The Joy of an Ice Cream Cone

Search, Ponder, and Pray

Tonight was the much-anticipated Relief Society meeting. The first woman, who has a Master's degree in exercise science and writes for the Huffington Post on health and fitness, spoke about physical health. The second woman, a clinical psychologist who teaches at Rutger's and writes textbooks, spoke about mental and emotional health.

And then there was me.

The sweet sister who was in charge of the evening wanted to introduce each of us, so she asked for a few things she could say. The other two gave their credentials about why they were knowledgeable enough to speak on these subjects. I wracked my brain for anything that qualified me to speak on spiritual health and renewal. I had nothing. Well, I had several funny, quirky things to say about myself, but nothing that made me an expert.

The first two speakers were interesting and informative, and while I listened I discovered I had over prepared. A lot. I had researched and reviewed and agonized and rehearsed. I quickly restructured my lesson while I listened to the other two. I kept the hook and about one-fourth of the quotes and the general idea, but I streamlined it.

And you know what? It went well. It was funny where it needed to be funny and heart-felt where it needed to be heart-felt. Most importantly, I bore my testimony about the vital necessity of daily prayer, daily scripture study, and daily time for listening and pondering.

These are the quotes that I ended up using:

Spiritual food is necessary for spiritual survival, especially in a world that is moving away from belief in God and the absolutes of right and wrong. In an age dominated by the Internet, which magnifies messages that menace faith, we must increase our exposure to spiritual truth in order to strengthen our faith and stay rooted in the gospel. -Elder Oaks, April 2015

We should make daily study of the scriptures a lifetime pursuit. … The most important [thing] you can do … is to immerse yourselves in the scriptures. Search them diligently. … Learn the doctrine. Master the principles. …You must … see that … searching the scriptures is not a burden laid upon [us] by the Lord, but a marvelous blessing and opportunity. - President Ezra Taft Benson, Oct 1986

I find that when I get casual in my relationships with divinity and when it seems that no divine ear is listening and no divine voice is speaking, that I am far, far away. If I immerse myself in the scriptures the distance narrows and the spirituality returns. I find myself loving more intensely those whom I must love with all my heart and mind and strength, and loving them more, I find it easier to abide their counsel. -The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball

·         We are continually counseled to increase our spiritual knowledge through prayer and through studying and pondering the scriptures and the words of the living prophets. - Sister Esplin, 2^nd Counselor Primary General Presidency, April 2015

      The first tool is prayer. Choose to converse with your Father in Heaven often. Make time every day to share your thoughts and feelings with Him. Tell Him everything that concerns you. He is interested in the most important as well as the most mundane facets of your life. Share with Him your full range of feelings and experiences. Because He respects your agency, Father in Heaven will never force you to pray to Him. But as you exercise that agency and include Him in every aspect of your daily life, your heart will begin to fill with peace, buoyant peace. That peace will focus an eternal light on your struggles. It will help you to manage those challenges from an eternal perspective. -Elder Scott, October 2014

·         For us, as Latter-day Saints, wonders also occur in our individual lives. They include our own personal conversion, the answers we receive to our prayers, and the tender blessings God showers upon us daily. To marvel at the wonders of the gospel is a sign of faith. It is to recognize the hand of the Lord in our lives and in everything around us. Our amazement also produces spiritual strength. It gives us the energy to remain anchored in our faith and to engage ourselves in the work of salvation. But let us beware. Our ability to marvel is fragile. Over the long term, such things as casual commandment keeping, apathy, or even weariness may set in and make us insensitive to even the most remarkable signs and miracles of the gospel. My brothers and sisters, is the gospel still wonderful to you? Can you yet see, hear, feel, and marvel? -Elder Causse, April 2015

Sometimes We Sing

Too Many Thoughts, Not Enough Brain

I've been suffering from writer's block, can you tell? It's been plaguing me for the last few weeks. Each time I sit down to write, my brain suddenly sssslllloooowwwssss doooowwwwnnnn. I stare at my glowing computer screen, knowing with certainty that I had something to write about, but completely unable to retrieve it from the deep corners of my brain.

I think there are a few reasons I've had trouble getting my thoughts out. The most pressing is happening this week. I've been asked to be one of three speakers for our Relief Society Meeting. The theme for the evening is An Abundant Life - How we can renew ourselves physically, mentally, and spiritually so that life's journey can be enjoyed not just endured. About a month ago I was asked to speak on the final portion of the topic. I said yes, but have felt woefully unprepared to teach other people how to be spiritual.

I am spiritual; it's something dear to me that I work on daily, but I don't feel like I'm an expert. I've been pouring over conference talks and keep coming back to the same three things: daily prayer, daily scripture study, and service. Now I need to figure out how to say that in an engaging way that will take up my allotted ten minutes. I've been told I can talk the whole time or treat it more as an interactive lesson, my choice. Have you ever noticed that the more freedom you have on a project, the harder it becomes? Ten minutes is fine for a talk, but short for a lesson, but a discussion would make the subject feel so much more personal for those participating.

And that's why, at least in part, that I have writer's block. I'm trying to write a short talk/lesson on a very important topic while still writing about other subjects here on the blog. I'm devoting too much brain space to that task and not reserving enough for this. Really, I think what it boils down to is that I will happily teach doctrine but feel ill-suited to give a how-to talk and I'm mentally reconciling myself to the task.

I'll figure it out, hopefully before I get up to speak.

Little Wheels

Baby Yoga

Counting Down the Days

Summer break is a magical time of sleeping in, slacking off, and lazing about. At least, that's the dream that my sloth-inclined heart harbors. Visions of no homework are dancing through my head. I know it's never really that idyllic, especially the sleeping in part.

It's been a long few weeks. Our friends in Utah are finishing their school year sometime in the next week. We still have more than a month to go. And I think that's wearing me out. A lot.

We're all looking forward to summer break.

Close Up

 

Can I Get an Amen?

Cooper said family prayers tonight. He is a thoughtful boy more often than not and his prayer reflected that. In fact, it was so full of thoughts that twice before he concluded, Sophie unfolded her arms, looked up at me, and said, "Anen!"

The prayer was very sweet, and so was Sophie's reaction to it.

The Theory of Everything

The kids and I were just looking at some old pictures on the blog. I was making my case for how much Sophie and Cooper look alike. I was sitting on one foot and had the other one in front of me. As I moved to display another picture, I shifted position and pulled my leg out from under me.

Cooper and Phoebe became immediately concerned about the state of my foot. It was bright red with white crease lines. Cooper announced that it must have fallen asleep. Phoebe had a different theory.

"I know!" She let out a slow gasp of realization. "You're getting old!"

Blending In

We spent Saturday pretending to be native New Yorkers. What does that mean? We didn't ride on the subway, we didn't see any famous touristy landmarks, and we didn't take very many pictures.

Instead we visited with good friends and spent time in their neighborhood. We walked to a farmer's market for lunch, then to an Urban Wildlife Festival that our friends enjoy every year. We learned about animals that call New York City home. 

Just to the left of the picture, inside the enclosure, was a bald eagle. It was pretty awesome.

One of the festival booths was handing out free sidewalk chalk and somehow Peter convinced them to give him one of each color. We finished our adventure with a long stop at a really fun park and more chatting with friends.

All of the kids enjoyed the chalk.

Peter's art had a Mother's Day theme. I didn't mind.

Phoebe spent time drawing a heart and a flower, then she and her friend rubbed the chalk off the ground and onto their faces and clothes. Why? To quote Phoebe, "Because, CHALK!"

Here's another one of Peter's flattering chalk messages.

Cooper opted to draw robot mom.

Bryan commented to me when we got home that it was the best day we've spent in the city. We didn't have to rush or deal with crowds or ride the subway. (The subway is fine on its own, but taking the kids on it is somewhat harrowing.) We had fun with friends in a low-stress situation. Big adventures are fun, but little adventures are pretty great too.

A Morning Stroll

When I injured my foot last September, Bryan took over the job of driving the boys to the bus stop each morning. I gladly let him continue this service during the months of ice and snow. When the weather started warming up, I told Bryan that I would reclaim the morning bus stop responsibility, as long as he stayed so that I could leave the girls at home and walk with just the boys.

Every morning I walk (or run, depending on what time we exit the house) the three or four minute trek to the bus stop. I hold Cooper's hand and often put my other hand on Peter's shoulder. It's a nice chance to just listen to one another.

Then, after they have successfully made it on the bus and departed for school, I walk back home. I made a rule for myself that I can't read my phone as I walk. Instead I focus on the sounds of the birds and the beauty of the trees and flowers. I breathe in the clean fresh air and I often pray as I make my way home.

I'm sure I look a touch silly, smiling at the trees as I walk, but I don't mind. That short time for meditation and calm helps me throughout the rest of my day.

A Wee Lass

We were playing one day last week when Phoebe pulled out the costumes. Sophie wandered over and started rifling through the box. She pulled out the pirate dress, walked over to me, and made it clear that she wanted me to help her into the dress. It was too big, but she was delighted to play with the big kids, dressed up like her siblings.

She's adorable.

1625

Saturday was a big day for this blog. The anniversay went uncelebrated, but it was important nonetheless.

My blog turned seven!

In the last seven years I have published 1625 posts. That number translates to a lot of time spent typing and searching for pictures and wracking my brain for something interesting enough to type. Basically, lots of time trying to be clever.

Happy birthday blog, I'm so glad you exist.

For the Grandmas, Mother's Day Edition

Some families make cards for Mother's Day, some send gifts, we enthusiatically sing and make a movie!



This was actually the second take. The first take was much more melodic, but the performance came off the rails pretty early on, so we had to stop and try again. If you're in the mood for a few bloopers...

The Mom

The boys were so excited when they got home from school today, they simply couldn't wait. They both pulled their handcrafted Mother's Day gifts from their backpacks and presented them to me. Peter said that it was okay because it was Mother's Day Eve Eve.

As I looked at the handmade bookmark from Cooper and the popsicle-stick-framed picture of Peter I had a realization: I'm a mom.

Hold on, you're thinking, haven't you been a mom for like, nine years? Is this really new information?

That's true, but somehow the reality of it hit me. I'm a mom, a mom with kids old enough to understand Mother's Day and to make sweet, crafty gifts for me at school. I'm a mom that spends most of her time taking care of and worrying about those gift givers. And, looking at how quickly the last nine years have flown, I'm a mom who understands that this time with children small enough to delight in these precious paper keepsakes is fleeting.

I hugged each boy and told them how much I loved the presents. And I meant it. I didn't need to falsely praise, I could see the excitement in their eyes as they watched for my reaction. I knew it was important to them, so it was important to me too.

Have a wonderful Mother's Day.

All That Swag

When we moved to New Jersey I made a list of all the family and friends that live on this side of the country. Over the last nine months we've planned trips and adventures around who we could visit, or who could visit us. This weekend, some adventurous friends made the trek to our house.

The kids (their five and our four) had a grand time playing outside most of the day. Seriously, they were outside not long after 8 in the morning. We got some funny looks from our early-morning dog-walking neighbors, but the kids didn't care. After bikes and games and a picnic, we all journeyed to a local Spring festival, though a more appropriate title would be Swag festival. We came home with toothbrushes and Frisbees and toys. The most exciting item that was handed out? Full-size boxes and bags of M&Ms to each person that was willing to stand in line and wait for it, including Sophie. Peter and I can't even eat M&Ms, but it was still exciting. And our guests were sufficiently impressed.

Look! We got all thirteen of us in one picture!

Thanks, Dan and Robin, for visiting!

Here We Are Together

Wheels

A certain nine-year-old finally let go of his fear of falling last week and figured out how to ride his bike. He's spent lots of time outside, riding on two wheels, ever since.

The Fruit

Phoebe really wanted to bear her testimony yesterday. Because we've talked about practicing what you're going to say before you go up, she quickly dictated to me what she planned to share. After repeating it a few times (as quietly as possible since we were sitting in the chapel), we walked up for her to speak at the podium.

This is what she said:

I'd like to bear my testimony that I know this church is true. We've been reading the Book of Mormon reader. And we just read the one about the fruit that if the people ate it they would feel joy and some people went off the path and drowned in the river and some were going to the building where other people were making fun of the people that ate the fruit. And that made the people that ate the fruit wonder, "Maybe what I'm doing is weird." But when the people ate the fruit they felt happiness. In the name of Christ, amen.

I sat in a seat behind her as she spoke, ready to jump up if she needed me. But she didn't need me. She remembered the gist of what she had practiced and did a good job delivering it. There was a sweet spirit while she spoke, and because I had walked up with her, I took a moment to share my testimony as well.

I love the scriptures. I love the Book of Mormon and I have a testimony that it is a true testament of Jesus Christ. I'm thrilled that we've made daily family scripture reading a habit and that my children are gaining their own testimonies of the truths in that inspired book. We have the Holy Ghost in our home on a more consistent basis because we read the Book of Mormon.

Fairy Flight

I took this movie a few weeks ago and planned to post it last week. As I prepped my post I realized I had failed to ask the other parents if I could put their kids on the blog. So instead I shared the picture of Phoebe and made sure I got everyone's permission. Thankfully, they all readily acquiesced.

These sweet girls have been learning this dance since January. Phoebe is at the end on the right. And just think, they have another two months to polish the dance.