Author: Angela

I write so my family will always have letters from home.

Daniel’s Faith in God Award

 

There is really no fanfare given to kids who earn this award at church. There is a certificate at the end of the book signed by our Bishop and Primary President, but there is no presentation or pin. That’s okay. The true measure of a person is not the fanfare and decorations they’ve received, but the qualities they have developed.

Here is what a child (age 8-12) must do to complete this award, and it’s significant:

  • Pray daily to Heavenly Father.
  • Read the scriptures regularly.
  • Keep the commandments and live gospel standards.
  • Honor parents and be kind to your family.
  • Pay your tithing and attend tithing settlement.
  • Attend sacrament meetings and Primary regularly.
  • Write your testimony
  • Memorize the Articles of Faith (13 paragraphs) and explain their meaning
  • Complete 24 activities under the following categories: Learning and Living the Gospel; Serving Others, Developing Talents.
  • Complete 5 requirements under the Preparing for the Priesthood category.
  • Have an interview with a member of your bishopric.

Here are many of the activities that Daniel completed to earn his award:

  • Explained how the sacrament helps you renew your baptismal covenant. In a family home evening, he taught us about things we can do to remain faithful.
  • Gave a family home evening lesson about Joseph Smith’s First Vision. Discussed how Heavenly Father answers sincere prayers.
  • Marked verses of scripture about the Holy Ghost.
  • Read a recent conference address given by a prophet. Decided what to do to follow the prophet, and did it.
  • Prepared a pedigree chart and shared a family history story.
  • Learned to sing “Choose the Right” and explained what agency is and what it means to be responsible for his choices.
  • Read and discussed the parable of the good Samaritan and planned a service project to help a family member or neighbor.
  • Wrote a letter to grandparents expressing appreciation and explaining what he respects about them.
  • Planned, prepared, and served a nutritious meal.
  • Learned to practice good manners and courtesy.
  • Entertained young children with songs or games he made himself. Showed he knows how to care for and protect a young child.
  • Planned a parent-child activity (helped plan and carry out the Blue and Gold banquet).
  • Read the twelfth article of faith and discussed what it means to be a good citizen and how actions affect others.
  • Learned to play a song from the Children’s Songbook on the piano.
  • Wrote a poem about a gospel topic.
  • Made an item from wood and displayed it.
  • Visited a concert.
  • Planned a physical fitness program and participated in it for one month.
  • Learned about and practiced good nutrition, good health, grooming, and modest dress.
  • Learned about the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood.
  • Read the purposes of the Aaronic Priesthood and what it means to do his duty to God.
  • Read scriptures about education and discussed its importance in strengthening priesthood holder for service in home and family and the Church.
  • Read “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” and made a list of things to strengthen his family and make a happy home.

Our Toy Stories

Yesterday I discovered that Mark has the scene memorized from Toy Story 3 when Andy gives his toys away. That scene always makes me cry.

Richard doesn’t have especially fond memories of toys and he can’t figure out what all the boo-hooing is about.

I loved my toys. My siblings loved their toys. I visit Spring Lake and find Sarah’s dolls stored carefully in the closet. Joe’s basement is full of vintage GI Joe stuff. It was my finest hour when I found some Lego sets that Matt had as a kid at a yard sale and when I called to find out what to buy, he repeated again and again, “Buy them.” Susan’s ponies are carefully stored in boxes and I think Paul’s family owns every toy ever made. I have my Strawberry Shortcake dolls in a special box in my closet. They, having been rescued a few years ago from storage, require a little extra love. I pull them out now and then to comb their hair and sniff them.

I think our connection to our toys is sentimental and practical. Our childhood was a happy time. Our toys and games were a part of that. We saved our money to buy some of our toys so they represented our efforts and our self-control. They were gifts from grandparents and rewards for jobs well done. In effect, they are a record of our childhood.

The dollies pictured above are in Paige’s room. Every now and then I go in to see what she’s sewn for them. Their clothes are mostly handmade. It’s a whimsical escape for a girl who has a heavy school schedule.

 

 

Some art projects

This is Timothy’s painted tissue paper collage, “Ocean, Sand, Grass,” inspired by Eric Carle.

A long time ago I did a post about a Bayeaux Tapestry project. I realized I never followed up with the completed projects.

by Tim

Here is the next project which exceeded the time we set aside for it. I decided that Daniel can finish it if he wants to. The point was to gain an appreciation for the magnitude of the tapestry and learn the history and I think we achieved that.

 

Mark didn’t want to be left out. The boys were being allowed to stab fabric with sharp metal objects. This was what he had always wanted to do!

by Mark, age 4

 

Keeping them busy

The public schools are out today for teacher prep. I’m sorely tempted to take a teacher prep day, but that would mean the boys would have all day to fight instead of just the afternoon, so you know what that means: SCHOOL TIME!

I love those boys. They need action and excitement and outdoor play. Last week we found ourselves at the park…in the afternoon…and we didn’t get heat stroke! Hooray! There is hope for an autumn!

 

 

Wide Brimmed Hat

This is my new big hat. This is also what I look like when I am watching Cub Scouts scaling slippery rocks on the mountain.

This is Daniel and his friend. They’ve been friends for 6 years but it’s rare to get them together.

This is one of 600 photos Paige posed for because she’s so beautiful and well worth photographing.

This is Timothy on a hike with the Cub Scouts.

This is my Markie. He likes to snuggle anywhere.

This was our picnic and Richard who carried everything up and down the hill.

Next we’ll have some grits

I’ve been reading late into the night. I decided to give a contemporary literature another try. I read The Help (Am I the last one on earth to do this?) and it drew me in with its female friendships and I will admit, the gossip. However, I realized by page 100 that I was reading nothing new: married women are portrayed as fools; men of both races are incompetent; mother-daughter relationships are mainly confrontational; single women are ultimately more free and happy. (I’m not defending spouse abuse.) To me, this book felt very raw and emotionally manipulative.  This was supposedly a civil rights book, but it was nearly lost in its feminist propaganda. I’m more a fan of Phyllis Schlafly than Gloria Steinem. Please, I’m not accepting dissenting opinions on this. I know better than to open the Pandora’s box labeled, “Define and Defend your views on Feminism.”

I had a hard time finding “truth” in this book because the author demonized one race and idealized the other. I kept waiting for a functional white family. People aren’t so easily categorized and nowhere in this UNIVERSE do 24-year olds hold this much power in society. But her black characters were delightful. As a white chick, the lingo didn’t feel fake to me.

This book was highly influential in our menu planning this week. We had fried chicken… twice. I made potato salad and biscuits, too. Thank you.

Stunning picture

Thanks, Susan for sharing so many family photos with us. I really loved the ones of Violet and Joe. Looking at this picture makes me want to have my photograph taken more often in the hopes that somebody will remember me as young and not just an oldie.

When was the last time you had your photo taken with your sweetheart?

When was the last time you sat outside together like this?

Sigh. We’re due for some of that.