Saturday, June 30, 2012

Birthday Toone

For my birthday we went to Toone Town (Mesquite) to visit some friends we have not seen in years! Brant and Ryan were on the football team at Utah State together. Brant is responsible for their love connection well more thanks to Brant’s girlfriend at the time. Anyway we had lots of good times together in Logan. We must have real friendship because we seemed to pick up right where we left off.

The kids also got along great, which was very cool. Couple friends where you like the wife and he likes the husband are sometimes hard to find and when you add kids it gets even more complicated. I am grateful we have made wonderful friends from early in our marriage and even now!

We got there late Friday night and made the most of our Saturday celebrating my birthday of course ;) The kids were asleep when we got there so first thing in the morning when we med Grady they introduced us and he said “I don’t like these ones.” I hope he decided by the end that we weren’t so bad.

We saw their garden spot, Things can grow in the desert. 

I’ll be getting more parenting advice from Kena as Bridger seems to be very similar to Heath. Here they are on top of the very old unsteady shed, when we asked them to get down they were both sure it was safe or there wouldn’t be a ladder to climb up.

Oh brother!



We went bowling I once bowled my highest game (199) on these lanes, but my score went down about as hard as Kena did trying to help Grady’s ball!

The kids loved giving themselves crazy names.

I had some down time visiting with Kena while the kids and dads went to the pool. If you know me at all the pool is not where I would spend time, especially on my Birthday!  And we were able to meet some of their friends that happen to be a sister to our friends in Logan who adopted in January as well, such a small world. Then it was off to the BEST Chinese place.

I stopped here a couple years ago coming back from a business trip and Loved it. It did not disappoint SO SO good. Then we had birthday cake (strawberry shortcake) Very yummy end to a wonderful celebration. Sunday was my actual birthday. We went to church and then took off for home. Bennett did NOT travel well and we had all had it with him so we stopped in Seligman,

he was so happy to be out of the car.

We did finally make it home but not without some tears from more than just Bennett! The next day my wonderful friend brought me a birthday surprise a tree!

I have been so frustrated with what to do with the yard, I can’t believe how much joy this little tree brought me! 

Monday, June 18, 2012

Daddy's day

Fitting that I would teach on Father’s Day and that it would be about prayer. Even though it is one of the standard Sunday school answers I’m still discovering so much. Since Rianne has been born my prayers have changed because she is a daddy’s girl. She loves her dad and she can really get his eyes to sparkle with pride (the good kind). She can’t wait to tell him exciting news or show him something she has been working on. She isn’t just this way when she is excited and happy. She is that way when she is scared or sick he is who she wants no matter what. This week she threw up in the car it was so gross maybe it was because of my lesson but I watched that relationship. She wasn’t feeling good she tried to hide it but he knew and kept asking her if she needed anything, she’d say no I’m okay. Then she puked and it was stinky and all over the car (it could have been avoided or at least given her a bag or something). When we got home she got in the shower when she got out it was no surprise that she asked where is dad? I said cleaning out the car she put her head down and said oh, then she softly walked outside quietly whispered “Dad” he looked up from the mess and she said sorry threw her arms around him and said thank you for cleaning up oh dad I’m so sorry. He returned her hug and gave her a tender kiss on the forehead as I watched this picture came into my head.

Oh how she seeks his approval and always wants to please him. This pattern has been repeated so many times in our home and it has changed my prayers. When I pray I see a loving Father in heaven, he knows I’m worried that I don’t know what to do and is waiting for me to ask. Then when I try to do it alone I make a big mess. He cleans it up, I apologize and He always loves me. Oh how I love feeling like I’m a spiritual daddy’s girl. This week I have been quicker to kneel in happiness and gratitude of his tender mercies. I seek His approval. How grateful I am for Rianne and Brant to show me that pattern. I challenged my girls to find something they really want an answer to and PUSH (Pray Until Something Happens).

I gave them push pops and told them this candy takes time to eat; more licks are ahead but we keep praying.

Brant is an amazing dad. Ria made up a song for him “Dad is great, he’s not a grape”. We sang to him and made pizza on the grill for dinner (It is totally what he wanted :).

This year again reminded me of how much he does, when I try to do it and can’t even do half. He isn't just great to us but for flag day he took in treats to work!
I think everyone who knows him is lucky but I remind my kids all the time not all dads are this great.   

On father's day Bennett hit 5 months So big so fast! 


Monday, June 11, 2012

4 give

I write way more blogs than I ever post. I debated on this one, I don’t blog about lessons I teach very often, this one went really well because of the spirit so I hope sharing it doesn’t distract from the spirit. Brant thinks I should blog all my crazy analogies and object lessons.

I started the lesson with scenarios but I made them more personal. I told them of one of my volleyball girls taking money and later, returning it and asking forgiveness but now is asking for a letter of recommendation and I asked for their suggestions. Then I told them of telling a friend something in confidence and over-hearing her tell someone else and adding details that were not true. I said I don’t mean to vent I really want to know what to do. They took the bait… Wow did they want to defend me, they talked about getting a sword naming it kindness and suggested “killing them with kindness”. I couldn’t have asked for a better taking of the bait. Of course none of them suggested forgiveness. I then thanked them for their suggestions and said we could get to the lesson. I asked why do we come to church? To learn of Christ, renew our covenants we have made with him, to be more like him. Then I talked of His perfect example and how even at the end He was jeered at and spat upon, there was the offering of vinegar, climaxed by the cruel thorns; and finally, there he hung, his body broken and bleeding, still taunted by his enemies; and it was in the midst of all this that Jesus pled perhaps quietly, with deep reverence, said "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."

I then suggested that if He can forgive surely I could write a letter of recommendation, after all she came and apologized, it was one time and I said I would forgive her right? They were in agreeance for that one.

But what if they are not sorry or they do it again? That is when it is tough. We read a little from the miracle of forgiveness how it doesn’t matter and that forgiveness should still be offered, and also read in Matthew 18:21-22 forgive seventy times seven. I shared a little bit on the symbolism of 7. A covenant number, completion, fulfillment, perfection and sanctification. Also 70 which is a Gentile number those who bring gentiles into the house of Israel. So we forgive until they are brought to the house of Israel and our covenant is fulfilled and we are perfected in Christ. We came to church to renew that covenant. I know that is what Christ said, but I didn’t tell them it was easy, but Jesus does tell us how in Matthew 5:43-44 love them, bless them, do good and pray for them. Forgiveness is not the easiest aspect of the gospel. I can pray for them and maybe even preform acts of kindness but when it happens again and it is someone who I HAVE to deal with then it all comes back and I dig it all back up.

While I was preparing this lesson this scripture story in the Book of Mormon (Alma chapter 23 through 27) kept coming back to me and I wasn’t sure why; to me this story was all about repentance.

The Laminates in seven lands and cities are converted, they call themselves Anti-Nephi-Lehies. The other guys (Amalekites and the Amulonites) do not want to hear it and cannot believe. Ammon actually takes them where they can be safe because they have buried their weapons and will not dig up past sins. The Amalekites are mad they won’t forgive them and they feel justified and have not forgotten, they will not let it go. Alma 27:2 And it came to pass that the Amalekites, because of their loss, were exceedingly angry. And when they saw that they could not seek revenge from the Nephites, they began to stir up the people in anger against their brethren, the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi; therefore they began again to destroy them.

Get it? Because of their loss they cannot move forward and they are mad, they begin to stir up other people in their cause.

Then I said to the girls how hard was it to stir up the people and get them on their side? I did it to you, how many of you were mad with me earlier when I told you of my perceived injustice? You gave me suggestions but not one of you said leave it alone and forgive. It isn’t our initial response it takes true conversion not to dig up and fight back. I asked their forgiveness for making up those stories, I had to make it real believable and added to them so that I could stir them up. (ironic that the girls even brought up swords) It worked I gave them the challenge of looking for forgiveness as a solution to feel that miracle in their own lives. I told them the story of W.W. Phelps and Joseph Smith and one from Corrie Ten Boone.

I have prayed for comfort before, but this week, I have prayed for God to change my feelings. He has changed my feelings of resentment, anger, and fear. Sometimes it seems unfair that God will forgive who, he will forgive but I have to forgive all men. But is this statement true or false-- the Savior took upon himself all the sins of the world.


If it is true then He has that injustice you are burning about. Shouldn’t you take it up with Him? How easy it is to love him, he offers me forgiveness, no wonder it is required of us to forgive all men because it has already been taken care of, their sins and mine have been atoned for so then this scripture makes sense. I love my savior and redeemer he truly is where I turn for peace.

We read this scripture, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32

Forgiveness truly is a miracle it really does bring us peace.

There were some great quotes in the lesson

Gordon B. Hinckley "...forgiveness, with love and tolerance, accomplishes miracles that can happen in no other way."

My favorite "Forgiveness means that problems of the past no longer dictate our destinies, and we can focus on the future with God’s love in our hearts." -Elder David E. Sorensen ,"Forgiveness Will Change Bitterness to Love", May 2003, Ensign pg 10.

It doesn’t mean that what happened was right or good just that it did happen and we learn from it and try to avoid that pain again but we don’t stay there with the hurt we move forward in/with faith.

Forgiveness is offered with the atonement, it takes work with repentance but it is a miraculous feeling of peace. This lesson has been so powerful for me and I am grateful for the forgiveness offered by my Savior in accepting the past and moving forward in the future. Sometimes living the gospel of Jesus Christ isn’t easy but it is worth it. I really do hope you will work for the peace offered by the miracle of forgiveness.

I’m not sure this post really conveyed the spirit in the room but it was cool. And of course, I had a handout

If you are still Burning with what happened, you have SMORE forgiving to do.

On the way home I was just really up about how it went. Then the kids started fighting Heath got really quiet, when we got home and after he changed clothes he asked Ria to meet him in the kitchen, he gave her a popsicle. I told him that was thoughtful he said, “even though she made me mad in the car and hurt my feelings I can be a peacemaker”, this was said with a fist pump. Thank you primary teacher. His prayer that night cracked us up when he asked for help in being peacemakers especially Rianne. We are all a work in progress aren’t we? It is all about having peace, no better feeling in this world.

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Cream of the Crop

Schools out and I am reminded that my kids are the cream of the crop. Rianne received awards and worked very hard to have straight A’s she was very proud of herself and now I have a 5th grader. Is that even possible?

Heath’s class did a year end performance and awards where he was given one for his athletic abilities, his friend did tell us he was the fastest in his class. I have often thought if I would just run everywhere like he does I would be in much better shape.

When I didn’t get an award for helping in the class Heath was disappointed and told me “It’s Bennett’s fault you didn’t get an award mom.” Which is probably true, I volunteered in his class until we got Bennett. I thought it was cute that Heath was looking out for me, even though I didn’t care. He must be ready for 1st grade. I do take for granted what good kids I do have. They do a chore every morning before school and didn’t miss a step when we added Bennett. Even with school out they have still been keeping up with their chores and I have even added more responsibilities. They also cook dinner one night a week too. Heath is getting pretty good, even though he mockingly says back to me, “yeah, yeah mom my mission companions are going to love me”. Heath’s favorite dish to make is cheesy rice. Bennett prefers creamy rice, and he is such a good eater. 

Bennett is a great sleeper at night, he usually goes down by 8:30 and sleeps until about 5:30.  For naps he doesn't like to be alone so someone has to lay by him until he falls asleep. 
Rianne and Heath are awesome with Bennett, Heath is the protective older brother and loves to hold him and wants him wherever he is. If he holds still he falls asleep, I think Heath has a new job in the afternoon this summer :)  

Rianne takes such good care of him and changes his diaper without even being asked even if it is a messy one. She can get him to laugh better than all of us too. She is good with Heath too, the other night he had a bad dream and went in to her room and said, “I’m so glad I have a big sister who takes good care of me.”

They counted down not for school to be out but for the annual schools out shaving cream fight. Heath even added to my list "chafing creem" just how he spelled it. The party did not disappoint.

Jen does an amazing job putting a party of this magnitude together.

 The kids loved the foam.


Always fun to cream you best friends!

Rianne loves to read and loved the book lemonade wars. She is certain she is ready and this should stop Heath from doing door-to-door sales.

I am grateful to have them home. We have project plans and plan to have lots of fun.
Happy Summer!