The Absence of Solitude

Forget Me Not

On Saturday evening, I watched the General Relief Society broadcast. Did you? If not go here to watch, listen or read it. I enjoyed all the speakers but I loved President Dieter Uchtdorf's talk the most. Every talk he has given at the RS meetings has been wonderful and I feel like it is always meant just for me. I think he has a special gift in speaking to the women of the Church. I left feeling so encouraged!

Here is a short clip:

   

 

And another favorite from him was something along these lines:

Heavenly Father knows you are not perfect and it's okay. And all the people you think are perfect? Well, Heavenly Father knows they are not either.

Then this quote:

“Dear sisters, many of you are endlessly compassionate and patient with the weaknesses of others. Please remember also to be compassionate and patient with yourself.”

Something I think every one of us needed to hear. What did you think of the meeting?

Not much

going on in these parts right now. But I do have a few random things to share today:

1. We have a goal to read The Book of Mormon as a family this year. (And me, Allen and Ethan to individually read The New Testament.) Sometimes family scripture time can get a little crazy and I often feel like there is no point to it. However, I have found two things that are really helping to get that time everyday.

The Mormon Channel has a children's scripture radio program and so far my kids love it, especially singing along to the songs. Here is the link: Scripture Stories  They have archives of The Book of Mormon and are currently reading The New Testament.

Lds.org also has a Scripture Stories site where you can follow along with a video of pictures to go along with the reading. Here is the link: Scripture Videos 

2. Lauren has been wanting to help shovel snow from the driveway but the big shovels are just to hard for her to maneuver. I found one just her size the other day and she eagerly gets her snow gear on to help Allen.

 
 
3. I am doing another "Pantry Eating Challenge" this month and have made my menu and done my shopping. I decided to try shopping at Aldi this time and see what kind of savings I could get. Um, why have I not been shopping there all along? I spent $55 there and got everything except two things I needed for the month. Crazy! I will post menus and recipes tomorrow.

4. Last week as I was going to check the mail, I totally bit it on the driveway. My feet came out from under me and I went down HARD. I hit my head on the driveway and it hurt! (In the picture above you can see where Allen is standing the driveway starts to slope. That's where I fell.) Of course the garbage truck was right in front of my house when it happened...awesome. The guy asked me if I was ok and I said yes as I got up, but as soon as they drove on to the next house, I started crying. I had a horrible headache for a couple of days and a stiff neck the next morning, kind of like whip-lash. Oh man, it was bad.

5. Lauren and I just finished knitting her first hat. She was so excited about it and can't wait to wear it today!

 
 
 
So that's about it for today. I just realized it was five things. I should have waited to use this for a "Five on Friday" post. Maybe a "More on Monday" post today instead?

 

Artistic Interpretation

After we came home from church yesterday, Allen told me the following story. But to give a some background: Simon was a little out of sorts during Sacrament Meeting so Allen took him out into the foyer and hallway. While walking the hallway, they looked at all the different paintings on the wall of the Savior and were talking about each one.

When they reached the painting below this was the conversation between Allen and Simon:

Allen: Where's Jesus?

Simon points to the one on the left.

Allen: Where's Heavenly Father?

Simon points to the one on the right.

Allen: Where's Joseph Smith?

Simon: Wwright, dare. (Pointing to Joseph sitting on the ground.)

Allen: What are the doing?

Simon: Uh, day are givin' dem high fives!! 

Apparently in his nearly 3 year old mind the raised hand of Joseph and the outstreched hand of God mean they are going to give each other high fives. It's quite the little interpretation of the First Vision, don't you think?

Thanksgiving Tree

We started the tradition of the Thanksgiving tree a few years ago. On Monday night for FHE, we got out our trees and Lauren helped me cut the leaves.

After our lesson on gratitude, everyone called out things they are grateful for and I wrote them on the leaves. We had the wonderful and important things like family, love, Jesus, church, etc. but we also had some humorous ones too like ice cream and math. (Can you guess who is thankful for math? One hint: Not me!)

I think it was great for the kids to see two trees FULL of blessings that we enjoy. They have all been trying to say prayers this week that are prayers of gratitude only. It's really sweet.

And a lovely reminder of daily gratitude:

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Fayette

On our way to the falls, we stopped in Fayette. There in a small log home owned by the Whitmer family, the church was organized. This was our first time visiting even though we have lived so close for a couple of years now. It was really interesting to hear the stories and have my testimony reaffirmed as well.

 
The missionary couple that gave us the tour was from Texas and we found out that we knew their children at A&M...small world. I really loved this place more than I thought I would, actually. Amazing, true events occurred here.

love it

I have the privilege of working in Primary at church. This year the theme is, I Know My Savior Lives. One of the songs the children are learning is new this year and I LOVE IT! When I am sitting at the back of the room after all my responsibilities are fulfilled and the children are engaged in singing time, I just love listening to all of them sing, it brings tears to my eyes to hear these little ones make declarations that they know their Savior loves them. Primary, even when it is a little unruly, can truly give you a glimpse of heaven. 

It was really special last night when we were getting the kids ready for bed. We sing a couple of songs before we do our scripture reading and Simon comes up to me as we start to sing this song and says, "Jesus. Love me-eeee! Jesus. Love me-eee!" So sweet!

Here is the song. It is so beautiful and speaks such beautiful truths.

I Know My Savior Loves Me

Pageant

When we got home from our trip, the Hill Cumorah Pageant was in full swing. We made it out to see it one night and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's quite the production! It was a little discouraging walking through all the hecklers and protesters to get to the pageant but once we crossed the road and entered the site, we were greeted by cast members already dressed in costume. It was pretty moving for me to go from an area of such hate and anger to an area of such love and peace. It actually was a bit overwhelming and I had to hold back the tears.

We arrived two hours early and our seats were still a bit far back. My pictures aren't that great because of that and not being able to use a flash. I just don't have steady enough hands.

                   

On the way home Lauren said, "That was totally awesome and I can't believe Jesus came all the way here to play His part." So cute!!  The angels and Jesus were seriously glowing though. It was pretty awesome.

Eight is Great

While in Texas, Ethan was baptized.  It worked out well since all my family (minus Bill) was able to be in town for the weekend to participate in and celebrate Ethan's baptism and the blessing of Leigh's son, Alex. Allen's parents, his sister, Sarah, and Marie also came for the baptism.

It was an emotional moment as a mother. I hope and pray we have prepared him well for the decision he made to be baptized and that he continues to be guided by the Spirit in all his choices. I have definitely seen Ethan become more sensitive to spiritual things over the last year and look forward to watching him grow in the Gospel.

Some things to remember about the day:

• It took a lot of time tracking down a jumpsuit for him. The ward didn't have any in their closet and Jenny ended up borrowing one from her ward.
• I forgot to pack Ethan's church shoes and had to go buy a new pair the morning of the baptism.
• Ethan, Lauren, Shayne, and Gracie sang "Baptism" together and did a great job.
• My mom's friend, Sheila, embroidered a white towel for Ethan with his name and date of his baptism on it. It is definitely a keepsake and made me tear up when I saw it.
• My dad and Aunt Sarah gave the talks at the baptism.
• Lauren kept showing off her hair that was French-braided by Aunt Mandy. She asked everyone she talked to if they liked her hair.
• A beautiful blessing after the confirmation given by Allen.

                           

Did she really just say that?

Ok this post is going to sound really judgemental and maybe it is, but I just have to comment on a few things and each of them had me thinking, "Did she really just say that?"

I know every ward is different and every ward has their share of interesting people and in just the three weeks I have been here, I have found one each Sunday.

• The first Sunday I attended Relief Society the sister conducting mentioned the Valentine's dinner that was hosted the night before and said it was great turn out and we all should thank Brother So-and-So. Then she looked at the front row and said to another sister, "I guess we should thank you too since you helped a lot, I am sure." (Apparently it was his wife.) The lady in front of me pipes up and says, "We should thank his wife too." The sister conducting the meeting says that she just did and then another woman on the back row speaks up and says, "His first wife was there helping too."  Did she really just say that? AWKWARD!! The sister conducting just pauses and then says, "And this week for Enrichment..." It was just weird and random, and awkward to have a comment from an ex-wife like that.

• The next Sunday our lesson in Relief Society was on apostasy. People started talking about how sometimes people get offended by something or someone and that it can take them away from the church.  A sister comments that she was deeply offended by President Hinckley and could have easily left the church. Did she really just say that? (I start wondering what talk he gave that might have offended her.) She continues that it was while he was here visiting and he didn't think her clothes were appropriate for whatever event they were attending and he let her know. She said that she wrote him a letter and received an apology from him that he signed in front of the Quorum and that he cried over it, yada, yada, yada. She said she knew that sometimes when we are offended that the other person might not know they offended you and it''s best to confront them even if it is the prophet. It was a LONG story and I felt awkward that she was sharing such a personal experience.

• This last Sunday our lesson was on building the Kingdom of God. Great lesson and going well.  Teacher asks us what we can do as individuals to help build the kingdom. One sister says we should be teaching our family and should have family prayer and scripture study. The teacher starts writing this on the board and another lady chimes in with, "You know family prayer and scripture study are great with kids at home but it is even better when the kids leave home. Much more fun for empty nesters, just you and your spouse alone...I will leave the rest to your imagination." There were a few muffled laughs and even more people shifting awkwardly in their seats and looking down probably thinking, like me, "Did she really just say that?" The teacher quickly moved on to something else.

Yowza! Sometimes people are so anxious to participate in a class or conversation, they just don't think before they open their mouths. Then again, maybe I just don't know these people enough yet and these were not awkward situations at all...who knows?

And p.s.: If you are a Relief Society president and you have a new person move into your ward let me share a tip...

When making Visiting Teaching assignments, don't give the new girl a partner that does not come to church and four people to teach that are all empty nesters (two are elderly). Give her a chance to meet some people her own age and people that might have children the same ages as her kids. It would really help to let her develop some friendships with women that she might have something in common with before asking her to take on such a VT route. Just a thought...

POST EDIT:

The RS president just called me to talk to me about my VT route! I swear it was like she read my mind or my blog. She told me why she gave me each person and a little about each of them. I felt like a total snot for writing what I wrote because after talking to her I really feel like she was inspired to give me each one of these sisters. Just for instance, one sister is a physician and who doesn't need doctor recommendations when you move to a new place?  And another sister just found out she has breast cancer. I need to stop questioning so many things and just go with it sometimes...

Scripture Rock

Oh my goodness! I just found this site with LDS Seminary Scripture Mastery scriptures put to music to help kids learn them. It's called Scripture Rock. I about died laughing! Have a listen and see if you think it sounds just a bit odd to have scripture verses in "soft rock." Seriously, I can't imagine being a teen using this product. Can you just see a seminary student reciting the scripture to the teacher and just busting it out in song? Hilarious! But you know, everyone learns differently. It might just work...well, evidently it does because someone is buying the CDs. Now that I just made fun of it, my kids will probably need and want something like this.