10 Virgins

We watch the sign language Scripture Stories at night and take turns voice interpreting.  Last night the parable of the 10 Virgins left me pondering, as always, what it means.  Tonight as we watched the parable of the Talents, I felt inspired to interpret the parable of the 10 Virgins thus.

All 10 Virgins had the resources to buy oil.  The wise virgins brought the oil.  The foolish virgins brought their lamps full of oil but didn't bring extra.  Their funds were not committed to the task at hand; having light for when the bridegroom came.  When their lamps went out, they were asking the wise Virgins to share their oil, and the wise Virgins told them to go buy some from those that sell.  It seems they were able to go buy more oil.  They had the resources to have been prepared.

So this lead me to think of how we hold back for ourselves instead of committing to God's work.  And that is how we will be foolish in the last days, if we have held back our "time, talents or resources from the building up of the kingdom of God on Earth." 

That's heavy. 

caroling

We went caroling with candles (!) to 7 neighbors last night.  We knocked on a few doors and got no answers but 7 people did answer and we sang Joy to the World.  It was sweet.  Sometimes we walked from one house to the next but sometimes we drove.  I'm so glad to share this with the children.  They can hold their part well enough for me to sing harmony to them.  I love this life.

100 carols for choir

I have 3 copies of this book and enjoy going online to find recordings to hear what is in the book.  Tonight we sat on the couch and searched out these that we enjoyed so far.  M was really happy when the shepherd's pipe carol came along since it is one she sang in the children's choir.  I'm so grateful the kids get to have such a lovely choir to participate in.  We'll continue our inventory tomorrow.
a great and mighty wonder
a maiden most gentle
a virgin m1 merrily on highost pure
angelus ad virginem
all my heart this night rejoices
as with gladness men of old
away in a manger
nativity carol
child in a manger (this one is funny because the tune is used in a 70s song)
deck the hall
Jingle, bells
ding dong merrily on high 
ding dong... wood
god rest you merry, gentlemen
shepherd's pipe carol
wexford carol

Christmas just us

This year P's parents are on a mission and grandma L went to Louisiana with aunt E and L.  So it's just the 7 of us (just the 7!) for Christmas.  For years we've done the P family traditions.  This year we've done stockings for soldiers, santa boxes, and gave gifts at a nursing home.  Here we are on Christmas Eve and it's just a regular night.  Since it was Monday we had FHE and I chose "In the bleak mid-winter" as the song.  The children are watching Pinochio because I don't do Santa. 

We had a lovely church service on Sunday.  We watched music and the spoken word and the 1st Presidency devotional when we got home.  It's been wonderful.

Today we drove up to Sam's Club and bought something for each child that they'd wanted but we never buy.
G: Hot Pockets
M: Orange Chicken
lP: Corn Dogs
B: Chex Mix

Tomorrow we'll eat our festive food, open presents, call grandparents and go caroling with our neighbors. 

It's nice.

beauty

Tonight I was able to attend the Choir concert for the girls.  Their Children's Chorus sings with the Community Chorus and a small orchestra at Christmas.  The Children's voices with the adult voices and orchestra are so amazing.  The church they performed in had excellent acoustics.  I was sitting in nave so it was as if just 30 people were witnessing this 100+ member ensemble.  It was wonderful.  I often get distracted by the other people around me during a performance so I'm so glad for this chance to enjoy the beautiful children.

After the concert we walked back to the car parked in a private driveway of someone we knew to be out of town, instead of walking half a mile to the place we were going to park.  The children sang as we drove home.  They like to goof off but occasionally they would just sing and it was so beautiful.

Pat a Pan
The Snow Lay on the Ground

I volunteered to help with uniforms this year.  Uniforms cost $40 new and kids grow.  So the idea was to keep uniforms and let kids pass them on as they grow.  Uniforms could be turned in for $10 and a used one in the right size bought for $20.  The choir gets $10 off of each turn over.

Tonight I had brought shirts and was able to help 2 girls move into more comfortable shirts.  I also brought black socks and one girl needed them.  I borrowed red ribbon and 3 girls needed them, 2 of whom were my own...  I also replaced the toilet paper in the ladies room for both stalls at the church.  I'm grateful that I was able to be helpful and didn't accidentally take the scarf of the lady sitting next to me like I did last year.

Christmas Season

After talking to a friend today I decided to spread out the gift getting to the days leading up to December 25.  I got some nice things from the store and asked B if he would like to give them to his siblings.  He wrapped them in scraps of cloth and ribbons.  The kids gathered in the front room and each excitedly opened their gifts.  I'm excited about this approach to Christmas.  Next weekend we'll be going to G-town and opening gifts with Grandma L and aunts.  Presents from Grandparents have come.  So we'll let the kids open the gifts over the next 10 days.  Christmas morning we may have nothing left to open.

Another tradition I'm going to start is buying hors d'oeuvres from Sam's club to eat on Christmas.  Today as we were shopping at Sam's the kids scanned the options.  Shrimp (M), Candy (P), Spanakopita (me), Hot Pockets (G).  We'll find our way.  My goal is for the children to be actively and excitedly engaged in their contributions to family meals.  If we eat Candy and Hot Pockets for Christmas, that's fine with me.

Family Photo!

Today we got a family picture, very rare, in church clothes, even rarer!  I'm grateful for the people who set up this wonderful little scene.  So nice.

During deaf sacrament meeting G pushed the wheelchair of one of the men so he could serve the sacrament.  It was so emblematic of the sort of man I hope G will become.  Helping others be able to serve is the goal.

Choir

We're preparing to sing for the Christmas meeting on December 23.  G stays home with the 3 youngest kids and it is so nice to go sing.  It's been years since I could just go sing and enjoy being in the choir.  Each week there are a few more voices.  We're learning the music and it's great.  P is conducting and my friend A is on the piano.  I love singing in a choir.

We played our tuba, tenor horn, bells, guitar, piano and sang for the stake nativity event.  L slept through the first time.  Then the sister coordinating invited us to stay and play an hour later.  I took the 4 older children around and looked at all the nativity sets and visited the family history library.  We played I SPY with a gigantic Italian Nativity in the family history center.  It was so nice to wander around with the older 4.  P stayed with the still sleeping L.  L woke up right before our second set and then sat happily eating his cookie and fruit snacks.

I love music and Christmas.  To me that is more important and fun than all the gifts.  I'm so glad we got to share that as a family.  Each year we'll improve, I hope, and more and more children will be singing and playing.

To Santa or not to Santa

I don't Santa.  I let the kids take turns filling stockings.  They take turns filling shoes for St. Nicholas.  They do not receive mystery presents from "Santa".  They do give mystery gifts to adults and mark it "Santa".  Santa is a game we like to play. 

I recently read of a situation where a teacher had a discussion about different holidays.  Kindergartners were allowed to discuss (shocking) whether their family does or does not practice Christmas, Santa, Hanukah, Diwali, or other holidays.  The person I know was upset that on her child's first day at a new school this discussion led him to be cynical.

Tonight as we set up the Christmas Tree and put on hats and coats lP and B started to play "waiting for santa"  I thought they were just playing.  I had to tell M several times to leave them alone and just have fun.  But lP was too convincing and B went to bed believing in Santa.  I told him "That was a fun game."  And he replied "Santa is real and I believe."  "I believe in God."  I said.  "I believe in God, and Santa, and St. Nicholas.  But Santa is St. Nicholas."

I talked to lP about how she was setting up for a heart ache and that she should not have tricked him into false belief.  I told lP "Good news, we're going to the Zoo tomorrow!"  The girls squealed in delight and then I told them that actually we aren't going to the zoo, and asked them how that feels.

I don't understand the mass insanity of Santa worship.  I'm ok with his being a historically real person.  But why all the fantastical stories and magical acts?  And why is the belief in Santa so sacred when we all know it is an obvious falsehood.  I've heard parents say they never told their children to believe in Santa, but that they did write the child a letter from Santa when they were doubting.  Seriously!  Would you write your child a letter from their girlfriend that wanted to break up, but write them a love letter and say it is from the girl so they can believe a little longer?  Psycho.

As Christians, creating the belief in Santa is encouraging the children to worship a false God.  They are told to be good so "he" will give them presents.  Why do we do this?  And because the worship of Santa is tied to the time we should be celebrating the birth of Christ, nobody can suggest that this is actually something that takes away from the focus on the worship of Christ.  Because... Santa!

What if instead of Santa we worshiped Uncle Sam?  He knows if you've been good or bad and he brings presents on the 4th of July!  Wouldn't that be so cool?

I'm pretty sure I've written before about how the belief in Santa is actually a very useful tool for Satan in destroying faith.  When a child discovers that their parents went to such lengths to foster false belief in Santa, what other beliefs are false, Church?  Morality?

I think encouraging the magic and belief in santa is actually a very selfish act.  It is really cute to see children believe in Santa.  And it's so easy to fan the flames of that belief and continue to see the hope shining in their sweet eyes.  You know it's not going to last forever and parents, selfishly, want it to last a little longer for their own enjoyment.  Obviously this is not an opinion that win friends and influences people.  Go me!

The article of faith for our church that is very useful here is:  We claim the privilege of worshiping all mighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience and allow all men the same privilege.  Let them worship how, where or what they may. 

Happy Holidays!

Laborers

Today one of the speakers in church talked about the parable of the laborers.  He said that the men who worked all day had the benefit of knowing all day that they would have the money to support their family.  The men who weren't hired on until the end of the day spent the day in disappointment and worry that they were not going to be able to support their family.  That the master granted them each the same wage is wonderful.

We have several rules in our house.  No choking is rule number one.  But also on the list is to not look in someone else's bowl unless you're concerned that they don't have enough. 

I am grateful for our bounteous life and know that happiness comes from not being concerned about what other people got.  Be grateful for what you have and share with those that have less.

Family culture

My sister recently posted on facebook that not all families learn portion control or recreational fitness.  And that they shouldn't be judged any more than families that don't have learning to play the piano or speak 2 languages as part of their family culture.

We take the kids to church.  We clean the house sometimes.  We eat home made food.  We use English and Sign Language.  We read scriptures and have family prayer daily.  We talk openly about finances.  We play the piano and other instruments.  We limit screen time.  We homeschool.  We camp.  We go on nature walks.  We visit our relatives.  We read.

I'm grateful for the family culture we have.  I think our kids are pretty lucky.

Family History

I'm having such a nice time reading and seeing family history on Family Search.com
It's amazing to see the memories kept about our ancestors.  The network of cousins and second cousins that have recorded these account is really cool.

Goldstein Joy

Tonight I was able to attend a fireside by Marvin Goldstein and Vanessa Joy.  It was funny and spiritual.  They played hymns and musical tunes.  How Great Thou Art, Fiddler on the roof, The Good, Home (the Wiz).  It was amazing.

We did it!

Last year I took G, M, P, and our friend E to see the Terrain Race.  I made a goal to do that ourselves this year and we did!  This is actual drone footage with a stick figure filter.

We attempted every challenge and the children succeeded at them all.  I was not able to complete 3 that involved upper body strength.  I was so impressed that G and M did the crazy long inclined monkey bars at the end.  It was so exhausting and satisfying.  I'm really pleased with our experience.

September 2018 Stake Conference Notes

Let the Gospel change you into an industrious person.

Kim Jenkins:  Have Charity in your Parenting.  Imagine your life is a creative work and you can sew godly traits into yourself.  Weave them into your character. 

Elder Victor Patrick:  He said his will not be the last testimony, the chorister, interpreter and singers give voice to the spirit. 
 Remember General Namaan who had leprosy. No miracle until after the trial of faith.  Faith and insanity are different because faith is true. 
Flirt to convert... 
Your faith is becoming stronger or weaker. 
Paul says works meaning you won't be saved through your works.  James is saying that when you have faith, you will work.  Satan and his followers know Jesus is real, but they don't have faith because they don't act in consistency with that knowledge.
Those marching around Jericho for 7 days had to live with faith.  There will be a lot of nothing before the miracles.  The longer you wait, the more miraculous.  Care about the things that are going to matter 1,000 years from now.
Live according to Faith in Jesus Christ, that leads to joy.
Everything that stands between us and happiness, Christ knows and his atonement overcomes.

We don't have good words to describe joyful tears.

The Halloween I love

The van had broken down earlier in the day so a lot of time was eaten up trying to get the tow truck to get the van to the shop.  Then more time to check on it and it still hadn't been picked up.  I had the youngest 3 with me to check on the car and I told them we'd do a little trick or treating on the way home.  L was asleep by the time we left the car unattended again because it was getting so late.   

A friend told us about a very nice neighborhood to go visit.  Our piano teacher had invited us to come to her neighborhood but with the car trouble we didn't think we would.  But as it was on the way home and our piano teacher has said that people on the end really liked getting trick or treaters, we drove by. 

I've judged people for doing the car thing while the kids went door to door.  I am sorry.  It's the best thing ever.  It's especially the best thing ever when a child is asleep.  Letting the children run up to the door alone is so good for them.  Watching their joy as they scamper up and down driveways is really great.

I love how Halloween can bring out the best in people.  Tonight as I took my middle children around their piano teacher's neighborhood, the children ran with delight up to the doors of strangers, and the strangers gave them candy.  We've instituted a practice of candy budgeting and the kids are pretty ok with that.  So the candy the 2 middles brought home was added to the stash after they happily shared some with the siblings that didn't go.

Tithing Settlement

On Sunday the Bishop gave an excellent talk.  He started by talking about the Widow of Zarephath and Elijah.  The widow showed faith before the blessing came.  The story of the Widows mite led to a discussion of tithing and how at this time of year we can meet with the Bishop to state that we are full tithe payers.  The Bishop talked about how we can have a sense of joy in fulfilling this obligation.  It was an excellent talk and I was so glad that we were going to have our tithing settlement that very day.

I'm barely getting a handle on paying a regular tithe and feeling sure that I have paid all I should.  Last year we attended tithing settlement with the Bishop late in the year.  We got settled up but the children had no idea if they were full tithe payers or not. 

This year we kept better records of their income but they didn't pay regular tithing.  Before we went to tithing settlement I sat down with each of them and totaled up their income.  They calculated their tithing based off of that. 

When we got to the bishop's office to meet, some of the children had actually paid during the year.  So they had a total figure and were able to subtract previous donations from that.  I felt really glad for them to be able to have enough money in their accounts to pay their tithing.  When the Bishop asked if they were full tithe payers, they weren't sure what to say.  I asked them if they paid what we calculated.  They could respond with growing confidence that they had. 

I don't think I ever kept record of my income until well into adulthood.  Like I said, it's only recently that I don't have some underlying uncertainty about my own status as a tithe payer.

I'm so grateful for tithing and for the inspiration to help the children develop this habit now.  There is joy in paying a full tithe as well as blessings.

Halloween

There have been years where we took the kids to 5+ halloween events.  Between church, library, school, neighborhood, community and co-op, there's a lot to do.  I'm so pleased that this year we just relaxed and did a few events but it wasn't too stressful.

We have this incredible neighbor who put on a science party for the older kids last night.  I cleaned the house in anticipation that some families with younger siblings would come by.  At 6 I took the little boys over to the party at a local church, then we returned to the neighborhood to pick up the big kids.

Today was our neighborhood party and church party.  I decided last year that I was only doing the neighborhood party.  So I just hung out today and then at 2 helped decorate for the party.  M helped with balloons and got to have a great time.  My fun neighbor brought hula hoops and jump ropes.  I brought the parachute and tied the teather ball to a loop so it never went far.  L was at home asleep so I just got to hang out and help with jump rope or parachute.

The older 3 went trick or treating on bikes with their neighbor friend.  I went home and took B and L trick or treating down to the blind corner then back.  Our neighborhood passed out yard signs this year so kids knew which long driveways to go down for candy.  It really increased our feeling of confidence and it seemed like much more households participated this year.

When we got home the kids dumped out their candy on the dining room table.  In past years they gobble it up, start to fight and then I confiscate all the candy.  Last year we budgeted the candy and I know they were looking forward to doing that again.  I commented to P that it was taking them a long time to start fighting.  They never did fight.  They traded a bit, eat a little then started to loose interest.  I began gathering up the candy and there was no protest.  I told them we'd budget it out tomorrow.  I'm so thrilled that this was such a pleasant day.

Evil Empire

The Evil Empire never sees itself as evil. 
It sees itself at the dike holding back the
tides that would inundate.

Has there ever been a totalitarian government
that said all people should have rights?

Everyone wants to see themselves as the
persecuted minority even when they claim
this country has always been a white country
and should stay that way.

Black people weren't the only slaves they
claim.  All lives matter to them because they
refuse to see that some lives have been property
and that has left a legacy of poverty and injustice.

"The democrats sent those pipe bombs to
themselves." they say standing in line to
cast their vote.  

mid life

This year I am 38, not quite the middle of my life, but the middle section.  I watched Julie/Julia and appreciated my wonderful husband.  I am grateful for my beautiful children.  I'm grateful I had a chance to finish my bachelor's degree and teach for 2 years.  I've learned so many lessons over the years.  When I'm done teaching my children what will my next act be?

Having children is a wonderful journey and not available to everyone.  I bawled with Meryl Streep portraying Julia Child's agony about not having children.  I ache for women wishing for children.

Tonight L told me he loves me.  He also let me leave him in bed while he was still awake.

I am so blessed.

And I get to vote tomorrow!

The power of a new day

Today I woke at 7:30 and went on a walk.  I plan to eat stuffing waffles for breakfast.  Our sign day for the week is today and so far, we're signing.  It's easy to let the burden of past choices weigh you down.  But each day is a new day, a chance to make choices anew.  I'm grateful for this new day.

Media Choices

G is always hoping to be able to watch PG-13 movies.  When I read the parental guides for those movies, I'm never comfortable letting him watch movies with so much bad stuff in them.  To me PG-13 is "almost R".  In general when I have watched PG-13 movies, at the end I feel mentally dirty and wish I hadn't watched it.  "Failure to Launch" is an example of that.  I've actually seen rated R movies that were less sexually explicit than PG-13 movies.  I don't think the violence in R movies inspire every day violence the way implied sex scenes kindle the sexual curiosity that many PG-13 movies generate.

We haven't had broadcast TV for 7 years.  My children have grown up watching Dora, Wiggles, Backyardigans, Busy Town and other series from DVD.  On PBS.org they've enjoyed watching Odd Squad and Arthur.  They have not been exposed to a wide variety of media. 

G recently watched High School Musical 3 at a youth event and that led to us all watching it at Grandma's.  P shows the older kids movies like Princess Bride, Star Wars (4, 5, 6) and someday he'll show them Harry Potter.  I look forward to watching Lord of the Rings with them. 

Watching violent or sexual content is not about being old or strong enough to handle it.  Sometimes Violent content can teach us about virtues like integrity or courage.  But sexual content never teaches about chastity.  Sexual scenes in movies leave you with a titillating feeling of wishing you could do the same.  Even when a movie shows that bad things came of the sexual activities, they still send the message that it was sexy.

I hope my children's lives are not full of violence.  I hope that they are able to marry and have sexual lives with their spouse that are not polluted by explicit images or sexualized drama.  Sex is an awesome part of marriage but it is literally not the most important part of marriage.  Friendship, mutual support, kindness, responsibility and loyalty must be present throughout the marriage.

Working on my ticket

I attended Woodbadge in the spring and am working on my 5 goals to get my training signed off.  One of my goals is to create 12 hymns that can be played like a guitar, with simple chords that repeat rather than a unique base line that you have to pay attention to as in Simplified Hymns.  I've been posting those hymns here at:

https://primarypiano.blogspot.com/

Sometimes I write the chord name below the chord where I like to see it and sometimes I write it above the melody which is more standard.

It's really fun getting these written out such that I can actually sight read them as easily as I can sight read simple guitar music.  I can only play about 6 chords, so I can play in 3-4 keys, IF they don't have chords I don't know.  I'm so anti growth!  No, I just am content with my ability to play many songs with a limited number of keys.  I don't think it's bad to be satisfied.  And by playing those things I'm comfortable playing, I'm getting better at the piano than I ever hoped. 

I think I need to add fingering in for the melody though.  That would help me a lot.  The trouble is that our piano is in the front room and the computer with Finale is in the office.  So I need to write down the fingerings on a printed copy, then walk back around and type them into the music.  Oh, so hard!  Just kidding.  P is going to buy me a midi keyboard!

Teaching sexual values

I recently read a seminar by Mary Flo Ridley about Guiding Children's Sexual Values.  I really appreciated how this seminar taught me that sexual relations are a gift from God intended for use within a marriage.  When used outside of a marriage, lots of terrible things happen for individuals, families and most importantly children. 

This seminar helped me embrace teaching my children about how wonderful it is to have a loving husband.  Sexual relations are God given for godly purposes.  Satan wants to corrupt that power and ruin our lives, and bring us into bondage, just like he wants to ruin our lives in every other possible way. 

Church changes

I'm really excited about the new church schedule.  I'm fasting from social media for 10 days.  We'll read the Book of Mormon by the end of the year.  All good things.

new manuals

The new manuals for Primary came and I'm really impressed.  Each lesson is dated, and very clearly laid out.  Each lesson had media references and a very nice coloring makeable page.  I think this will make teaching primary so much easier.  It will hopefully decrease teachers need to go find random other pictures of scripture stories.  It also gives specific lds media to show so you don't have teachers showing Joseph kind of dreams to their classes for 3 weeks, hopefully.

I'm really impressed with the resources the church is coming out with and how it standardizes the experience.  There are a lot of people out there creating coloring books and pinterest activities, and etsy sharing time lessons.  The church has created a fantastic manual that removes the need for that.  It may hurt some cottage industry that has been enabling the keeping up with pinterest craze, but there's still plenty of room for  people to go buy content outside if people want to.

The church has come out with this coloring book for the 4 standard works.  It's so affordable we can give it to the kids for Christmas.  I'm really happy about this creative and accessible item.

deaf ninja!

still here

lP got baptized this week and we had Grandma and cousins visiting.  We also had the primary program and hosted dinner for Grandma L and aunt E.  It was a wicked busy week because I was making movies to show the children after the program and for the baptism, and my software for doing that wasn't working.  We went to the beach 5 times, the Alligator farm and the fort.  The cousins were so lovely and we had a great time going around town together.

I've got to go do some things for my dad next week and that's another sort of busy.  I'm grateful that G and M do the dishes.  The children are so motivated by simple things like computer time, cereal and a tiny piece of candy.  I love them.

I'm so grateful for this wonderful life.

I am a child of God

When I was young my church leaders taught me to sing a hymn to drive away unrighteous thoughts.  I never imagined that the unrighteous thoughts that would most plague me would be resentment and rage at my children.  Recently I was struggling with so much anger at one of the.  I needed an intervention.  I was inspired to think of the song "I am a child of God" but change the words to:

I am a child of God and He has sent me here.
[He] has given me an earthly home with children kind and dear.

Lead me.  Guide me.  Walk beside me.  Help me find the way [to be kinder].
Teach me all that I must be to live with them again.

We've begun to have media free Sundays.  The kids are starting to accept it and find things to do and read to fill the day.  We actually do things together instead of fight over the computer and get into trouble because of more fighting.  Tonight we played solitaire, 4 of us playing 1 deck of cards.  It was one of the most peaceful evenings we've ever had.  We also had the missionaries over for dinner so it the house was more cleaned up and it was so nice.

Instruments

M is choosing an instrument this week for band.  We've told her for years that she gets to play french horn.  The band director had them try out all the mouthpieces and they'll get their assignments and choices soon.  I got out our clarinet tonight and played it.  All of the children were exited to blow on the mouthpiece.  It's pretty fun having these skills and instruments.  I played a few children's songs.  It was so fun.

Group shots

We had so much fun visiting Utah and all points on the way and back.  I'm so glad we got to see so much family.

 Wow, L is getting really big.

enlarging my capacity

The past year has been full of situations in crisis.  I'm learning to not respond so fast, and not put so much time into responding furiously when others are still contemplating.  At church, I try to limit myself to 2 comments per class. 

I sent out an email this morning to a board I belong to.  I've typed up my rebuttal to the first response, but not going to send it yet.  I need to wait until there are more responses and then see if I'm addressing all of that, instead of shooting from the seat of my pants. 

This is totally a new concept for me.  I don't have to say everything I think. 

breakfast buffet

With 5 kids and their preferences we're heading toward breakfast buffet.  G likes german pancakes, so does B and P.  M won't eat them so I make scrambled eggs.  I eat the eggs, and so does B and P.  L wants the applesauce muffins from 2 days ago (that were frozen) and so does B. 

Part of me balks at this but another part of me figures that the more they eat at breakfast the better.  Also, we have enough power struggles through the day that I may as well let them have what they want, as long as it's good, in the morning.  I do occasionally let them have cereal and milk, but generally, they don't get anything else.  And on days when I just need them to eat bread, they're ok with that.

in the tick of thin things

Something came up in a group I'm in that had never happened before.  It became a lot of drama and I was texting, emailing, acting without thinking or consulting with other members in a Christ like or even adult manner. 

I asked P for a blessing to help with all the commitments we have with the school year starting.  He blessed me with patience.  I feel the peace of that blessing and am grateful for it.

I am new to texting, in the past 4 months.  This situation showed me that I cannot communicate via text.  Perhaps date and time communication I can handle.  Group texts discussing issues or people, I can't handle.

Baaaaaack

We're back from an epic road trip.  We spent 5 weeks away that included 2 weeks of driving and 3 weeks visiting in Utah.  We saw so many church history sites, family and adventures.  I'll make a movies soon, but here are some highlights.