June 2022, Week 4

*Today at church, a sweet new older sister gave a talk.  She reminded us that this week is the anniversary of the deaths of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, and was asked to share teachings from Joseph that were personally meaningful to her.  She had found a couple quotes from different funerals at which he had spoken regarding the eternal nature of families, which really brought her a lot of peace because her mother had died when she was four weeks old, and her husband had died several years ago, and she has great hopes for joyous reunions with them.  It made me think about what I might have chosen as meaningful to me in the teachings of Joseph Smith.  I love the "new" bicentennial proclamation on the Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Besides the big one of restoring the Church of Jesus Christ in these latter days, some things I think I'm most grateful for from the messages of Joseph Smith include:

-the Lord hears and answers the prayers of youth,

-covenants are essential to make and keep in this life for our eternal progression, and

-the Book of Mormon testifies of Jesus Christ and of his love for all people--and for me.

*I got to play the piano in primary again.  Love One Another, Follow the Prophet, When He Comes Again, Book of Mormon Stories, I Am a Child of God, Gethsemane--all these songs are on repeat in my mind, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

It was a delight!

June 2022, Week 3

*Today in church we celebrated Father's Day, but my sweet Ben wasn't there!  It was just me and Benson, since Scott and Emma were at the YSA ward and Ben was with our other three girls on their way to Scout Camp.  How many other dads would be willing to spend a week camping with seven teenage girls (after having spent three days at Girls Camp two weeks ago)?  Not only that, but also voluntarily serve as their Scout Master for the rest of the year?  And as the Den Leader for Benson's Webelos den of seven squirley 10 year old boys?  I missed being with him today, but really, he is nailing this being-a-dad thing, and I don't think he'd like it to be any other way.

*I substituted for the Primary pianist, and the kids sang "I'm So Glad when Daddy Comes Home" during Sacrament Meeting.  Benson asked if he had to sing, since his dad wasn't there to hear it.  I said if he didn't,  he'd have to sit alone.  I guess that was a worse choice, since he decided to sing after all.

*Our Primary chorister is our old bishop, Brother Jones.  He's pretty amazing.  He uses the same game almost every Sunday for almost every song ("Guess what this song is in ___ notes!"), but I've never heard the kids complain, and they sing loud and love him.  Today he shared that his own dad has returned to heaven, and that it's okay to be sad about things like that on Father's Day, but we're glad we will get to see our loved ones again.  A sister whose husband passed away about a year ago was teary, but he was so sensitive and sweet that I think it brought her some peace.

It was a delight!

June 2022, Week 2

*Today, Ben and I went to church at Scott's YSA ward in Orem.  It's his last Sunday before returning to Texas with us, and he played the organ and did a special musical number on the piano ("How Great Thou Art").  Then Ben and I left and watched a broadcast of our Texas ward's Sacrament Meeting, since Gracie had been asked to speak about Girls Camp, which they had just returned home from the day before.  She spoke about reaching out to girls she didn't know well, and about how the rain soaked her scriptures and journal, but now even though they're wrinkled, they still have all the important things in them.  Emma was at her own YSA ward, too.  This was our first trip away from our kids while leaving them on their own.  Ben and I are incredibly proud of these kids, and how they want to do not just good things, but the right things.  I'm grateful for the examples being set by my older children for the younger ones.  We are richly blessed.

It was a delight!

June 2022, Week 1

*Today at church we had Fast and Testimony Meeting.  I go to church with some amazing people, who are passing through this life and their trials with grace and hope.  I'm blessed to know them.

It was a delight!