The last answer is my favorite part of this interview with the Church Architectural Historian who worked on the renovation of the Manti temple. (Nothing sensational or controversial here.)
Army
I saw this image from the upcoming release of the film about Helaman’s army and it really affected me. This story from the Book of Mormon has found new pockets of meaning throughout the years of my motherhood. Even in these final months with a child at home, this story has fed my courage and resolve to be a valiant mother.
In family life, I have needed to be creative and determined in order to teach the gospel. Even now, as the last child moves outside my orbit, I am trying new methods, hoping to reach him in more effective ways.
Over the years I have learned to be more vulnerable and brief in my teaching, distilling my words to bring the most impact. No lecturing, no ranting, just direct, clear ideas are the goal.
I want my faith to be clear to them because their battles are real.
Surprise!
Last week, I misinterpreted my dad who I thought was inviting the young men of the family to help pour concrete for a new shed on Saturday morning at 10:00 am.
Mark and I drove down to my parents’ house on Saturday morning to discover that the extended family wasn’t gathered and someone had poured some concrete the night before. My parents were surprised to see us, but my dad, being the eternal Boy Scout, had just gotten home from picking up another dozen bags of concrete from the hardware store. At that moment, we had shade, helpers, and materials. So, even though it wasn’t in his morning plan, my dad built the forms and Mark began mixing concrete. Mark also got a few more cousins to come over and help, and just like that, another piece of the foundation was complete.
While I don’t like to surprise people into doing big projects, I am glad that my parents didn’t end up pouring concrete on their own on Saturday night, as my dad later confessed he was planning to do.
Spring Lake gathering
Independence Day
As we approach July 4th and all the family memories this evokes, I realize that it might be easy to believe that some years are for making memories and some years are for reminiscing.
My wish is that you can enjoy both this year.
He who binds to himself a joy
Does the winged life destroy
He who kisses the joy as it flies
Lives in eternity’s sunrise
Eternity, by William Blake
(And happy day to us, July 2 is the anniversary of the first day I saw our house in 2012 and knew that we should live here.)
Mark’s Senior Piano Recital
Well, we made it to our last piano recital, and it was a big one. It was a solo recital for Mark, and he played seven pieces.
I have heard nearly every practice session of Mark’s life in our home (11 years of lessons), but Richard and I enjoyed hearing his pieces played on this magnificent piano. Knowing all it took to get to this point made us really appreciate his interpretations and his growth as a musician and a person.
We had 44 in the audience. I wasn’t expecting that many, and we are touched that people came to cheer for Mark. Piano study is usually pretty solitary, unlike sports or band. So, having family and friends fill the recital hall to give one last hurrah for our youngest pianist made this a joyful night.
For the kids
This is my presidency after running a stake Primary day camp for about 100 kids yesterday. Phew!
Relief from Burdens
Shouldn’t things have been easier for us, a future free of these kinds of burdens because we had devoted ourselves with full purpose of heart and mind to serving the Lord? I thought we were aligned with His will. But we, nonetheless, have had the burdens of mortality befall us.
Alignment of our heart and mind with the Savior isn’t a free pass to a life of ease. Instead, it is a conduit to His relief. Bound to the Savior through the covenants we have made with God, we stay aligned with Him and “can do all things through Christ [who strengthens us]” (Philippians 4:13).
To be aligned with the Savior, we need to give ourselves over to Him. We must avoid clinging tenaciously to our burdens and trying to carry them alone. Rather, we must make our burdens accessible to the Savior and allow Him to provide His relief.
President Camille N. Johnson, Relief Society General President
I began reading this article without looking at the author. As I read, I kept thinking, wow, this woman has great insights!
The article can be found here:
Work
Mark hopes to spend a few days a week this summer working at Spring Lake. Last week, he left on Tuesday afternoon and came back Friday evening. I heard very little from him. This was the text exchange of the week,
I am thankful to my parents who welcome Mark to come and learn new skills.
Discover, Plan, Act, Reflect
While I was in Alabama, I realized that I should write a little song for Primary day camp, just a super short melody to help us remember a concept. I began writing and whittling down the song until it was just two lines. Richard transcribed it so we had readable sheet music and on Sunday these young women came to our house to learn and record the song.
This little song is to teach the kids at Primary Day Camp how to make goals. Hearing and watching these young women sing these words was a highlight of my week.
I have many gifts from God, and He wants me to grow;
I’ll discover, plan, act, reflect; Seek the Help of the Holy Ghost!
