I got an email this week about a book I read the manuscript for about writing letters to your missionary and creating a record of spiritual significance. (It goes on the market in August if you're interested.) It reminded me once again that the things you do can either be a chore or a blessing, depending on how you frame them and decide to work on them. With that in mind, I'll tell you about some of the opportunities I had this week to learn and to grow.
-I had the opportunity to build my relationship with my missionary daughter by blogging about our family's life and emailing her about how much I love her and am trying to be a better person.
-I had the opportunity to play with the baby of Ashley and Joe (Ashley was one of my Young Women and Joe was taught the gospel in our home) when their babysitter backed out at the last minute. One little one year old is actually adorable and easy and fun, even for a seven hour stretch.
-I watched Eve and Griffin take off in swimming as they took swim lessons. Eve made the biggest strides--mostly because Griff started ahead of her--and now swims several feet in deep water holding her breath and bicycling her legs as hard as she can. I got to spend the hottest parts of the hottest days this week at the pool.
-I had some free time to apply for a loan while Kacee played with and put shimmer tattoos all over my little ones. They loved it! And it made it at least a little bit easier to sit and do a bunch of boring stuff as we get ready to purchase a condo in SLC. And that last bit is pretty exciting!
-As usual, I spent a lot of time helping kids. Eliza is lonely because she is all alone in her apartment for a few weeks. Willa is still working on work, headaches, eating super clean (GF, DF and sugar free), and looking for a guitar to buy. I'm trying to join her on the sugar free. That one is hard! Wyatt is working on learning to drive. I'm learning to be patient with him, even though he is my easiest one to teach. The people, the van and the garage are all mostly fine, and I probably needed a new bumper anyway. Griff and Eve are working on understanding the world and digital and body dexterity. They started a tumbling class at Dancerz Unlimited and Eve is registered for Princess Ballet starting on Tuesday!
-I had the opportunity to go to the temple with my true love on our Friday night date. Mariah once said the temple seems like the real world and makes everything outside it seem a little fake. I think she is on to something there.
-I got to go to the baptism of Ny'Vea, a sweet 11 year old I've been able to teach really awesome basic truths to in Primary. Her mom (a woman I've seen the name of but had never seen her face before yesterday), bore a sweet testimony that she has known the church is true since she was baptized when she was 9 years old and she promised to try to keep Ny'Vea in the church. And I got a couple of hugs out of the deal too!
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| Sister Shumway and Sister Wimmer--sent by a ward member who is a friend of Emily Brown's mom. |
-I watched Eve and Griffin take off in swimming as they took swim lessons. Eve made the biggest strides--mostly because Griff started ahead of her--and now swims several feet in deep water holding her breath and bicycling her legs as hard as she can. I got to spend the hottest parts of the hottest days this week at the pool.
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| Sorry Mariah, she went through the drawers. At least I didn't take this in to fit her like she asked me to! |
-As usual, I spent a lot of time helping kids. Eliza is lonely because she is all alone in her apartment for a few weeks. Willa is still working on work, headaches, eating super clean (GF, DF and sugar free), and looking for a guitar to buy. I'm trying to join her on the sugar free. That one is hard! Wyatt is working on learning to drive. I'm learning to be patient with him, even though he is my easiest one to teach. The people, the van and the garage are all mostly fine, and I probably needed a new bumper anyway. Griff and Eve are working on understanding the world and digital and body dexterity. They started a tumbling class at Dancerz Unlimited and Eve is registered for Princess Ballet starting on Tuesday!
-I had the opportunity to go to the temple with my true love on our Friday night date. Mariah once said the temple seems like the real world and makes everything outside it seem a little fake. I think she is on to something there.
-I got to go to the baptism of Ny'Vea, a sweet 11 year old I've been able to teach really awesome basic truths to in Primary. Her mom (a woman I've seen the name of but had never seen her face before yesterday), bore a sweet testimony that she has known the church is true since she was baptized when she was 9 years old and she promised to try to keep Ny'Vea in the church. And I got a couple of hugs out of the deal too!
We think Willa is super brave to work at the pool...it shivers our timbers to think of Faith ever doing that here...getting too sunburned!
ReplyDeleteI loved your pictures of you and your sweet Evie. Your comment about one one-year-old child being easy even for long stretches just shows how hard two are.
I also liked your perspective on probably needing a new bumper. You have just the right Polyanna attitude. Mom would be proud.
Tell Wyatt he's not the only person with a mom who gets a little unglued having to sit in the passenger seat.
ReplyDeleteI resonate to the feeling that the temple is real and the rest really may be a little fake. GREAT THOUGHT MARIAH! This is such a great post about opportunities. It's true! What we see as trials are really blessings in desguise, and chores are orrortunities in hiding. Thanks for the reminder!
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