Don't worry I didn't do this to Ethan...

New calling

At church I have a new calling.....I think it's been a month now, but I am Mia Maid Advisor, which is the 14-15 year old girls at church. I have taught only one lesson so far b/c of different combined meetings and Mother's Day.

I am teaching again on Sunday.  The lesson is

The Purpose of Covenants and Ordinances..

I really like this handout that was  Shared by Megan Curtis on Sugardoodle.net. 

I started reading a talk called,"The Power of Covenants," By Todd D. Christofferson that I believe I will use in the lesson. I am trying to figure out how to make this lesson more 14 and 15 year old appropriate?  Also trying to figure out any real life stories/examples to share.  I really liked this story in the beginning of the talk....

On August 15, 2007, Peru suffered a massive earthquake that all but destroyed the coastal cities of Pisco and Chincha. Like many other Church leaders and members, Wenceslao Conde, the president of the Balconcito Branch of the Church in Chincha, immediately set about helping others whose homes were damaged.

Four days after the earthquake, Elder Marcus B. Nash of the Seventy was in Chincha helping to coordinate the Church’s relief efforts there and met President Conde. As they talked about the destruction that had occurred and what was being done to help the victims, President Conde’s wife, Pamela, approached carrying one of her small children. Elder Nash asked Sister Conde how her children were. With a smile, she replied that through the goodness of God they were all safe and well. He asked about the Condes’ home.

“It’s gone,” she said simply.

“What about your belongings?” he inquired.

“Everything was buried in the rubble of our home,” Sister Conde replied.

“And yet,” Elder Nash noted, “you are smiling as we talk.”

“Yes,” she said, “I have prayed and I am at peace. We have all we need. We have each other, we have our children, we are sealed in the temple, we have this marvelous Church, and we have the Lord. We can build again with the Lord’s help.”

This tender demonstration of faith and spiritual strength is repeated in the lives of Saints across the world in many different settings. It is a simple illustration of a profound power that is much needed in our day and that will become increasingly crucial in days ahead. We need strong Christians who can persevere against hardship, who can sustain hope through tragedy, who can lift others by their example and their compassion, and who can consistently overcome temptations.....

....What is the source of such moral and spiritual power, and how do we obtain it? The source is God. Our access to that power is through our covenants with Him. A covenant is an agreement between God and man, an accord whose terms are set by God (see Bible Dictionary, “Covenant,” 651). In these divine agreements, God binds Himself to sustain, sanctify, and exalt us in return for our commitment to serve Him and keep His commandments.

Library

Getting out of the house is done a lot less now that we have 3 children.  I have always been a go somewhere at least once a day kind of mom.  I don't like being "stuck" at the house.  We would go to the park, library, store, walks, etc.

Now it is just easier to stay home play inside or outside in the back yard or go on a little walk/bike ride near the house! That way, when the kids (usually the baby) get antsy, grumpy, screamy, etc....we are at home or close to home :)

We are still spending a lot of time outdoors to get their energy out, but the one thing that has fallen by the wayside is the library.  I would go weekly with the kids before, sometimes two times a week.  Now, every couple to every 3 weeks is how it's been going.  And I think we've made it to story time twice since the baby was born 4 1/2 months ago.

But, we still get books/cds/dvds from the library to keep up with the reading/entertainment at the house!

We went the other day and I try to let the kids choose most of the books, of course steering them towards age appropriate ones and now for Breanna, books that she can practice reading.

Ethan saw the row of new books when we walked in the children's section, raced over and grabbed a book.

"Mom, mom, let's get this shooter one!" he excitedly requested.

I looked at the cover, which had a military man (army) on the front holding a gun and dressed in fatigues.  I thought, hmmm, probably not "age appropriate."

Then.....I read the cover, "The Take Down of Osama Bin Laden."

After that, I convinced him to go find 2 new books in the football section :) Fun times :)

familia

I love these guys :)

For all you mommas out there :)