On Friday we woke up to no water. We have a well and a water softener, and an airator. So there are many expensive pieces of equipment that could have been the cause of this. After a brief pause, to recognize that this was an emergency, we called the repair company. At first they were going to send someone on Monday. Then P let them know that this was the household water and not the yard water. So they sent someone Friday and it was only $150. Phew! We didn't even exhaust the emergency fund.
Today as C taught a lesson in the Young Women, this scenario came up. The lesson was on Choice and Accountability. Sometimes you have to choose between a good and a bad. Sometimes you have to choose between a good and another good. Sometimes you are forced to choose between 2 things, neither of which are attractive. This was the case with us and the water.
This is also the case when we need to talk to our parents or the bishop about a mistake. We are choosing between the unknown price of pride, and just leaving the mess. Too often people leave the mess, leave themselves stuck in guilt and unable to progress. But when you humble yourself and confess to the bishop, you get the help to move on. You can do it!
Sunday, February 19, 2017
nature neighborhood
We have a bald eagle in the area. We saw him Friday as we were leaving the neighborhood. He swooped down 20 feet from the car and alighted with something brown dangling from his talons.
Today we saw a bald eagle on the way home from church. He was perched in a tree near the intersection and there was a big nest under him. I've seen ospreys in that next previously. So maybe the eagle is just checking out the area or maybe he ousted the ospreys. M says she saw 3 fuzzy things in the nest. We've got to go see it.
Today we saw a bald eagle on the way home from church. He was perched in a tree near the intersection and there was a big nest under him. I've seen ospreys in that next previously. So maybe the eagle is just checking out the area or maybe he ousted the ospreys. M says she saw 3 fuzzy things in the nest. We've got to go see it.
Friday, February 17, 2017
birthday box
I learned this idea from a friend a few years ago and it has been a huge blessing. She had given us some glowsticks and I asked where she got such an assortment. She said "It was something we had in the birthday box. I don't remember where we bought it."
The idea is to keep a box of gifts that you can give out for birthdays. It may be my own children's birthdays or their friends birthdays. Now when my children are invited to a birthday, they just pick something from the birthday box and wrap it up in paper or a bag that is right next to the birthday box. The bags are all used, so hopefully we don't give a present in the same bag that child gave to us but if so, eh.
Yesterday we went to Target and they had a "Buy 2 get 1 free" on games. So we bought some and they went into the birthday box. B is interested in one of the toys so we may keep it for his birthday. lP has a friend that may or may not have a party tomorrow. I still haven't heard anything about it except rumor, and I know that family was sick on Wednesday. But we've got a present ready just in case.
I was never on the ball before. We were always trying to rush to the store and pick out something on the day of the party. Now it's wonderful to just choose a present and spend the time making a card or having the child wrap the present. It shifts the responsibility to them a bit and I like that. And it gives me the ability to just buy nice gifts I see on sale, without an anxious child at my elbow insisting that their friend wants whatever cheap plastic thing they actually want for themselves.
The idea is to keep a box of gifts that you can give out for birthdays. It may be my own children's birthdays or their friends birthdays. Now when my children are invited to a birthday, they just pick something from the birthday box and wrap it up in paper or a bag that is right next to the birthday box. The bags are all used, so hopefully we don't give a present in the same bag that child gave to us but if so, eh.
Yesterday we went to Target and they had a "Buy 2 get 1 free" on games. So we bought some and they went into the birthday box. B is interested in one of the toys so we may keep it for his birthday. lP has a friend that may or may not have a party tomorrow. I still haven't heard anything about it except rumor, and I know that family was sick on Wednesday. But we've got a present ready just in case.
I was never on the ball before. We were always trying to rush to the store and pick out something on the day of the party. Now it's wonderful to just choose a present and spend the time making a card or having the child wrap the present. It shifts the responsibility to them a bit and I like that. And it gives me the ability to just buy nice gifts I see on sale, without an anxious child at my elbow insisting that their friend wants whatever cheap plastic thing they actually want for themselves.
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Act your wage
Before we were the kind of family to buy a brand new board game, we bought "Act your wage". I was not impressed by "Monopoly" which teaches a very selfish, competitive view of money. And I felt that "Life" was totally unrealistic. "Act Your Wage" has life cards and debt cards and the goal is just to get out of debt. And along the way real life events happen like -your kids need braces, -you get a second job delivering pizza...
Tonight I took the game to church and played it with the Young Women. 8 girls came so we modified the play a little. I just used 2 markers and had 4 girls go at a time. One team landed on every Save. The other seemed to land on every Give. They got to experience the real ups and downs of financial dealings and being able to put their money toward regular things like food, utilities, rent, etc... I'm thrilled with how the game went. The girls got to bring up their knowledge of some things, but showed how many things they only have a vague idea of. I hope I get to talk to them some more about finances!
Tonight I took the game to church and played it with the Young Women. 8 girls came so we modified the play a little. I just used 2 markers and had 4 girls go at a time. One team landed on every Save. The other seemed to land on every Give. They got to experience the real ups and downs of financial dealings and being able to put their money toward regular things like food, utilities, rent, etc... I'm thrilled with how the game went. The girls got to bring up their knowledge of some things, but showed how many things they only have a vague idea of. I hope I get to talk to them some more about finances!
Sunday, February 12, 2017
doing some good
When things are going badly, talking about it or freaking out, don't help. I forget this often. I like to borrow trouble, worrying about things that are not my business. I like to be upset about things that don't actually impact my life except for the way that I'm letting myself be unhappy about them.
The weather has been so gorgeous lately. And our outdoor areas are so lovely to be in. We set up hammocks recently. I laid out on the back porch and did a personal progress activity. It was so peaceful. These are the sort of restful activities that fill my reservoirs of peace to get through stressful times.
Sometimes life is actually difficult and even perilous. Screaming about a tragedy doesn't make anyone safer or undo any injury. Prayer helps. Knowing you did everything you could to prevent it helps. Being at peace with yourself is important.
The weather has been so gorgeous lately. And our outdoor areas are so lovely to be in. We set up hammocks recently. I laid out on the back porch and did a personal progress activity. It was so peaceful. These are the sort of restful activities that fill my reservoirs of peace to get through stressful times.
Sometimes life is actually difficult and even perilous. Screaming about a tragedy doesn't make anyone safer or undo any injury. Prayer helps. Knowing you did everything you could to prevent it helps. Being at peace with yourself is important.
Tuesday, February 7, 2017
silence
I've been a devils advocate in the story of our Premortal choice. It just didn't make sense to me that satan would have the ability to make us all be good. I thought it made more sense that his plan was to make it so there was no law, (and therefore no God), so everyone was able to return to the heaven with no entrance requirements.
On Sunday P was showing M a video of John Cage's 4:33. In this rendition the artist sits at the piano, closes the cover on the keys and starts the timer. I thought that's perhaps what satan had in mind. We would literally not be able to make any bad choices. And yes, then we wouldn't need a savior, because we'd never be allowed to sin. But what a waste of God's creation.
With the lid open, the keys exposed, there is opportunity for terrible sounds. Fudged attempts. Raucous, bawdy music, yeah. But there is also opportunity for the magnificence of melody. The beauty of youthful attempts that gradually become more and more pleasing to the ear.
M is so good a the piano. I just can't believe how good she is and what a joy it is to me. I still get on her case when she doesn't use the right fingering and stumbles all over a passage. I still get on her when she plows right through a section with wrong chords in the left hand. Ugh! But I also tell her how please I am with her progress and how much I love the music she is making.
On Sunday P was showing M a video of John Cage's 4:33. In this rendition the artist sits at the piano, closes the cover on the keys and starts the timer. I thought that's perhaps what satan had in mind. We would literally not be able to make any bad choices. And yes, then we wouldn't need a savior, because we'd never be allowed to sin. But what a waste of God's creation.
With the lid open, the keys exposed, there is opportunity for terrible sounds. Fudged attempts. Raucous, bawdy music, yeah. But there is also opportunity for the magnificence of melody. The beauty of youthful attempts that gradually become more and more pleasing to the ear.
M is so good a the piano. I just can't believe how good she is and what a joy it is to me. I still get on her case when she doesn't use the right fingering and stumbles all over a passage. I still get on her when she plows right through a section with wrong chords in the left hand. Ugh! But I also tell her how please I am with her progress and how much I love the music she is making.
Friday, February 3, 2017
loving life
The weather has been just cold enough to make you really appreciate the warmth of the sun. We've been spending so much time on the back porch.
We have a tarp out there that the kids were using as a fort.
Then P mounted some hooks so it would become a shady spot in the summer. Hypothetically we'll take it down at some point. It hasn't gotten old yet. I laid the baby out there for a nap yesterday. Today the girls were laying out blankets. lP and I did several pages on a blanket out there today. It is so nice!
B is very motivated about doing his daily work. I love having kids that are eager to learn and grow. I love having them at home where they are learning so much from each other. And I love giving them this time where they can tattle to me all they want and know they each can be heard, unless they use an annoying tone of voice. Then it's "too bad."
B is very motivated about doing his daily work. I love having kids that are eager to learn and grow. I love having them at home where they are learning so much from each other. And I love giving them this time where they can tattle to me all they want and know they each can be heard, unless they use an annoying tone of voice. Then it's "too bad."
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