Family Christmas Letter...

Many of you didn't receive our Christmas letter (due to our budget and printer problems) so here it is.  We wish you all a Merry Christmas and the Happiest New Year 2012.

 We hope this letter finds you and your loved ones well, healthy and happy.  We wish you a Merry Christmas and a wonderfully memorable New Year 2012.  May the Spirit of our Savior dwell in your hearts all throughout the year and that you may always remember the reason why we celebrate this holiday season.  We hope you feel of His love, grace and mercy every day.  We feel truly blessed to have each other and have the happy, comfortable life that we enjoy!  

In a nut shell . . .

      Sophia -6.  She is in 1st grade.  She has learned to read and has beautiful handwriting.  She loves math, plays soccer and she ran her first 2 mile race (and was pictured in the local paper).  She adores her daddy.  She is an artist; able to dray anything.  Gives the best hugs and kisses.  She is full of love.  She enjoys cooking and baking with Mom.  She loves to read, is Juliette’s best friend, and was a background player for a New Testament film project in UT for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

     Juliette - 9.  She is in the 3rd grade.  She loves to read, write and do math.  She has self-taught cursive writing and sings almost all the time.   She is full of love, tender hearted, plays soccer and likes it a lot.  She ran her first 5K, is an artist, an organizer, and was a background player for the New Testament film project.

     Eliza- 11. She graduated from elementary school and is now a 6th Grader.  She’s full of life, energy and is so valiant.  She is still playing soccer and she keeps getting better at it.  She ran her best 5K ever, she enjoys reading and math.  She says “Yes!” to anything she is asked to do at school or at church (i.e. singing a solo and doing her best).  She loves to make people laugh, experienced her first paid babysitting job, and was a background player for the New Testament film project.

     James -14.  He is in 8th grade this year. He’s a super soccer player, great runner who came in first for his age in a race.  He went to UT by himself for first time for 3 weeks.  He loves making friends laugh, and was a background player for the New Testament film project.  He really enjoys snowboarding and is a great student, excellent mathematician, and a pretty nice teenager (so far, heeeheee!)

     Rob – when not working has been my running companion.  He’s accomplished a lot and I love and appreciate him.  He’s a spiritual giant.  The best Dad, husband, friend, and missionary. 

     Francys – I am happy  being a mom, runner, wife, missionary, and home-maker. 

Family – Our year’s highlights were:  a Gulliver family reunion in Pasco, Matt’s wedding in Idaho, having Rob’s parents and Lisa visit us in Bellingham, time in Utah with my family and participating in the Church’s New Testament film project. http://lds.org/bible-videos (Watch ”The Wise Men Seek Jesus” segment and find us).

  With Love, Rob, Francys, James, Eliza, Juliette and Sophia Tobler

"Giving, not getting, brings to full bloom the Christmas spirit. Enemies are forgiven, friends remembered, and God obeyed. The spirit of Christmas illuminates the picture window of the soul, and we look out upon the world's busy life and become more interested in people than things. To catch the real meaning of the "spirit of Christmas," we need only drop the last syllable, and it becomes the "Spirit of Christ."

--Thomas S. Monson

 

New Testament Film Project...

With the recent debut of the New Testament Vignettes representing this Christmas season in celebration of our Savior's Birth and life; I have felt those wonderful feelings that I felt on set during the filming this Summer.  That wonderful experience of living as close to the actual scriptures was amazing.  Being able to dress, walk and think as if I was one of those who lived during the time of Christ's birth and ministry was unforgettable. 
I should really take the time to write about each day that I was (we were) able to be a part of this wonderful project, but I seriously could not describe justly all that I (we) experienced.  But I can give a little summary as best as I can: 
Eliza, Sophia and Juliette took part in the "Suffer The Little Children To Come Unto Me" scene, James, Eliza and Juliette in the "3 Wise Men" and Rob (was a Roman Soldier) and I in the "Cleansing Of The Temple."  I took part in 12 different scenes, total, that includes the ones mentioned.  Each day I came in (usually at 6:30am, with an hr and 20min drive each way, each time), I joined up on those days with my few new friends to read the scriptures, after wore drove, regarding that day's scene.
This was a wonderful experience, because it set a spiritual mood for us, we were more reverent and more understanding of what was going to take place.  We literally liken the scriptures each time and prepared our hearts and mind to re-live them.  Having been filled with the spirit and with so much love made this opportunity more significant.
During my last few days there in September, questions were asked about what we had learned from this whole experience as well as what we would tell people.  The common answer (I felt) was that we all had gained a greater desire to LEARN more about the Savior.  To study His life, to truly get to KNOW Him better, and strive a little harder to become more LIKE HIM!  The other question we asked was how our relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ was like?  How did we feel about it?  What were we willing to commit to do better, to improve or change such relationships, thus resulting in better relationships with our families and friends.  I came back full of ideas and desires.  I'm hoping these will last me a life-time that will change me forever.  One of my goals was to read "Jesus The Christ," So far I'm reading it and it looks like I'm gonna finish it, for once!
My main desire is to get to KNOW Him better so that I can truly LOVE Him.  With this will come more life changing experiences and improvements, not just for me, but for my family and those who know me.  I desire to become more Christlike, but I know I will come short at times, and that is when I will solely rely on the merits of Christ's Atonement.  I know who I am.  I know that my Heavenly Father Loves me.  I know that Christ is my Savior.  I want to become who I am expected to become here on this earth.  I'm hoping this will be my first steps towards becoming who I am meant to be in accordance to the Lord's Plan for me.  Thank goodness for the power and gift of prayer, and the empowering influence of the  Holy Ghost.  I want to rededicate my life to Him from now on and strive to live more like Him.
I can't wait to go back this next Summer, 2012, on set.  There's more work to be done and I can't wait for the new growth I will, we will, experience as we liken the scriptures on film again.  I so love doing the Lord's work and helping build His Kingdom here on the earth.  These videos will change lives and we are so blessed to be a part of all that change that will come to pass.



In the "Three Wise Men video" above...you will find James, Eliza and Juliette.  I know where I am, but I can't be noticed unless I point myself out to you.  Have fun and enjoy watching these amazing vignettes.  They are beautifully done.  Truly inspired work!




This vignette above is the one shown at the "First Presidency Christmas Devotional".  This is where the new vignettes were announced, and there are more to come.  Watch the whole devotional below.  It is inspiring and so uplifting.  If you would like to just read or watch each talk individually go to this link: http://lds.org/broadcasts/archive/christmas-devotional/2011/12?lang=eng and choose.

There is no better time than now, this very Christmas season, for all of us to rededicate ourselves to the principles taught by Jesus Christ.

Because He came to earth, we have a perfect example to follow. As we strive to become more like Him, we will have joy and happiness in our lives and peace each day of the year. It is His example which, if followed, stirs within us more kindness and love, more respect and concern for others.

Because He came, there is meaning to our mortal existence.

Because He came, we know how to reach out to those in trouble or distress, wherever they may be.

Because He came, death has lost its sting, the grave its victory. We will live again because He came.

Because He came and paid for our sins, we have the opportunity to gain eternal life.

Because He came, we are gathered tonight to worship Him, in bonds of brotherhood and love.

By President Thomas S. Monson

First Presidency Christmas Devotional, 2011