Faith

Today Viana hurt her ankle. She wanted a blessing from Eric. As she was waiting she told me, "You can't give me a blessing but you can pray for me because you have faith. Anyone can pray because all you need is faith." I liked her perspective on praying: because I have faith, I can pray.

Temples

Tonight Ally and I were looking at pictures after Daniel had gone to sleep. We came across a picture of a temple and Ally, without hesitation, said, "A temple where you got married!" I'm glad that she knows LaDon and I were married in the temple. Because we were sealed there, we're forever! I hope she gets married there, too.

P.S. I know that's really similar to a few posts ago, but some Church topics in our house are WAY more popular than others.

Scripture study

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old he will not depart from it." -Proverbs 22:6 I had plopped open our scriptures on the ground for family reading and left CharlyAnn on the floor near by. I left the room for a moment and came back to find her like this.

Then I got the camera and came back to find this:
Let us all be this seriously focused on scripture study!

Honesty

Viana came home from school and seemed to be relatively content with her day and had nothing serious or intriguing to report. She got to go to dance and Eric picked her up from it and took her for a treat at the movie store. When she got home from that thought she started getting a little cranky and Eric and I could not figure out why. The rest of the day continued just fine and when it came to a close I put her in bed. CharlyAnn was crying so I started to go back to their room. Viana met me at the door, however, and gushed right into a story that went something like this, "Well today Gunner rolled the 4 and I thought to myself I just knew I would roll the four and so I put it on my paper and but I didn't but I thought that I would and that's why I had to go to the time-out corner." I was sorta caught off guard and had to say, "Wait, what?" Sensing that she was feeling embarrassed by the situation I said, "Viana, did you need to go to time-out today?" I tried to get a clear picture of the story and finally did (fyi-she actually didn't have to go to time-out. Her teacher told me today that Viana started crying so the teacher asked her to come to the corner with her to talk about it and cheer her up and was in no way upset with Viana or punishing her). Anyway, sometimes we think we can cover up flaws or mistakes and we try to keep them hidden or not admit them. But, as shown by Viana, it is to harrowing on the soul and we need to always be honest and straight-forward.
"Verily I say unto you, all among them who know their hearts are honest...they are accepted of me." -D&C 97:8

Atonement

Our FHE lesson yesterday was on the atonement. Eric took us to the seminary building to give us a great white board lesson and then to watch a portion of "The Testaments" on the big screen. It was a very powerful lesson and we really learned a lot. While we were watching the movie Viana and Brooke were gathered around Eric's knees. The resurrected Savior came to the Nephites and called the little children to him to bless. When this happened both Viana and Brooke started in with comments like, "I want to feel Jesus' hands." "Jesus will bless me" "I want Jesus to give me a blessing" "Jesus loves the little children most". It was so neat to see how touched they were by the spirit and the love that they could feel for their Savior.
This is exactly why this blog exists.

Meeting and Church

I'm not sure what to label this one.....Church, repetition, example??? I dunno.

Ally has this little Polly Pocket church that she likes to play with. Yesterday before Church she asked if she could take it to sacrament meeting. Normally, I don't let her bring toys like that, but I let her anyway. And I'm so glad that I did! When we got all settled in our pew I looked over to see Ally sitting with her church and a Polly Pocket. She leaned over to me and said, "This is my Church of Jesus Christ [of Latter-day Saints]." As the meeting started she said, "Hers (meaning the Polly) is sitting quiet." I looked at the church and the little doll was sitting on a bench. As the sacrament started being passed around she leaned over again and said, "She is going to have the bread and water. It's for Jesus' body and blood." She continued quietly playing with her church throughout the rest of the meeting. As the organist started playing the introduction to the closing song she turned to me and said, "She is going to play the piano very loud!" This time the Polly was sitting in front of the organ.

What's the gospel parallel here? I don't know, but it is nice to see that Ally understands the different aspects of our weekly meetings and enjoys them. Perhaps the message here is that she simply understands that we take seriously the Lord's command to "meet together often" (D&C 20:55, 75).

Charity

Thursday when Viana came home from school the big news of the day was that Gunner, a boy in her class, did not want to play with her. Friday came with even bigger news. Viana hopped out of her classroom and said, "Mom! Gunner is my friend again! I told him his hair looked nice and that I liked the way he combed it and then he smiled at me. He even waved goodbye to me!" This example that Viana gave to me is huge. I have found that when I think someone doesn't like me I don't have the right reaction. I usually avoid them, or smile timidly if I do run into them, or list all the reasons I can think of that they don't like me, or tread lightly when around them certain that each movement I make will sink me even further down their bad list. Instead, I need to be more like Viana. Look for the positive in that person, make an effort to reach out to them, let it be a concern so that I can improve the relationship and then I will probably be pleasantly surprised that even I get a little smile and a wave.

Temples

Image from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint's website.

We got to go to the temple this morning. As we drove up and the temple came in sight, Ally shouted out, "It's the temple! Look everybody! I find the temple!" I love that she loves the temple and knows it's a special place.

Patience/ Example

This is a few days late.

Children are really good examples of patience. How many times a day do you tell them, "I can help you as soon as I'm finished with ....." or the favorite in our house, "hang on." Ally and Daniel are some of the most patient in our house. On Tuesday evening we went to LaDon's office to pick him up for dinner. If you get to the office after a certain time, then you're locked out and you have to wait for someone to let you in. Well, we were waiting for LaDon (which isn't necessarily a short wait). The kids normally run around and play games, but Tuesday was different. Ally walked over to the little cement ledge, sat down, and folded her arms. She was willing to waiting quietly and patiently.

That act alone is good enough to post, but how about this: Daniel, after looking over and noticing what Ally was doing decided he should wait patiently like his sister. (That's him folding his arms in the picture below.) Adorable. Alma 17:11 says, "...Go forth among the Lamanites, they brethren, and establish my word; yet ye shall be patient in long-suffering and afflictions, that ye may show forth good examples unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls." I like this scripture (although directed to the sons of Mosiah) because it teaches us that through patience and being a good example we can help others find salvation through Christ. My kids were being an example of Christ without even trying. Hopefully, being a good example and patient are things that will become attributes that I don't even have to think about but just do.

Children

I think that we need to be like little children in the desire and magnetism they feel toward their parents. Sometimes it can feel burdensome to have no personal space and to always have your little ones needing you and following your every move. But shouldn't we feel this same desire to be as close to our Heavenly Father, the parent of our eternal spirits? Children have the simple recognition that as their parents we can provide them with all that they need, safety, joy, comfort, love, etc. We can find these same things when we are seeking to follow the will of God and to are worthy of the companionship of the Spirit.

Testimony

First of all, I wanted to post on Viana's testimony of prophets, so how fun to see that Jamie had just posted about prophets yesterday!
Eric wanted to film Viana and Brooke singing "I am a Child of God" to use in his lesson today. When they had finished singing Viana said she wanted to film something cute. So we pushed play and she started bearing her testimony. She bore her testimony about temples and the church and then she said, "This is my testimony about prophets. I know God has his prophets on the earth today and that they are his voice and they say unto us what God would say to us." (She totally said 'unto'-presh!) Then she bore her testimony about God and how he is "very, very important" and that he sends the Holy Ghost to us to fill us with light, "just like Buzz Lightyear". I love that Viana is already formulating her own testimony and that she has such good understanding!

Prophet

We love President Monson in our house (not actually in our house, just we as a family love him), but who doesn't? LaDon has been reading Pres. Monson's biography and Ally has identified Pres. Monson as LaDon's friend because he's taking to time to learn more about him. She knows who our prophet is and gets excited to see his picture or hear him talk.

Tonight, we were able to enjoy a nice dinner with a family in the ward. Ally had a wonderful time there, and as is usual lately (a terrible phase actually), starts screaming and throwing an all out fit when we leave places. I hate it and am starting to figure out how to handle it. Well, tonight was just over the top and non-stop crying hysterics. After getting home and sitting in time-out for a few minutes and having a sit down about being polite, showing gratitude, being obedient quickly, etc. Ally saw that the TV had been left on. (We were watching Special Witnesses of Christ earlier). Ally saw Pres. Monson's picture and said, "I want to listen to Pres. Monson. He is daddy's friend." I pressed play, Ally curled up on the couch and listened to our prophet's testimony. Moroni 7:23 states, "And God also declared unto prophets, by his own mouth, that Christ should come." This still applies to our modern day prophets. Christ shall come again. As long as Ally is still so excited and desirous to listen to our prophet, then she will know that they speak the truth concerning Christ. Ally loves Pres. Monson although she's never met him. And she really doesn't understand most of the things he talks about, but will one day. She does understand her feelings though, and became very calm and happy while listening to his testimony.

Prayer

Daniel loves to eat. When it comes to meal prayers he usually cries through the entire thing because he has to wait 2 more minutes before he can stuff his face. Our dinner prayer tonight was no exception (and maybe even worse because BYU lost). I started praying, hardly able to hear the words coming out of my own mouth because of his screaming, and then thought, "I should ask Heavenly Father to help Daniel be happy." So, I prayed that Daniel would be happy, and guess what!? He quieted down for the rest of the prayer. As I concluded the prayer Daniel joined in the chorus of amen's with excitement. In Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord tells the Saints through revelation, "... your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.... the Lord hath sworn and decreed that they shall be granted." That's how I felt about our simple dinner prayer. And you know, I think Daniel probably felt that way too.

Baptism

Baptism is one of the topics frequently discussed in our house. I'm not sure why, other than the fact that Ally likes to talk about Jesus' baptism and her future baptism. Tonight we talked about baptism because our ward is having a baptism tomorrow. Ally talked about Jesus' baptism and then went into detail about hers. She discussed how "Daddy will baptize her and when we go in the water we close our eyes. And Jesus closed his eyes." It makes me happy that Ally knows what baptism is and that she is excited to be baptized by her daddy one day.

Friendship

After school today Viana told me this story: "At recess I saw a stranger who was sad. I asked her why she was sad and she told me no one wanted to play "mom" with her, so I said I would play with her." I asked Viana what the girls name was. She told me she forgot to ask her. Then I asked her if she was in her class. She said, "No, it was just a stranger." For the rest of the day she kept telling me how she had chosen to play with this little girl when no one else would.
"When saw we thee a stranger, and took them in...Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Matt 25:38, 40

Music and Understanding

I am not making any of this up, it is beautiful and it blew my mind!
Viana likes to sing to CharlyAnn and CharlyAnn loves it. When Viana went to bed I took CharlyAnn out to feed her and told Viana she could sing to her when I brought her back in. I kept CharlyAnn with me for about an hour thinking that Viana would probably have fallen asleep. But when I took CharlyAnn in she was still awake and said, "I have been waiting for you to bring her back so I could sing to her!" As soon as I shut the door Viana burst into the most beautiful song and I had to stand outside the door to listen in. She made it all up and sang it to a beautiful little made up tune. These were the words I was able to record, though there were other themes and doctrines.

"CharlyAnn I love you, God is watching over you always. If you get scared Daddy can give you a blessing because he has the priesthood, when Jesus comes he can give you a blessing cause he has the priesthood too, but Daddy can give you one until Jesus comes, God is watching over you, he wants us to be kind. If someone is being mean to me I will be kind to them because it will make them be kind to me and if I am kind it will make other people happy. God is watching over you, God is your father, Jesus Christ is your Savior I love Jesus as my Savior, Jehovah is another name for Jesus Christ. I do not want Satan to be our Savior. I want to live with God again, god is watching over you CharlyAnn. Jesus sent us to earth to get a body, I love my body, I love my eyes and my mouth and nose, I love my eyes that can see, God is watching over you, God and Jesus are watching over you."

Gratitude

Daniel loves to share....except for when it comes to balls. In that case he's just a ball-hog. Today, while Ally was at school, I had Daniel sit down with a snack so I could practice the piano for a few minutes. After 5 or so minutes, Daniel walked up and planted a snack in my mouth. Immediately, I said, "Thank you!" with a big smile. I do this every time to teach him to say thank you when given something. But, today I was truly grateful because I was starving and his snack looked soooo good. When Daniel saw how grateful I was, he started beaming with a big, toothy grin and a high little shriek of delight. As I watched him it occurred to me that Daniel's reaction is probably similar to that of Heavenly Father's when we show him true gratitude. Doctrine and Covenants 78:19 states, "...he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious..." When we are thankful we are further blessed. Why wouldn't we be thankful for all that God has given us? It makes him so happy that he wants to bless us more! I hope I can always show God such enthusiastic gratitude.

Temples

Viana this morning, "Jesus sure is lucky. He has so many temples which means he has a lot of homes! We're pretty lucky too because he shares all of his homes with us so our families can be together forever!"

Eternal Families and Forgiveness

Almost every day Ally goes around labeling each other's friends. For example, Ally is mama's friend and Daniel is Daddy's friend. Mama and Daddy can't be friends, nor can mama and Daniel, or Daddy and Ally. In Ally's mind, matching gender means friends. Well, tonight Ally was really excited to play with Daniel and Daniel was really excited to go to sleep. While she was pulling at him to play he was swiping at her to go away. After a near-hit Ally stopped and said, "Daniel, be nice. We are best friends!"

My first reaction, of course, was happiness that her friend tree branched out past me!

My second thought centered on the eternal nature of our families! It's true, we are eternal and even more so because LaDon and I were sealed in the temple for all time and eternity. If we are sealed together eternally, we might as well be best friends even if that means if one of us isn't in the mood to be friends at the moment.

The next thought was how forgiving Ally was in response to Daniel's almost-smack to the face. Rather than being upset that she was almost hit, she replied kindly and optimistically! As Christ hung on the cross, he implored the Father to "forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). Ally forgave so quickly and loves her brother all the same.

I'm grateful for children who love each other and are happy to be with one another.

Individual Worth

During our bedtime routine all the kids brush their teeth together and then Ram gets pulled away early for his bed while the girls finish up their bathroom business. Every night we tell Ram to say good night to his sisters and tell his sisters to day good night to him. Lately he has been very insistent on giving everyone individual hugs or kisses or waves. Tonight I leaned him into the bathroom and said, "Say good night to your sisters." He started saying good night and waving so I turned him toward his room. He started whining and pointing, "Nigh, Bu, nigh, Bu!" So I lean him back into the bathroom and he says ,"Ni Bu" and Brooke says good night. I head him back to his room but again, "Ni Nana! Ni Nana!" Back again. "Ni Nana" "Goodnight Ram." I walked him into his room and he said, "Ni Baby, shhh" "Yes, baby is sleeping, but I will tell her you said good night." Peace settles over his face and he happily allows me to lay him down on his pillow.
I typically say "Goodnight girls" when I leave the girls room, but wouldn't it be more pleasant to give them each individual loves and call them by their names. Heavenly Father can deliver personalized messages to us too--even when it is a message that can apply to many people, the Holy Ghost can still personalize it for each one of us, just like Ram does.

Sacrifice

If there's one thing that is true about Brooke, it is that she has quite the sweet tooth. After Relief Society today I found Brooke and Viana standing in the hall outside the nursery door. They were happy to see me and the first thing Brooke did was hold out one yellow skittle to me and say, "This is for you!" I was touched by the generosity and gobbled it right up. I noticed in her other little hand another yellow skittle. When we opened the nursery door she ran right up to Ram and held out the other one to him. This was a simple act, but I think it took a lot of sacrifice on her part to hold those two yellow skittles and not eat them but save them to share with people she loved. How often is it that I sneak the last candy/chip/cookie, etc before my children see me? I can make little sacrifices like this for my children, because it can really show them how much I love them.

Sabbath Day

Since we've had church at 1 this year I usually give the kids bath in the morning before church. Last week Viana told me that we should take our baths on Saturday because "that is the day we get ready for Sunday." I told her if she helped me remember that we would take baths on Saturday this week. Tonight she was playing at the neighbors but I had remembered our conversation and went to get her so we could do baths tonight. It's the little things like this that can help us to become more like our Savior and keep our Sabbath a little more holy. (Now hopefully tomorrow we can fill that time with something joyous :)

Opposition

We had a Ram football game tonight. Viana cheered her little heart out like I've never heard anyone cheer before. The game finished and we were packing up to go when Viana said, "Did we win?" Unfortunately, no--we didn't. And this is what she did next. Tears. Giant ones. She was bawling like a baby. Sobbing, "I wanted the Rams to win. I wanted to win." It was so cute. We consoled her and told her encouraging things like "We can't win everytime," or "We will work harder and play again next week". And isn't interesting how we can't win everytime, but we really do get to work harder and try again. Even though there is opposition and trials and hard things in life, I think we are allowed to take a little crying break, and then realize that we can keep moving forward.

And besides, when it's all said and done, if we're faithful, we have that assurance that we will be the eternal victors.

Patience

Brooke asked me to push her on the swing today while I was working out. I told her I would as soon as I was done. When I finished she asked me again and I told her I needed to get dressed first. As I was in my bedroom I peeked out our window to our swing set and saw Brooke all buckeled into the swing just patiently waiting. She wasn't complaining and didn't look put out. She knew I said I would come and so she was being patient. When we ask Heavenly Father for the righteous desires of our hearts we can be sure of His answer, we just have to remember to be patient and know blessings will come on his time table.