Sunday thoughts

(photo taken in American Fork Canyon from the road)

I love my calling. I teach Relief Society once a month. I love the Gospel Principles manual we use to teach from. I'm learning so much as I prepare and study the material. This week's lesson was on The Creation. Who isn't fascinated (if not moved) by God's creations? I'm sure each of us has quietly observed a starry sky on a warm summer night and wondered about the grandeur of it all.

But what does the Creation have to do with me on a personal level? Aside from the knowledge we have that the Lord created a beautiful earth because we, his children needed a place to dwell, there are some other things to consider.

I am trying to divide light from darkness every day in my life. It's not easy sometimes. Like God, I am trying to create beautiful places in my home and in my life; sometimes out of chaos or unorganized matter. Each of us is seeking to bring forth order and beauty in our relationships and in our lives, in hopes that we, like God, can claim our creations "good." Sometimes to create something beautiful, we have to descend trustingly into the darkness before we can create necessary light, just as God did in the first creative period. Maybe we are struggling in a difficult marriage or with addiction; or maybe we are simply trying to create a beautiful space in our home. Whatever the case may be, we can learn to be a creator of good things, unorganized things or chaotic matter in our lives.

And so I pose (what I consider to be) a few poignant questions:

1) How can we show gratitude for the gift of the Creation?
2)Which of God's creations are especially beautiful to you?
3)What are you busy creating these days? Are you actively engaged in the creative process and in learning how to be a creator like our Heavenly Father?
4)How can we, as women of God, better "fill the measure of our creation?" I heard it put this way ~ "Filling the measure of our creation is learning to behave how the Creator intended (it) to behave."

I have lots of these thoughts swirling around in my head. I'm so thankful for the sisters in our class today who shared their insights. It gave me so much to think about it. I feel a good Family Home Evening coming on...

"I Want Daddy!"

The Mister was out of town this week on business, and the night before he left I found Josh setting the alarm on his DS for 6:30 a.m. I asked why he was doing this and he replied, "Because I want to say goodbye to dad before he leaves to Billings."

7:00 a.m. came and Josh had slept through his alarm. I mentioned this to the Mister and he wrote Josh a love note and put it on his bed before leaving.

Josh woke up crying because he had missed saying goodbye, so we called Mr. on his cell. This helped some, but Josh was still sobbing. (I can't remember the last time my 10-year old cried. Is this good or bad?) He gingerly folded the love note and put it in his shirt pocket over his heart. He said he felt like there was "a hole in my heart, and this would keep it warm."

The Mister left last week for business as well, but Josh didn't seem too affected by it. I wish I understood why he was so needy this week, but life goes on.

I recently read a wonderful novel about the importance of fathers in the lives of their children. Josh's feelings and behavior reminded me of a book I recently read. Charles Martin says,

"Having been born one, and now trusted with three, I know this about boys: we are all born with a dad-sized hole drilled in the center of our chest. Our dad's either fill it up with themselves, or as we grow into men and start to sense the emptiness, we medicate it with stuff. Usually addictions." (Chasing Fireflies)

I think this is so very true. And not only is it true for boys, but it is especially true for daughters as well.

Life

Don't take life too seriously...no one gets out alive anyway.

Have a great week, everybody!

A Couple of Thoughts on Love

"Love one another and you will be happy. It's as simple and as difficult as that."

~ Michael Leunig

"Love everyone. And if you love someone who doesn't deserve it, God will certainly not be mad at you."

~ Mary Ellen Edmunds

The Mister sent me this bouquet on Friday, Feb. 12, 2010. xox

"My Hero" by Josh Kelly

The fourth graders did a unit on heroes in our communities/country, etc. and were asked to present them for the class on Friday. Parents were invited to attend. This is what Josh came up with:

"A hero is someone who is dependable and loyal. What makes a hero special is that the hero cares for other people.

My Dad is my hero because he helps me with projects like my pinewood derby for scouts. He snuggles with me and we wrestle together. He teaches me about guns and we enjoy going shooting together.

This weekend he is going to take me to Kelly Canyon and teach me how to ski. I am excited about it.

My Dad is my hero because he is funny, strong, and cool. I think my Dad has a special purpose on earth because he survived 3 different near-death experiences in his life.

One last thing I like about my Dad is that he speaks French.

My Dad is my hero because I know he loves me and would do anything to help me be happy. I think he is the best Dad ever."
~given Friday, Feb. 5, 2010
~photo taken by Joseph in Mr. Hunsaker's 4th grade class

Barbie Meets Ancient Egypt

Josh got an Ancient Egypt Science Kit for his birthday/Christmas. Here we are several weeks post-holiday. He decided to 'mummify' his sister's Barbies with toilet paper and duct tape. (Both staples in our house.)

A Girl After My Own Heart

This is Queen Elizabeth. She loves to practice her violin. She asks me to turn on the Suzuki Book 1 recordings of "Tinkle Star" in the kitchen and this is the result...she sways back and forth to the music. Only problem is, she wants a violin that actually produces sound. Maybe someday, Queen. Maybe someday...