Nashville Predators and shopping

Monday afternoon after work, we headed to Nashville as a family to watch the Predators hockey game. We spent the night in Nashville and spent the day shopping on Tuesday.  The best part of the trip for me was that the family had arranged to all wear Christmas pajamas. Will forgot his but Jake had packed a pair for me, not knowing that I had packed a pair unknowing that was the plan. It made me smile.  I enjoyed making a couple memories with our crew over. We had many laughs. Christopher love being back in a hotel with his unlimited hot chocolate. 

Dinner after the game

Unmatching but mathing theme Christmas pajamas. 

God is good

 I feel His presence as I am doing my best to work through my feelings from the past few weeks.  I see His hand in my life. It has been most evident with conversations had with Jake as we go to bed.  Last week one evening, we were laying in bed talking and he expressed that being a bishop has been a blessing from God to him.  He elaborated and said the one weakness he felt would keep him from the celestial kingdom was selfishness (which is not what I would have thought) and that before he was called to be bishop in a meeting with President Canfield (previous stake president) he had expressed that.  Jake said that serving as bishop has made him more aware of others and less on himself.  Now, I firmly believe that he is a gift to others and has blessed others in so many ways. Then last night, he rolled over, hugged me, and expressed how blessed he felt to be married to me and that I bring the most joy to his life.  He said all he does that I am a part of. It makes me feel good to know he loves me. 

On a different note, Friday evening we attended an evening devotional with Elder Eric Bednar (Area Seventy), Elder Massimo De Feo (General Area Seventy) and Elder S. Mark Palmer (Presidency of the Seventy). I enjoyed the speakers but above all, I loved the songs sang- "Gethsemane" and "I will walk with Jesus".  Hearing the youth sing those filled my soul, especially to hear my Will singing them beside me. It was beautiful. After the meeting, we decided the next little bit, we will read a section of the For Strength of Youth pamphlet for family scripture as a reminder for the guidance for our day.   The weekend ended on a high note as well with my girls attending church with me, so we could go to Jackson after and see my brothers who are here for a few days. 

Stella Seaman and Ginny

My oh so handsome boys

Will held the baby goats (1-3 days old) for hours, literally like almost 4 hours he was with them.

It has not been a secret that this year has been particularly challenging for me and my worries about my children. However, I am working through things. Sunday morning as I was getting ready for church, the thought of spiritual gifts crossed my mind and for some they know, others believe, and others merely hope but each are spiritual gifts and neither are equated to being less of a disciple of the Lord. Believing in things can be complex and is often constantly at battle with doubts and sometimes belief may diminish for a minute but that is okay. I may be uncertain on some things but I am still okay and am no less than others whom may know. I can still contribute to the good of God's kingdom.  Sometimes being faithful and knowing is intuitive and other times, just plain hard. There are some days I believe despite the hard, other days I doubt giving it my best of plainly hoping, and maybe even hoping that one day the spiritual questions may diminish and I will be stronger....but for know, I hold on to the good and seek the good.  I think it was Lehi toward the beginning of 2nd Nephi that said something like "choose the good part"...I choose the good. Spiritual confidence does not have to come before me acting in good faith...that confidence can come from acting. 

 I have began to read a book When Church is Hard by Tyler Johnson and one part that stung me today stated: "We largely come to a sense of our own identity by learning about how others talk about, understand, and portray us." It hit me like a ton of bricks...what have my children heard me say about them? What I said to them? Am I helping they identify themselves?

 

Healing for the soul

 The past couple of days have been challenging on my hope of inspired revelations in callings, however, last night as I crawled in the bed and had scripture with my boys, Aubree walked in right before prayer with her little karaoke machine.  We had prayer and then she started karaoking. Before long, all were participating. We laughed and smiled in my room.  I enjoyed every minute of it and having my people in there with me.  I want to think the Lord was mindful of me or Aubree followed a prompting, either way He knew my soul needed it. Afterwards, Will asked to lay in bed with me and watch a show on the computer, so I agreed but did warn that I may fall asleep. It was nice to lay next to him and he be the only one in there. He is a good kid and I am glad he is my boy. 

 

Hello November

October ended well for our family.  We enjoyed the Trunk or Treat at church and the boys participating in the lip sync battle with the young men. Halloween was on a Friday night which we enjoyed having friends over and handing out candy. The girls joined me for lunch at work on Halloween  I came home to surprise bedding from Jake one day and that was fun. 

There will be a reorganization of the Stake Presidency this upcoming stake conference, so people (including me) are beginning to try to guess who it may be.  There are several whom Jake could be it as he is ending his bishop tenure in about a year (although he would serve longer as he loves it so much) and he is very beloved by his ward.  One person told me Saturday evening at the youth dance that they would choose Jake because "he leads with love and people follow". I agree whole heartedly, he is a phenomenal leader in our family and at church. The Stake Young Men's presidency has also told me that he thinks it will be Jake. Jake is an exceptional person and has magnified the call of bishop. 

Could the man be any more good looking?

Christoper and some of his church friends dressing as "The Avengers"

Bishopric started the lip sync battle with YMCA