We Did IT!!

Besides the not so simple miracle of our family reading the whole Book of Mormon, I was finally able to upload a picture to my blog!! Double hooray!!!

Wish I knew when we started this quest (of reading the whole Book of Mormon), but I cannot remember. It has to be at least a year, since we would read a chapter, forfeit a night due to unruly boys, read half a chapter since it was a long one, or just not get to it for one reason or another.

Let me tell you, according to what Michael and I have been hearing from our leaders during Conference, our family is right on, picture perfect as to what is supposed to take place during Family Home Evenings, prayer time, Scripture reading etc...We are right on the money! Meaning, we have siblings who won't leave each other alone accusing the other of "he won't stop breathing my air" type of stuff... Also included in these spiritual feasts is the occasional melt down of the parents....

We wondered many a times why we were doing this since the kids apparently hated it so much, but they would not let us turn out the light til we read the scriptures. At least the habit was formed, they just couldn't sit through it. We tried not to read for long, or we would talk about what we read. We even made good on our Living Scriptures investment and if we read a story the night before that we had the movie of, we watched it soon after reading that chapter. I think that really helped reinforce what we read, and brought the scriptures to life for the kids. Cause I knew some nights they weren't really paying attention, so the movies helped!! Glad we have them!

So for the final chapter we waited until everyone was home for it, since we would read whether or not everyone was home at night, just to keep up the habit. The missionaries came over and taught our family a lesson on faith and read verses from Moroni 10. Perfect! Really brought the Spirit and plus helped us teach our family the importance of faith. After they left, we read the last chapter. Talked about the gifts we have, what is Charity, and we shared our testimonies of the Book of Mormon and how we obtained that testimony. It was a great accomplishment for our family and for a moment I felt the Spirit confirming to me what we are doing is good and acceptable.

I remember a year ago or so I thought, "We really need to read the Book of Mormon as a family, especially for Damien, since who knows when he will ever read it, at least he will have done it once with our family." So we started out on our quest. This year has been full of ups and downs. Damien was barely there for the readings towards the end, missed every other week when he was at his Dad's. But we kept going. The last night I brought out the scriptures, and he did not leave, like he has been doing. Sometimes we would read loud enough so he would hear us in the other room (which we know he can) just so he could hear what was being read, even if he wasn't in the room with us.

We got a new book called "The Book of Mormon for Latter-Day Saint Families" which has pictures and explanations that we are going to use our next go around to really bring it home for our family. Like Jesse says, "I have a computer in my head, it helps me remember things." Well we are going to try to fill that computer up with good things.

I must explain our above picture. For this adventure, I went online to find a way to track our progress (kids like that kind of stuff, right) so I found one and the kids really liked to color in what we just read. As you can tell, it has been around for a while. Dad changed the I to We.

We've grown a lot as a family. The challenges were there, and will still be there. We must not let Satan bring us down, so we will press forward and do what is asked of us, despite our imperfections.

Conspired Against

For, I would say, the past 8 or so years, I have turned to these verses, for comfort. I feel very drawn to this Section of the Doctrine and Covenants. They speak to me. These verses speak, what my heart feels, and what I may have thought about in my mind as I've pondered my circumstances. I think I like reading these verses because, it almost lists every horrible thing man can experience, yet in the end there is a profound sense of hope. When I am down, these words lift me, even but a little.

I like hope, I need hope!

For added affect, in verse 7, I change the word "son" to "daughter", and it really brings it home for me.

Section 122

The word of the Lord to Joseph Smith the Prophet, while he was a prisoner in the jail at Liberty, Missouri, March 1839 (see History of the Church, 3:300–301).

5 If thou art called to pass through ^atribulation; if thou art in perils among false brethren; if thou art in ^bperils among robbers; if thou art in perils by land or by sea;

6 If thou art ^aaccused with all manner of false accusations; if thine enemies fall upon thee; if they tear thee from the society of thy father and mother and brethren and sisters; and if with a drawn sword thine enemies tear thee from the bosom of thy wife, and of thine offspring, and thine elder son, although but six years of age, shall cling to thy garments, and shall say, My father, my father, why can’t you stay with us? O, my father, what are the men going to do with you? and if then he shall be thrust from thee by the sword, and thou be dragged to ^bprison, and thine enemies prowl around thee like ^cwolves for the blood of the lamb;

7 And if thou shouldst be cast into the ^apit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the ^bdeep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to ^chedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of ^dhell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee ^eexperience, and shall be for thy good.

8 The ^aSon of Man hath ^bdescended below them all. Art thou greater than he?

9 Therefore, ^ahold on thy way, and the priesthood shall ^bremain with thee; for their ^cbounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy ^ddays are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, ^efear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever.

Joseph Smith experienced the lowest of the low in my opinion. There were some that thought terrible things about him and his purposes. Yet, he was still a GREAT Man, a WONDERFUL Prophet of God, a LOVING Husband, Father, Son and Brother. If he measured himself off of what the mobs were saying about him, the Work would not have moved forward like it had. It is simply amazing that He was able to rise above it all, and keep going. And here I am, when one person says something about me that may or may not be completely true, I am down in the dumps and doubt rears it's ugly head. I can gain a lot of strength from Joseph Smith's example of Grace under fire. I must avoid succumbing to the sophistries of men, but it is so hard, when their voices are so loud. I have been blessed with the power to overcome any of the efforts of the adversary in my life, I need to lean on that, and not allow Satan to win!!!!! I must not fear what man can do!

Halloween

This year for Halloween we headed over to the Church for the annual Trunk or Treat. Going here allows our family to celebrate Halloween, eat our first bowl of chili of the season (maybe too much), play games, and get loads of candy. It is nice because, when the 31st rolls around, the kids don't beg to go Trick or Treating in the neighborhood. Max and Jesse love handing out candy to the "trick or treats" who come to our door. When we ran out of candy they begged and cried to hand out the candy from their buckets. How could we say no to that?! We called it a night at 7:45 since it was bedtime. It seemed Halloween came quick upon us this year. Thankfully I already had their costumes bought from the after Halloween sales from last year. Max ended up wearing what Jesse wore last year, I think he was Obi Wan Kenobi, instead of being Anakin Skywalker. And an hour before the party, we went and got Damien something to wear....he was a skateboarder. Very fitting. Guess I'd rather spend money on stuff for Halloween that he can wear all the time, not just once a year and grow out of it. Jesse was a Ninja. Nothing fancy, super creative, or costumes I labored to make. They were cheap, they liked them, and at the end of the day, that's all that matters.
Speaking of day, it was a very busy day for us. Got Damien off to his last football game in the morning, helped at an Eagle Scout project, came home got ready to go to Damien's game, went to game, came home, made chili, frosted mini ghost cakes for cake walk, went to store for Damien, got Damien's skateboard from his dad's, decorated trunk for trunk or treat, got my self ready for Halloween party, and thankfully Max and Jesse were ready! Wow! I was soo glad when that day was over. Even more amazing is that I got a picture of the kids together in their costumes. (Sorry, not posted here. For some reason, I cannot upload pictures to my blog, but they are on Facebook).
I am very proud to report that I had 15 bags of candy to hand out this year. I'm sure it was more, but, of course, we ate some along the way. We were not the first car this year to run out of candy at Trunk or Treat. I was very happy! Thank you couponing!
When we came home, we remained true to tradition, and dumped all the candy on the living room floor and sorted, marveled and traded our candy.

Someone Who Knows

As I was laying in bed last night, I grabbed the May Conference issue of the Ensign and flipped through it. Sometimes I look at the pictures more than I read full talks. But, this time I read a talk titled, "The Atonement Covers All Pain", By Elder Kent F. Richards. I had the page marked, so I've probably read it before. It was soo good, and I wanted to share parts, well, most of it with you. I am really learning more about the Atonement, how it applies to me, and what it covers. I think this article helped me a little bit more.

This is what it said:

I have pondered about the purpose of pain. None of us is immune from experiencing pain. I have seen people cope with it very differently. Some turn away from God in anger, and others allow their suffering to bring them closer to God. Like you, I have experienced pain myself. Pain is a gauge of the healing process. It often teaches us patience. Perhaps that is why we use the term patient in referring to the sick.Elder Orson F. Whitney wrote: “No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude, and humility. … It is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire.”

Similarly, Elder Robert D. Hales has said:“Pain brings you to a humility that allows you to ponder. It is an experience I am grateful to have endured. …“I learned that the physical pain and the healing of the body after major surgery are remarkably similar to the spiritual pain and the healing of the soul in the process of repentance.”Much of our suffering is not necessarily our fault. Unexpected events, contradicting or disappointing circumstances, interrupting illness, and even death surround us and penetrate our mortal experience. Additionally, we may suffer afflictions because of the actions of others. Lehi noted that Jacob had “suffered … much sorrow, because of the rudeness of [his] brethren.”

Opposition is part of Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness. We all encounter enough to bring us to an awareness of our Father’s love and of our need for the Savior’s help.The Savior is not a silent observer. He Himself knows personally and infinitely the pain we face.“He suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children.“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”6Sometimes in the depth of pain, we are tempted to ask, “Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there?”7 I testify the answer is yes, there is a physician. The Atonement of Jesus Christ covers all these conditions and purposes of mortality.

Christ Himself taught:“And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me. …“Therefore, according to the power of the Father I will draw all men unto me.”10Perhaps His most significant work is in the ongoing labor with each of us individually to lift, to bless, to strengthen, to sustain, to guide, and to forgive us.As Nephi saw in vision, much of Christ’s mortal ministry was devoted to blessing and healing the sick with all kinds of maladies—physical, emotional, and spiritual. “And I beheld multitudes of people who were sick, and who were afflicted with all manner of diseases. … And they were healed by the power of the Lamb of God.”11Alma also prophesied that “he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and … he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. …“That his bowels may be filled with mercy, … that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.”12

Late one night lying in a hospital bed, this time as a patient and not as a physician, I read those verses over and over again. I pondered: “How is it done? For whom? What is required to qualify? Is it like forgiveness of sin? Do we have to earn His love and help?” As I pondered, I came to understand that during His mortal life Christ chose to experience pains and afflictions in order to understand us. Perhaps we also need to experience the depths of mortality in order to understand Him and our eternal purposes.13President Henry B. Eyring taught: “It will comfort us when we must wait in distress for the Savior’s promised relief that He knows, from experience, how to heal and help us. … And faith in that power will give us patience as we pray and work and wait for help. He could have known how to succor us simply by revelation, but He chose to learn by His own personal experience.”14

I felt the encircling arms of His love that night.15 Tears watered my pillow in gratitude. Later, as I was reading in Matthew about Christ’s mortal ministry, I made another discovery: “When the even was come, they brought unto him many … and he … healed all that were sick.”16 He healed all that came to Him. None were turned away.As Elder Dallin H. Oaks has taught: “Healing blessings come in many ways, each suited to our individual needs, as known to Him who loves us best. Sometimes a ‘healing’ cures our illness or lifts our burden. But sometimes we are ‘healed’ by being given strength or understanding or patience to bear the burdens placed upon us.”17 All that will come may be “clasped in the arms of Jesus.”18 All souls can be healed by His power. All pain can be soothed. In Him, we can “find rest unto [our] souls.”19 Our mortal circumstances may not immediately change, but our pain, worry, suffering, and fear can be swallowed up in His peace and healing balm.

To all of us the Savior said:“Behold, ye are little children and ye cannot bear all things now; ye must grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth.“Fear not, little children, for you are mine. …“Wherefore, I am in your midst, and I am the good shepherd.”21Our great personal challenge in mortality is to become “a saint through the atonement of Christ.”22 The pain you and I experience may be where this process is most measured. In extremity, we can become as children in our hearts, humble ourselves, and “pray and work and wait”23 patiently for the healing of our bodies and our souls. As Job, after being refined through our trials, we “shall come forth as gold.”24I bear testimony that He is our Redeemer, our Friend, our Advocate, the Great Physician, the Great Healer. In Him we can find peace and solace in and from our pain and our sins if we will but come unto Him with humble hearts. His “grace is sufficient.”25 In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

That was well said. Just what I needed, to help keep me going. I am going to be a piece of gold after all this :)

A field trip fire that wasn't

Today Jesse came out of his room crying.

Me: Jesse, what's wrong?

Jesse: (Still crying) I don't want to go on a field trip.

Me: What? You are going on a field trip? With your class? (I'm thinking, I didn't know anything about a field trip).

Jesse: Yes. With my class.

Me: (Very confused by all the tears about a field trip that I didn't know about)

Jesse: Today we watched a movie at school about a fire on a bus. (Then cries even harder again).

Me: Jesse, did you watch a movie at school about how to be safe on a bus in case there WAS a fire when you go on a field trip?

Jesse: Yes.

Wonder how many traumatized Kindergarteners there are tonight after watching the routine bus safety video? Thank goodness I knew about this from all the years Damien watched it or I would've been on the phone with the school.

My poor Jesse. It was hard not to laugh at his genuine fear. I told him not to worry, Mom and Dad will be on the field trip with you and gave him a hug.

Transition

I have currently transitioned to a Mom of School Age children. Some may think, so what's your point?! Well, it has been an interesting realization, and wake up call. Long gone are the days of staying in my PJs all day, and mom groups at the park. I am trying not to be a stress case, and I'm mostly holding it together for my family, cause geeez, I'm not the first woman to be in this position. A BIG thanks is in order for my Mom!

One thing I have learned, at the beginning of each school year when Mike is giving back to school blessings, I will not pass for myself. I am so thankful for a wonderful hubby, who, within a week into the school year, saw a need and offered a blessing.

Everything counts now, as in, grades, tests etc.. It has for Damien for quite a while now, but 7th grade, especially at the school he is currently at, he is being challenged (which I like) but...WOW! Homework sessions now require my full attention, unlike years past, which is taking some getting used to. I feel like if I walk away, it's just going to cause his grades to go down. We're figuring out what works. Riding the bus to and from school. Being on the football team, practice til' 5pm. Then there's the question of, go all the way out to pick him up, or have him ride the bus til' 7:30pm or we found a middle ground, ride the bus to his old Elementary = less time on bus and less gas for us. This has taken a month to figure out. Then the school has a great online resource for parents, where we can log in and check our students grades on assignments, tests, and see their attendance. It is GREAT! I love having this connection to his school, but I think it makes me hyper aware. If that makes sense? It can be a good and bad thing I think. I check it everyday to see how last night's homework session got graded. It's an emotional roller coaster every time I log in. It's almost like I want to not look, but I do. I just want him to do well, but I don't want to overreact, or under react thinking, "Oh, he's fine." I know. It's crazy. I get to bed late on nights he's with us, just to give him homework support. I went to Back to School Night at his school and I was like, "Wow! I can't believe how much Damien does in one day." I was getting the knots in my stomach as if I was in school! He gets on the bus at 6:50 am and gets home at 6:30 pm, carting a big bag of football gear (that we FINALLY got a duffle bag for) along with his book bag! And now he's barely getting to Scouts or working on that stuff, and in the back of my already crammed mind I am thinking, "How do I squeeze that in without overwhelming him?" And by the time he has time, he's off to his Dad's.....

This will be good for him. He's had it really easy in Elementary school, and I'm hoping with time, he'll be a pro at this multiple class, and sports thing. I did it. I don't know how?? Even early morning Seminary too.

And then...there's my Kindergartners.....

Tracing their ABC's and 123's. Their stressors for me are, learning their Sight Words like; go, to, and, is, the, like, play. Jesse is doing really well at it, where as Max is just in his own little world. We started practicing over the summer and it seems that he isn't improving. I'm trying not to be alarmed or get frustrated, but it's just weird? I am also pro Preschool, because they would be really behind if they didn't know these basics. Some kids in their classes don't even know how to write their names or use scissors. Thank goodness for Preschool. It really helped all of my boys get a head start! They are both doing really well behavior wise in their own, separate classrooms. Which I am glad about. The teacher in me thinks about so much when it comes to a child's success in school, and I think that is ONE of the reasons why I am the way I am when it comes to how they are picking up on what's being taught that week in class. So far they know their basics like colors, shapes, letters, numbers (I think to 30 on a good day). I know mostly what's expected of them, and I am ever watchful of signs of them being "behind". I help in their classrooms, which makes my idea of putting them in separate classes NOT a good idea cause that just make double the work for me, but I should be used to that by now, right?

And then there's being a wife.... I knew date nights were important. I've always been PRO date night. But now that life is getting busier and busier and Michael and I have less and less stress free alone time together, it is becoming more of a must. Not that we are going out every week, but we are sure thinking about it and craving that time together. I'll tell you all about our next date night AFTER the Vineyard gets done, Damien's football games, homework sessions, work, working out, and getting much needed sleep from all of the above :) Actually, thankfully to some dear friends of ours, they came to the rescue last weekend, literally, and took the boys overnight and Michael and I went to Coldstone (Yum), and breakfast in the morning at Yosemite Falls Cafe. It was much needed time to decompress.

This is not a "Pity Party" for Sarah. I am thankful for prayer, opportunities to serve, trips to the Temple, the Gospel, a husband who has the same core beliefs as me, and strives to be a better person by using the Gospel resources available. That makes SUCH a difference, when things are rough. Thankful for a wise Bishop, who can discern for our family when needed. I am thankful for friends who KNOW, and family who is THERE when I need them the most. All these things, over the past few weeks have carried me, comforted me, and helped me know that I am NOT alone (or crazy), that I am LOVED, beautiful and of worth. Interesting enough, I find myself offering the same counsel to friends that I myself struggle to internalize, guess that is for a reason.

Life is hard but it is good.

And a few good shopping trips using coupons has definitely provided therapy :)

Tadpoles

This summer I signed Max and Jesse up for swim lessons out at Airways Pool. We got an amazing deal for the two of them, 2 weeks for $40 total! It was just my price and plus it gave us something to do. Once we got them in the right class and out of the deep end, they were off and swimming!

Proud of my swimmers!

Jesse learning how to use his arms as he swims

Max learning how to kick his legs STRAIGHT

Jesse being a goof ball in the pool

Max taking after his brother

Totally paying attention to the teacher....

He is starting to figure out how to use those arms

More coaching

Learning how to use the kick boards with straight arms

Max mastering the backfloat

Overall they did as well as 5 year old boys can. They and their classmates had short attention spans while in the pool. They loved to go under water and look at each other with their goggles on. They learned basic skills such as kicking and using their arms. Once they went over to the deep end and jumped in to their teacher and they were a little surprised that they couldn't touch the bottom while swimming. They put their feet down a lot when swimming to the wall or the teacher. She even tried to teach them to turn their heads to the side and take a breath, didn't work out too well. They really do well at the back float, and love practicing what they learn while we are in the Lazy River at the Island Waterpark. Since swimming lessons they have figured out how to get down to the bottom of the pool (not in the deep end), even started doing front rolls in the water, that has been fun. The teacher says they are ready for the next level, but I think they still need more practice at these basic skills. Unfortunately, winter comes and they forget all that they have learned and we have to almost start over again.