Friday, July 19, 2019
Summer Trip Part 2 or maybe even 3- South Padre Island, Texas
We are on our final trip for the summer. I feel like we have been gone more than we have been home and as exhausting as it is, it is also enjoyable. We were reunited with our boys on Monday evening and boy was I glad. I felt so anxious to get to them and do not like not having my kids with me. The kids have enjoyed swimming, the beach, and their cousins. Jake and Will went deep see fishing and the snapper caught was cooked for dinner that night. Aubree, Will, Christopher and Jake went bay side fishing with Chris's family as well and had an enjoyable time. You can tell that the diversity among the cousins has changed and they are all becoming their own individuals. At one point yesterday, I wondered how much different Jake's life would be and my children's if he had married someone else...but I am so glad he chose me, we are truly happy most days. Would he have more financial freedom to spend or do leisure things with? Would my kids be able to enjoy the same activities and lifestyles as their cousins on their dad side of the family? Would all of them have a better relationship with this side of the family? Although I know it is not a competition and monetary items are of little importance, being frugal has it's challenges or budgeting to pay trips off can too. There can be great danger if the wonder becomes something to dwell on, so I just allowed it t become a thought in passing and reminded myself that we have a good life. In the end, we do the best we can and are raising some pretty darn good kids!
Sunday, July 14, 2019
A text message to remember
Text to my girls late Thursday (7/11/19)
Girls- My favorite thing about my calling is that I get to attend activities with y’all and that on occasions dad does too. I feel that all too often I probably don’t verbally share my testimony with my babies as often as I should and I can only hope that I live it. However tonight I want you to know the Spirit has whispered to my soul the last couple days the truthfulness of the gospel and above all, I am a child of God and he loves me, likewise I know you are his daughter and he loves you and he loves you for you. You are both so unique in your ways and touch the lives of others (including dad and I) in unique ways. I hope tomorrow or technically today as you listen to the speakers that you let God talk to your heart through the Spirit and if there is something you’ve been unsure about that the knowledge sought is gained. I love you beautiful ladies and hope you sleep well. I’m super glad you are each you.
Now, on a different note- Aubree like "ghosts" us, like we never see her nor get pictures. 🙄
Text from Aubree 7/13/19 from the back seat of the car as we were driving to Houston
Mosiah 4: 15-16
Mom, I just want to tell you how wonderful of a mother you are. I know that it's difficult to raise four children, especially when you have one hormonal teenage girl. You have taught me so much and I know that you will continue to teach, nourish, and love me. You are such a wonderful example of how to walk in the goodness of God. You are always looking for opportunities to serve and if there is one thing you've taught me more than anything else, it's to serve. You've taught me that through service we grow to love one another, we must serve those who we have trouble loving. You've taught me not to judge others and to look at them through the Lord's eyes. I know that we give you a hard time, and I'm sorry. You are the most fantastic mother I could ask for, you are incredible. I just want you to know that I love you so much and you have been such a big part in helping me grow my testimony of the Book of Mormon, the gospel, and Christ. I've learned through you how to have courage and kindness. YOU, and Ginny, have inspired me to try to finish personal progress. YOU have taught me to give others the benefit of the doubt. YOU have taught me all this and so much more, but I know that you had help. You taught me these things through Christ. You were an instrument in His hands. You let Him speak through Him so that I may learn through Him and you. Mom, you are absolutely incredible. I love you so much and I am externally grateful for the lessons you have taught me and all that you do for me. I love you so much. I testify that Heavenly Father and Christ love you, and They are grateful for your sacrifices. I testify that as you learn to love and serve others and continue to teach us, you will be blessed. I love you so inexplicably and indescribably, just a fraction of how much Christ and Heavenly Father love you. I hope that I was able to lift your spirits, help you feel the Spirit, and remind you of your endless worth. I love you.
Girls- My favorite thing about my calling is that I get to attend activities with y’all and that on occasions dad does too. I feel that all too often I probably don’t verbally share my testimony with my babies as often as I should and I can only hope that I live it. However tonight I want you to know the Spirit has whispered to my soul the last couple days the truthfulness of the gospel and above all, I am a child of God and he loves me, likewise I know you are his daughter and he loves you and he loves you for you. You are both so unique in your ways and touch the lives of others (including dad and I) in unique ways. I hope tomorrow or technically today as you listen to the speakers that you let God talk to your heart through the Spirit and if there is something you’ve been unsure about that the knowledge sought is gained. I love you beautiful ladies and hope you sleep well. I’m super glad you are each you.
Now, on a different note- Aubree like "ghosts" us, like we never see her nor get pictures. 🙄
Text from Aubree 7/13/19 from the back seat of the car as we were driving to Houston
Mosiah 4: 15-16
Mom, I just want to tell you how wonderful of a mother you are. I know that it's difficult to raise four children, especially when you have one hormonal teenage girl. You have taught me so much and I know that you will continue to teach, nourish, and love me. You are such a wonderful example of how to walk in the goodness of God. You are always looking for opportunities to serve and if there is one thing you've taught me more than anything else, it's to serve. You've taught me that through service we grow to love one another, we must serve those who we have trouble loving. You've taught me not to judge others and to look at them through the Lord's eyes. I know that we give you a hard time, and I'm sorry. You are the most fantastic mother I could ask for, you are incredible. I just want you to know that I love you so much and you have been such a big part in helping me grow my testimony of the Book of Mormon, the gospel, and Christ. I've learned through you how to have courage and kindness. YOU, and Ginny, have inspired me to try to finish personal progress. YOU have taught me to give others the benefit of the doubt. YOU have taught me all this and so much more, but I know that you had help. You taught me these things through Christ. You were an instrument in His hands. You let Him speak through Him so that I may learn through Him and you. Mom, you are absolutely incredible. I love you so much and I am externally grateful for the lessons you have taught me and all that you do for me. I love you so much. I testify that Heavenly Father and Christ love you, and They are grateful for your sacrifices. I testify that as you learn to love and serve others and continue to teach us, you will be blessed. I love you so inexplicably and indescribably, just a fraction of how much Christ and Heavenly Father love you. I hope that I was able to lift your spirits, help you feel the Spirit, and remind you of your endless worth. I love you.
Happy Sunday
After arriving home from youth conference on Friday evening, Jake and I dropped the girls and luggage off at the house and went to the temple. On the short drive to the temple and home, we briefly reflected on youth conference. Jake said he felt that he received much revelation, almost like a 2nd patriarchal blessing. The last night of the conference he said he had a wrestle with God and although he felt undeserving of his love, he felt Heavenly Father wrestling with him to let him know of His love. We left Saturday morning for Houston. Jake originally wanted to leave on Sunday but decided to leave Saturday due to the weather forecast and to avoid driving on Sunday (which I have wanted to do for years). As I was driving (Jake and my girls were sleeping), I reflected on how I could feel the same peace and love more regularly in my life. I have every intention to do and be better. I want to have the heart as Emily Belle Freeman and her husband to see an unstable person or a person that others feel are hard to love, take them in, and love them. She is the mom of Garrett Bolles (some famous football player that was kicked out of his home and they took them in). What courage her husband had to pull over when he saw him on the street (they had lived in the same neighborhood and he was very aware of his issues with gangs and substance abuse) and call Emily to as about bringing him home. And what courage Emily had to allow him in her home with her other children. The family pulled together to help him read and gain a testimony. They nor he never gave up and now he is also a force for good in the world. It was a touching story. Now that I have been side tracked, I concluded that it was very much like a mission because you are immersed in gospel ideas and discussions most of the day. The last night of youth conference, I felt Heavenly Father's love for me stronger than I have in quite sometime and I prayed more sincerely than I have in quite sometime. Maybe I needed a "kick in the butt", a conference that was meant for teenagers has changed the heart of a forty one year old gal. I packed my scriptures to bring to Texas (I do not recall the last time I brought a hard copy of the scriptures anywhere) and am so excited to see my boys Monday and share things with me and to convey God's love.
Friday, July 12, 2019
Youth Conference 2019 Part 2
David Archuleta (7/11/19 devotional)
In Moroni God invites us to act. He cares about little ole you, rather you know it or not. Take a step of faith and trust that maybe there is a Heavenly Father out there. Moroni 10:29 I was afraid of praying to ask God if gospel is true but I wanted to know, so I knelt and prayed. Is this real, is Christ really my Savior, did Moroni really exist? I want to know. I didn’t just realize that God would let me know but that he knew who I was and He cared about a little person like me. When the time came to go on a mission, I prayed about and people told me I was serving one with my voice and I had a career that if I left, people would forget me. But I’m ready for the change. I’m not afraid to leave it all behind. I knew it would be alright.
My music career was doing well, I kinda stopped going to church. But my pianist (a member), invited me to go. I told her I didn’t have time but she said she had looked at the schedule and we could make it to sacrament. During the sacrament prayer, I listened to the promises I had made and realized we wasn’t keeping them. You’ve made a committed to always remember him and I had forgotten him, not that I meant too I just got busy. My friend invited me again, then a friend invited me to the temple, and I went. I started sharing these things with my mom and before long, she started going again. Change can be hard but I’ve learned to let the Lord guide me. It can be very powerful who you surround yourself with, what music you listen to...
John Bytheway (7/12/19)
A great matter of the church- pray to get home in safety. Anywhere you drive people concerned about your safety (no u turn, speed limit, no right turn, way ... even showed comical ones from restaurants, church, etc) there’s also traffic signs that express love (comical signs).
Heavenly Father sometimes he says “I love you”, other times it’s “Thou she not”, parents very similar, “I love you”, other times “where are you going”, “who are you going with”, etc.
The most important commandment (615 in Old Testament) is the one you are having the most difficult with today. What is the doctrine behind the standards? He compared it to a tree: the leaves are the rules, trunk is the principle, and the roots are the doctrine. The he went on: the rule- Don't view vulgar, immoral, violent, or pornographic entertainment, the principle- whatever you read, listen to, or look at has an effect on you, and the doctrine- God wants us to become like him. He gives us the Holy Ghost as a guide and protection, but he cannot dwell in unclean places. (Nephi 10:21)
Curtis Jacobs (7/12/19)
#1 temptation facing youth today in church- chastity. Satan hates us because we have a body and he doesn’t. We’ve had a spirit body forever and have learned to control it but we must learn to control our physical bodies. Necking are things you do from the neck up and petting happens waste down.
Spencer W Kimball once said: :He (Satan) knows that if he can get a boy and a girl to sit in the car late enough after the dance, or to park long enough in the dark at the end of the lane, the best boy and the besyt girl will finally succumb and fall. He knows that all have a limit to their resistance."
Pornography destroys a person. If you know how to access it, get rid of it. Don’t say I’m not going to look at, then why do you have it?
What about kissing? Little mermaid and Eric on boat with song but boat tipped. However in end, a “Disney kiss”, quick and innocent, that’s appropriate for a date kiss.
D&C 121:45-46 If you wish to be the best of yourself, keep your virtue (strength)
John Bytheway (7/12/19 devotional)
Sometimes you are in a game situation and the home crowd is trying to distract you. Satan tries to distract you too. Don’t let all the things you know become eclipsed by the things you don’t know. Don’t forget all your answered questions, because all you can see is your unanswered questions. Focus on what you know and not what you don’t know.
D&C 50:24-25 “continueth in God”
When a Nephi leads, a Sam will follow.
Heavenly Father gives us spiritual wrestling messages because we will get stronger.
In Moroni God invites us to act. He cares about little ole you, rather you know it or not. Take a step of faith and trust that maybe there is a Heavenly Father out there. Moroni 10:29 I was afraid of praying to ask God if gospel is true but I wanted to know, so I knelt and prayed. Is this real, is Christ really my Savior, did Moroni really exist? I want to know. I didn’t just realize that God would let me know but that he knew who I was and He cared about a little person like me. When the time came to go on a mission, I prayed about and people told me I was serving one with my voice and I had a career that if I left, people would forget me. But I’m ready for the change. I’m not afraid to leave it all behind. I knew it would be alright.
My music career was doing well, I kinda stopped going to church. But my pianist (a member), invited me to go. I told her I didn’t have time but she said she had looked at the schedule and we could make it to sacrament. During the sacrament prayer, I listened to the promises I had made and realized we wasn’t keeping them. You’ve made a committed to always remember him and I had forgotten him, not that I meant too I just got busy. My friend invited me again, then a friend invited me to the temple, and I went. I started sharing these things with my mom and before long, she started going again. Change can be hard but I’ve learned to let the Lord guide me. It can be very powerful who you surround yourself with, what music you listen to...
John Bytheway (7/12/19)
A great matter of the church- pray to get home in safety. Anywhere you drive people concerned about your safety (no u turn, speed limit, no right turn, way ... even showed comical ones from restaurants, church, etc) there’s also traffic signs that express love (comical signs).
Heavenly Father sometimes he says “I love you”, other times it’s “Thou she not”, parents very similar, “I love you”, other times “where are you going”, “who are you going with”, etc.
The most important commandment (615 in Old Testament) is the one you are having the most difficult with today. What is the doctrine behind the standards? He compared it to a tree: the leaves are the rules, trunk is the principle, and the roots are the doctrine. The he went on: the rule- Don't view vulgar, immoral, violent, or pornographic entertainment, the principle- whatever you read, listen to, or look at has an effect on you, and the doctrine- God wants us to become like him. He gives us the Holy Ghost as a guide and protection, but he cannot dwell in unclean places. (Nephi 10:21)
Curtis Jacobs (7/12/19)
#1 temptation facing youth today in church- chastity. Satan hates us because we have a body and he doesn’t. We’ve had a spirit body forever and have learned to control it but we must learn to control our physical bodies. Necking are things you do from the neck up and petting happens waste down.
Spencer W Kimball once said: :He (Satan) knows that if he can get a boy and a girl to sit in the car late enough after the dance, or to park long enough in the dark at the end of the lane, the best boy and the besyt girl will finally succumb and fall. He knows that all have a limit to their resistance."
Pornography destroys a person. If you know how to access it, get rid of it. Don’t say I’m not going to look at, then why do you have it?
What about kissing? Little mermaid and Eric on boat with song but boat tipped. However in end, a “Disney kiss”, quick and innocent, that’s appropriate for a date kiss.
D&C 121:45-46 If you wish to be the best of yourself, keep your virtue (strength)
John Bytheway (7/12/19 devotional)
Sometimes you are in a game situation and the home crowd is trying to distract you. Satan tries to distract you too. Don’t let all the things you know become eclipsed by the things you don’t know. Don’t forget all your answered questions, because all you can see is your unanswered questions. Focus on what you know and not what you don’t know.
D&C 50:24-25 “continueth in God”
When a Nephi leads, a Sam will follow.
Heavenly Father gives us spiritual wrestling messages because we will get stronger.
Thursday, July 11, 2019
Youth Conference 2019
My absolute favorite thing about my calling is the opportunity that I have to be a chaperone at the activities that my girls attend and that it allows Jake to be one of the brethren there too to witness it. We arrived back Saturday evening from EFY and Jake left on Monday to take the boys to Dallas to meet his parents and came back Tuesday. Tuesday evening, I went to the temple for a session. It was a very eye opening experience for me. After teaching evolution this year at school and visiting the natural history museum (there I concluded that of course, we all have similar traits of evolution, we were all created by the same God) but in the temple, it all just kinda clicked. Geological time scale is often a scale we do not fully understand due to the length of it but likewise, we do not fully understand a day to God either. I will leave it at that. Wednesday, we were off to youth conference. (disclosure- it is a struggle to get Aubree to take or send me pictures, thus there are less of her). The speakers have been wonderful. Here are a few of my notes thus far.
Youth Conference 2019
David Osmond (Thursday 7/11/19)
Pain is inevitable- but suffering is optional. (David Osbourne, 7/11/19)
There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle or you can live as everything is a miracle. (Albert Einstein but shared by D.O. when staring his story on MS and how he is in pain daily. He shared how he was incapacitated for over a year and in a wheelchair- even proposed to his wife from a wheelchair).
When asking why something happened to you (when not a good experience), you must also ask it when experiencing the good moments.
T.U.F.F.
T= target
U= understand
F= Focus
F= Fight
“You may not realize when it happens to you but a kick in the teeth may the best thing for you” (Walt Disney)
Emily Belle Freeman (Thursday 7/11/19)
Youth shared why the liked it and then reasons they didn’t. Followed by the bad shared on social media. Prophets are encouraging us to use it for good, what good is it being used for?
What is something you could do everyday for good on social media?
Ideas: 1. leave one positive comment a day on someone’s else’s comments or post. Have a mind shift (don’t wonder why you weren’t invited and learn to celebrate other people and their success). 2. Post one thing about your testimony weekly.
What are your 5 core values (or things you love) of what makes me, me? Jesus (gospel), family, service (including others), simple pleasures (Mexican food, popcorn, and ice cream), and a clean house/car. 😀
If you can settle on five things that make you, you on your social media account, more people will get involved because they get to know you better. Trick is to figure out how to share it.
Challenged youth to do: 1. Post a positive comment daily on someone’s else’s page, 2. Post something about one of your core values weekly, and 3. Monthly set a date to go through social media and see what’s making you feel light. If it’s not, unfollow or take it off. Also look at your feed and think if someone didn’t know me, what would “my feed” tell them about who I am.
Have a plan when something crosses your screen that’s not appropriate-
5 S’s- 1. stay away from it, 2. something pops up inappropriate with 5 seconds say no, 3. see Jesus right in that moment, 4. stand up, and 5. sprint.
Find balance in social media. Also on fast Sunday, check your screen time and see what average is and make sure balanced. You should be on social media no more than time outside or doing homework.
Tammy Hall (7/12/2019)
Galatians 5:22-23 how the spirit feels
You will feel Spirit daily if you do these three things: 1. Read scriptures daily (2 Nephi 32:3- the thoughts that come to your head can be the Spirit) 2. You have to pray (Alma 37:37, Alma 34: 18-26, D&C ? 3. Go to church. 4. Be kind
Any good thought you have, act on it. It’s the Spirit and the Lord needs you to help answer the prayers of others.
Tammy Hall (7/11/19 devotional)
Didn’t marry till 34, married a widow with 2 young girls.
You defend church, you defend the gospel.
Wanting to have sex is normal but you can’t until your marriage. You just can’t.
Viewing pornography is watching people mock God.
MTC is like a boot camp for sinners.
Don’t carry your sins around. Kick that can around the block. Take your bag of yuck and pour it out, get rid of it. D&C 58:42-43 (most important verse is 42, if God doesn’t remember your sins, then the bishop or whomever you confess too will not remember).
That good feeling you are feeling is the Spirit.
So much of your bag of sins isn’t always a sin. We all sin, it’s kinda expected.
Mosiah 28:4 (read just the first sentence (this is about Alma the younger and the sons of Mosiah) they were the very vilest of sinners, nothing we do is that.
Alma 48:17-18 (17 about Captain Moroni, 18 Ammon and compared to sons of Mosiah (once called the vilest of sinners now called sons of God). God loves you! Make sure you know this and you help others know it.
God is not disappointed in you and he is not angry with you.
Youth Conference 2019
David Osmond (Thursday 7/11/19)
Pain is inevitable- but suffering is optional. (David Osbourne, 7/11/19)
There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle or you can live as everything is a miracle. (Albert Einstein but shared by D.O. when staring his story on MS and how he is in pain daily. He shared how he was incapacitated for over a year and in a wheelchair- even proposed to his wife from a wheelchair).
When asking why something happened to you (when not a good experience), you must also ask it when experiencing the good moments.
T.U.F.F.
T= target
U= understand
F= Focus
F= Fight
“You may not realize when it happens to you but a kick in the teeth may the best thing for you” (Walt Disney)
Emily Belle Freeman (Thursday 7/11/19)
Youth shared why the liked it and then reasons they didn’t. Followed by the bad shared on social media. Prophets are encouraging us to use it for good, what good is it being used for?
What is something you could do everyday for good on social media?
Ideas: 1. leave one positive comment a day on someone’s else’s comments or post. Have a mind shift (don’t wonder why you weren’t invited and learn to celebrate other people and their success). 2. Post one thing about your testimony weekly.
What are your 5 core values (or things you love) of what makes me, me? Jesus (gospel), family, service (including others), simple pleasures (Mexican food, popcorn, and ice cream), and a clean house/car. 😀
If you can settle on five things that make you, you on your social media account, more people will get involved because they get to know you better. Trick is to figure out how to share it.
Challenged youth to do: 1. Post a positive comment daily on someone’s else’s page, 2. Post something about one of your core values weekly, and 3. Monthly set a date to go through social media and see what’s making you feel light. If it’s not, unfollow or take it off. Also look at your feed and think if someone didn’t know me, what would “my feed” tell them about who I am.
Have a plan when something crosses your screen that’s not appropriate-
5 S’s- 1. stay away from it, 2. something pops up inappropriate with 5 seconds say no, 3. see Jesus right in that moment, 4. stand up, and 5. sprint.
Find balance in social media. Also on fast Sunday, check your screen time and see what average is and make sure balanced. You should be on social media no more than time outside or doing homework.
Tammy Hall (7/12/2019)
Galatians 5:22-23 how the spirit feels
You will feel Spirit daily if you do these three things: 1. Read scriptures daily (2 Nephi 32:3- the thoughts that come to your head can be the Spirit) 2. You have to pray (Alma 37:37, Alma 34: 18-26, D&C ? 3. Go to church. 4. Be kind
Any good thought you have, act on it. It’s the Spirit and the Lord needs you to help answer the prayers of others.
Tammy Hall (7/11/19 devotional)
Didn’t marry till 34, married a widow with 2 young girls.
You defend church, you defend the gospel.
Wanting to have sex is normal but you can’t until your marriage. You just can’t.
Viewing pornography is watching people mock God.
MTC is like a boot camp for sinners.
Don’t carry your sins around. Kick that can around the block. Take your bag of yuck and pour it out, get rid of it. D&C 58:42-43 (most important verse is 42, if God doesn’t remember your sins, then the bishop or whomever you confess too will not remember).
That good feeling you are feeling is the Spirit.
So much of your bag of sins isn’t always a sin. We all sin, it’s kinda expected.
Mosiah 28:4 (read just the first sentence (this is about Alma the younger and the sons of Mosiah) they were the very vilest of sinners, nothing we do is that.
Alma 48:17-18 (17 about Captain Moroni, 18 Ammon and compared to sons of Mosiah (once called the vilest of sinners now called sons of God). God loves you! Make sure you know this and you help others know it.
God is not disappointed in you and he is not angry with you.
Sunday, July 7, 2019
Happy Independence Day
I have decided that I am exhausted from all our travels this summer and there is still more to come. We left DC on Friday, July 5th to get a hotel closer to Buena Vista to get the girls at 7:00 Saturday morning or what that actually translates into is I would go get the girls and then swing back by the hotel and get Jake and the boys. Our last two days in Washington DC were wonderful. On the 4th, we attended the parade, visited the National American History Museum, and then listened to President Trump and watched the fireworks at the Lincoln Memorial. Trump gave a great tribute to the men and women who serve our nation daily in the military and recognized some everyday folks that make America great through service. After each branch of the military was addressed, a fly over with the specified branch's aircraft occurred in their honor. Well done, Mr. President. Earlier that day, in the American History museum, we witnessed the authentic flag that inspired the Star Spangled banner written by Francis Scott Key. I was overwhelmed with gratitude to live in this glorious nation and felt the Spirit testify of this fortune. On Friday, we toured the United States Capital building and visited the Library of Congress and Supreme Court before leaving town. On the way back to Roanoke, we stopped by one more air and space museum in Chantilly, VA. We say many authentic air craft, including one that was at Pearl Harbor and the space shuttle Discovery. I love America!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
