June...so Far! :)

HIGHLIGHTS FROM TODAY...

This morning while reading our Book of Mormon as a family, we challenged each other to recognize a moment (or lots of moments!) where we could fill the Holy Ghost. Where we felt close to our Savior. We are reading Jacob and Jacobs shares that he knows that the Savior lives and is our Savior because of the Holy Ghost. I know that we have a Savior. This is something I know because I can find the Savior and strengthen my testimony of Him every moment I seek for Him. He is in each verse of scripture I read in the Book of Mormon each day. In each General Conference talk I listen to each day. In each precious moment I am with my kids. I can feel the Holy Ghost and feel the Savior with me as I teach my children and treasure those precious moments with each of them. He is always with me - I just need to stop and feel Him there. So, our challenge...stop and feel the Holy Ghost testifying of our Savior.

I asked Emily when she felt the spirit. She said it was when she waits to eat her snack after she has that sacrament. And when she gives me a hug.

I loved my time with Angela and Carolyn tonight. Carolyn and I snuggled and read "Harry Potter." Angela and I snuggled and read a nonfiction book about Panda Bears. It was fascinating. I had no idea that they were more cat-like than bear-like. And that all they ate was Bamboo. I thought they had a little meat here and there. It was interesting and I loved reading it with my Angela. Afterwards, we snuggled and I tickled her back. She loves the soft tickles.

 When the kids turn eight years old, they get to pick to either go to Elithes or WaterWorld with Andrew on a date. Carolyn was thrilled for this day and picked Elithes. They had a blast. She was happy that she hit the 48" mark (with tissue paper in the shoes) so she could go on most rides.

A few years ago during General Conference, a sister was spoken of that would read her Book of Mormon everyday and then turn to the "Preach My Gospel" book and study how she should teach her children. I love that and have tried to follow those footprints of that mother. This morning I read about Alma. About how he had gone to Ammonihah and taught them. He described them as people who Satan had gotten hold of their hearts. He left and then was told to go back. How did he respond when asked to go back and teach those people? SPEEDILY! Alma SPEEDILY went back. After I had read that for my personal scripture study, I went for my run and listened to my General Conference talks and received inspiration that I so readily do :) I thought about how basically everyday I choose between two shoes. My running shoes and my flipflops. Which shoes do I pick when I go running? My running shoes. I couldn't go very fast in my flipflops. I then thought about Alma and how he reacted when asked to do something difficult. When I am asked to do something - do I get on my running shoes and do it speedily or do I get on my flip-flops? The girls and I had a discussion about this. We called it "WHICH SHOES DO YOU CHOOSE?" Do you choose your running shoes or sandles when asked to do something? Then we made personal posters where we traced and made pictures of our shoes. And put the scripture on the bottom where Alma SPEEDILY returned to the city. How grateful I am for the Book of Mormon - tells me everything I need to discuss with my kids.

Carolyn and I were talking. I was expressing my gratitude towards her that she came to be by me while I was folding laundry in my room. She expressed that she came to be by me because:

Carolyn: "I don't like being by myself. That's one reason I wanted the Holy Ghost."

How beautiful. That Carolyn knows that because she has the Holy Ghost her Savior is always with her. She is never alone. Beautiful, Carolyn.

One of Angela's spiritual gifts I can see as her mommy is her gift of being able to be intune and discern the needs of others and then act upon those observations and inspiration she receives from the spirit. She has a gift to recognize how to serve and then go to work. For example...today - here are a few amazing things she did that she recognized on her own and then acted upon...

- After going shopping at the store and we walked to our car, Angela went and popped the trunk for me.
- Then, she (without being asked) helped to load the car full of groceries.
- When returning home, she helped me unload all on her own.
- Then this sweet girl started to empty the dishwasher after dinner...all on her own without being asked!
- If that wasn't enough, Angela and Carolyn finished their daily job to pick 5 weeds from the front yard. Carolyn left after picking her weeds with forgetting to put her weeds in the trash and her tool. Angela picked up after her sister.

What a gal!!
Love you, Angela! :)

Angela and I had fun making sugar cookies together yesterday. We made them to thank some people in the ward for helping out with a Relief Society Meeting we had this past Tuesday (It was amazing, by the way!! So happy about how the meeting definitely provided means for the RS Purposes to be fulfilled!) And we used the cookies for FHE treat, of course.

Which, can I just say that I love FHE? Tonight it last over 2 hours, I think. Angela told an amazing scripture story of how the Americas were after Christ visited. I loved the picture she drew of her and Jesus. How she feels it will be like when He comes again. They are standing beneath a beautiful rainbow and beside flowers. And very happy. Emily and Carolyn co-taught. They made an AMAZING game with a poster with cards. In order to advance in the game not only did our pieces need to make choices to get to Heaven such as getting baptized and taking the Sacrament, we also had to answer questions along the way. The questions were scenarios that we might actually be faced with. The focus was on choosing to be nice. Situations at school and home where we have the opportunity to choose to be nice. We also had a Family Tree Focus where Carolyn told stories of Andrew and used familysearch.org to show us where Daddy was on the tree...as well as discussed and worked on our Missionary Family Mission Plan. I love that we have someone do a musical number. We also plan for the week. One of Carolyn's Faith in God Goals is to plan and carry out a service project as a family each week. Anyways, I love FHE. I love that we all have to chant "FHE" while punching our arms in the air. Everyone has to be doing it before it can start.

 

 Oh boy...Emily was filled with flour at the end of the making :)

 Look at that cute floury face :)