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Monday, February 22, 2010
When our prayers are answered
This weekend we had a super-de-duper, amazing, halelujah shouting Stake Conference. The people at Conference were not shouting, just me, inside, and then once I got home. Not only was I blessed with some personal spiritual insights, the Lord answered very directly some personal prayers that Josh and I had been offering for the last bit.
Halelujiah 1 - Saturday evening adult session (which Josh and I got to late after a getting to dinner late) the RS President spoke on rescuing God's special children through foster care. I began to feel impressed about foster care as soon as we moved here to Arizona. Josh got on the band wagon about a month ago. Together we have been pursing what we feel is the right course for our family, despite the many things that may deter us. It is hard to coordinate, and a lengthy process. There will probably be new challenges every day on this adventure, yet, we have the confirmation, not only of the Spirit as it has given us peace and comfort as we move forward, but of an inspired speaker that said just what we needed to hear. It is so very very joyous to KNOW that you are doing the Lord's will, and that is our most sincere desire.
Halelujiah 2- The Tempe Arizona Mission President was with us on Sunday and said this: "The Lord is bringing you here specifically to the desert southwest to help love those people (those who have also been sent here to find the truth, in mass) into the Church. This is where you are supposed to be." After that statement both Josh and I looked at each other, exchanging the glance that said "well, if we didn't know before, we know now."
Halelujiah 3- Our stake president spoke both evenings very lovingly and forcefully about fortifying our homes as a safe place in an increasingly wicked world. He used the example of the American troops in WW2 that took the city of Baston, France and ended up surrounded by enemy forces. When a letter was sent to set the terms of their surrendor the American Commanding Officer refused in writing with this one word "NUTS!" They had the faith to believe that even surrounded by enemies that were ready to attack, they could hunker down and wait for the rescuing angels that they knew would come. Our stake president said the following 'Angles will always be there to suport us and rescue us. We must decide what we let In and what stays Out of our home. The evil is there, surrounding us, and we are constantly bombarded, but we can stay safe." The type and shadow of how Captain Moroni fortified the cities in the Book of Mormon give us a good pattern. It was no coincidence that that evening we read the very account in the Book of Mormon with our children and then again this morning in our couples scripture study.
Halelujiah 4 -The youth choir sung the Hymn "Come Ye Children of the Lord" which rang so true in my heart. I know that Christ will come again and reign on this earth in peace and righteousness.
We will dwell ’mid truth and light.
We will sing the songs of praise;
We will shout in joyous lays.
Earth shall then be cleansed from sin.
Ev’ry living thing therein
Shall in love and beauty dwell;
Then with joy each heart will swell.
Halelujiah 1 - Saturday evening adult session (which Josh and I got to late after a getting to dinner late) the RS President spoke on rescuing God's special children through foster care. I began to feel impressed about foster care as soon as we moved here to Arizona. Josh got on the band wagon about a month ago. Together we have been pursing what we feel is the right course for our family, despite the many things that may deter us. It is hard to coordinate, and a lengthy process. There will probably be new challenges every day on this adventure, yet, we have the confirmation, not only of the Spirit as it has given us peace and comfort as we move forward, but of an inspired speaker that said just what we needed to hear. It is so very very joyous to KNOW that you are doing the Lord's will, and that is our most sincere desire.
Halelujiah 2- The Tempe Arizona Mission President was with us on Sunday and said this: "The Lord is bringing you here specifically to the desert southwest to help love those people (those who have also been sent here to find the truth, in mass) into the Church. This is where you are supposed to be." After that statement both Josh and I looked at each other, exchanging the glance that said "well, if we didn't know before, we know now."
Halelujiah 3- Our stake president spoke both evenings very lovingly and forcefully about fortifying our homes as a safe place in an increasingly wicked world. He used the example of the American troops in WW2 that took the city of Baston, France and ended up surrounded by enemy forces. When a letter was sent to set the terms of their surrendor the American Commanding Officer refused in writing with this one word "NUTS!" They had the faith to believe that even surrounded by enemies that were ready to attack, they could hunker down and wait for the rescuing angels that they knew would come. Our stake president said the following 'Angles will always be there to suport us and rescue us. We must decide what we let In and what stays Out of our home. The evil is there, surrounding us, and we are constantly bombarded, but we can stay safe." The type and shadow of how Captain Moroni fortified the cities in the Book of Mormon give us a good pattern. It was no coincidence that that evening we read the very account in the Book of Mormon with our children and then again this morning in our couples scripture study.
Halelujiah 4 -The youth choir sung the Hymn "Come Ye Children of the Lord" which rang so true in my heart. I know that Christ will come again and reign on this earth in peace and righteousness.
Exultantly
1. Come, ye children of the Lord,
Let us sing with one accord.
Let us raise a joyful strain
To our Lord who soon will reign
On this earth when it shall be
Cleansed from all iniquity,
When all men from sin will cease,
And will live in love and peace.
2. Oh, how joyful it will be
When our Savior we shall see!
When in splendor he’ll descend,
Then all wickedness will end.
Oh, what songs we then will sing
To our Savior, Lord, and King!
Oh, what love will then bear sway
When our fears shall flee away!
We will dwell ’mid truth and light.
We will sing the songs of praise;
We will shout in joyous lays.
Earth shall then be cleansed from sin.
Ev’ry living thing therein
Shall in love and beauty dwell;
Then with joy each heart will swell.
Mixing it up at the Science Center
Thanks to Culture Passes we had a super fun day Friday at the Arizona Science Center after picking up our bestest buds the Bolke's at the airport. I got to play with Danny and Faith all to myself.
Faith and I are going to start our own DJ mixers buisness, of course we will have to borrow this digital display from the science center. If you put your and in the line of the light then it makes different sounds from different instrunments, or animals. Faith and I are a good team.
A promotion for the peon
our Peon of the Button Factory has been working hard for a promotion. It is noticeable. He swiftly moved through the ranks once he started walking, talking, and almost sleeping through the night.
From Yellow Hat (one step above peon).....
To steeley blue-green (apprentice to the master)....
to ruler of the universe. Yep, he controls it all from that little bench.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
I love you little gidget gadget
I have been painting recently. It is fun to change the face of a room just with a splash of color. However, I hate the prep part of painting. Taping, taking all the stuff/out of the wall. And, I don't like doing the tedious stuff, edging etc. Basically I like rolling on color in big swaths. Until I found this at Lowes.
Usually I just scam past the stuff that looks as though it was 'as seen on TV.' It can't really have been made better than the 100 year old tried and true method, right? WRONG! This gidget is AWESOME! love it. in fact, I am excited to do the second coat!
p.s. I really like mist-tint paint. if you frequent Lowes enough you are bound to find the color you want and then you can paint your room for $5!
Usually I just scam past the stuff that looks as though it was 'as seen on TV.' It can't really have been made better than the 100 year old tried and true method, right? WRONG! This gidget is AWESOME! love it. in fact, I am excited to do the second coat!
p.s. I really like mist-tint paint. if you frequent Lowes enough you are bound to find the color you want and then you can paint your room for $5!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
to share some feelings
i have been rather emotional lately. not the good kind of emotional either. disspointed. grumpy. disgrundtal. irratible. blaming. self-concious. embarrassed. crabby. and downright mad.
I went to insititute this morning and realized that I need to repent (read Alma chapters 33-40 and see how you feel about repentance). seems like it ought to be a personal kind of repentance, where i get back to that oh so needed relationship with my Father in Heaven and humility towards the great power of the atonement as brought about by the Savior. sad part is, right now i kinda feel like being proud. i don't like the thought of being humble again. i am not motivated by love. not even perfect love. the injustice has dug its claws right in under my ribs and it hurts, and because it hurts, i want to be angry.
Good thing is, I do still remember what it feels like to have been forgiven. to have forgiven myself. to no longer grind that ache into my heart but shoo it away. i do prefer that, it is just the process of getting there again. the process: letting go, being humble, praying sincerely, returning to doing the good things that keeps the monster claws away.
following the prescribed process is not hard, it is the wanting to that remains difficult. a likely metaphor is the desire to be in shape, really in shape, and knowing how alive you feel when you are, and yet, not wanting to put forth the initial effort that invariably will break you down a bit before you get stronger.
silliness really, to want peace in your life to come about without inviting the Holy Ghost or the Savior to be a part of it. not to mention that all the above feelings mentioned are not so condusive to flocking others around your warm aura.
at least now, after sharing, i feel more resigned, albiet exhausted. tenderizing the heart does require some pretty hard hits.
I went to insititute this morning and realized that I need to repent (read Alma chapters 33-40 and see how you feel about repentance). seems like it ought to be a personal kind of repentance, where i get back to that oh so needed relationship with my Father in Heaven and humility towards the great power of the atonement as brought about by the Savior. sad part is, right now i kinda feel like being proud. i don't like the thought of being humble again. i am not motivated by love. not even perfect love. the injustice has dug its claws right in under my ribs and it hurts, and because it hurts, i want to be angry.
Good thing is, I do still remember what it feels like to have been forgiven. to have forgiven myself. to no longer grind that ache into my heart but shoo it away. i do prefer that, it is just the process of getting there again. the process: letting go, being humble, praying sincerely, returning to doing the good things that keeps the monster claws away.
following the prescribed process is not hard, it is the wanting to that remains difficult. a likely metaphor is the desire to be in shape, really in shape, and knowing how alive you feel when you are, and yet, not wanting to put forth the initial effort that invariably will break you down a bit before you get stronger.
silliness really, to want peace in your life to come about without inviting the Holy Ghost or the Savior to be a part of it. not to mention that all the above feelings mentioned are not so condusive to flocking others around your warm aura.
at least now, after sharing, i feel more resigned, albiet exhausted. tenderizing the heart does require some pretty hard hits.
Monday, February 1, 2010
The wadrobe in the spare room
I get the best pictures of the kids climbing/hiding in this little wardrobe made just their size:
Faith, Dec 2008
Danny, January 2010
Faith, Dec 2008
Danny, January 2010
Danny's latest thing: Socks, and the putting on thereof
If there is a pair of socks around, Danny puts them on. He has surprised me several times, mostly because of the grunting that preceeds actually getting the socks on. Josh left his socks on the floor (shocker) and Danny found them. The result, and amazingly proud little boy who looked a bit like Mr. Tumnus.
Faith had to get in on the picture taking too. Without skipping a beat, Danny followed exactly her runway lead.
French-y
It was coincidental that Danny happened to be wearing the strange plaid pants with a brown jacket when he found the French hat and put it on. Doesn't it just seem as though he ought to be sitting in front of an easel painting the Eifel tower?
Faith and I tried our luck at being more French with a 'mustache chocolate'. Nothing like warm melty chocolate making your upper lip twitch!
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