Prayer

We are to leave for Christmas break today, but of course there are winter snowstorms littering the highways between here and Colorado. This morning Viana was so excited that today was our planned departure date. When I told her that we might not be able to leave today because of the snow she said so perfectly faithfully, "But we prayed to have a safe drive." Kind of like, duh mom, don't you have faith? It was so sweet to see how confident she was in the Lord answering our prayers.

Following Jesus

For the past week and a half, Ally has become obsessed with the idea of being baby Jesus. She'll drag a monstrous blanket to where I am standing and ask to be swaddled like baby Jesus. When that's done, she'll lie on the floor/couch/bed and say, "Momma, I'm baby Jesus!" It's interesting to me that even at this young age she is trying to be like our Savior. Granted, she is trying to be like him as a baby, but what a great age to imitate. Our Savior put off his glory and power to come to the earth in a much more humble way: as a baby.

Kindness

One thing Ally is supposed to try and do everyday is a kind deed. On her "important things to do" list (similar to a chore chart) she has the task of "do[ing] a kind deed." Today, her preschool group went to a few elderly women's homes in our ward and sang Christmas songs. When we got home I told Ally that she did a very kind thing today at school and that she could put up a sticker for her kind deed. Ally, excitedly, hopped up on the chair and started following her finger under the line, "do a kind deed," and made her own caption: "Be like Jesus and do something nice like sing songs for the old grandmas." It made me chuckle to hear her say old grandmas. I guess they are much older than her own grandmothers (not her great-grandmas). But, regardless of that, she's starting to understand that when we do kind things we are being like Christ and that Christ is kind to everyone. Even old grandmas.

I Love Jesus Because...

In our preschool group we are getting ready for our Christmas activities. One such activity includes a visit to some elderly women in our ward. We made cards for them and I asked each child why they love Jesus. They aren't so spiritually based, but I think there are principles and 3-year understanding of Jesus in each answer. And, they are pretty darn cute and funny.

I love Jesus because.....

~ He is so bright!

~ He made outside for me to play.

~ I'm friends with him.

~ when I am bad it makes him sad.

~ No! I'm grumpy! (that one made me laugh)

Obviously, we have wonderful families in our ward who take the time to teach their children about Christ. And, it's plain to see that they understand who He is in their own 3-year old way.

Prayers

Eric and I were talking at night about how we need to spend one-on-one time with our children and how we feel if we did more of this they would be better behaved. We were yearning for that time to make its way into our crazy lives.
When we went to bed we were praying and I was praying that we could sleep good and hoping for a childless night so that Eric could gain rest and rejuvination for his busy life.
That night at 3something Viana came in and got Eric out of bed for something. I heard her wide awake just talking and talking to Eric as if it was the middle of the day. At the time I thought, "Why couldn't my prayer have been answered to have a great nights sleep??"
Then in the morning as I started to think about it, I realized how before that prayer Eric and I were yearning for more one-on-one time. I then realized how the Lord works in mysterious ways. Eric and Viana had charming 3am conversation and bonding. We asked for two conflicting things, I am glad the Lord still saw fit to give us the better of the two.

Jesus is our friend

Every morning at breakfast, I read an article to the kids from the Friend. It's a good way to make sure we get something in about the gospel before the day starts and they like the stories. A couple of weeks ago we read President Eyring's story about being a faithful friend, specifically to Jesus Christ. Ally seemed to kind of struggle with the concept that being a good example is one way we are Jesus' friend. Well, yesterday, as Ally was doing some of her "imaginative play" with toys, blankets, pillows, etc. I overheard this little conversation: "Jesus, you are my friend. Do you want to help me make a bed for Jessie? We like to be nice to our friends Jesus." It made me smile to see that Ally understands what a friend is at her level. For her, He is someone that will play with you and help others. Jesus did love children and I think Ally knows that.

Kindness, Children, Child of God

We have a favorite park that we like to go to. It's our favorite because no one is ever there. Yesterday, while at the park, a little girl and her mom came to the park the last 20 minutes we were there. Ally immediately started playing with this little girl (she was 2, so about a year younger than Ally). A few minutes into their play, Ally came running over to me saying, "That little girl is so nice, Mom!" She seemed so surprised that someone she didn't know could be nice! When it came time to leave the park, Ally waved good-bye to this little girl and then kept telling me for the first 5 minutes of our walk back home how "nice that little girl was." It was funny to me that Ally was so shocked that people are nice. But, then again, Ally has always been so shy and never interacted with other people. I think today she may have discovered that for the most part, people are very nice! When we are kind to people, they will be kind to us. Not only that, but we are all children of God so we should be nice to others!

Choosing righteousness, Holy Ghost

Today we were watching a movie and Viana asked me why a character we thought was good was revealed to actually be a bad guy. I told her that he was jealous and sad and that is why he became a bad guy. She then said to me, "I get jealous and sad sometimes, but I'm not a bad guy." I told her that is because she was still able to choose to be good.
Tonight during FHE Viana was teaching the lesson and she bore her testimony that the Holy Ghost can help her to chose what the right things she should do are even when she feels sad.

I was so happy to see Viana applying our discussions and her real life to the gospel principles she is learning, and that she can recognize how to make good choices.

Child of God, Music

This was also posted on our fam blog, but I thought it qualified for this one as well. Even though it another Jamie post about music.

So, the kids listen to the Children's Songbook CDs when going to sleep at night. Since Wednesday they have been HOOKED on the song I Am a Child of God. Which, of course, I love. But.....it can be a problem if they don't fall asleep quickly and start yelling at us to have it played over and over again. Aren't the other songs on the CD good too kiddos?? Anyways, like I said, HOOKED. A couple of nights ago, Daniel woke up in the middle of the night....again.....and was crying so loudly that he woke Ally up as well. So, I hit the play button on the CD, crawl into Daniel's bed(which would be hilarious if he were in a crib, but he's in a twin bed), and waited for the kids to go back to sleep. Pretty soon, I heard a groggy and half asleep Ally start to sing with the CD. She sang the first 3 songs until she finally crashed.

Every night, if we start the CD before we are just about to shut their door, Ally and Daniel ask for I Am a Child of God to be started over so they can hear all the words. And, then they both sing along.

Tonight, Daniel woke up at about 11:30 and I was expecting to have to climb in his bed again. Instead, he rolled over and said, "Child of God." So, I pressed play and he was back out.

There's no real point other than the fact that I am glad that my kids love songs about Jesus and I just want to remember things like this. I guess in time, maybe now, they will realize what the words of that song are teaching and understand that they are children of God.

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.

Jesus Loves Everyone

Today while eating breakfast I read Pres. Eyring's message in The Friend to the kids. It was about becoming Christ's friend and how He is our friend. I was explaining to them that Jesus loves everyone. I told them how Jesus loves good and bad people no matter what they do, but that he wants us to make the best choices we can. Ally then looked at me, and in a very matter-of-fact manner, stated, "Jesus loves Thaddeus (our 4-foot giant teddy bear). And Jesus loves chocolate milk." So, while she hasn't quite caught the concept that He loves all people, she definitely understand that He loves. And knowing that He is loving is an important thing to know.

Music, Comfort

Duo-post by me today. I haven't posted these stories as they've happened this week.

As mentioned before, the kids listen to CDs from the Children's Songbook when they go to sleep at night. On Monday, I had a terrible headache and just wanted to take a nap. Once Daniel went down, I told Ally that I wanted to go lay on my bed. She followed me to our room and started singing "I Am a Child Of God" for me. So, this story really has no real gospel learning other than the songs they listen to are Church songs. But, because we've taught Ally that good music invites the spirit and can be a comfort, she knew that when I laid down I should listen to good music too.