July 4 at Spring Lake
Author: Angela
I write so my family will always have letters from home.
America the Beautiful
Sometimes I can’t believe that that we can walk from our house to this beautiful place in about 30 minutes.
In Guam this past Sunday in church, they sang America the Beautiful, just as we did here.
Dream Home
Each year on July 2, I remember this was the day that I walked into our house for the first time and I knew that this was where we should live. It was a unique experience for me, where I suddenly understood the meaning of an old dream. This was my kitchen in the Salt Lake Valley that my dream prepared me to recognize.
I have filled books with our experiences, photos of youth activities and neighborhood parties, and handwritten cards from this era of our lives. It is the neighborhood connections with specific people, including our children’s spouses, Michael and McKenna, that make me I believe that the Lord brought us here.
Sharing faith online
I am trying to be more mindful of what I write online. My blog posts are going through a more rigorous editing process, with most posts simmering for days before I hit, “Publish.”
My religious posts have the most revisions because I want to share uplifting things well.
I understand that not everyone wants to read about church or God. I post religious content on my blog because I know that readers are here by choice. But occasionally, I post something religious on social media.
In May, I shared on social media a talk given by a general authority because it had been helpful to me. A friend left a comment explaining that the talk was hurtful. Both of us took time to communicate about the post in a respectful way. I love my friend, and I told him that his opinions won’t change that.
I was pretty sad that my friend found pain in something that has inspired me. I questioned whether I should have shared the talk, even though it was from a worthy source. I questioned my motives, weighing the pride behind my post against my good intentions. As I thought and prayed about this, I realized many things, and I want to share a few of those things here.
First, personal choices, experiences, and culture influence how people see the same things so differently, but religion is not inherently hurtful. The things that cause discomfort often indicate something we need to face about ourselves. I learned through this uncomfortable experience that pointing someone to the Source of truth is better than establishing truth or proving a point.
Second, there are poor, good, better, and best ways of sharing faith. I acted hastily, as I do sometimes, when I am trying to gain the courage to share. If I had paused, I might have been instructed by the Spirit to share the content differently. Still, God can work with my imperfect efforts. My post led someone to listen to something new. Who knows how this experience will affect my friend’s life moving forward. I hope something positive will come from this, even if it’s just knowing that I still care.
Third, the goal can’t be to please everyone. The goal is to be a light. I want to be a gentle, steady light, not a spotlight focused on myself, and never an interrogation lamp to accuse.
In 1834, the Lord gave some instructions about the Latter-day Saints’ behavior and words in the midst of opposition. While I don’t face the same level of opposition, I think that this is a good personal guide for expressing faith:
Be very faithful and prayerful, and humble before me…reveal [share] not the things that I have revealed…until it is wisdom in me.
Talk not of judgments, neither boast of great faith nor of mighty works…
And behold, I will give unto you favor and grace in their eyes, that you may rest in peace and safety.
Doctrine and Covenants 105:23-25
So, I gather my scattered courage, friends, as I keep trying to shine a light. Sending courageous wishes to you as you do the same. The Lord is working with us.
And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.
Mark 16:20
Structuring home life with children
Over a year ago, someone asked me to write my advice for someone who was a new homeschooler. I haven’t talked about homeschool on this blog in many years, but I had an interesting moment this morning where I not only remembered this email, but felt a strong urge to post it here.
I think most of these points apply to anyone trying to structure home life with children, especially during the summer, so take what you need, and forget the rest.
1. Pray first thing as a family every day. Establish routines for start time, subjects, breaks, and lunch. Consider scripture time a daily subject.
2. Do things regularly with other families. It is good that kids play with children of all ages.
3. Choose a curriculum strong in language arts and math. Have a plan for the year, each month, week, and every day.
4. Steel yourself to criticism from those who don’t understand what you are accomplishing.
5. Go on dates with your husband without the kids.
6. Fill your house with books of all kinds and read, read, read together and independently.
7. Find a friend with whom you can share your experiences so school and children aren’t the only things you talk about with your husband.
8. Plan unstructured time for kids to explore their own interests. Their interests can propel their desire to read, write, and learn how to be proactive learners.
9. Celebrate achievements with certificates or stickers or whatever makes your kids happy. Don’t feel like you have to mirror a public school classroom with big charts, etc. You can do simple, meaningful things to track progress.
10. Go outside together or do crafts when things get too intense in the house.
11. Explore nature, go to museums, run and play, visit the elderly, take art classes, make collections together. Some of the best advice I received was to play with playdough with my children. Your children will need to help around the house, too. You can’t do everything yourself.
12. Look at every subject as a means to increase reading and writing skills.
13. Take pictures and cherish the time together. Don’t broadcast everything on social media. Honor your children’s privacy in learning and development.
14. Listen for and expect the Lord to lead you in small things and big things. Heavenly Father is even more interested in helping your children progress than you are, so be willing to accept answers that aren’t part of your original plan.
15. You can contact me if you want to talk. I was a homeschool mom for 14 years.
Art by Paige, around 2010
Change
Richard has a new church calling as a counselor in the bishopric. I have seen him shine in this role before, and I know that he will do a great job.
I have not been released from my church calling, so Sundays will be extra full for all of us. I don’t mind.
Moments we don’t think to capture
Mark’s summer schedule is pretty clear this month, then ramps up in July and August. We have seen a lot of his friends in June, and despite all the time together, we haven’t thought to capture a picture of these kids in their habitat in our basement. Of course, when we thought to take the photo, the pose wasn’t ideal, but all well. In two blinks one of these friends will be away at college. In a few more blinks, they will be serving missions.
A good friend is moving to Brazil, and a few of us gathered to help. I have spent so much time with this friend over the years, and I have maybe three photos to show for it. I wish I had taken pictures of the fun things we did together.
Rest
In my Father’s house are many mansions:…I go to prepare a place for you.
John 14:2
Recently, I learned the original Greek word, monai, which became a Latinized version of mansions in this passage, actually means stopping places or resting stations. So, the original passage would be something like, In my Father’s house are many stopping places or resting stations, “thus giving the impression of a long journey rather than a large estate.”*
This makes me think of the mission of Jesus Christ in a new way. He prepares places to rest, not just at the end of our journey, but every day. These resting stations allow us to continue on the journey after a brief pause to be strengthened or encouraged, forgiven, and healed.
We need stopping places where we can have our injuries dressed and find the comfort of a Healer.
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30
Every day, we need a stopping place to repent, and an ideal to follow.
Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him—
Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified;
Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life.
Doctrine and Covenants 45:3-5
Every day, we need a resting station to receive encouragement.
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
John 16:33
Where, then, are these resting stations in our lives? Perhaps some physical places come to mind, and maybe some less tangible things, such as behaviors or blessings can be “places” of rest. Whatever the image of rest, I know that the Savior’s understanding, power, and presence are involved.
*Concepts and quote about the Greek translation are from C. Wilfred Griggs, “The Last Supper According to John,” From the Last Supper through the Resurrection: The Savior’s Final Hours, ed. Richard Nietzel Holzapfel and Thomas Wayment, p. 116.
Special
Even though our numbers at family dinners are small, I still set a special table on Sundays. The rest of the week, we sit on bar stools around the kitchen island and eat from basic plates and drink from plastic cups. Whatever the setting, dinnertime is a sacred family rhythm. Amen.
June 17 visit
Here are some scenes from Spring Lake as we visited my dad to celebrate Father’s Day one day early. The strong people worked on cutting down dead trees and digging up stumps. My dad took us to lunch at a Mexican restaurant and I left him with a pan of homemade lemon bars.