A Moment

We bought this wonderful book from the distribution center that is full of gospel images.  And each has a scripture referenced in the front.  So we are going to use this as a springboard for our family scripture study.  Tonight Taesya picked the picture of Isaiah writing of Christ's birth.  We talked about what we saw in the picture, then read the three verses to go along with it.  It was nice.  The kids all get really excited about pictures of Jesus or the temple, even Keller.  Ben took this video of Keller while we were "reading" the book afterwards.  

(Kel just snuck out of the bath, by the way, and came to ask me "What doin'?"  He's getting so smart.)

P.S. Snow is Crummy

Things are a'changing around here.  The kids are growing up so much and I'm having to adjust my idea of daily life.  Figure out new ideas and new goals.  Ben and I are having talks about what we want out of life and where we want to be in 5 years.  Maybe it's the Spring Cleaning idea; we have this drive to begin anew, to jumpstart our old ways.  

We're going to improve our home one project/piece of furniture at a time.  Slowly turning it into a more pleasant place to live.  Ben's office is going to move into another room as soon as we figure out Wifi, and then he will have a door to close.  (He is quite excited about that idea.)

I am resolved to sit down and play with my children each day.  Yesterday I colored with Tae and Canon; we had a great time.  Taesya drew a snowman, Canon drew a "shooter" - Canon even wrote an S, two N's, and an O.  It felt nice to just play for once.  

It's good for Ben and I to re-establish the path that we want to be on.  Life gets going and we sort of end up wandering.  But now the team is recommitted, our uniforms are cleaned and pressed, we've planned the line-up, and it's going to be a great season.  Batter up!

Opposition in all Things

Spring has come and I am overjoyed!  The sunlight and the energy of Spring lifts me up.  I can send my kids into the backyard again; they can dig holes in the garden to their heart's content.  (As long as they wash up when they come inside.)  I'm really glad that Spring is here.

In Glendale, Spring means a few negative things, though.  It means that all the troublemakers have awoken from hibernation, and they leave their mark on the local stores, fences, and traffic signs.  Graffiti gets cleaned up fast around here, but I always get a sick feeling in my stomach when I see it.  It makes me sad that someone could have such disregard for those around them.  Spring and Summer makes these people restless, I guess.

Completely unrelated, yesterday I saw two separate people retrieving used cigarettes off of the sidewalk, and then pocketing them for later use.  It was odd because I'd never seen this before and now I saw it twice in one day.  Is it the economy?  Maybe they were trying to save a buck by recycling cigarettes from strangers?  I felt bad for them that they needed this drug so much.

Our front planters have sprouted daffodils, which I must say are a terribly happy flower.  That bright yellow just shouts glee.  Funny how the dandelions are the same color.  To children, dandelions are flowers and are as valuable as daffodils.  So according to Taesya's definition, we have 5 pretty yellow flowers in our planter.

I've had almost a week off of the play that I am in.  It's been nice to stay home and forget about scene changes, and makeup, and bobby pins.  The break did me good and now I am excited to go back.  Tomorrow night I will again be back at The Children's Theater downtown.  It is a gem of a theater and I love it there.

Have you ever thought how a drink of water wouldn't taste as great if you hadn't gotten thirsty first?  Or how your teeth wouldn't feel so great clean if they'd never gotten dirty?  Or how a warm blanket would mean so much less without the cold?  Keller is still working on getting a mouthful of teeth for himself, and he's having a tough time along the way.  Teeth come after the pain.  Opposition--man oh man.

The dandelions accompany the daffodils, and the graffiti multiplies with the sunshine.  I'm starting to get it.  I am grateful for the Spring.

Taesya's prayer

Imagine a little 4 year old say this, while half asleep:

"Please bless all the plants and people to grow.... but not into giants.  Please bless us to get older but also to be young sometimes."

Brought me many smiles and I hope those come your way also. Smile people, its good for you.

Ben

Take-home treasures

In Relief Society, we studied a talk by Elder Holland called "Safety for the Soul."  I was impressed that in the same way we cannot rely on another person's food storage during an emergency, we also cannot lean on someone else's testimony when the end comes.  (The parable of the 10 Virgins came to mind.)  I have to build up my own spiritual supply so that in the last days, my heart will not fail me.  I need to


"Come unto Christ, and be perfected in him."  


Moroni 10:32 is going to be the theme for my week.  When all the yadda seems like it's making my head spin around, I want to think of my Savior.  He knows me and has faith that I can do good in this world.  I will come unto Him, and become stronger and stronger.  Church is difficult at this phase in my life, but today I came home with a pearl.  I'm so glad.

Needed this

I was given a whole bunch of books from my mom, ones that I had liked as a kid.  There were bookmarks and pieces of paper tucked into some of them.  I came across a quote, probably given to me in Young Women's once; you know how they're always giving us cut-out quotes to encourage participation.  Anyways, this quote from whenever applies directly to my life today.  Things just fall together sometimes...

"Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond measure.  It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us.  We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, handsome, talented, and fabulous?  Actually, who are you not to be?  You are a child of God.  Your playing small does not serve the world.  There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.  We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.  It is not just in some; it is in everyone.  And, as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.  As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Nelson Mandella quoting Marianne Williamson in his 1994 Inaugural Speech

Eternal Perspective

My job is to be at home. On the surface, my life is way boring. Because I repeat the same tasks every day, every week, every month. To the world, I’m not doing a whole lot; I’m going nowhere.

Looking at it eternally, though: When Taesya and Canon wake up, Mom is there with a kiss and a hug. Achievements, ouchies, games, “Big big World,” all these are better when Mom is there, too. Canon and Taesya think I’m the funniest, most capable person they know; their love is the closest I get to heaven all day long.

It’s crazy that even in my ward callings, I almost never look at things “through the lense of eternity.” (Pres. Faust) I always focus on what I want, or what will look good to others. Boy, I sound shallow. But if I’m honest with myself, I realize that I need to adjust my viewpoint. I need a greater Eternal Perspective.

Tonight: I have done my best to nurture, protect, and love my two babies. I have cleaned, kept, and tried my best to fill my home with the Spirit. We worked toward some goals, spent time with extended family… See? Don’t our smallest days seem so much meatier that way? My goal this week is to shift my focus heavenward; my efforts really do mean something.