Creating Connections that Count with Don and Sara Henderson

More insights came as we discussed how we connect with our ancestors through Family History, how we feel a sense of accountability and belonging which can sustain us today and even how we “witnessed History in real time” which might explain why we are drawn to certain things from the past - as if we have experienced it already- sort of a “Deja vu” feeling. The Spirit of Elija is real and alive today!

Don and Sara had the pleasure of traveling to Tennessee to visit with Dean and Diane Bundy. Not only are they avid historians, genius genealogists and a wonderful couple, Sara also gets to call them her aunt and uncle. Dean is practically a walking encyclopedia, one step above legally blind, he finds solace and friendship with books and history. Diane has been fascinated with Family History and genealogy since her youth. This visit was so fun we had to break it into 2 parts! Sit back, relax and enjoy getting to know some good southern folks that will leave you wanting to know more about your own ancestors.

Don and Sara discuss the science of how giving makes us happy and share personal experiences that will hopefully relate to your own life and perhaps even inspire you to be a better Giver of Gifts!

It's Thanksgiving week and what better topic is there than gratitude? We talk about our opportunities each day to express gratitude, how gratitude can beget gratitude and how the practice of gratitude can actually change us from the inside out. We hope after listening this week you'll take more opportunities to express gratitude to God for all of your blessings, express gratitude to those around you for what they mean in your life and that you'll recognize how consistently expressing gratitude can help you feel more joy and connect more with God and others.

Writing is important. Wether it's a love note or message of encouragement, to dedicated journaling, writing our own history or sifting through trauma and other experiences, there are so many benefits to writing. In this episode we discuss how we can better connect with God, with others and even with ourselves as we write down our the impressions we feel, what we are grateful for and the poignant feelings of our hearts.

This week we have an inspirational visit with Wendy and Tony Spooner. Wendy is a professional Genetic Genealogist and the author of “Once Upon an Irish Summer”, which she gained the inspiration for through her own family history. While Wendy helps others connect with their families professionally, she also was instrumental in helping her husband Tony to connect some of his family with his father. Throughout this episode you will feel the power of Elijah being manifest and it will encourage and inspire you to dive into your own family history. Check out Wendy's book on Amazon and watch for the release of her second one. If you're interested in beginning your family history we suggest FamilySearch.org.

Coming to you from Saint George, Utah this week, Don and Sara share some history and experiences that have shaped their lives and given them purpose for this podcast. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, they share through the lens of faith on their experiences with divorce, blending their family, single parenting and the most important, raising teenagers! In this episode get to know all the things that make up this couple and gain insight for what you can expect in upcoming episodes.

We'd like to introduce some amazing friends that have blessed our lives in so many ways. This Grace and Gift came through a special needs child named appropriately Lydia Grace. We learned how God is aware of all of us in need. We are all his children and all have desperate needs - to get from where we are currently to where He wants us to be eternally - and obviously as a concerned parent He is aware of us and loves us and blesses us and longs to comfort us as we are willing to receive Him. We discovered throughout this interview how God has prepared both David and Heather from their childhood with experiences that although seemed difficult at the time, actually empowered them and enabled them to handle with "Grace" this special situation to parent a special needs child. Even Sara, had been prepared with unique circumstances to have this "natural gift" which was actually a "nurtured gift" from God to have the capacity to embrace the role as a special caregiver and being this blessing into our family's life as well. Lydia Grace has strengthened the connections within their family, affecting the personality of her siblings to have more compassion and patients with others, teaching them how important service is in refining their character, and especially - how to see others as God sees them, as His special daughters and sons, who desire love and respect. It is so obvious to Sara and me, and many others how impressive these Proudfit children are and how they have been blessed with this special upbringing and special perspective. David and Heather recognize how they have been blessed to strengthen their Connection with God and rely on Him for so many things that seemed beyond their control and put their trust and faith in a loving heavenly father who is aware of their needs. They recount how God has sent "angels" to bless them, when no one else would know, in the form of others who responded to a special prompting or thought to reach out at the right moments. Encouraging us to be sensitive to promptings to serve, to reach out and recognize others in their times of need. God truly works though us, his children, to serve his other children in their needs. Finally, this amazing couple shares how their Connections with each other, in their marriage, has been strengthened through this adversity, which they see as a blessing, a miracle, a gift, or grace from God. We hope you enjoy this visit with our friends, and forgive the technical issues that might arise as the occasional 4 wheeled ATV or Razor buzzes by as we shared a wonderful weekend with the Proudfit Family at their cabin in the wilderness of the Flagstaff mountains. I hope that you can benefit from this visit as much as we did and feel like you can relate with and even embrace the Proudfits as your new friends through this Podcast medium. Thanks for allowing us to Create Connections that Count with the David and Heather Proudfit family! Don and Sara

Sara reunites with a few of her favorite girlfriends after returning from a weekend "Girls Trip" to Sedona AZ.  Sara, Stephanie and Sarah share how they met in middle school and how they've kept in touch over the past 30 years.  They share how they have been a strength to each other, principles that have blessed their friendship, inspired other friendships and even rolled over into their marriages.  They discuss children, marriages, and getting along with other women.  They address self confidence and understanding their eternal value and standing with their Heavenly Father which supports and sustains them.  Enjoy some good laughs, good advice and a few tender moments with these 3 wonderful women of faith. 

Hello Friends! We hope you enjoy reflecting today on our connections with God, with each other and with ourselves. In this episode we share why these 3 areas of life are important to us and hopefully inspire a thought or two in your mind and heart on ways to strengthen your connection with your Father in Heaven. Maybe something we said will inspire a minor change in your relationship with your loved ones. And hopefully you will feel more confidence in who you are as a child of God with your unique gifts and talents. There is a synergy in these relationships, the more you connect with God, the greater your view of your self will be. And as that Love of God permeates you, it can't help but affect how you love those around you, especially your spouse and family. And conversely, as you serve and love others, you feel the love of God, and see yourself as a vital part of His plan. “Lose yourself in the service of others in order to find yourself” is how the Savior put it. We attempt to share this message in our own unique way in Creating Connection that Count. These are the conversations we would share with our friends… so welcome friends… we hope you feel a Connection!