him. Then in working with Annie Baggs, she has been in Ocalla since she got baptized, but we've been checking in on her and she's been to church every Sunday down there. We have tried to work with less-actives, but they've all been out of town and said to call them after the break. My gospel study has been very beneficial to me...I've learned that I need to Humble myself because Humility is the answer to every problem that any of us will ever face in life. For example, if I'm struggling with obedience, all I gotta do is humble myself and submit to the will of the Father which comes through my leaders. The list of problems where humility is the answer goes on-and-on. I have set out to be more humble in all that I do! I love this gospel, I mean seriously...it is so simple!!! There is no need to make things complex, and even when we do-God always humbles us and reminds us that it really is just that easy!:D

It was good to talk to yall too! Hearing yall's voices was just so comforting...when I talk to yall on Mother's day, I gots an idea....but you will just have to wait and hopefully I won't forget.and Dinner was great, THANK YOU!!!! 

Ya know, I can't wait to eat some of Dad's "HEALTHY" food....I miss it so much!!! I never thought i'd say I miss healthy eating, but I DO!!!! I am finding that I DON'T agree with Southern Philosophy...Everything is (NOT) better fried! I have seen since this last week or so, I've put on 10 lbs. and now weigh 205lbs. I don't wanna get fat, I wanna stay healthy and in shape. Can yall please help me out and STOP sending me little "goodies" in packages. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE them, but that is the problem! instead, could you send me healthy eating tips and stuff like dat in letters (preferably not emails, so I have it at my house...). I love Ya'll and miss ya tons!!! have fun in Disneyland.....

Love,

      Elder Fife

                                           Excited for-Flamin Hot Cheeto's!!!!

                                           Preaching on a rock in the Free Speech Zone....Good Fun!

                                           Matt Rice's baptism on CHRISTMAS!!! (he's in 2nd Ward)

                                              MYSTIFIED...opening presents on Christmas!

                                                                    The Legacy Walk!

                                                 They tried to figure me out... NO luck!