Craig Allen Ensign

Nate, Dad & I Colorado

 It is so hard to watch the man that you have come to look up to and always thought that he would be able to help you with everything that came your way will not always be able to help. 

My dad was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerois a couple of years back and he had been doing so  well until the last couple of years. Thankfully the whole time he was in a Bishopric and was the Bishop he didn't have any of the symptoms.

I never really noticed that he was getting worse until last year. When we went to Yellowstone it really was hard for him to walk around much and my mom and sister and I had to drive sometimes. But it really hit me when I dislocated my knee while hiking and knew that my dad would of been there in a heart beat but he couldn't hike to me. When I finally got of the mountain I started crying all over again when he met me at the bottom.

It sure has made my mom and I so emotional lately just wondering what he can and can't do. My dad is the greatest dad that anyone could ask for. He really is so caring and willing to help people and I think it is really bringing him down that he can't do  what he enjoys anymore.

He loved to go hiking and to go play basketball with us kids. Now he can't really do that. One of Nate's converts was staying with us for a while and he wanted my dad to hike to Timp  cave with him and I had to tell him that he can't do that anymore.

I truly was blessed as a child to be able to have him go hiking, sledding, skiing and be able to play basketball with us kids.  I have sure learned to  treasure the times that my dad could do that with us.

Family photos 2010

Abby & Dad Yellowstone 2012

Dad, Shelby, Abby, Nate & I August 2011

Dad and I Cleveland, Ut

Cruise 2009 Dad, Shelby and I

Mom and Dad Shatsa lake 2012

December 8 to December 16 2004

December 8, 2004 Wednesday

I have been reading The Series of Unfortunate Events, by Lemony Snicket. they are really good books because they drag me in. I can't wait for the movie to come out on December 17th. Nate and I will go to it. 

December 9, 2004 Thursday

Tomorrow is our ward Christmas party. My dad is going out of town tomorrow. He is going to North Carolina and won't be home until Sunday.

December 10, 2004 Friday

Today was the Ward Christmas party. We had dinner and a nice Christmas Program. Today in Seminary we were having a lesson that dealed with rope,  So Brother Blake told told one of the boys that if he could get out of the rope we could go to lunch  early. he tied the kid to the desk. John got out of the rope so we went to lunch early.

December 11, 2004 Saturday

Today Hillary Waldron, Chalyse Johnson and I went shoping for our sub for santa gifts. We are doing sub for Santa in Young Women's and Young Men's. It was fun. We learned great shopping skills.

December 12, 2004 Sunday

Today I volunteered to teach the Laurel's class next week. I'm kind of nervous but I think it will be fun. Next Sunday we have our Ward christmas program.

December 13, 2004 Monday

Today Lindsay Knight and her husband Keeper (I don't know her last name now) brought us Monkey bread. apparently her mom use to bring us monkey bread at Christmas time, when we lived in Texas. Lindsay makes good Monkey bread. I have Brother Blake as a seminary teacher this year (10th grade) in 9th grade I had Brother Bell.

December 14, 2004 Tuesday

Today for Young Women's and Young Men's we did Sub-for-Santa for two families. Tonight we just wrapped and took the presents to them. The lady I got to take them to Husband was in jail. But when we brought the gifts she kept telling us thank you over and over. It made me feel good to do this service for others. I went with Sister Hatch, Stephanie Scoresby, Hillary Waldron, Marrissa Bradshaw and Brittany Jesse. I thought we were delivering cookies to new people when really we were delivering the presents. But I am glad that I went. They had Christmas lights on their house. It was really pretty. It was a very modest home.

December 15, 2004 Wednesday

There has been an elf coming to our house and having us do service. When we did something without being asked we got to put a candy cane on the tree with a sticker that said what we did. We got stories to read on day eleven. Today we had to write thank you notes to three people. We then delivered them to those who we wrote the notes to with hot chocolate. I wrote thank you's to more then three people. The Christmas season came real fast. I  can't  believe it is only 10 days to Christmas.

December 16, 2004 Thursday

today Shelby and I went and stayed at Grandma's house while Nate, Abby, Mom & dad went to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir concert. we stayed because they only had four tickets. but we read our books and watched a movie "The Best two years." I love my grandma.

December 2004

December 1, 2004 Wednesday

Today was Rachel Chase's birthday. We called her this morning and sang happy birthday to her. Shelby & Beth decorated her locker. She turned 15 years old. Today I went to Nate's basketball games. They won both games, the 1st game was an easy win because they kids they played were same in the fifth and sixth grade. The 2nd game they were losing in the begining but won in the end.

December 2, 2004 Thursday

Today was my uncle Phil's birthday. I just remember something I forgot to write this summer. I am going to write it right now. This summer we painted my walls from that ugly color that's still in the closet to two shades of green. A mint green and a dark green. I love it. It makes the room so cheerful.

December 3, 2004 Friday

Today we had a late night and game night with Basia Lopez. We played spoons, Rook, Rummy, tied Nate up, watched Abby and Jordan fight over a chair. Basia is a new girl in our ward and neighborhood. She is fun and Funny.

December 4, 2004 Saturday

Today we went to Nate's basketball game. They won. His teammates and himself played very well. Today we also got our Christmas Tree. Dad put the  lights on and mom did the beads. Us kids put the ornaments on the tree. Grandma Kay gave us a train to go around our tree. It is an awesome tree. Also very beautiful.

December 5, 2004 Sunday

Tomorrow is my mom's birthday. For her birthday we are going to the musical "Beauty and the Beast. I can't wait to go. My grandpa died today four years ago. I miss him very much.

December 6,  2004 Monday

Today we went to the play Beauty and the Beast for my mom's birthday. It was an amazing play. I just loved how much Belle from the play sounded like Bell from the movie. It seemed just like the movie. I didn't want it to end I enjoyed it so much. The beast was also perfect.

December 7, 2004 Tuesday

Today the Young Women went and saw the movie "The Testaments." I love that movie, especially the part when Christ comes to the America's. We rod on Brother and Sister Jenkins bus. There are regular bus seats and couches. I sat on the couch. There were these boys in a surban next to us at the stoplight. The boys, Sara, Teisha were talking to each other through the window. Finally they asked each other for their phone numbers.

I love to see the Temple!

I love to see the Temple!

I love to see the temple.
I’m going there someday

 March 24, 2012

To feel the Holy Spirit,
To listen and to pray.

For the temple is a house of God,
A place of love and beauty.
I’ll prepare myself while I am young;
This is my sacred duty.

I love to see the temple.

I’ll go inside someday.
I’ll cov’nant with my Father;
I’ll promise to obey.

For the temple is a holy place
Where we are sealed together.
As a child of God, I’ve learned this truth:
A fam’ly is forever.




Yesterday I had the opportunity to be there as my cousin Ashlie went through the temple and received her own Endowments. I was her only family member that could be there. It was so neat to experience everything again with her as I couldn't remember everything I learned the day that I received my own. To be able to hear the counsel from the temple matron again and the promises that she gave made me realize that it really is one of the greatest gifts that I have received in my life thus far.

Our Bishop and Sister Mansell came down from Salt Lake as well. I am truly grateful for the opportunity that I have had to receive my own endowments and the blessings from being able to attend the temple often. I am so grateful that I am able to do the work for my family that has gone on before me that they too may receive the same blessings. I love to see the Temple! I have gone inside!