Free time

I love free time.  Some time ago we put away legos, lincoln logs, train sets, nerf guns, doll houses with furniture, and encouraged making your own play, spending time outdoors, being creative with your free time.  It has gone really well.  The kids are so much faster at tidying their room and spending time outside in any kind of weather.  They continue to enjoy the part of our yard that is filled with rocks, logs, weeds, dirt, and junk.  It is here that they feel free to organize this chaos into something they like and look what evolved.

 They use to just stand up logs and skip a roof. This year they discovered flat boards, hammer, nails, and a hand saw.  Ike dug holes for the posts and built this great 2 story play house/hut.

 Chillin' on the front porch

 do upstairs

and even brought in the mud fireplace from last years building.  I am thrilled with the things they are learning as they use real tools, experiment, and then enjoy their creations.

angel moments

1. Nina has come to stay with us for pageant. She is a talented, energetic, hard working young lady that is loving playing the part of Mary in our pageant.  Last night her family was able to come see her perform.  In the show Mary dies while crossing the plains.  Later when her husband, Robert is killed by an arrow, Mary comes to guide him to heaven.  It is a beautiful scene in which the two of them walk up the stairs and are greeted by others in white representing family, etc.  We were able to get hold of her parents in Louisiana and continue the tradition of having family there to greet Robert and Mary as they ascend to heaven.  It was an incredible, happy surprise for Nina to find her own parents there to greet her dressed in white.  I understand there were many tears of joy shared.
2. Once again the rain was quite steady yesterday but the performance was dry and just a little cool.
3.  Elder Ellis spoke to us.
4. Sunshine got a nap while waiting for our turn on stage.
5. Someone shared their blanket with us.
6.  Tall One returned home safe and just a bit shook up after having survived this:

 He over corrected, fish tailed, lost control and rolled the truck landing here.  He was not injured and had his bike in the back.  He rode it home to get help.  They are still working on getting it out of that ditch with a really big fork/lift/loader thingy.  Please don't tell Peter.  We will let Tall One do that.

So I am feeling incredibly grateful for angels watching over us as one way that the Lord desires to teach me, humble me, and strengthen me seems to be through having my children involved in accidents.  You could say that they are not careful but that is just not true.  You could say that Satan is trying to stop the work they are called to do, he will  not succeed.  You could say that God has promised he can make all things work for our good, that I believe.  The truck is totaled.  The challenges continue and through them the lessons, opportunities and blessings.  Through the little treasures and the celestial moments when those things of greatest importance are once again treasured I feel to thank my Heavenly Father for his love and watchful care.

"Always there are those angels who come and go all around us, seen and unseen, known and unknown, mortal and immortal."

Always there is one we can count on, one who loves us, one who sees us through.  I will continue to trust in Him, and thank him for angels.  Truly each day is a miracle and a gift.

 "And whoso ^areceiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go^bbefore your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my ^cSpirit shall be in your hearts, and mine ^dangels round about you, to bear you up."  Doctrine and Covenants 84:88 

little treasures

Pageant season began with our dress rehearsal last night performing for more than 2000 people.  It rained right before and a little bit during our outdoor performance.  There was wild lightning and thunder a couple of hours before.  We listened to a sweet message from Elder Richards and his wife while huddling under umbrellas for our opening devotional.  We performed on the hill without rain and we stayed warm.  It was a blessing.

Elder Richards and his wife talked about making this experience everything it can be.  Treasuring the moments with our families as we work to share the gospel message of the restoration of Christ's church.  Sister Richards said to record the sweet memories and experiences.  Elder Richards suggested studying the people we are portraying.  We have such an amazing pageant leadership who are always looking for ways to bring the spirit to each performance and performer.  We are given scriptures to read daily to go along with a theme.  This year it is obedience.  It is wonderful to have this reminder forefront in wanting to be more obedient.  Emily shared her recent experience as she serves the Lord full time in S. American:

Tuesday I had another awesome experience with prayer. We always pray before leaving the house as a companionship. Hna THorpe prayed, and asked that we would be able to find someone to serve. We left the house - on time (Important to be obedient if we want blessings) and were waiting for a bus. This lady walked by and we greeted her with a hardy buenas dìas! and then we saw she was carrying two super heavy grocery bags. We ran over and helped carry them to her house. She invited us in and we were able to teach her and get to know her, and I have high hopes that she`s going to progress.But it was amazing to see how fast Heavenly Father answers our prayers. We pray, we show our obedience, and Heavenly Father POURS out His blessings on us.

 I had been attending rehearsals rather grudgingly.  I kept going for my kids-to be an example but not enjoying it.  I realized my rotten attitude and sought to change it.  We tried to be on time, do our part well, and control my thoughts.  Little blessings were immediate.  I have felt the spirit, I have met really nice people and visited with friends, spent time with my kids, and enjoyed already some of the blessings of the work.  Today is is raining.  Not ideal weather but I feel strengthened in that I am ready to be there and do what is required regardless of the weather.  We have an important work to do.  We are part of a greater work-the work of teaching my children to serve, follow through, trust in God, and do hard things.  We might even be a help to others feeling the spirit witness truth and have our own testimonies nurtured.

We are all involved in pageant.  I am hoping to record some of the little treasures along the way.  This is only a short season and we will make the most of it.

home improvement

At least I think so.  I am enjoying fresh color and paint.  Now I really want new sofas.  It seems like one thing leads to another.  If anyone wants my sofas, they are available.

 We got rid of some useless trees.  They were a flowering pear but they grew very pillar like, provided little shade and blocked my view of the backyard and the children playing.  My boys loved chopping them down.

I thought I had better before pictures of the kitchen but you get a basic idea for the before:

and now the after with newly refinished floors, architectural interest and fresh colors.  I really like it.

Talents?

You know how everyone tries to be inspiring, wise, and supportive in high school yearbooks?  Well I recently read in a year book where they like to quote people "It doesn't matter what you do in life as long as you do your best."  I know people mean well but I tend to analyze things.  Does it matter what you do in life?  Is it only the effort that counts? or the quality of the accomplishment?

I get to teach gospel principles on Sunday. It's the lesson on Talents.  The topic often brings with it the ideas of our own lack of talent and the amazing talents of others we know.  The traditional performing talents are always appreciated and easy to spot.  We could discuss the importance of remembering that there are many kinds of talents (which there are) and there are natural abilities vs. hard work and effort, as well as the great combination of both.  I know I need to recognize talents in others, especially my children and encourage the development of those gifts and talents.  I also know that I need to appreciate the gifts my Father has given me.  The abilities to learn, grow, progress, and become are available to everyone.

We have a responsibility to develop the talents we have been given.  We should not hide our talents.  We should use them.  First we must discover our talents by asking Heavenly Father to help us learn about our talents.  We can also learn from other people.

The point that sticks out to me is that though there may be many talents we admire or wish for, we need to seek the Lord's help in knowing how he wants us to develop our talents.  We have many gifts that can be used in many ways.  It does matter what we do in life!  If we choose where to spend our time and effort without partnering with Heavenly Father then doing our best isn't enough.  President Joseph F. Smith said, "Every son and every daughter of God has received some talent, and each will be held to strict account for the use or misuse to which it is put".  A talent is a stewardship.  We are to use our talents to build the kingdom of God.

So we have the responsibility to learn

• what our talents are, 
• seek wisdom in developing those talents - which amount of time and energy may be different at different times of our lives.  Sometimes we need to excel and master a talent.  Sometimes just a basic knowledge is sufficient for the work we are called to do.  If we seek wisdom from God to know what thing is needful, consecrate our efforts, we will succeed.  Sometimes doing something poorly is good enough.  Not everyone needs to reach the same level of proficiency.
• look for opportunities to share those talents/gifts in ways that will bless others and build the kingdom of God
• to appreciate the talents of others, where they are at in their progress, and the beauty of the variety of gifts.

When we do these things we are blessed - with increased joy and love, self control, gratitude, and contentment in knowing we are progressing is His way.  "His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come." (the Living Christ)

This talk by Elder Rasband was great and timely