What an AWESOME & eventful week!!
Monday there was no school for anyone. A kindergarten teacher came and picked up Corben’s toads to give the a fun new home. Crickets are expensive and Corben wasn’t getting to spend a lot of time with them so we figured it was time to let them move on. They’re going to live in a Kindergarten class room now! Yeah for perfect new homes!
I started two new endeavors this week:
1. I am going to walk a half marathon on Dec. 15. Training starts now.
2. I am going to read the entire New Testament…THIS WEEK!! (Today I read into the book of Luke)
Tuesday…I walked 3 miles and (at the same time) read from Luke to Acts 2.
Wednesday Corben had a dr. appt, the girls started gymnastics, I attended a Visiting Teaching interview AND I read from Acts 2 to Acts 18.
Gymnastics was a ton of fun. We’ve wanted to get Ella & Sylvie involved in something for some time and with Ella’s flipping ability we thought gymnastics would be great. Please excuse my sorry excuse for a camera phone.
The audio on this first video cracks me up…so does the audio on another one of these (lol Female Family Member!)
After class they came up to us to ask how many years of formal training Sylvie had had LOL!! They were shocked she’s not had any dance or gymnastics and said they were very excited to have her in their class.
Thursday, I walked 3 miles, read from Acts 18 to Titus 3, & Ella rolled Styrofoam cups down an incline at school.
Friday Collin had his 2 month well baby (a bit late). He was 13 lbs and 14 oz. I also read from the end of Titus all the way to the beginning of James.
Yeah! A white noise app that puts Collin right to sleep! Only problem is that I want to use my phone while he sleeps...guess I'll have to go be productive or something.
That night, life was crazy and I decided that not only did I WANT to go to a baptism at church, but I NEEDED to go. Reading the scriptures so quickly and thoroughly has been a huge spiritual uplift and I just want to add more and more and more and more to it!
My kids were crazy but the baptism was AMAZING. A young family was getting baptized. The husband went first and I can testify to you that when he came up out of the water I felt the Spirit sing. I was instantly crying and felt so much JOY…for them…for ME! I love this Gospel and I know it’s God’s church on the earth. I’ve been told lately that so much of what I believe is not in the bible…reading it again this week just solidified my testimony that it’s ALL there!! There’s even so much more than other Christian churches see. They can’t interpret it because they have no reference to it’s meaning. I am thankful for Prophets and Apostles on the earth today who can help me to understand God’s word and who, through revelation, share with me and the world His word to us today.
Saturday was CRAZY and AWESOME!!
It started for me at about 6:30am as I headed over to walk 3 miles with my fellow marathoners. I had other things to get to so just shy of half way I turned around headed back on my own, pushing the stroller and pulling out my phone so I could continue my scripture reading. It was at that moment that I was alone on a long stretch of the path. It was early morning, peaceful, beautiful. The woods on either side of me held tall trees with low, bright green ground cover. The sunlight was streaming down through the foggy mist of the morning and I had the most beautiful sense that this is what that morning must have been like for Joseph Smith as he knelt to pray in the Sacred Grove. Of course he would go to the woods. At that moment I couldn’t think of a better place for a child to pray and I wished I could go off myself and do the same. If I hadn’t of had the stroller, I probably would have. Instead I turned on my phone and opened up my scriptures to begin reading as I walked. At that moment I realized I was in the book of James. It only took a moment to come upon the wondrous scripture so powerfully tied to Joseph’s choice to go and pray. James 1:5 – If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. It was such a powerful moment to me. To be in such a place, suddenly, by chance, reading the words that led a young boy to pray in faith. I knew that my testimony of the First Vision had just been strengthened.
About this time, Ryan was heading off to a long weekend with his brothers white water rafting. Before he left he gave Sylvie her first birthday present…A new Bike!!
I was now heading out to Dade’s school to spend a day attending his classes and hanging out with my son. His school is AMAZING. I wish so badly I could have had such an education. As much as I HATE that he’s living away from home, he is learning many important life lessons and getting an unparalleled education. We spent the morning going to classes, went to lunch at Cook Out, and then hung out for a bit in the afternoon. It was such a great day together!
From there I headed south to a Women’s fireside. It was quite the day of figuring out a lot of crazy details. The RS, Primary, and YW General Presidencies (Womens, Young Women’s, and Children’s highest most leadership in our church) were coming to speak to us! At the same time as the women were to be in one building, our youth were to be at another building in another town. Two firesides at the exact same time! So, Dade hitched a ride with the youth at his school. Corben hitched a ride with an amazing family from church who also brought Dade & Corben back home together. My mom, who had been watching my kids all morning, switched off with my father-in-law, picked up my Sister in law and headed out to meet me at the church where I’d gotten early enough to save us awesome seats! In fact, I’d gotten there early enough to sit in the car and finish the entire New Testament!! Yippee! 5 1/2 days. Definitely a record for me. Again, my testimony strengthened. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church of God. Truth flew at me from every page of the bible reaffirming the most intimate details of God’s plan for me and all His children.
I quickly made it inside and was able to catch some of the closing words of Sister Reeves, counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency, as she finished up her training to the local women’s leadership. She talked about being called to her current position while she was serving in her ward’s RS presidency as a councilor. She talked about her problems with yelling at her children too much. She was so real…it gave me comfort. Afterwards, once my mom and Cassie were there, we sat to listen to Sister Reeves and Sister Esplin, 2nd Councelor in the Primary General Presidency. Sister Esplin had previously lived in our state while her husband had served as the mission president. Her talk was not scripted and at one point she began to share an experience with us that suddenly struck me. She’d been working on memorizing several scriptures, and, on a whim had decided to take a walk out in the early morning air. She then began to describe her surroundings as she walked alone in the woods (probably not far from where I’d also been walking this very morning). She too had felt the Spirit share with her the feelings young Joseph must have felt in just such a wood. She then began to work on the scripture she’d been memorizing, JS History 1:16-17 – …I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. 17 It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him! Sister Esplin continued to share 
After the meeting, Cassie and I headed home. Only a few miles from the house I received a phone call from Dade. It seems that Sylvie had a bead up her nose…it had been there for some time but she’d been too afraid to tell anyone. Ugh. Upon arriving home and saying a prayer to help calm Sylvie about her predicament, I got the strong feeling I needed to take her to the doctor. We headed out to a local emergency room that is usually pretty empty on weekends.
We were there as the clock struck midnight and it was suddenly Sylvie’s 5th birthday!! As I made the announcement and sang (quietly) to her a small boy looked over at us and announced that it was also his birthday! He was turning 7 so I sang to him, too.
Sylvie was doing very well despite things taking longer than usual.
EARLY the next morning I was awoken by Sylvie who remembered that she was to give a talk in Primary and wondered why I wasn’t up getting them all to church. Sigh. We got up and dressed and arrived late but just in time for Sylvie’s talk. I hadn’t remembered so she didn’t have anything prepared but with the help of a friend (and her phone) and some thoughts that had come to me on the way to church, I was able to help Sylvie share a nice message about how Keeping the Commandments helps show our love for God and our Neighbors. After church our congregation held a Linger Longer (lots of food) and I was so happy to not have to go home and fix lunch! Best part? A dear friend made plain spaghetti with parmesan cheese! There was something my kids would eat!
We got home in time for some of our family to join us to celebrate Sylvie’s 5th birthday! As we were getting things together I was asked where some of the rest of the family was and when they were getting there. Um…seems I forgot to mention it to them. In fact I’d only discussed it with mom and Cassie the night before. I’m so tired lately I let important things slip by. Sylvie keeps asking me why there weren’t more people at her party (sorry Jessie!). Luckily the Schneg family still has their party to throw for her so that should help. Anyway, the party (though small) was great. I’d originally planned on making a My Little Pony cake but there was no time so Mom helped the girls make these amazing cupcakes!! Rainbow Dash inspired.
Here’s the Ironic Gift…and my beautiful birthday girl…
Corben’s gift was an awesome magic show! We were all amazed.
Happy Birthday, my beautiful Sylvie!! It’s definitely a birthday you will never forget!!
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