Scripture Study

As mentioned before, when we read scriptures we always pick a key word to listen for and have the children raise their hands when they hear it. It goes something like this: "Let's listen for the worrrrrrrrrddddd....life." I always draw out the word 'word' as I skim the passage for a repeated or important word. Tonight when I said, "Let's listen for the word..." CharlyAnn looked at me and raised her hand high in the air! I was touched and amazed at how she has noticed and learned our pattern. "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

Jesus' Example

Brooke was sharing her afternoon treat with Ram and she looked at me and said, "Do you know why I am sharing? Because I want to be a good guy. I'm not a bad guy, and I'm trying to be like Jesus and Jesus would share everything." I was so happy to hear her say this, especially becasue sometimes its hard for Eric and I to know if we're getting through to Brooke. Maybe we aren't, but the Spirit is able to for sure.

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).

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.