1. How old is this young man?
2. Did he think of that question on his own?
Such a sweet, sweet boy. I was not expecting his emotional response, and that made watching the video worth it to me.
Showing posts with label church. Show all posts
Showing posts with label church. Show all posts
Friday, May 16, 2014
Sunday, April 13, 2014
Church service in the 21st century, part 2
Pretty soon after speaking in my own ward, I was asked to speak in the Spanish branch that meets in our building. The the Spanish branch children and youth attend our Primary and Young Women/Men meetings in English, and then have their own sacrament meeting in Spanish immediately following the conclusion of our meetings. So that makes me their Primary President, too. The Branch President asked that one of my counselors speak, and that the Activity Days Leader also speak, and that I be the last speaker.
After thinking and praying, I decided to give essentially the same talk, so I rewrote it in Spanish. As I sat down it occurred to me that I could have lots of time to speak or no time, but that it was more probable that I'd have no time to talk, and that I should be prepared to just share my testimony. The Activity Days Leader, who has known me for most of my life, shared the story of how she came to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was very personal, but also very similar to an experience I had written in and out of my talk several times, and had finally decided not to share due to the personal nature of the experience and time constraints.
Fast forward to my turn to speak. I looked at the clock and saw that I had about three minutes before the meeting was supposed to end. President Moore told me to take about seven minutes, and as I looked around at everyone, I felt impressed to set my prepared talk down and only tell the story of how the Lord answered my prayers upon finding out about Elijah's heart defect. My original talk was about the gift of the Holy Ghost and personal revelation, and I had intended the story to be personal example of receiving revelation.
I found it interesting that the paragraph I had cut out of my talk in the first ward was my entire talk in the Spanish branch. I'm glad I had prepared.
After thinking and praying, I decided to give essentially the same talk, so I rewrote it in Spanish. As I sat down it occurred to me that I could have lots of time to speak or no time, but that it was more probable that I'd have no time to talk, and that I should be prepared to just share my testimony. The Activity Days Leader, who has known me for most of my life, shared the story of how she came to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was very personal, but also very similar to an experience I had written in and out of my talk several times, and had finally decided not to share due to the personal nature of the experience and time constraints.
Fast forward to my turn to speak. I looked at the clock and saw that I had about three minutes before the meeting was supposed to end. President Moore told me to take about seven minutes, and as I looked around at everyone, I felt impressed to set my prepared talk down and only tell the story of how the Lord answered my prayers upon finding out about Elijah's heart defect. My original talk was about the gift of the Holy Ghost and personal revelation, and I had intended the story to be personal example of receiving revelation.
I found it interesting that the paragraph I had cut out of my talk in the first ward was my entire talk in the Spanish branch. I'm glad I had prepared.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Homecoming
Last fall when I was making holiday plans, I asked my out-of-town sister if they were coming to Texas for Christmas. She said she wanted to come in February when our youngest brother got home from his mission instead. That sounded like a great idea to us, as well as a potential photo opportunity for my Dad and siblings since the last family photo we took was in 2011. My brother Mark was still on his mission. The last time we had a family picture made with everyone there was ten years ago.
Once we found out when Matthew would be speaking in church, we started talking photographers, meals, and fun activities for the kids, and things kind ofgot out of hand developed into a full-blown family reunion. It was really fun to have aunts and uncles and cousins arrive over several days, so we started out slowly and then went into crowd control mode Saturday and Sunday.
Friday afternoon we met for a picnic lunch and a tour of the train museum at the Amtrak station in Temple, Texas. The push carts were a big hit.
Saturday we beat the rain and had a great family photo shoot at this park I didn't even know existed near Waco. Waterfall, stone quarry, cave, green grass, but not quite spring yet.
Saturday afternoon we had a "talent" show for the grandchildren, featuring piano playing, dancing, jokes, tumbling, and lots of belting out "Let It Go" from the movie Frozen. We had dinner and surprise cookies for my brother William's birthday.
Sunday morning we all went to sacrament meeting together, and I remembered that I should probably think about how Primary was going to handle twenty visiting children. I had also gotten permission for my family to sing an arrangement of "Abide With Me, 'Tis Eventide." My best family memories growing up involve singing, so this was a highlight for me.
We loved spending our Spring Break with cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandpa. We loved being together to welcome Matthew home. Hopefully we won't have to wait another ten years to do it again!
Megan Kunz Photography
Once we found out when Matthew would be speaking in church, we started talking photographers, meals, and fun activities for the kids, and things kind of
Friday afternoon we met for a picnic lunch and a tour of the train museum at the Amtrak station in Temple, Texas. The push carts were a big hit.
Evan, Garin, Caleb, Jack
Ellen, Karen, Eva, Rose
Liam, Lucia, MaryEllen, Jill
Eva, Jill, Ellen, Claire, Hannah, Rose, MaryEllen, Karen, Lucia
Lots of cousins, who immediately got up when our tour guide started explaining why we don't play on railroad tracks. Good thing these don't actually go anywhere.
Another try for cousins in front of the locomotive. Lots of wiggles in this crowd of nine years old and younger.
Saturday we beat the rain and had a great family photo shoot at this park I didn't even know existed near Waco. Waterfall, stone quarry, cave, green grass, but not quite spring yet.
Artistic Images by Brigham Mayfield
Saturday afternoon we had a "talent" show for the grandchildren, featuring piano playing, dancing, jokes, tumbling, and lots of belting out "Let It Go" from the movie Frozen. We had dinner and surprise cookies for my brother William's birthday.
Sunday morning we all went to sacrament meeting together, and I remembered that I should probably think about how Primary was going to handle twenty visiting children. I had also gotten permission for my family to sing an arrangement of "Abide With Me, 'Tis Eventide." My best family memories growing up involve singing, so this was a highlight for me.
We loved spending our Spring Break with cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandpa. We loved being together to welcome Matthew home. Hopefully we won't have to wait another ten years to do it again!
Friday, February 28, 2014
Church service in the 21st century
On a Monday evening I got a text from a number not programmed in my phone asking if the Primary Presidency (me and two counselors) would be willing to speak the following Sunday. I hesitated a moment, and then texted back, "In the first ward?" (We attend the Waco 1st ward) The next message identified the bishop's counselor who was texting me, and after I agreed and asked what topic we should speak about, he asked me if there was anything in particular we wanted to share with parents of the primary-age children in the ward. We agreed on topics related to the primary theme for the year, "Families Are Forever."
Then I texted my two counselors with the fantastic news that I had accepted an assignment to speak on their behalf for the coming Sunday. They took it really well and got right to work. Sacrament meeting was really wonderful, and it was the first time I have ever been the concluding speaker. I could have had no time left to speak or way too much time left to speak, but it turns out I had just enough time to give my talk, minus a personal experience that I wasn't sure I wanted to share anyway. For posterity (and the purposes of an upcoming post) here is my talk:
I love the story Elder Funk of the Seventy told in GeneralConference last October about an Elder Pokhrel from Nepal. “After being a member of the Church for only two years, he was called to serve in the India Bangalore mission, and English-speaking mission. He would tell you he was not well prepared. That was understandable. He had never seen a missionary until he was one, because no young missionaries serve in Nepal. He did not read English well enough to understand the instructions included with his call. When he reported to the missionary training center, instead of bringing nice slacks, white shirts, and ties, he packed, in his words, ‘five pairs of denim jeans, a couple of T-shirts, and a lot of hair gel.’”
I received a copy of the Church Handbook when I was called to serve in the Primary Presidency, and one of my first thoughts was, “Great! I will read this manual and it will tell me everything I need to know to do my calling.” There are lots of good guidelines and instructions in the Handbook. As I was recently re-reading sections, I opened to the introduction, where the second paragraph states, “Church leaders seek personal revelation to help them learn and fulfill the duties of their callings.” Now, as Sister Nava has reminded us, the family is the most basic and most important unit of the Church. We can read the same paragraph as follows: “Church members seek personal revelation to help them learn and fulfill the duties of their callings.” or “Parents and other family members seek personal revelation to help them learn and fulfill the duties of their callings.”
We have many resources to help us in our eternal callings as members of families, but the beginning and end of those resources is personal revelation through the gift of the Holy Ghost.
In John 5:39 we read Jesus’ response to Jewish leaders who persecuted him and sought to kill him for healing a man at the pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath. “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”
Studying the scriptures helps us understand the gospel, the commandments, the consequences of making good or bad choices. Reading accounts of righteous and wicked men and women in the scriptures helps us “see” how to return to our Heavenly Father. Nephi tells us to “liken” the scriptures to ourselves. We read in the Book of Mormon of Nephi’s personal life experiences. He was asked to do many things that he had never seen others do before. He was led to get the plates of brass from Laban, to build a boat, to sail to a new land, to lead, teach, and organize his family. At the end of his life, in teaching his people about the importance of baptism, he tells them, “Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do” (2 Ne 31:17).
Nephi, who had become a great prophet and leader to his people, was their example. He wanted them to be more spiritually self-reliant. In 2 Nephi 32 we read, “And now, behold, my beloved brethren, I suppose that ye ponder somewhat in your hearts concerning that which ye should do after ye have entered in by the way... Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do... For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do.”
If we will study the words of Christ as found in the scriptures and in the words of our living prophet, we invite the Holy Ghost and personal revelation.
We should also seek personal revelation through prayer. Nephi continues to address his people in 2 Nephi 32, “And now, my beloved brethren, I perceive that ye ponder still in your hearts; and it grieveth me that I must speak concerning this thing. For if ye would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray ye would know that ye must pray; for the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray. But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.”
In the October 2008 General Conference, Elder Bednar taught “Prayer is communication to Heavenly Father from His sons and daughters on earth...Revelation is communication from Heavenly Father to His children on earth... The revelations are conveyed through the Holy Ghost... the witness of and messenger for the Father and the Son.” Elder Bednar goes on to give and example of how our morning prayers can be compared to the spiritual creation of our day as we kneel and ask our Father to help us with specific challenges and assignments. As we go throughout the day, we can discern heavenly help and strength and offer silent prayers of gratitude. In our evening prayers, we review, report, repent, and prepare for a new day and new opportunities. I quote Elder Bednar, “Morning and evening prayers—and all of the prayers in between—are not unrelated, discrete events; rather, they are linked together each day and across days, weeks, months, and even years. This is in part how we fulfill the scriptual admonition to ‘pray always.’ Such meaningful prayers are instrumental in obtaining the highest blessings God holds in store for his faithful children.”
After being checked by an angelic visitation in his riotous youth, Alma the Younger went on to become a righteous teacher, leader, and example. He held political and civic responsibilities as well as priesthood leadership responsibilities. The time came when he felt impressed to give up being chief judge of the Nephites and to devote all of his time and energy to teaching the gospel. As he teaches, he tells the people “For I am called to speak after this manner, according to the holy order of God, which is in Christ Jesus; yea, I am commanded to stand and testify unto this people the things which have been spoken by our fathers concerning the things which are to come. And this is not all. Do ye not suppose that I know of these things myself? Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety? Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me.”
In addition to seeking personal revelation through prayer and scripture study, we should seek personal revelation through obedience and service.
Let’s return to the account of Elder Pokhrel from Nepal. Elder Funk relates, “Even after he obtained appropriate clothing, he said he felt inadequate every day during the first few weeks.” English was difficult. He was hungry, tired, and homesick, he felt weak. He prayed for help and felt comforted. “Though missionary work was new and challenging for Elder Pokhrel, he served with great faith and faithfulness, seeking to understand and follow what he was learning from the scriptures, Preach My Gospel, and his mission leaders. He became a powerful teacher of the gospel – in English—and an excellent leader. After his mission and some time in Nepal, he returned to India to continue his education. Since January [2013] he has served as a branch president in New Delhi. Because of the real growth he experienced as a missionary, he continues to contribute to the real growth of the Church in India.”
President Ezra Taft Benson taught, “Without the Spirit, you will never succeed regardless of your talent and ability. Elder Richard G. Scott counseled, “When we obey the commandments of the Lord and serve His children unselfishly, the natural consequence is power from God—power to do more than we can do by ourselves. Our insights, our talents, our abilities are expanded because we receive strength and power from the Lord.”
Nephi and Alma and Elder Pokhrel give us an example of lives led by the Spirit. I can think of others I know personally whose lives have been led by the Spirit. Invariably, their lives have followed a pattern of scripture study, prayer, obedience and service.
As we make and keep sacred covenants, and as we make eternal families and exaltation in the celestial kingdom our goal, let us remember 1 Nephi 18:2. Nephi tells us about building the ship. We are probably not going to be called on to build a ship. So think of building a family, or a ward, or a testimony as I read this verse. “Now I, Nephi, did not work the timbers after the manner which was learned by men, neither did I build the ship after the manner of men; but I did build it after the manner which the Lord had shown unto me; wherefore, it was not after the manner of men. Verse 3: “And I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things.”
In an earlier account, Nephi mentions being carried to a mountaintop by the Spirit. Here he says he went into the mount oft, and I don’t think he got a ride every time. I did some hiking in the mountains in my college days, and it is definitely not as convenient as kneeling down by my bed or going into the closet to pray. And the higher up the mountain you go, the more difficult it gets. In seeking personal revelation, there is a price to pay. But with both mountain climbing and seeking to be led by the Spirit, the view is worth the effort and struggle.
I end with the song, “I Am a Child of God.” I have always understood the chorus to be the plea of a child to a parent or leader. Really, it is our Father, who through the gift of the Holy Ghost, leads us, guides us, walks beside us in our valleys of shadow and on our mountain tops. He helps us find the way. It is the Spirit who teaches us all that we must do to live with our Father again some day. Let us receive the Holy Ghost. Let us invite personal revelation. Let us be led home by the Spirit.
Then I texted my two counselors with the fantastic news that I had accepted an assignment to speak on their behalf for the coming Sunday. They took it really well and got right to work. Sacrament meeting was really wonderful, and it was the first time I have ever been the concluding speaker. I could have had no time left to speak or way too much time left to speak, but it turns out I had just enough time to give my talk, minus a personal experience that I wasn't sure I wanted to share anyway. For posterity (and the purposes of an upcoming post) here is my talk:
The Gift of the Holy Ghost and Personal Revelation
I love the story Elder Funk of the Seventy told in GeneralConference last October about an Elder Pokhrel from Nepal. “After being a member of the Church for only two years, he was called to serve in the India Bangalore mission, and English-speaking mission. He would tell you he was not well prepared. That was understandable. He had never seen a missionary until he was one, because no young missionaries serve in Nepal. He did not read English well enough to understand the instructions included with his call. When he reported to the missionary training center, instead of bringing nice slacks, white shirts, and ties, he packed, in his words, ‘five pairs of denim jeans, a couple of T-shirts, and a lot of hair gel.’”
I received a copy of the Church Handbook when I was called to serve in the Primary Presidency, and one of my first thoughts was, “Great! I will read this manual and it will tell me everything I need to know to do my calling.” There are lots of good guidelines and instructions in the Handbook. As I was recently re-reading sections, I opened to the introduction, where the second paragraph states, “Church leaders seek personal revelation to help them learn and fulfill the duties of their callings.” Now, as Sister Nava has reminded us, the family is the most basic and most important unit of the Church. We can read the same paragraph as follows: “Church members seek personal revelation to help them learn and fulfill the duties of their callings.” or “Parents and other family members seek personal revelation to help them learn and fulfill the duties of their callings.”
We have many resources to help us in our eternal callings as members of families, but the beginning and end of those resources is personal revelation through the gift of the Holy Ghost.
I would like to share some thoughts on seeking personal
revelation with you today. First, we should seek personal revelation through
scripture study.
In John 5:39 we read Jesus’ response to Jewish leaders who persecuted him and sought to kill him for healing a man at the pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath. “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”
Studying the scriptures helps us understand the gospel, the commandments, the consequences of making good or bad choices. Reading accounts of righteous and wicked men and women in the scriptures helps us “see” how to return to our Heavenly Father. Nephi tells us to “liken” the scriptures to ourselves. We read in the Book of Mormon of Nephi’s personal life experiences. He was asked to do many things that he had never seen others do before. He was led to get the plates of brass from Laban, to build a boat, to sail to a new land, to lead, teach, and organize his family. At the end of his life, in teaching his people about the importance of baptism, he tells them, “Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do” (2 Ne 31:17).
Nephi, who had become a great prophet and leader to his people, was their example. He wanted them to be more spiritually self-reliant. In 2 Nephi 32 we read, “And now, behold, my beloved brethren, I suppose that ye ponder somewhat in your hearts concerning that which ye should do after ye have entered in by the way... Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do... For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do.”
If we will study the words of Christ as found in the scriptures and in the words of our living prophet, we invite the Holy Ghost and personal revelation.
We should also seek personal revelation through prayer. Nephi continues to address his people in 2 Nephi 32, “And now, my beloved brethren, I perceive that ye ponder still in your hearts; and it grieveth me that I must speak concerning this thing. For if ye would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray ye would know that ye must pray; for the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray. But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.”
In the October 2008 General Conference, Elder Bednar taught “Prayer is communication to Heavenly Father from His sons and daughters on earth...Revelation is communication from Heavenly Father to His children on earth... The revelations are conveyed through the Holy Ghost... the witness of and messenger for the Father and the Son.” Elder Bednar goes on to give and example of how our morning prayers can be compared to the spiritual creation of our day as we kneel and ask our Father to help us with specific challenges and assignments. As we go throughout the day, we can discern heavenly help and strength and offer silent prayers of gratitude. In our evening prayers, we review, report, repent, and prepare for a new day and new opportunities. I quote Elder Bednar, “Morning and evening prayers—and all of the prayers in between—are not unrelated, discrete events; rather, they are linked together each day and across days, weeks, months, and even years. This is in part how we fulfill the scriptual admonition to ‘pray always.’ Such meaningful prayers are instrumental in obtaining the highest blessings God holds in store for his faithful children.”
After being checked by an angelic visitation in his riotous youth, Alma the Younger went on to become a righteous teacher, leader, and example. He held political and civic responsibilities as well as priesthood leadership responsibilities. The time came when he felt impressed to give up being chief judge of the Nephites and to devote all of his time and energy to teaching the gospel. As he teaches, he tells the people “For I am called to speak after this manner, according to the holy order of God, which is in Christ Jesus; yea, I am commanded to stand and testify unto this people the things which have been spoken by our fathers concerning the things which are to come. And this is not all. Do ye not suppose that I know of these things myself? Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety? Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me.”
In addition to seeking personal revelation through prayer and scripture study, we should seek personal revelation through obedience and service.
Let’s return to the account of Elder Pokhrel from Nepal. Elder Funk relates, “Even after he obtained appropriate clothing, he said he felt inadequate every day during the first few weeks.” English was difficult. He was hungry, tired, and homesick, he felt weak. He prayed for help and felt comforted. “Though missionary work was new and challenging for Elder Pokhrel, he served with great faith and faithfulness, seeking to understand and follow what he was learning from the scriptures, Preach My Gospel, and his mission leaders. He became a powerful teacher of the gospel – in English—and an excellent leader. After his mission and some time in Nepal, he returned to India to continue his education. Since January [2013] he has served as a branch president in New Delhi. Because of the real growth he experienced as a missionary, he continues to contribute to the real growth of the Church in India.”
President Ezra Taft Benson taught, “Without the Spirit, you will never succeed regardless of your talent and ability. Elder Richard G. Scott counseled, “When we obey the commandments of the Lord and serve His children unselfishly, the natural consequence is power from God—power to do more than we can do by ourselves. Our insights, our talents, our abilities are expanded because we receive strength and power from the Lord.”
Nephi and Alma and Elder Pokhrel give us an example of lives led by the Spirit. I can think of others I know personally whose lives have been led by the Spirit. Invariably, their lives have followed a pattern of scripture study, prayer, obedience and service.
As we make and keep sacred covenants, and as we make eternal families and exaltation in the celestial kingdom our goal, let us remember 1 Nephi 18:2. Nephi tells us about building the ship. We are probably not going to be called on to build a ship. So think of building a family, or a ward, or a testimony as I read this verse. “Now I, Nephi, did not work the timbers after the manner which was learned by men, neither did I build the ship after the manner of men; but I did build it after the manner which the Lord had shown unto me; wherefore, it was not after the manner of men. Verse 3: “And I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things.”
In an earlier account, Nephi mentions being carried to a mountaintop by the Spirit. Here he says he went into the mount oft, and I don’t think he got a ride every time. I did some hiking in the mountains in my college days, and it is definitely not as convenient as kneeling down by my bed or going into the closet to pray. And the higher up the mountain you go, the more difficult it gets. In seeking personal revelation, there is a price to pay. But with both mountain climbing and seeking to be led by the Spirit, the view is worth the effort and struggle.
I end with the song, “I Am a Child of God.” I have always understood the chorus to be the plea of a child to a parent or leader. Really, it is our Father, who through the gift of the Holy Ghost, leads us, guides us, walks beside us in our valleys of shadow and on our mountain tops. He helps us find the way. It is the Spirit who teaches us all that we must do to live with our Father again some day. Let us receive the Holy Ghost. Let us invite personal revelation. Let us be led home by the Spirit.
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
The end of an era
At the end of February, my youngest brother came home from his mission to Argentina. He is the sixth of my six brothers to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Since 1996, I have had a sibling serving a mission or preparing to serve a mission, including my own service in the Spain Bilbao Mission from 1999-2000.
We went to see him arrive at the Waco airport. Rose was so excited she wouldn't be still for a photo, so I handed her my phone, and she managed to get one picture out of a dozen blurry ones (she jumps around while she takes pictures).
We survived the coldest winter ever, and Matthew came home to freezing weather after his summer and sunburns in the Southern Hemisphere. It was such a huge occasion that it turned into a Jackson family reunion, with all eleven siblings, wives, and all my dad's grandchildren in attendance. More on that coming soon!
Welcome home, Matthew.
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Life happening: Ellen's baptism
While I've been away from blogging, life has definitely been happening. Even though I'm posting this in March, I'm going to date it in November so on the off chance I get around to printing a blog book, these memories will end up in the right year.
We are so proud of Ellen's decision and excitement to be baptized. We took pictures of Ellen with her parents, grandparents and great grandparents, but most of her aunts, uncles, and cousins were there as well.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Choir practice
So when I tell the girls to stay on the bench and not move during choir practice, this is what I get.
Pretty sweet. And they stayed on the bench. Awesome.
Pretty sweet. And they stayed on the bench. Awesome.
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
When kids never get sick and mom is an over achiever...
you sometimes have a day that goes like this:
(And let me preface this story with our three awesomely fun weeks of summer vacation so far: spray parks, swimming, picnics, cousins, friends, staying up later, stargazing, roasting marshmallows with friends...)
Everyone gets up, gets dressed for church, and eats breakfast. Ellen says her stomach hurts. I tell her she'll be fine, and to just let me know if it gets worse.
I get ready to go to choir practice with the girls. Ellen wants to stay home. Sorry, I have to play the piano for the choir in Sacrament Meeting because the choir is singing for ward conference and Daddy is teaching Sunday School. No one can stay home, and you'll probably be fine. You can play the Wii after church.
During choir practice, Rose sits on a chair behind me, coloring. Daddy comes with the boys just before church starts, and Jack Jack is asleep on the pew by the end of the announcements. During the first speaker, Elijah starts making a ruckus, so Daddy takes him out. When it's time for the choir to sing, Rose follows me up and pulls up a chair next to me and the piano. One measure in, she starts playing "her own song." The Primary music leader calmly walks up and sits next to her, turns pages for me and keeps Rose from adding any extras.
After the choir number, I sit back down with Rose and Jack, and our home teacher whispers to me that my husband needs me in the hall because someone is sick. I leave Jack sleeping alone on the bench and take Rose with me to find out that Jack is cleaning up vomit in the hallway, and Ellen is hiding in the bathroom and crying.
A sweet friend is helping Ellen get cleaned up, and as soon as Ellen sees me, she says, "I told you my stomach was hurting!" I now feel like a horrible mother.
After getting Elijah, Ellen, and Rose buckled into the car, I go back in the chapel and carry Jack, still sleeping, to the car, leaving Daddy to teach his Sunday School lesson.
Lesson learned. When you feel sick, stay home. Or, go to church anyway and risk becoming a circus.
(And let me preface this story with our three awesomely fun weeks of summer vacation so far: spray parks, swimming, picnics, cousins, friends, staying up later, stargazing, roasting marshmallows with friends...)
Everyone gets up, gets dressed for church, and eats breakfast. Ellen says her stomach hurts. I tell her she'll be fine, and to just let me know if it gets worse.
I get ready to go to choir practice with the girls. Ellen wants to stay home. Sorry, I have to play the piano for the choir in Sacrament Meeting because the choir is singing for ward conference and Daddy is teaching Sunday School. No one can stay home, and you'll probably be fine. You can play the Wii after church.
During choir practice, Rose sits on a chair behind me, coloring. Daddy comes with the boys just before church starts, and Jack Jack is asleep on the pew by the end of the announcements. During the first speaker, Elijah starts making a ruckus, so Daddy takes him out. When it's time for the choir to sing, Rose follows me up and pulls up a chair next to me and the piano. One measure in, she starts playing "her own song." The Primary music leader calmly walks up and sits next to her, turns pages for me and keeps Rose from adding any extras.
After the choir number, I sit back down with Rose and Jack, and our home teacher whispers to me that my husband needs me in the hall because someone is sick. I leave Jack sleeping alone on the bench and take Rose with me to find out that Jack is cleaning up vomit in the hallway, and Ellen is hiding in the bathroom and crying.
A sweet friend is helping Ellen get cleaned up, and as soon as Ellen sees me, she says, "I told you my stomach was hurting!" I now feel like a horrible mother.
After getting Elijah, Ellen, and Rose buckled into the car, I go back in the chapel and carry Jack, still sleeping, to the car, leaving Daddy to teach his Sunday School lesson.
Lesson learned. When you feel sick, stay home. Or, go to church anyway and risk becoming a circus.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Soy un hijo de Dios
Our Primary serves the children of our ward and also the children of the Spanish-speaking branch in Waco. At the beginning of the year we decided on a couple of songs we would learn in Spanish for our program at the end of the year. As Mother's Day approached and we were invited as a Primary to sing in both Sacrament Meetings, we decided to go ahead and teach the kids the first verse of "Soy un hijo de Dios" (I Am a Child of God).
I've been singing this to my kids in Spanish since they were born, and Elijah only just barely started asking for the song in English at bedtime last week. Apparently, he now knows the difference between the Spanish version and the English. We haven't been doing much speaking Spanish at home for quite a while, so I was happy that Ellen was really excited to learn the song in Spanish for real.
On Mother's Day, the children sang beautifully in English in our ward, and then we stayed after Primary for one more meeting, and they kids sang beautifully the same two songs in English for the Spanish-speaking branch. I wasn't really prepared for how emotional I would be when they all sang "Soy un hijo de Dios" at the very end. It was really amazing. What a blessing for the children, leaders, parents, and teachers it is for us to get to know the children and families from the branch and some of their language as well.
Today I was standing in the hall at church and someone opened the Primary room door, and the children were singing "Soy un hijo de Dios" again. I started crying again. At least I wasn't standing in front of the kids, crying, although that does happen on a regular basis. It's so sweet for these children to know who they are in two languages.
I've been singing this to my kids in Spanish since they were born, and Elijah only just barely started asking for the song in English at bedtime last week. Apparently, he now knows the difference between the Spanish version and the English. We haven't been doing much speaking Spanish at home for quite a while, so I was happy that Ellen was really excited to learn the song in Spanish for real.
On Mother's Day, the children sang beautifully in English in our ward, and then we stayed after Primary for one more meeting, and they kids sang beautifully the same two songs in English for the Spanish-speaking branch. I wasn't really prepared for how emotional I would be when they all sang "Soy un hijo de Dios" at the very end. It was really amazing. What a blessing for the children, leaders, parents, and teachers it is for us to get to know the children and families from the branch and some of their language as well.
Today I was standing in the hall at church and someone opened the Primary room door, and the children were singing "Soy un hijo de Dios" again. I started crying again. At least I wasn't standing in front of the kids, crying, although that does happen on a regular basis. It's so sweet for these children to know who they are in two languages.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Resurrection Ruffles
This morning at breakfast Ellen asked me how old we'll be when we're resurrected. "Will we be babies?"
I told her I didn't know, but that we'd probably be at our perfect age.
Jack said, "Like five?"
Mom: "You think five is your perfect age?"
Jack: "Yes, because you don't have any ruffles."
Mom: "What are ruffles?"
Jack: "You know, you get ruffles on your face when you're old. Look at my face. I don't have any."
Mom: "You mean wrinkles?"
Jack: "Oh yeah. Wrinkles."
It's true. No wrinkles or ruffles on these cute little faces.
I told her I didn't know, but that we'd probably be at our perfect age.
Jack said, "Like five?"
Mom: "You think five is your perfect age?"
Jack: "Yes, because you don't have any ruffles."
Mom: "What are ruffles?"
Jack: "You know, you get ruffles on your face when you're old. Look at my face. I don't have any."
Mom: "You mean wrinkles?"
Jack: "Oh yeah. Wrinkles."
It's true. No wrinkles or ruffles on these cute little faces.
Monday, December 5, 2011
The reason for the season
I loved seeing this Sunday night during the First Presidency Christmas Devotional. We had friends over to play, watch, sing, and eat peanut butter banana cookies, orange cranberry muffins, and brownies.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Thank you, friend.
I love what a friend had to say about some recent events. She said it better than I ever could have.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
The Guernsey Ruts
With courage strong they met the test. They pushed their handcarts all day long, and as they pushed they sang this song:
For some must push, and some must pull as we go marching up the hill
So merrily on the way we go until we reach the valley-o!
In Nebraska the Oregon-California-Mormon Pioneer Trails all follow the same route. We took the opportunity to see the "Guernsey Ruts" along the Platte River where the steady stream of covered wagons and handcarts wore the sandstone down and formed a four-foot-deep lane that is still visible today.
Several of my progenitors made this trek. The day we were there it was hot and there were lots of grasshoppers. I'm glad we were traveling in an air conditioned minivan toward a hotel and not pushing a handcart with all of our belongings on it toward a campsite.
We sang "The Ox Cart Song" and "The Handcart Song" and "Pioneer Children" and talked about pioneers and Little House on the Prairie, a book from the series we've been reading at bedtime.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
The waiting game
Elijah went into surgery just after 7 this morning. He had a good night and actually slept. This morning he was pretty calm, even though he was obviously hungry. The anesthesiologist gave him something that started working immediately, so Jack and I said goodbye to a very sleepy baby.
The nurse has been out once to tell us that things are going well so far. The entire process is expected to take about six hours, so we won't know much until early this afternoon. Even after he comes out of surgery and goes to the CHSU for recovery, they take up to an hour and a half to get him settled and comfortable before we get to go in.
I have loved this song since the kids started learning it in Primary in January. Ellen knows all three verses, Jack Jack can sing the first two without help, and Rose can even sing along on the chorus. It has brought a very peaceful feeling to our home and lives. You can listen to it here.
If I Listen with My Heart
1. If I had been a little child when Jesus lived on earth,
I would have like to walk with him and listen to his words,
But as I search the scriptures I can hear his words of peace,
And if I listen with my heart I hear the Savior's voice.
2. I hear a living prophet speak the words that Christ would say
If he were here upon the earth to talk with me today,
The prophet teaches how to live in righteousness and peace,
And if I listen with my heart I hear the Savior's voice.
3. I feel the Holy Spirit as he teaches truth and right,
He comforts me in times of need, He testifies of Christ,
He speaks to me in quiet ways that fill my soul with peace,
And if I listen with my heart I hear the Savior's voice.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Another favorite
Jack taught an awesome Sunday School lesson last week. I really, really loved it, and I'm not just saying that because he's my husband. He taught from the scriptures, involved the class, and shared personal experience and testimony.
Talking with him about his lesson as he was preparing reminded me of this poem, which I love and hope you love, too.
"Morning Manna (Mosiah 7:19)"
Mary Margaret Hawkins, Ensign, Sept. 2001, 29
Early I arise to seek my morning manna
Before the sun outlines the day’s temporal claims and
Melts my intent.
Precious sustenance has rained before my day from
Heaven and lies generously scattered in tissue wafers
Free for the gathering.
Laying open the sacred books, I sift the living words.
Silently I grind and beat and bake them into
Fragrant, warm cakes—
Color of bdellium, tasting of honey and fresh oil.
Gratefully I consume the day’s sweet ration
Offered to preserve
Me in my wilderness wanderings. Why should I weep
For the feasts of Egypt or mourn for the rich meats
Of Babylon?
I desire only this simple morning miracle
Of living bread. It will satisfy until I sit
And sup in Canaan.
Friday, October 8, 2010
I love General Conference.
Conference weekend for our family included fun with cousins, good food, a trampoline, naps, horse apples, a sometimes reliable internet connection, and the BYU channel.
Jack and I listened to some talks we missed and the Priesthood Session Thursday on our 2+ hour drives to and from Dallas for my doctor appointment and trip to the Dallas Temple next door.
Modern technology is amazing, but it's the messages and the Spirit I felt that really make a difference to me.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Easter weekend and conference bliss
This is how we spent our Easter morning, after sleeping in and reading the Easter story over breakfast.
That little Harry Potter-like scrape on the side of Rose's head is the remarkably well-healing result of an encounter with the pavement at play group four days before. Maybe she's not such an accomplished walker as we thought . . . just yet.
And this is as close as Rose got to the dye -- playing with the metal egg holder while we used more reliable spoons.
And now we are enjoying General Conference! Isn't it blissful? That scene lasted about as long as it took to snap a photo. It was actually mass chaos, mess, and too much candy.
And now we are enjoying General Conference! Isn't it blissful? That scene lasted about as long as it took to snap a photo. It was actually mass chaos, mess, and too much candy.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Primary Service Activity
Our ward Primary Activity Day fell close to Valentine's Day, so we decided to share some love.
Cookie prep:
Sandwich prep:
Card/poster prep:
After all our prep work at the church building, we divided into two groups and delivered the goods to two fire stations nearby. We got to ring the doorbell of the fire station, go inside and see their kitchen, dining room and living room, and then we went out into the bay where the firefighters explained their equipment, gave a demonstration, and let all the kids help operate the water hose.
Except for the part where Jack Jack wouldn't let go of me because the fire truck was very big and we were very close, it was awesome.
Cookie prep:
Sandwich prep:
Card/poster prep:
After all our prep work at the church building, we divided into two groups and delivered the goods to two fire stations nearby. We got to ring the doorbell of the fire station, go inside and see their kitchen, dining room and living room, and then we went out into the bay where the firefighters explained their equipment, gave a demonstration, and let all the kids help operate the water hose.
Except for the part where Jack Jack wouldn't let go of me because the fire truck was very big and we were very close, it was awesome.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Create
I loved this talk when I heard it a year ago at the General Relief Society Meeting. This year I attended the meeting with three of my four sisters while I was visiting in Waco.
I was feeling a little low and began thinking about Elder Uchtdorf's talk, wondering if I had created anything in the past year. My first thought was that I had created nothing even worth mentioning.
Then the ideas began flooding my mind. In the past year I've created games and songs for teaching Spanish, lessons for church classes, meals for my family, blog posts and pictures for extended family and friends, clothing for my children, gifts for friends, a quilt for my brother and his wife, and a (sometimes) clean and comfortable home for my family just to name a few. Since then I've worked on or completed several knitting projects, and I started another massive quilt project at the urging and with the help of my mom and sisters.
I am most grateful for the opportunity to be a co-creator with God and my husband and participate in bringing our beautiful Rose into our family in the past year.
Elder Uchtdorf is right. "As you take the normal opportunities of your daily life and create something of beauty and helpfulness, you improve not only the world around you but also the world within you."
What have you created this year?
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