Weekend Activities

Monday, October 29, 2012

Weekend Activities

A while back I purchased more discount tickets for Hollywood Connection.

This time I only bought two.

I decided that the boys were old enough to run free while I hung out and watched.

I was surprised when the first thing they wanted to do was mini golf.

I knew they loved golfing, but I thought they'd hit some of the rides first.

In the end, they did hit all the rides.

But they also did mini golf THREE times!

The other thing that surprised me was when they decided to skate.

My kids are TERRIBLE skaters!

It really is just a matter of exposure - they are incredibly inexperienced.

Ammon was determined, though, and he made a LOT of progress.

He was able to skate extremely competently on the carpet.

And he survived several laps in the rink.

I LOVED skating as a kid, so watching him get this down made me SO happy!

Peter also made improvements.

This was a great kick off to our weekend.

It was a fun way to spend a Friday night while Andrew worked.

On Saturday, Peter had his last soccer game of the season.

They played in costume!

It was a fun field to watch.

Peter had a lot of fun and I'm glad he enjoys soccer.

I'm also glad for a break during the winter.

When it snowed last week, we decided we couldn't procrastinate winterizing the swamp cooler any longer.

Andrew watched a few you-tube videos and had it taken care of in no time.

He is so good at taking care of so many things around the house.

He is like a jack of all trades.

I appreciate his eagerness and self-fulfillment in taking care of our home.

Sunday capped off our lovely weekend.

The boys had their Primary Program at church and they both did a great job!

Peter learned his part weeks ago!

He surprised us both by reading his part off the paper we were given.

I was shocked that he could read it.

A few minutes later he repeated it again and was thrilled.

"I can read it without looking!"

In the end, the boys memorized each others parts as well as their own.

They also did a great job singing the songs.

The Primary Program almost seems to suspend time for me.

There is something so powerful about children singing and speaking about the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I remember being the child up on the stand singing the songs.

And I remember Ammon being the three year old, Peter just a babe in arms.

And here they are, five and eight.

Time goes so fast sometimes.

I saw some of the primary teachers.

One of the women in the ward grew up here.

I don't know if she spent her primary days in this neighborhood or not.

But I thought of the memories she must have in this chapel as a child/youth.

And now it is her children presenting the program.

I saw another leader who was a grandma.

I felt like with a blink of the eye, I would be the grandma there.

I love that we FINALLY have a permanent home.

There is something wonderful about knowing that we are participating in neighborhood traditions.

I watch my boys getting a drink out of the church drinking fountain and marvel that in ten years they will be getting a drink from that same spot.

We've never had this level of permanence before.

There is something comforting about it.

It is an intangible treasure.

I spent Sunday night sitting on my couch.

Andrew made a fire and I stared into it, enjoying the warmth.

I looked over and saw my beautiful view of the mountains.

My camera was retrieved and I took pictures from that very spot.

Then, as long as I had my camera out, I gathered my three guys.

And I took a picture of the most beautiful view of all.

Needless to say, I finished this weekend feeling very fortunate indeed.

Life is good.

It isn't perfect.

It isn't at all what I always dreamed it would be.

But it is so very good.

Life is beautiful.

And I feel blessed.

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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.