Thoughts I was pondering today

So today in church we had some very good lessons in Sunday School and our combined RS/Priesthood meeting. I kept feeling like I wanted to say something in Sunday School but the time did not seem to permit (or I just was not sure if it meant anything to anyone but me). We were studying Jacob in the Book of Mormon and he is one of my favorite prophets to study. I have a quote from Elder Jeffery R Holland where he describes Jacob. "Jacob, unshaken and unshakable, born in affliction, refined in service, triumphant in Christ" I love this! I want to be like Jacob. Unshakable, unshaken, refined in service. I think of his teachings like I do when I listen to our prophets today at conference. He just said what needed to be said and hoped that his words would persuade the people to change and turn their hearts back to Christ. I think about this as I try to teach my children and help them find their way to Christ. Which leads me to my second thought. During combined meeting today we talked about "good, better, best". The bishop spoke to family prayer and FHE (and family scripture study) as the best part. I know of a person who has said that she does not do FHE because all her friends did FHE and they all have children who have strayed or left the church. I have been thinking about that comment. I have children who have made different choices than I would have wanted for them but I believe that it is because of FHE that they still come home. They have said they know that they can come home and feel loved. Even though they might not have done things the way I have wanted them to I know that they feel these things because they were taught every week as a family the value of family. Of course, lots of other things were taught but the basic value that our family is important and that we love each other has been at the core of our family gatherings. In time I know the teachings of the atonement will become real in their lives as they see us model that in our FHE. And that's how the words of Jacob come full circle for me today. in chapter 4 he talks about the difficulty of writing on the plates but that if he does not write the things he is supposed to they will be lost. He says the he rejoices in this "hoping that our beloved bretheren and our children will receive them with thankful hearts, and look upon them that they may learn with joy and not with sorrow" I apply this same principle to FHE. I hope that my children will receive our teachings and see someday that it will lead them to JOY and not sorrow. I am thankful for prophets who teach us correct principles so we can use them to teach and guide and lift our families. After all we are an eternal family and this I rejoice in!

"Grandma?"

Boy! What a week we have had. What a very fun spring break. The weather has been so weird. I can not believe that we woke up to SNOW! And it actually stuck for a little while. The beach was beautiful as always and so relaxing. I am out of all my usual habits but that is OK. Monday morning we will be back into the regular routine of things and then it is just a short time until summer!

There is one thing I have wanted to blog about for several weeks but have not had the time to sit down and type out my thoughts. As everyone knows Toshia and Andrew now have custody of Adrian. One of the things I get to do is pick him up from school sometimes. The first week of doing this was not really a big deal. On the second day though I could hear him tell his teacher - "There she is, there is my Grandma" - Well, I looked around and thought what is his Grandma doing here - and then it hit me - I was the "Grandma". OK, so I have wanted to be a grandmother for so long now and it really threw me off for a minute. But as soon as I realized that I was the "Grandma" he was referring to I had to laugh at myself. I knew that but to hear it was something entirely different. Luke and Adrian are such good kids and we have only had such a limited amount of time with them. I have not really pushed the call me "Grandma" thing so I was very happy to hear Adrian say that. I have to say I had a smile on my face for some time after that. My sister has 18 grandchildren now and I think one more on the way, I love seeing her with all the kids and see that at my house. It has been slow in coming but with Toshia's new baby coming in October I will have three very beautiful grandchildren and hopefully those other daughters of mine will get the hint and I will see that number grow soon.

Glimpses Into Heaven

I had such a great time in California. It was so fun to visit with my sisters (This is my sister Melissa) and the rest of my family. The temple experience was wonderful and so special as we all were there together. It was nice to see my brothers for just a little while as we all gathered to eat at Don's house after the temple. I really did not realize how close he lives to the House of the Lord. It is almost in his backyard. Lucky! The girls did just great and loved playing with their cousins and Grandma and Papa John. The weather was not as warm as I had hoped so we did not get to go swimming which the girls asked about everyday. But we did get to visit, share, laugh, eat, and love. It was just what I needed to fill my lamp for the next few months. I so loved the extra time that I got to spend with Melissa. We really planned for some time together this time and it made all the difference. She has such a neat family and "they try so hard". My girls loved playing in Elizabeth's palyhouse and it now seems that it is on the top of their priority list for their dad to build one in our backyard. Melissa and I got to create and share ideas and just hang out. On Monday we got to go to Kelly's it really was so fantastic! Kelly's family is just as awesome and to see her kids and their kids just made me smile for a long time. We had FHE at her house and again we shared, laughed, ate, and loved. As I sat at Kelly's I could imagine our homes in heaven. Full of love and laughter. I know sometimes mom's are so stressed out and have a hard time with children who don't do what you know they should, but I have to say it will all be worth it in the end. I know, I saw a glimpse of it this last week in four different homes in California. And then again in my own home as we were greeted and loved and missed by my own children and husband. Home really can be a bit of heaven on earth!!!

Ten Virgins

OK, so I have to just do a quick writing here as I am getting ready to leave for California. Tonight for Enrichment we did a musical presentation of the parable of "The Ten Virgins". It was amazing! I was able to work with so many talented, loving and great women. The rest of the commitee worked on the dinner. It all turned out so wonderful. But I have to say for me my experience came last Sunday night at the rehearsal. We had not all worked together yet as everyone had been working indivually with me up until Sunday evening. It was a neat experience for me to practice with everyone but when it all came together it was just more than I could have imagined. This parable is very special to me and has deeep meaning on a lot of levels. So when Toshia told me about this musical presentation I was more than excited about it and could hardly wait to do it for Relief Society. I thought for several months on who should sing. I had names come very clearly in my mind and wondered if they would do it. I know that those who did perform tonight it was meant to be those people. Sunday night I was so touched by how everyone had worked so hard to have it be the best! When everyone came on for the last song I just was so overwelmed by the spirit and the music once again sang to my soul and testified to me that I needed to be prepared and watch for the bridegroom. I do not want to be caught without my "oil". I want to know Him when he comes! Thanks to all of the women who helped out tonight. As I looked around there were so many who just jumped in and helped to serve and clean up and just do what we as sisters know to do to - that is to help out where ever it is needed. Now on to my trip and I will blog about that when I get home.

My week in review

This week has been full of surprises. Monday morning after I came home from the gym there was a knock at my door and there was a friend from Portland with a friend who was here from Utah. It was such a nice surprise to start out my week. It was fun talking and catching up. Tuesday I found myself back into the usual routine as everyone was finally healthy and all back at school. So Autumn and I did our Tuesday stuff: school, library, lunch at McDonalds. It was a very nice day but we missed some of the usual friends we see at the library and lunch.. Wednesday I woke to find that we had a very low tire in the Suburban and so I was off to Les Schwab to get it fixed. That took a little longer than I had planned so I did not make it to the gym but that was OK because two other long time friends came by and we had lunch and worked on some paper flowers that were for an upcoming wedding. Thursday I found myself in my RS meeting and then on to play group. Autumn was starving so we went to BurgerVille and ran into some of Chloe's friends from school. That was fun. Friday I had made some appointments with ladies to work on their songs for the Enrichment next week so did not make it the gym but that was OK because I had walked early every morning this week. Saturday we picked up some free furniture for our TV room and so we spent the day cleaning and fixing up the TV room until it was time to go to Conference. Saturday session of Conference was wonderful as always and after went to dinner and shopping at Winco. Again ran into friends from our old ward and had a nice conversation and got caught up with our families. Inbetween everything there was all the taxi driving of the kids, more practices for Enrichment, packing for our trip, piano lessons, baseball practices, laundry, dishes, cooking, and American Idol. I have to say it was a very good week. Next week I am off to California with my three sweet little girls and we are so excited to fly in the airplane and get pampered by Grandma Ardee and Papa John!

Waiting for Spring

I have wanted to blog all week but have not really had anything to blog about. Things are going along as usual with nothing really that exciting or eventful. I have done a lot of things in the last couple of weeks with my calender completely full for the next three weeks. So why do I feel so blah about things? I do know I am excited about spring (except the allergy part) and I am anxious to get going on a couple of projects we have planned for the house. But this is the hardest time of the year for me - coming out of all the crazy of the holidays and knowing that just around the corner is all the crazy of the baseball and softball season and summer. My kids are excited to have passed the "100" day of school and know that we are on the down side of the school year. Maybe it is the weather or just the same old routine I am tired of. It could be all the stress of Paige's situation I don't know but I am sure looking forward to planting flowers and watching as Spring brings back all the color into my life!