Last Sunday, in Sunday School, we read in Acts 26:26-28 where King Agrippa (after Paul has testified to him) says, "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." The Sunday School teacher then read a great quote, that I'm 99% sure she said was from President Harold B. Lee. I've tried to find it and actually found a similar quote given by President Faust back in 1979. Essentially, in both, they caution us to not be like King Agrippa and be "almost a Christian." Do Here are President Faust's words:
"Almost. What a heartbreaking sound is the word “almost”! Almost some of our good members keep the Word of Wisdom, or just about go to priesthood meeting and sacrament meeting, or almost hold family home evening. Some of us almost but not quite—pay our tithing.
Since the time of the Savior there have been those who believed, but for social pressures have been fearful of standing up and being counted as believers." (in Canadian Area Conference, 1979).
The quote our Sunday school teacher read asked, Do we almost ponder the scriptures or almost do our visiting teaching or almost go to the temple regularly? This has really caused me to reflect over the past week. I do have a testimony of Christ. I do consider myself a Christian. Yet, I know that sometimes, it is easy for me to get busy and put off doing things that are important but not pressing. I am sometimes guilty of these sins of omission as Elder Maxwell often referred to them. I'm usually not doing things that are bad, but I am not always doing the things that are best.
I went to a fireside about a month ago where Alex Boye' spoke. He is an amazing and talented singer. The spirit was strong and it was an amazing meeting. Anyway, he said, "We can only become like that which we know about and think about." In other words, if I want to be like the prophets or like Christ, I need to faithfully study the scriptures, think about their words, and come to know my Savior personally. In John 17:3 it says, "And this is life eternal, that they (ME!) might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." I want eternal life!
Sunday, October 28, 2007
more fall fun
So, my sister, Suzy has been here visiting this weekend. Hurray! The girls have been vying for her attention and so happy to have her here. Me too! It's been fun to talk and play our favorite card game, Split, and visit with each other. Sadly, she leaves to return to Phoenix tomorrow afternoon. We'll miss her.
Saturday morning, I took Michelle, Ella and our neighbor Kodi to the zoo for "Boo at the Zoo". Every year, they have a Saturday where kids get to dress up and trick or treat at the zoo. (Businesses from Salt Lake hand out candy at tables set up around the zoo, and get free publicity for doing so). My girls woke up way too early, and there were so many people there this year. It was crowded last year, but I think it was worse this year. But I noticed that it got a little better at the end, just before we went home. Note to self: If we are crazy enough to go again next year, go in the early afternoon instead of the morning. Ella was tired and a little cranky for about half of the time. Michelle and Kodi liked it though.
Friday night, Michelle and Ella and I went to the Red Butte Garden for their Halloween lights and activities. This, I thought, was well worth it. The gardens are beautiful and have been decorated with lights. They had a magic show that had Michelle in stitches. She thought the magician was so funny (and he was... I was laughing too.) They had a station where you colored elf masks, another area to paint pumpkins, another to make glow in the dark wands, and another to make music with gourds, drums, etc. They had storytelling and a haunted forest. Then if you stop at all the booths along the way you get a prize (a pretty decent one too.) I will definitely do this again. Michelle, especially, enjoyed the activities. It seemed to be fun for the whole family. I didn't dress my kids up (didn't know to) but most people did. Yet another chance for the kids to wear their costumes! Seriously, my kids are getting some wear out of their costumes this year.
(FYI: Top 2 pictures are at Red Butte; the third picture is a slightly unhappy Ella as a giraffe and Kodi dressed as Violet from the Incredibles at Boo at the Zoo.)
Friday, October 26, 2007
Fall Fun
We are having so much fun while I am on my break! There are so many fun things to do right before Halloween. On Monday night, we all went to Gardner Village. They have a little petting zoo and the girls got to ride a pony and pet all the animals. Then we had dinner at Archibald's. Finally, we walked around Gardner Village and saw the Halloween decorations and went on a horse-drawn carriage ride with a witch. We got to be part of a rat chorus. The girls had a lot of fun.
Yesterday, Michelle had preschool. They got to wear their Halloween costumes to school. Michelle is Snow White this year. Michelle picked out the costume. As I was helping her get ready yesterday, I realized that she actually really looks like Snow White with her short, dark hair. During the last 15 minutes, the students came out and sang to the parents. Then they had a little trunk or treat.
Monday, October 22, 2007
great deals
I love to find bargains. The girls and I went to Sears today. I was looking at their clothes in the clearance racks and found a bunch of shirts and shorts for $2.50 and $2.99. So I bought them for the girls for next summer. Well, when I checked out, everything was 50% off of the clearance price! So I got like $12 items for $38 (and that included two regular priced items that were a total of $20 for just those two.) Two of the items were only $.59! Can't beat that. I figure I"m heading to another Sears tomorrow and see if they have great deals like that too!
Sunday, October 21, 2007
no more school
I'm on break, Hurray! Hurrah! It is our fall break and I am off for the next two weeks. I am thrilled. I have all types of plans for the girls and I. So many fun things to do with Halloween next week. And time to catch up on some scrapping and get a little rest. And the really great things is that there are only like 22 days of work between now and Christmas break! (The bad news is that means that I have a lot to teach my students in the next 22 work days.)
So I think we've told most people, but we are sending in an application in the next couple of weeks for Michelle to attend a charter school. I feel just a teensy weensy bit weird since I'm a public school teacher and a public school defender. I'm honestly not doing it to keep her out of public school. But this year a charter school opened up around the corner from the school where I work. It is a dual immersion school. So in every class, half of the students are native Spanish speakers and half are native English speakers. For half the day, they have a Spanish speaking teacher and half the day they have an English speaking teacher. Dual immersion programs are considered to be the best way to educate kids to be bilingual and biliterate. Currently, my district has one dual immersion school (the only one in the state of Utah until this year with the new charter school). So our plan was to send our kids to that school. But while it is in my district, it isn't that close to my school and would be tricky getting my kids to and from there. But this school is literally two blocks from my school, so it would be perfect. Alfredo has always spoken to the girls in Spanish. But we want them to be able to read and write in Spanish, not just speak it. So this would be perfect. Charter schools do not charge tuition. Unlike private schools, they are overseen by the state board of education. Two of the teachers at the charter school are teachers I've worked with previously and respect. It seems ideal. The charter school has a lottery system, so there's no guarantee that Michelle will get in. But I'm hoping that by applying early, it will increase the likelihood.
So I think we've told most people, but we are sending in an application in the next couple of weeks for Michelle to attend a charter school. I feel just a teensy weensy bit weird since I'm a public school teacher and a public school defender. I'm honestly not doing it to keep her out of public school. But this year a charter school opened up around the corner from the school where I work. It is a dual immersion school. So in every class, half of the students are native Spanish speakers and half are native English speakers. For half the day, they have a Spanish speaking teacher and half the day they have an English speaking teacher. Dual immersion programs are considered to be the best way to educate kids to be bilingual and biliterate. Currently, my district has one dual immersion school (the only one in the state of Utah until this year with the new charter school). So our plan was to send our kids to that school. But while it is in my district, it isn't that close to my school and would be tricky getting my kids to and from there. But this school is literally two blocks from my school, so it would be perfect. Alfredo has always spoken to the girls in Spanish. But we want them to be able to read and write in Spanish, not just speak it. So this would be perfect. Charter schools do not charge tuition. Unlike private schools, they are overseen by the state board of education. Two of the teachers at the charter school are teachers I've worked with previously and respect. It seems ideal. The charter school has a lottery system, so there's no guarantee that Michelle will get in. But I'm hoping that by applying early, it will increase the likelihood.
photos of Alfredo's surprise party
This is Alfredo's friend, Ross, from work and his family, Alyshia, Amy and Phoebe. We've all become good friends. Several other friends/family came to the party (Janene and Chris; Dan and Heather; pictured below, as well as Phil and Elaine and Conrad and Shannon). My girls loved the cake as you can see from the pictures. Michelle got a kick out of her blue mouth and tongue.
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