April 2022, Week 3

*Today in church we celebrated Easter!  We had some sweet talks and a beautiful musical number.  (A sister sang "Gethsemane."  Usually the children sing that, so it was a nice new way to hear this song.)  I am eternally grateful for my Savior.  I loved reading this week of the prophecies of his birth and life and death in the Old Testament, and then the fulfillment of them in the Net Testament.  I find so much peace and joy through His Atonement.  "God be thanked for the matchless gift of His beloved Son." (From "The Living Christ.")

*Ben and I substituted in a Primary class today.  Some of these students were in my preschool classes years ago, and now they're reading scriptures and making thoughtful comments.  I love seeing them grow.  It was so nice to share thoughts about Jesus Christ with them.

It was a delight! 

April 2022, Week 2

*Today at church we had Fast and Testimony meeting because of General Conference last week.  One of my former preschoolers is now a Deacon (😲), and he shared how he got bit by a friend's dog, and he was screaming on the way to the ER, and his mom said a prayer for him.  He was able to stop screaming and be peaceful all through getting stitches.  He testified that the Comforter will be with us when we ask.

*Before church I had been watching a YouTube lesson about the Come, Follow Me assignment for last week.  We read about the Passover, and they pointed out how many times the people of Israel were commanded to remember being saved by the blood of the Lamb.  He asked us to think about how today it hasn't changed-- we are still asked to remember, with bread and water, how we have been saved by the blood of the Lamb, but weekly instead of yearly.  They add suggested that we ask ourselves during the sacrament, "How has the Lord saved me this week?"  I am grateful for the reminder. I tried it, and I thought if the peace He brought me while Ben was out of town this week, and we had tornado threats and crazy schedules and early morning Seminary...  The peace came through our prayers, and it was real, and so needed.

It was a delight! 

April 2022, Week 1

 *Today is General Conference Sunday!!!  We heard some mighty messages this weekend.  Some themes I heard repeated were: missionary work is an essential part of gathering Israel, stay on the covenant path, King Benjamin's sermon has a lot to learn from, and the little things matter a lot.  Seventeen temples were announced, bringing the total up to 100 that President Nelson has announced since being the President of the Church.  (Last time they announced a temple in Cape Town and in Belgium!)  The work is moving forward.  We are not just invited to participate but essential to the progress.

*Today for conference my children did an amazing job for most of the sessions.  I knew we'd get here someday!  We have been reading about the ten plagues in Egypt, so to have some fun with that, I got candies to represent the plagues to snack on during Conference.  (For future reference: red Jell-o for the river of blood, gummy frogs for frogs, chocolate covered peanuts for flies, Snowdrops for lice, burnt peanuts for boils, chocolate animal crackers for diseased livestock, marshmallows and Hot Tamales for hail and fire, green Mike n Ikes for locusts, black licorice for darkness, and Sour Patch Kids for firstborn sons, plus Cheetos for some savory rods of Moses.) 

*Today is also the first day of not having any children in single digits, as it is Benson's 10th birthday!  Hooray!  We love this boy.