It has been a full week! Here is a glimpse.... this was our aide station last Saturday morning for the St. George Half Marathon. Lots of fun together in the sunshine cheering on runners who were grateful and happy! We are grateful for great friends and neighbors we can call to come help us! Little acts of service make life so rich! Cute little S kept hiking to the top of the hill we were stationed near the bottom of, and then running down! We had our sound system playing music and B and J took turns talking to the runners. Little S LOVED hearing them talk to her and praise her for running into the aide station. Seriously, I think she did that hill... five or six times! She would run right into my arms, grinning from ear to ear, and after a hug and catching her breath, she said "I'm going to do it again!" What a beautiful runner! I am so blessed!
We got to attend a baptism service for a cute friend immediately after this fun. The day finished off with a fun time with Capture It Cute Photo booth at the multistake dance hosted by the Bloomington Stake. It was a fun, full day!Sunday I was released as the Primary Chorister. Sad. I have loved teaching those little people and sharing testimony with them every week. I will miss that dearly!
I was called to be on the Gospel Doctrine team. There are two other teachers, we will be rotating. One of those teachers is only in town about one time a quarter to teach, so I have been told to expect to teach every other week. I would so much rather sing with the kids!
Monday was Martin Luther King day. I was invited to attend a special "Conversation about Sacred Activism, Social Intelligence and Spiritual Leadership" hosted by my friend Janice B. It was fabulous as is everything she does. It was held at 5:00 so I went to that and then came home to do dinner and FHE as a family. The end of the conversation was a candlelight vigil in the Green Valley Labyrinth. I took my family back over for FHE there and we held our own vigil. It was a beautiful walk as we considered where we are in this universe and what our purpose is. Are we loyal to the right? I loved the quiet pondering as I watched my beautiful little ones carry their candles and wander. I am so grateful that we have the light of the Gospel to guide our steps so we don't wander aimlessly here on earth!
So this week I have been readjusting to new positions, loving being a Mom! I have been reading and studying quite a bit in the minutes I can find to fill that way.
I want to deliberate about what I do! I get to choose and I want to enjoy every minute here on this earth! We made it for a few bike rides this week, but not as many as last week. It is cold in the morning, but by afternoon our weather is beautiful. That makes it hard to want to get out of bed in the morning for a run, but all my kids want to be outside by 2:30! We love the sunshine!I have been reading this book by Power of Moms...
I am grateful for inspiration from other moms in the trenches too seeking for help as we love this adventure of life as Moms! I am so lucky! I get to love these little ones!I want to include some quotes from the reading I've been doing for my memory!
"Do smALL Things with Great Love!" - Mother Teresa
"Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.
“And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls” (Alma 37:6–7).
President Uchtdorf's Message in 2010 titled Of Things that Matter Most
Elder Dallin H. Oaks, in a recent general conference, taught, “We have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best because they develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strengthen our families.” 2
There is a beauty and clarity that comes from simplicity that we sometimes do not appreciate in our thirst for intricate solutions.Leonardo da Vinci is quoted as saying that “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” 3 When we look at the foundational principles of the plan of happiness, the plan of salvation, we can recognize and appreciate in its plainness and simplicity the elegance and beauty of our Heavenly Father’s wisdom. Then, turning our ways to His ways is the beginning of our wisdom.
The holy scriptures and the spoken word of the living prophets give emphasis to the fundamental principles and doctrines of the gospel. The reason we return to these foundational principles, to the pure doctrines, is because they are the gateway to truths of profound meaning. They are the door to experiences of sublime importance that would otherwise be beyond our capacity to comprehend. These simple, basic principles are the key to living in harmony with God and man. They are the keys to opening the windows of heaven. They lead us to the peace, joy, and understanding that Heavenly Father has promised to His children who hear and obey Him.
Brothers and sisters, diligently doing the things that matter most will lead us to the Savior of the world. That is why “we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, … that [we] may know to what source [we] may look for a remission of [our] sins.” 8 In the complexity, confusion, and rush of modern living, this is the “more excellent way.” 9
First, our relationship with God is most sacred and vital. We are His spirit children. He is our Father. He desires our happiness. As we seek Him, as we learn of His Son, Jesus Christ, as we open our hearts to the influence of the Holy Spirit, our lives become more stable and secure. We experience greater peace, joy, and fulfillment as we give our best to live according to God’s eternal plan and keep His commandments.
We improve our relationship with our Heavenly Father by learning of Him, by communing with Him, by repenting of our sins, and by actively following Jesus Christ, for “no man cometh unto the Father, but by [Christ].” 10 To strengthen our relationship with God, we need some meaningful time alone with Him. Quietly focusing on daily personal prayer and scripture study, always aiming to be worthy of a current temple recommend—these will be some wise investments of our time and efforts to draw closer to our Heavenly Father. Let us heed the invitation in Psalms: “Be still, and know that I am God.” 11
Our second key relationship is with our families. Since “no other success can compensate for failure” 12 here, we must place high priority on our families. We build deep and loving family relationships by doing simple things together, like family dinner and family home evening and by just having fun together. In family relationships love is really spelled t-i-m-e,time. Taking time for each other is the key for harmony at home. We talk with, rather than about, each other. We learn from each other, and we appreciate our differences as well as our commonalities. We establish a divine bond with each other as we approach God together through family prayer, gospel study, and Sunday worship.
The third key relationship we have is with our fellowman. We build this relationship one person at a time—by being sensitive to the needs of others, serving them, and giving of our time and talents. I was deeply impressed by one sister who was burdened with the challenges of age and illness but decided that although she couldn’t do much, she could listen. And so each week she watched for people who looked troubled or discouraged, and she spent time with them, listening. What a blessing she was in the lives of so many people.
The fourth key relationship is with ourselves. It may seem odd to think of having a relationship with ourselves, but we do. Some people can’t get along with themselves. They criticize and belittle themselves all day long until they begin to hate themselves. May I suggest that you reduce the rush and take a little extra time to get to know yourself better. Walk in nature, watch a sunrise, enjoy God’s creations, ponder the truths of the restored gospel, and find out what they mean for you personally. Learn to see yourself as Heavenly Father sees you—as His precious daughter or son with divine potential.
Cute B has loved YW Basketball this week! She made a great 3 point shot on Tuesday to help her team win their first game! They didn't come out on top for Wednesday's game but they sure had fun time playing! It was fun to watch and cheer for her! We love you B!
S and B (dad) have been working in the garage on a new project. His 4 wheeler has needed an overhaul for some time. They have spent several nights in the garage taking it all apart! They tell me they finally have the motor off so they can now take it apart to fix it! I am grateful for B and his desire to be a good Dad! The lessons he is teaching are life lessons! Happy memories learning and working together!
From President Eyring in October 2013 General Conference: Bind Up Their Wounds
As a quorum member, as a home teacher, and as a missionary, you cannot help people repair spiritual damage unless your own faith is vibrant. That means far more than reading the scriptures regularly and praying over them. The prayer in the moment and quick glances in the scriptures are not preparation enough. The reassurance of what you will need comes with this counsel from the 84th section of the Doctrine and Covenants: “Neither take ye thought beforehand what ye shall say; but treasure up in your minds continually the words of life, and it shall be given you in the very hour that portion that shall be meted unto every man.”2
President Eyring: To My Grandchildren October 2013
Life in families will test us. That is one of God’s purposes in giving us the gift of mortality—to strengthen us by passing through tests. That will be especially true in family life, where we will find great joy and great sorrow and challenges which may at times seem beyond our power to endure them.President George Q. Cannon said this about how God has prepared you and me and our children for the tests we will face: “There is not one of us but what God’s love has been expended upon. There is not one of us that He has not cared for and caressed. There is not one of us that He has not desired to save, and that He has not devised means to save. There is not one of us that He has not given His angels charge concerning. We may be insignificant and contemptible in our own eyes, and in the eyes of others, but the truth remains that we are the children of God, and that He has actually given His angels—invisible beings of power and might—charge concerning us, and they watch over us and have us in their keeping.”2
My message then to my grandchildren, and to all of us trying to forge eternal families, is that there is joy guaranteed for the faithful. From before the world was, a loving Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son loved and worked with those who They knew would wander. God will love them forever.
With the help of the Holy Ghost, all truths will be brought to our remembrance. We cannot force that on others, but we can let them see it in our lives. We can always take courage from the assurance that we all once felt the joy of being together as a member of the beloved family of our Heavenly Father. With God’s help we can all feel that hope and that joy again.
This is my theme lately! Love it! I can do one small thing, and then one more, and then one more, and before I know it.... it's not so smALL anymore!
This is one of the cute wreaths that the girls made in Girl's Club. They have shared several of them now. So cute and super easy! :)