Honor in Singapore

It never ceases to amaze me the honor and respect shown by the Chinese people toward their ancestors and gods. I happened across this while we were trick or treating on Monday night in the drizzly rain. Their little space to burn offerings had a little mat and they had put an umbrella out to protect it from the weather. They are such good people here. I've heard it said they are 20 years behind the US but it's only said in a positive way. They have iPhones and laptops and all the technology here but the decline of the family and morals in general is not like it is in America. What a blessing that is. They still have respect and honor here that would do my country a lot of good to get back. Singapore is a wonderful place to raise a family.

Prayers - Growing, Learning, Changing

We're changing in the prayer department around here. Jakey - The beginning of last week, just a few days past his magic 18 month mark, Jakey began to fold his arms for prayer. It makes my heart melt. We say "oracion" (spanish for prayer) and he grins ear to ear and folds his arms across his chest, hands sticking up and out on either side with his dimple showing deeply. Maddie Mae - IF she makes her prayer any more complicated than, "Heavenly Father, thank you to bless the food, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen," she NEVER forgets to include a blessing for Claudia and Aimee. The one at dinner last night was particularly unique and funny. Brian and I had to stifle audible laughs. "Thank you to bless Claudia and Aimee. Bless them to not get eat up by monsters so they can be safe today and not get eated up today." Ben - Several months ago he moved into a private stage with his prayers. He no longer wants to do personal prayers with us. That's fine. I do know he's praying though because he tells me when and why he prays for me. It makes me happy to see his growing faith and understanding of God.

Two Little Missionaries

Maddie has been singing, "I hope they call me on a mission" all morning. She told me when she gets big like me she wants to go on a mission. I told her I thought it a great idea to go teach people about Jesus. Then I asked her what she would do on her mission. She plans to ride a horse around and play at parks and ride up horsey stairs. When asked if she planned to teach people about Jesus, she said "Yeah. I'm going to teach babies who can't talk yet about Jesus." At some point since school started some topic arose that caused me to explain that his teacher wasn't allowed to talk about Jesus. She might go to church on Sunday, but if she did or didn't, she couldn't tell the whole class and that they probably would never talk about God in school because not everyone in his class knows about Jesus but we should talk lots about Him at home. Then there was the pledge of allegience thing where he was all proud that they say "one nation under God" and he thought that was pretty cool that they can talk about God. I was proud that he had caught it. Last week after school Ben was sitting across the table from me eating his peanut butter sandwich. Just his little head pokes up above the edge of the table. It was so cute to see a huge grin growing bigger and bigger across his face as he announced to me that he had some exciting news. At recess he aparently went around to all of his friends that he knew their names and asked, "Do you believe in Jesus?" He was proud to report that Joshua, Connor and a few others did believe in Jesus. It really made him excited to know these kids were like him. Then he reported that the little girl he sits next to in class didn't believe. I was scared. I asked what she did when he asked. If only I had had a video to capture it. He said, "She just went like this." He crinkled up his nose and pulled up his shoulders and made a really sour face and said, "Then she said No." We talked again about how that was okay for her to be different. This weekend Ben has been obsessed with "Can I invite this person or that person to church with me so they can learn about Jesus?" It's so cute. I'm proud to see how excited he is to share Gods love with everyone.

Temple Meeting

I had such a fantastic experience at the Kirtland temple. When I went in the day with my family for the tour, we got to see all the rooms, including the elusive third floor. We tried to join one of the youth tour groups, but they couldn’t fit us in. Then there were only a few of us that couldn’t make the first group, so we got our own tour. Since there were so few people, we got to go to the third floor and see those rooms. It was amazing to see how they built it back in the 1800s. Such a tall, brick building. So big it bankrupted the church at the time. Such sacrifice by the early Christian saints to toil and work for so many years to build a temple to God. It was humbling to see it. Later that night I was able to return. Brian kept the kids, took all three swimming and then put them to bed while I was gone. Having time to sit and reflect on the intricate woodwork done by hand, the detail in the podium area, simple beauty of design, grandness of size and the unique windows was amazing. I felt connected to their building and their souls. I appreciated their toil, sweat and tears. Amazed at the sacrifice of the women to crush their irreplaceable fine dishes and nice things to mix into the mortar so that the temple would sparkle in the sunlight and be beautiful to look at and to honor God. I imagine it would have been an interesting time to live, during all the revivals of the 1800s. So much religious excitement, contention and yet many good people found Christ in those times. What a blessing to them and their posterity to have the knowledge of Christ in their daily lives. While sitting that evening in the lower room of the temple, staring at the product of their love of God, I felt the spirit of God so intensely. When the stake president, Pres Erickson, spoke, I listened. He shared so many great feelings and impressions and messages for the youth and for the adults present. He emphasized how important our daily decisions were in obtaining exaltation because the small things really do matter. He shared with us God’s deep love for us as daughters of God and about the huge responsibility placed upon the shoulders of the young men in the group. I realized that I was not listening with my mind and taking in the message to process it. I could feel a tangible, physical warmth and stirring in my chest instead. I was listening with my soul that night. The feelings I had were so real and so difficult to describe. Kirtland is a special place where you can feel the history and God’s love. I hope to go back when the kids are older and can listen, learn and appreciate the sacrifice of the early saints.

Happy Easter

I love to hear strong powerful messages of the atonement and resurection of Jesus Christ. Listen at the link above on YouTube. "One of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so." Elder Holland. I listened to the video link to Elder Holland's message while looking at pictures of my family and it meant so much more to me as I thought of the sacrifice of our Savior. It was for me, of course, but it was for my family. Each individual member of my sweet, small family. The people I work so hard for, He also loves more than I can understand. It was a cool realization this morning. Happy Easter.

Testimony of Prayer

Story dictated by Ben: Once I was laying in my bed and mom and dad were in their bed. And I sat up in my bed and I said a prayer and asked, cause I had some coughs, God if he could help the coughs go away. And it worked. I just had two more coughs and then they were gone.

Not Now

About two weeks ago I decided I'd had enough of the stinky diapers from Maddie. She knew what she was doing and was deciding not to use the toilet. We started some tough love potty training with the natural consequence of a cold bath (rinsing her bum) when she pooped in her diaper. After six days we hadn't had a single success. Saturday night I was thinking as I lay in bed after Brian had drifted off to sleep about the situation. The impression came with power then that I needed to stop my plan. Now was not the right time and cold baths were not the right approach for this child in this moment. I was struck with the urgency of the feelings. I couldn't shake the feeling and after a while I pulled myself out of bed and began to pray about what to do. While I think my method is an acceptable way to handle the problem, I know that it is not right for this child at this time. I will always wonder what the reason was. Is it because she physically isn't ready (her muscles can't do it yet), is it the wrong time for me to handle it as an adult (let's face it, potty training is rough on parents and their patience level), was she feeling demeaned and humiliated because of the way I was handling the situation (that could have significant consequences beyond potty training) or something else? So I quit. No more cold baths. Not now. No more words about it. Ever. She has regressed back to peeing in her diaper too and almost never using the potty. I've let it go for now. I know it is the right thing for Maddie. Today though, I'm thinking about my experience. God knows my children better than I ever will. He can see their tender, sweet hearts and can guide me to teach and nurture them in the best way for each child as an individual. I think what I learned two things: 1. Listen to the promptings I am given, God will show me the best things in the right moments. Then obey his direction even when you don't know why. 2. If I fail to pray and study the scriptures every day, it extends beyond myself. I am doing a huge disservice to my children. They need me to be in tune with the direction God is sending to me for them. It is so much bigger than me. My kids need me to be connected to God.

Wise Children

Conversation in the car today: Ben: "Mom, what are those big numbers for?" pointing to a sign advertising something. Mom: "It tells us how much something in that store costs." Ben: "Oh. I guess we don't need that thing though, right Mom?" Mom: "No. We probably don't really need whatever they are trying to sell us. All we really need in our family is food, a house and love. Right guys?" Maddie (yelling): "AND WE NEED CHEESE!" Ben (in a sweet and humble voice): "I think we need Jesus too." Mom: "Thanks Ben. I think you're right, we do need Jesus. We need food, a house, love and Jesus." Maddie: "And we need CHEESE!" Mom: "Yes, Maddie. We definately need cheese."

Overlooking Miracles

Do you ever wonder how many miracles occur in your life everyday that you don't even notice? I've been thinking this through. I had the most terrible toothache for over a week. It was debilitating for day after day. I couldn't concentrate on anything that took real brain power. I was short with the kids. I had no patience for disobedience or sometimes even their innocent childlike silliness. Many times it had me in tears as waves of throbbing pain would emanate from my upper jaw. I prayed to make it through, hoping it was a sinus infection like the last time. Eventually it seemed less general and became centered in one single tooth. I finally decided to call the dentist because it wasn't getting better. Friday afternoon I called my brother-in-law who is in dental school. Our conversation lead me to believe there was nothing to do but call a dentist and go in. So I called my dentist. She had left just hours earlier for an over seas vacation. I could get an appointment for two weeks. That wasn't going to cut it. At least the office had just split in the last six months so I had another option. I called the other half of the practice for an appointment. He didn't work Fri, Sat or Sun. Okay, neither would I, but I really, really wanted to go in for an appointment and get some pain relief. I admitted defeat and knew the soonest I could reach anyone would be Monday morning. I told Brian I would need a blessing to make it through the weekend. I tried all day Saturday to concentrate and prepare my talk. I had to speak the next day to the congregation in sacrament meeting. How ironic that my topic was prayer. I prayed and prayed that I could bear the pain until I could see the dentist. Saturday at dinner I was still in tears still, despite taking pain meds and sudafed for sinus pressure intermittently. After dinner I had committments at a youth dance to lead a committee meeting beforehand then stay to chaperone. I went and dutifully did my jobs. At 10 pm it hit me like a ton of bricks. NO PAIN. Not even a little bit. I tried to think back to when it had left. I had no idea. I was so excited that I picked up my cell phone and dialed Brian so I could just tell someone my AMAZING news. Then I realized he would probably appreciate the time alone and chose not to call, but sat in my chair in amazement. Doesn't it make you wonder. How many miracles occur in my life everyday that I don't even notice? There seem to be constant annoyances we try to pray away from our everyday lives. I bet I have overlooked millions of answers to prayer simply because my life just returned to normal. The annoyance went away and I may have not even noticed. How ungrateful can I be? I think I need to try to be more attentive to the answers I get that I have been overlooking. I'm so grateful that God saw fit to take the pain away for me through that weekend. It hasn't been back since that evening. I was finally able to put my thoughts together about what I would speak about and it went well enough. I still think it is ironic that I received an answer to my prayers so that I could focus enough to speak on...prayer. How cool is that. God sure loves me. Even when I'm too self absorbed to notice all he does for me, he still showers me with his blessings and love.