Monday, November 05, 2018

November Life and Gratitude

In preparation of me starting work next week, we went ahead and added Ammon and Peter to our phone plans so we could keep in touch with them more easily. Of course the first night with their new phones, they were more excited about playing Pokemon than anything. So we loaded the family into the car after bedtime and found them a few Pokemon stops. I'm grateful for my husband and three children.

On Friday I had the opportunity to spend the day taking care of Grandpa Ed. He can be a crotchety old guy - he's grumpy about living here instead of his home in San Diego, but he is always sweet to the little kids and I feel like his truer self comes out around them. I also had a chance to see Uncle Scott who was visiting with Grandma, and then play hand and foot with Haeli, Grandma and Pam who visited later in the evening. I loved being surrounded by so much extended family.

The boys were excited to do Pokemon stuff with Alister.

On Saturday I had the opportunity to take Ammon to the University of Utah to attend an event promoting their science department. He attended three different classes. I was worried that he'd be lost and alone so I stuck with him for two of the classes, but he was totally fine and I remembered that he has been independent since he was about five months old and whether he needs me to give him directions or not, he never thinks he does. And honestly, I think in this case he was more right than I was. He didn't need me. Watching him that day helped me realize how much my little boy has grown up. He's still only 14 years old, but he was born to be independent and he's doing a great job getting there.

Andrew had a church meeting that he needed to leave to before Ammon and I were home which meant that Peter and Laurie were left on their own at the house. I asked them to send me a selfie with Peter's new phone and decided to send them one of Ammon and me as well. It made my heart happy that even though we were all apart, we could see each other. At that moment, Andrew was shaking hands with Elder Rasband and said that selfies weren't allowed in the meeting. But four out of five is pretty good.

Before Andrew was home from his meeting, I was off to Peter's first day of indoor soccer for this season. His team is pretty much the same group of kids he just finished outdoor soccer with, so even though things were a little but new, it seemed like business like usual. I'm glad that Peter loves this sport so much!

I had a quick stop at home before I was out the door again. This time it was just me heading to an evening with some friends from high school. It's been a hectic week and I hadn't seen Andrew all day and a part of me was reluctant to go. But there is something soothing and fun about spending time with friends you have known since you were a teenager. We recently reconnected after a funeral of one of our friends, and that first visit was like group therapy on steroids. Several of us hadn't seen each other for years and it was amazing to hear the "war stories" life had brought everyone. But even though life gets difficult, I feel like we are all survivors together. To me it feels like in the 20's we still had all our hopes and dreams of life being perfect and to fall short of that felt like it needed to be hidden away. But now we are all in our 40's and we're a bit more seasoned and experienced so it's comfortable to just be open and honest about life with both the good and the bad and just love, empathize and support each other.

On Sunday we learned a new song in primary. I loved it! It was a beautiful song and just perfect for this season of gratitude.

Life Is O’erflowing with Beautiful Things

Music for Children

1. Blue skies, mountains, rainbows, fountains:

These are some things I love to see.

Rivers, canyons, pine trees, oceans:

Heavenly Father made them for me.

Chorus

Life is o’erflowing with beautiful things made by our loving and glorious King

If I but strive to be grateful and true, I can be happy in all that I do.

2. Music, laughter, peace thereafter;

These are some things I love to hear.

Please’s, thank you’s, may I’s, can do’s;

Hearing them fills my heart with good cheer.

3. Silky flowers, cool rain showers:

These are some things I love to feel.

Promptings, guidance, warm assurance:

That’s how I know the Spirit is real

Text: Thomas Croft

Music: Thomas Croft

Today I am back to taking care of Grandpa since my parents are still out of town. He has an appointment for his eye at the VA. He woke up with a pretty bad cough but seems to be well enough to keep the appointment. Grandma Laurel rearranged her schedule so that she could pick up my kids from school while I'm still at the VA. It's nice to have people pitch in a work as a team to make things run smoothly.

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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.