Random Things to Remember

 Gabby does not like to color.  Well, that's not quite accurate.  She does not like to be given coloring homework.  She does not really like to color in coloring books.  She is more than happy to be given blank paper and be able to draw her own picture, but she hates being told to color things a certain way.  She DOES love to paint.  Loves it.  She also loves to play with play-dough.  A couple of weeks ago, she spent at least an hour on a Friday night playing with play-dough and making "dinner" for me.

 Gabby loves to make silly faces.  I am not sure what it is about taking photos, but all 3 of my kids tend to pose for the camera, make faces, and ham it up.   Also, recently Gabby has started calling me "Mama".   My other girls call me Mom or Mommy.  Gabby used to.  But now she calls me "Mama".  Do you like this, Mama?  I'm good at that, right, Mama.  Did you see me, Mama?  It is so sweet in her voice.

Michelle is growing up far too quickly for my liking.  However, it has been such a big help to have a child that is so responsible and that I can trust to be in charge of her sisters while I run short errands or visit sisters in the neighborhood.  She has made a new friend.  She asks nearly every Thursday and/or Friday if she can play with Peyton.  One evening a couple of weeks ago, we were able to have Peyton come spend about 3 or 3 1/2 hours at our house.  She is quiet and shy but she and Michelle have a great time together.

I am not sure why I snapped the following photos, but they sure are cute girls.  I am rather fond of them.  And as I said, they are hams.

I forgot to mention on my post about conference that Michelle was able to attend the Saturday morning session of conference.  My dad, her grandpa, got two tickets to conference and invited her to attend with him.  She was so excited.  She really enjoyed going.  This was the second time she has been able to attend conference in the conference center.

Michelle has this white board in her room. All 3 girls love to write on it.  They love to play school and put problems on it.  They make seating charts for their imaginary students.  They write each other notes on it.  Sometimes they write me notes.  (Some are naughty, some are nice.  One child likes to write angry notes when she gets into trouble.)  A couple of days ago, I walked into Michelle's room and saw that she had written notes about how great chores are.  (Lest you be deceived, this was written to convince her sisters to do their chores and not because she actually loves chores that much.  Still I thought it was cute.   Maybe I'll have to show her the picture next time she groans about doing chores.)

 We have a small tree house in our backyard.  Alfredo built it a few years ago.  But the wood floor was starting to rot, so Alfredo has torn most of it apart and is rebuilding it.  The girls have enjoyed helping him...holding wood in place as he screws it in, dragging wood to him, helping him measure, etc.  Michelle is our daredevil child, so she also has enjoyed using the wood as a balance beam.  It will be a few weeks until it is done, but I am sure it will be great.  The girls are very excited about it.

We are on spring break this week.  It has been lovely.  I have been lazy.  I had a list of things to get done, and I have not done most of them.  But I have played with my kids, taken them on a couple of outings, taken a couple of naps, read and relaxed.  I went to the temple with a couple of ladies in my ward.  I have enjoyed the beautiful spring weather.  We met Alfredo for lunch one day.  Today, Ella has been sick.  I think she slept for nearly four hours of the day.  I was able to lay down with her and snuggle under blankets for awhile.  It has not been as productive as it should have been, but it has been relaxing and fun.  I have had a chance to really reflect on my Savior and contemplate his Atonement.  It has been exactly what we needed to recharge and prepare for the last two months of school.  Oh, how very thankful I am for this family I have been blessed with!

Conference Reflections

I am a little slow.  I posted thoughts about Saturday sessions of Conference on Saturday...and then I never posted thoughts about the Sunday.  So here I am to post a few reflections.

First, we hung pictures of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve on the wall.  I bought sticky notes so that at the end of each talk, each of us could write a favorite quote or a summary of the talk...what stood out to us.  I found some cute sticky notes that looked like thought bubbles, and for the most part it kept my children and our two neighbor children (who joined us for Saturday's sessions) quite engaged.  Especially in conjunction with completing the conference packets they were given by the Primary Presidency and listening for key words that allowed them to jump up and get a treat (some healthy, most not so healthy).  There was only one problem.  The cute thought bubble sticky notes weren't so sticky.   They mostly fell off on the ground.  I guess, in a way, that provided an extra challenge, because after each session of conference, we would pick up the notes littering the ground and try to restick them to the correct person.

See what  I mean:

 But all in all, it was still pretty successful.  And I felt so inspired and thankful to hear the counsel given.  My favorite talks were probably President Uchtdorf's and Elder Andersen and Elder Bednar's.  However, Elder Perry's talk probably best answered the personal question I went to conference with.  And  I don't know that I listened very carefully to Elder Christofferson's talk during conference.  But I reread it on Sunday as I prepared Family Home Evening for this week.  He bore powerful testimony of the Savior's Atonement.  It was beautiful.  So was Elder Amado's testimony of the Savior.

One thing that stuck out to me was that I finished conference with a list of ideas for activities and lessons to do in Family Home Evening to better teach my children the messages from conference.  I have ideas for 10 different lessons based on the talks given in conference.

Another thing that stuck out to me is that we must decide now to stand faithful.  Challenging times are coming.  Challenging times are here.  But if we stay on the Lord's side of the line, He will not abandon us or leave us comfortless.  It reminds me of Elisha in 2 Kings 6:16, "And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them."

I was really touched by Elder Michael John Teh's talk about our priorities.  He asked us whether we are chasing things of a temporal or spiritual nature.  He spoke about our priorities, desires and appetites.  It is far too easy for me to get caught up in the world and thinking about and worrying about things of a temporal nature.  I want to be sure that my true treasure is things of the spirit.

Perhaps the talk that most affected me was President Uchtdorf's talk.  His language was so beautiful.  It seemed that nearly every line was quotable.  Here are a few of the lines that stood out to me:

"But those who set aside the bottle of bitterness and lift instead the goblet of gratitude can find a purifying drink of healing, peace, and understanding."

"Commandments are opportunities to exercise our agency and to receive blessings. Our loving Heavenly Father knows that choosing to develop a spirit of gratitude will bring us true joy and great happiness."

"Could I suggest that we see gratitude as a disposition, a way of life that stands independent of our current situation? In other words, I’m suggesting that instead of being thankful for things, we focus on being thankful in our circumstances—whatever they may be."

"This type of gratitude transcends whatever is happening around us. It surpasses disappointment, discouragement, and despair. It blooms just as beautifully in the icy landscape of winter as it does in the pleasant warmth of summer."

And one final quote:
"There seems to be something inside of us that resists endings.  Why is this? Because we are made of the stuff of eternity. .. Endings are not our destiny.
The more we learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ, the more we realize that endings here in mortality are not endings at all. They are merely interruptions—temporary pauses that one day will seem small compared to the eternal joy awaiting the faithful.  How grateful I am to my Heavenly Father that in His plan there are no true endings, only everlasting beginnings."

Bishop Stevenson's talk about our Four Minutes on Earth really touched me as well.  

So much inspiration, guidance, wisdom and most of all LOVE.  I know that God loves me.  I know that he is aware of me.  I am so thankful that He knew what I needed to hear...that He answered the questions I had AND he answered questions that I didn't even know I had.  I am so thankful!

Family History Journal: Favorite and Least Favorite Subjects

Questions 15 and 16 from 52 Questions, 52 Weeks:   What were your favorite subjects in school?  Why?   What were your least favorite subjects in school?  Why?

My favorite subject was reading as a child.  I learned to read when I was about three and I loved to read as a child.   I read a lot.  As I got older, I came to really like history and anthropology.  I love to read historical fiction and to learn about other groups of people and their cultures.   A couple of my favorite classes in college were anthropology classes.  I took enough classes to have a minor in anthropology...but I somehow never officially declared that as a minor and didn't have to have a minor so I graduated without an official minor...

I always did well in math.  Until Calculus.  I took AP Calculus as a senior in high school.  I didn't really get it.  I must have kind of gotten it because I got a 3 on the AP test...a passing score although not a high score.  But it didn't make a ton of sense to me.  I think most of my life, I was taught formulas and algorithms to solve math and I had a good memory and so I could apply the algorithm and get an accurate answer.  But I didn't really understand why it worked or what I was doing.   That is why I actually really prefer the way we teach math now.  I know some people think it is confusing or requires too many steps, but because we spend more time on WHY something works and show students several algorithms or several ways to get answers, I think they have a better chance of really understanding math.   And I think it allows them to be more flexible and to find strategies that work for them, and to find strategies that work for mental math without a calculator.   Because really...who wants to use the traditional algorithm to do long division or a big subtraction problem in their brain.? Not me.

As far as subjects I didn't like.  I genuinely loved school.  I liked most of my teachers.  I was a good student.  But I never did like science.  It actually kind of terrified me.  In elementary school, most of my science was taught by reading textbooks.  That changed in 5th and 6th grade when I had a very hands on teacher.   Although I think she favored social studies over science.   In junior high we suddenly had to do a few labs.   That honestly terrified me.  I don't remember having a bad experience.   But in junior high, high school, and even a bit in college, I dreaded labs and always hoped for a good partner that would do most of the work.  I felt terrified of doing the lab wrong or getting the wrong result.  I never felt like I understood science.  Ironically, I got A's in every science class...except perhaps an A- in one in college (can't remember for certain).  Perhaps even more ironically, I love teaching science now.   I try to read a lot of interesting and engaging nonfiction to my children and my students.  I try to do a lot of hands on activities.  I think science is one of the most exciting subjects to teach (partly because we do NOT have a textbook that I have to follow.   I do have to teach the science CORE but I can determine what books, activities and experiments will best help me do that.)

As an adult, I still love to read.  I still love history.  I would really like to get my masters in math teaching...because I think it is interesting and because I think I am a good math teacher but maybe not  a great one.  My good friend Brenda and I were going to start a math endorsement together this year.   It would get me about 2/3 of the way towards my master's degree.  But The Lord had other plans for me.  When I was called as RS president, I knew there was no way I could do both.  So it will wait.  And that's okay.  Some day I will get my master's degree but it may be another decade.   Or maybe I won't.  Maybe there will continue to be other more important ways to spend my time.

Because of Him

This is a beautiful video reminding us why we celebrate Easter and how our lives are changed by Him.
Because of Him

I am so thankful for my Savior.

Because of Him, I can feel peace and joy even during trials and hard times.

Because of Him, I can learn to love and serve others and develop true charity.

Because of Him, I can repent and change and become better day by day.

Because of Him, I WILL be resurrected.

Because of Him, I WILL see my beloved uncle, grandparents, and others who have passed away again.

Because of Him, families can be forever. I can live with my family eternally and be saved.

Because of Him, I can learn to be a better missionary, gospel teacher, and Relief Society President.

Because of Him, I am a better mother and wife and neighbor and friend.

Because of Him, there is hope. Always there is hope.

Because of Him, all things are possible.

There is hope

Always there is hope. Though there are storms raging, both literally and figuratively. Though persecution and criticism will come as we follow Christ, there is hope. Peace. Joy. As we follow our Savior.

Sometimes I begin to worry about the future. About my children and the choices they will make. About the wickedness of the world around me. About family and friends whose faith is faltering. About the directions public education is heading. About ward members who face difficult challenges. About whether I can and will remain faithful, and whether those I love most will as well. But conference fills my soul and reminds me that despite the whirlwinds, there IS hope. Our leaders, who are so very aware of our challenges, concerns, and needs and who know the difficulties the future will hold, are optimistic and happy. They teach us to be grateful, hold onto our faith, and defend our beliefs. Storms WILL come, and challenges will abound. Wickedness will increase, but so will faith and goodness. Tonight, as I was searching out scriptures quoting gratitude, I stumbled upon these verses that brought me great comfort..."We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down but not destroyed... For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 17-18)

So I will try to set down my bottle of bitterness and lift the gauntlet of gratitude. I will strive to recognize that as winds strengthen trees, so too, challenges strengthen us. That the loads we carry create necessary spiritual traction. I look forward to studying more closely the talks by President Uchtdorf, Elder Andersen and Elder Bednar's to better see the connections between them. It is a glorious thing to be a member of this church which is led by prophets and apostles.

Foods from childhood: Family History Journal

24: What are two or three foods that your mom or dad cooked when you were a child that always make you smile to remember them?

My mom worked full time and was on a very limited budget. I am sure she cooked dinner often, but I don't have many strong memories of meals she prepared. Cooking is not something she particularly enjoys. The one thing we all really loved was a stir fry dish with kielbasa sausage. I remember that we kids all thought there were too many vegetables and not enough kielbasa, but we loved the flavor of the sausage and the stir fry as a whole.

My paternal grandma was quite a good cook, and as she cared for us after school while my parents worked, we often ate at her house. One of the meals she made often that I loved was a homemade macaroni and cheese with tomatoes. I didn't LOVE the tomatoes, but I loved the macaroni and the crispy cheese. It was so good. I wish I had asked her for the recipe before she died. I have tried a couple of recipes off the Internet but they just aren't quite the same.

The third recipe I loved that my grandma made was called Skoussen enchiladas. They were a cheesy, mild green enchilada casserole but instead of using tortillas and rolling the chicken up in tortillas, they were made with crushed tortilla chips and the ingredients were layered. Tortilla chips, then chicken, cheese, and green enchilada sauce that I think had cream of mushroom soup and green chiles and sour cream. Then repeat the layers and top with cheese. Bake and enjoy!

I loved being at my grandparents' home as a child. I feel blessed to have grown up so close to my grandma and grandpa. Thinking of these dishes reminds me of many happy memories with them, my sisters, my parents, and often aunts, uncles and cousins gathered together.

Top ten quotes

Is it irreverent to post a top ten list of favorite quotes from conference? I hope not...

I absolutely love conference. I love the spirit I feel. I love having my faith and testimony strengthened. I love feeling my Savior's love for me. I love hearing what my children learn. Perhaps my favorite thing is that each session seems tailor made for me...and that the things that stand out to me aren't necessarily the same as what stand out to others. That while we can be listening to the same words, our hearts and spirits can take in individual messages about things we need to know and DO to draw nearer to our Savior, to teach our families, to magnify our callings, etc. Today has been wonderful.

And now for my top ten favorite quotes of the day (in the order they spoke):
1. Elder Holland: "Defend your beliefs with courtesy and compassion, but defend them."
(I should note that I have made every effort to make sure I have quoted them correctly, however, the transcripts of conference are not yet up so if I have made small errors, I apologize in advance.)
2. Linda Reeves: "Remember how merciful The Lord is. The Savior has power to cleanse and heal you."
3. Linda Reeves: "Youth, take responsibility for your own spiritual well being. Turn off your phone if necessary. Sing a Primary song. Pray for help. Think of a scripture. Walk out of a movie. Picture the Savior. Take the sacrament worthily. Study For The Strength of Youth. Be an example to your friends. Confide in a parent. Go see your Bishop. Ask for help." (I know she was speaking directly to the youth, but this is great counsel for all of us and great ideas for me to teach my children so they know how to better invite the spirit into their lives. This will be the focus of a FHE soon.)
4. Elder Andersen: "More concerning than the prophesied earthquakes and wars are the spiritual whirlwinds that can uproot you from your spiritual foundations and land your spirit in places you never imagined possible, sometimes without your hardly noticing that you have been moved. The worst whirlwinds are the temptations of the adversary."
5. Elder Andersen: "Everyone, independent of his or her decisions and beliefs, deserves our kindness and consideration....In the gospel of Jesus Christ, there is no place for ridicule, bullying or bigotry."
6.Elder Russell M. Nelson, "Even if everyone is doing it, wrong is never right." (I also love the explanation that religion means to tie back to God. Who are we tied to?)
7. Elder Scott: (this one is probably not word for word accurate, but this was the message): "Encourage others to ponder, pray and seek for answers for themselves and teach them how to do so." He also said, "Children of Heavenly Father can do amazing things when they feel trusted."
8. Elder Hales: "Obedience makes us progressively stronger."
9. Elder Craig Zwick: oh wow, I loved his talk!! I need to read and reread this one..maybe weekly. He said, "The Holy Ghost pierces our hearts with compassion and empathy for others." I also loved when he said that as humans we are almost universally proficient at the language of anger but we need to develop the language of compassion.
10. Elder Quentin L. Cook: (paraphrased): We need to be connected to our roots and branches.