Sunday, March 22, 2009
Family Home Evening Funnies
Last Monday we had our regularly scheduled Family Home Evening (hereafter mentioned as FHE). Walt was in charge of the lesson, and Ethan was in charge of sharing a scripture. Ethan is learning to use the index and asked Walt what the lesson was about. Walt replied that it was on obedience. I knew full well why Walt chose this as the topic of our lesson. The last few weeks have been fraught with bickering and talking back. Sometimes FHE is a great place to address our concerns as parents. So Ethan looked up "obedience" in the index, and he chose the first scripture that it sited. 1 Nephi 4:18 "Therefore I did obey the voice of the Spirit, and took Laban by the hair of the head, and I smote off his head with his own sword." Walt and I could not contain ourselves! It was so funny. It was completely the opposite message we were trying to send. There is already too much violence in this house, and that was part of Walt's lesson on obeying. The kids demanded to know what was so funny, but we had no way of explaining it to them. So we forged on, and Walt gave a nice lesson on obedience. We finished and the kids rushed off to the dining room to have the treat Cameron chose, when Walt began counting. "3,2,1" and sure enough "HEY!!! That's my spot!" yelled one of the kids. Apparently, the part of the lesson about treating each other kindly, and speaking gently didn't last. Walt was right. It only lasted a few joyous, quiet seconds. Tomorrow, we will see if FHE will as much of an adventure, but it will be hard to top in humor, I'm guessing.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Ramblings
WARNING!!! The following blog is a therapy session I needed to get out today. Read at your own discretion.
Oh, my! I don't know what to say, but that I am just in a weird mood. I feel so frustrated by so many things, and yet really I have no reason to complain. I really just create problems in my head for myself, and then I pull out of my strange moods and feel so optimistic about things. It has just been busy lately. The more tired I am the more likely I am to feel down. But strangely, I am starting to feel less down as I write.
Today I truly enjoyed a few things. Luke muffledly said, "I want to see that!" He has a few phrases that he says. Walt and I can understand him, but really no one else. His phrases are truly rustic but he can say "What's that?", "Let go", "Let go, Mom!", "Hello", "Go".
I also enjoyed that Ethan was so good today during Stake Conference. Stake Conference is very crazy for me. Walt is in the building, but not available to me seeing as how he is the heart of the conference's broadcasting to other outlying wards. So, it was delightful that one of my 4 children did not make a fuss, run away from me, or ask me for anything during the 2 hour session this morning. I had people, thankfully, helping me with my brood, but the other 3 children were still a challenge at times. I have to remind myself that they are normal, active children. That their independent natures, which I am trying to mold and foster, will be a great asset in their lives. However, at times I just want them to do what I ask them to, just BECAUSE.
Yesterday, our family had the privilege to travel to the Seattle Temple to see Walt's sister sealed to her husband and 3 of her children. Truly, these types of experiences are what makes life magical sometimes. I have seen other sealings: live couples, proxy couples, and proxy children being sealed to proxy parents. This, however, was the first live sealing of children to parents I have ever been invited to attend. While all the words are the same as before, I was so touched when the children were sealed to their parents. I will not recount the exact wording, but share that I love that the Lord loves all His children so much that he denies them no blessings regardless of the time in life that the blessings are sought. All His richest blessings are available to each of us if we but seek them, and time seems to me to be more fluid for our Father in Heaven than our finite minds can comprehend. He blesses us even when circumstances beyond our control may have kept us from those blessings, if like those children we finally are able to receive His blessings it is as if we always had them. How wonderful and glorious!
Now that I am feeling better I should turn my attention back to my children. My wonderful husband is off again today to fulfill his calling and responsibilities. I know he would rather be home, but I am thankful that he is willing to be faithful. I WILL pull myself together and show these children that they are not alone (they have been foraging for food for a little while now) and that they are so dearly loved! Yes, I can do that today, and so I will.
Oh, my! I don't know what to say, but that I am just in a weird mood. I feel so frustrated by so many things, and yet really I have no reason to complain. I really just create problems in my head for myself, and then I pull out of my strange moods and feel so optimistic about things. It has just been busy lately. The more tired I am the more likely I am to feel down. But strangely, I am starting to feel less down as I write.
Today I truly enjoyed a few things. Luke muffledly said, "I want to see that!" He has a few phrases that he says. Walt and I can understand him, but really no one else. His phrases are truly rustic but he can say "What's that?", "Let go", "Let go, Mom!", "Hello", "Go".
I also enjoyed that Ethan was so good today during Stake Conference. Stake Conference is very crazy for me. Walt is in the building, but not available to me seeing as how he is the heart of the conference's broadcasting to other outlying wards. So, it was delightful that one of my 4 children did not make a fuss, run away from me, or ask me for anything during the 2 hour session this morning. I had people, thankfully, helping me with my brood, but the other 3 children were still a challenge at times. I have to remind myself that they are normal, active children. That their independent natures, which I am trying to mold and foster, will be a great asset in their lives. However, at times I just want them to do what I ask them to, just BECAUSE.
Yesterday, our family had the privilege to travel to the Seattle Temple to see Walt's sister sealed to her husband and 3 of her children. Truly, these types of experiences are what makes life magical sometimes. I have seen other sealings: live couples, proxy couples, and proxy children being sealed to proxy parents. This, however, was the first live sealing of children to parents I have ever been invited to attend. While all the words are the same as before, I was so touched when the children were sealed to their parents. I will not recount the exact wording, but share that I love that the Lord loves all His children so much that he denies them no blessings regardless of the time in life that the blessings are sought. All His richest blessings are available to each of us if we but seek them, and time seems to me to be more fluid for our Father in Heaven than our finite minds can comprehend. He blesses us even when circumstances beyond our control may have kept us from those blessings, if like those children we finally are able to receive His blessings it is as if we always had them. How wonderful and glorious!
Now that I am feeling better I should turn my attention back to my children. My wonderful husband is off again today to fulfill his calling and responsibilities. I know he would rather be home, but I am thankful that he is willing to be faithful. I WILL pull myself together and show these children that they are not alone (they have been foraging for food for a little while now) and that they are so dearly loved! Yes, I can do that today, and so I will.
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