Back to School and Other Fall Activities

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Back to School and Other Fall Activities

Ammon started the school year off with a bang. When I went to pick him up from his first day, he wasn't there. It's our first year at his new school and even though he has a history of disappearing on me, I was getting pretty upset when I couldn't find him. I searched around the building. I checked in with the office. They paged him. I searched inside the building. I checked back at the car. I looked in the office again. No Ammon anywhere. Ammon's teacher came down to the office to talk with me. The office workers asked if we should call the police. I said I would call my mom instead. I asked her to go searching the roads between the school and home. I didn't want to leave the school grounds until I knew where he was. We paged Ammon a few more times. His teacher searched the building while I searched outside. I kept waiting to hear back from my mom. I tried to call her and didn't get an answer. I didn't know if she had forgotten to take her phone with her or what. After checking out by the car again, and realizing that the school had turned into a ghost town, I started to lose it a little. The people in the office encouraged me again to contact the police, so I give the go ahead for them to make that call. I spoke with the detective. I called Andrew and filled him in on what was happening. I still hadn't heard from my mom. The police sent out two detectives - one that would go straight to my house to look for Ammon, and one that would meet me at the school. By this time there were enough people at the school looking for Ammon that I felt safe leaving the grounds to drive around myself for a minute. Just as I was getting into my car, I received a text message from my mom saying she had found him! For some reason one or both of our phones just wasn't connecting right and our calls just weren't getting in touch with each other. I ran back into the school to let them know we had located Ammon. On my way into the building Andrew called to tell me he was coming home. I let him know that we had JUST located the boy. Ammon had decided to walk home and at least he had headed in the right direction. I was worried that he wouldn't be sure. By the time my mom found him he had actually missed one of his turns and was coming back, a little confused. I'm glad it turned out OK. This is just a classic example of Ammon's adventurous spirit. He has had a lifetime of heading out on his own and just not worrying about whether or not I know where he is. Ammon is just fearless that way.

We had fun at Ammon's first pack meeting with our new troop. They welcomed him and he even got to select a scout cheer. We had a police officer come and talk about honesty. It was a fun activity.

We had fun going to the hospital to meet the third of three nieces being born this summer. My brother spoils me with his beautiful red-headed daughters. I just adore them! This little girl is no exception. Of the three babies, this was the only one we were able to meet in the hospital. It was fun to go see her so tiny and new.

One crazy Wednesday evening, my sister invited us to attend the Brigham City open house. It was a crazy hour long drive each way in addition to several hours at the temple itself. We did this after school and after Ammon's first piano lesson with his new teacher. We got home around 10:00 at night the night before Peter's first day of Kindergarten. I was skeptical about whether or not it would be worth the exhaustion and potential crabbiness. It totally was. The long night and tired next day are already forgotten, but the memories of the temple remain priceless. Ammon was big enough that I could easily whisper in his ear and tell him about the different things we were seeing. His favorite part was the mirrors in the sealing room. Although he confessed with amazement, "I thought they were special mirrors, but they are just two ordinary mirrors that hang across from each other." Peter had a great time scoping out all of the pictures of Jesus throughout the temple. He was particularly excited when he recognized the picture that is in the front of the Book of Mormon.

Peter's first day of Kindergarten went well. He somehow managed to be in the opposite class of pretty much EVERY kid in the neighborhood. But he did luck out and get his cute cousin in his class. They were completely precious on the first day of school. I'm happy for him that he is already so comfortable and content with going to school. He has always loved being out with other kids his age. I can tell that he takes his school work very seriously and he even works very hard to make sure his coloring is as neat as possible.

For the second month in a row, we attended a baby blessing on the first Sunday of the month. Little Emma had one of the more memorable baby blessings I've seen in that the Bishop actually forgot about it! The Sacrament hymn had started before Emma's daddy had to go remind the bishop of the schedule. As it turned out, there were also some newly baptized members that needed to be announced as well. Afterwards we enjoyed a fun afternoon with the extended family who were all there to celebrate this little baby.

After years of hard work and effort, we finally had the opportunity to celebrate Peggy's graduation, passed test, license and new job in the nursing field. When Andrew and I first started house shopping we told her that if we had a new place, we would love to host a party for her. Well, we got our house, and we were excited to be able to follow through on our offer. Everyone in Andrew's family was there. We had great food, fun and games. Kara made her mom a Texas sheet cake from a family recipe. Jennifer planned some great relay races for the kids. It was a great night!

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Family Proclamation

The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children.All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God's commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God's eternal plan.Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. "Children are an heritage of the Lord" (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.