December 2022, Week 1

*Today at church I appreciated being able to fast, to partake of the sacrament, to listen to the testimonies that were born, to be able to substitute on the organ without major mishaps, and to be with my sweet Primary kids.  It is good to be part of a gathering of saints who are my friends and who inspire me. 

*Today's funny Sunbeam moment: my co-teacher drew a stick figure of Habakkuk on the chalkboard.  She asked if they knew who Habakkuk was.  They said no, but that he needed a face, so she added one.  Another girl said he needed a cook hat.  I didn't know what she was talking about, until I thought of how she heard his name: Haba"cook".  ☺ The Lord taught Habakkuk to have patience.  I hope he does with us, too!

It was a delight!

November 2022, Week 4

*Today at church my sweet husband was one of the speakers, and though he had to cut it shorter than he planned, he gave a beautiful testimony of how our Savior's Atonement can bring peace in hard times.  He shared about how when we were selling our home in Plano and the inspector found a lot of foundation issues that we had to pay to fix, and we had to use the money we were planning on using for our down payment on the new home we were building.  He said he had a lot of anxiety about this, because we were not sure how to come up with the money and we were going to be homeless.  He shared how he went to pray to find guidance, and he was directed to move forward.  He found a lot of peace in that, so we did, and at the closing of our first home, we were given a check from the equity we had accrued from a second mortgage that we had paid off and forgot about and didn't realize would provide any money.  It turned out to be the exact amount that we needed for our new home's down payment.  I'm grateful that he shared that.  I don't remember it as vividly as he does.  I had morning sickness from pregnancy and was trying to pack and figure out how to live in a hotel for five weeks before our new home was complete while caring for our four children and arranging to get the repairs made.  I left all the financial details to Ben, and I don't think I realized at the time what miracles were happening all around us.

*Today I shared the story of Jonah with my Sunbeams.  This is a well-known story, and the kids knew a lot of details already.  Jonah was complicated, but he did eventually do what he was asked to do.  I hope that I can, too, although hopefully with a better attitude.

It was a delight!

November 2022, Week 3

*Today before church my family and I were able to meet with our Bishop and talk with him about our tithing.  Then, after church, I was able to meet with a member of the Bishopric and then with a Stake Presidency member to renew my temple recommend.  I am grateful for opportunities to "bear my testimony" through answering questions in these situations.  I am blessed to be a believer.  I do question things, but it is easy for me to fall back on my beliefs, and on the circumstances that have led me to those beliefs.

*Speaking of being grateful, today at church I accompanied the choir on a rousing Thanksgiving song, based on the "simple gifts" tune.  I'm thankful my fingers cooperated.  I'm thankful to be able to be part of this group making beautiful music.

*We had awesome speakers today.  One of them is a sister I served with on the Stake Counsel, while she was the Stake Young Women's President and I was the Stake Primary President.  She moved with her daughter's family into our ward two years ago (?), just after a diagnosis of stage 4 lung cancer, which does not have a cure, but there are treatments, which work until they don't and then they try something new.  She was divorced when her three children were young and had to learn to be a working mom.  Her ex-husband committed suicide a year ago.  She said that she did not want to tell us all of these things because she wanted us to feel sorry for her, but to let us know how she has been able to find joy and gratitude in the middle of all of these really big trials.  One of the things she has found a lot of joy in is being a stay-at-home grandma, which she would not have been doing without her cancer diagnosis.  She gets to read to them and bathe them and love on them, and she delights in it.  She has also learned how the Lord speaks to her and guides her, and how to follow His promptings.  I admire her a lot.

It was a delight!

November 2022, Week 2

*Today before church I was getting ready to substitute on the organ, and the chorister was visibly having a bad day, but she smiled and said she at least made it.  Then her husband carried her very upset son, who did NOT want to be at church, to sit next to her.  I was so impressed at how even though she was upset herself, she responded to her son with great patience and helped him through his tantrum.  She got up and lead the music, even though she couldn't sing herself for a good portion of the time, and just displayed such grace.  She probably didn't feel that was what she was doing, but that's what I saw.

*Today after church Ben and I took Caytie to get her Patriarchal Blessing.  This is probably the thing that I enjoy doing with my children the very most.  I know how much I love and desire for my children, but this is a time to see that from Heavenly Father's perspective.  Caytie has such a bright future to look forward to.

It was a delight!

November 2022. Week 1

*Today at church the Bishop asked us to have one prayer a day leading up to Thanksgiving be a thankful prayer--only giving thanks and no asking for anything.  I think that's something I need to do.

*Today I was conducting the music for Sacrament Meeting.  (I haven't done that in a long time.  I had a bit of difficulty seeing the words in the hymnbook while it was on the music stand.  My eyes are aging faster than I am.)  For the closing song, we sang "Lord, I Would Follow Thee" and I was looking out at the congregation of my friends, and as I sang "Who am I to judge another as I walk imperfectly?  In the quiet heart is hidden sorrows that the eye can't see," I thought of the sorrows that I knew about and those that I didn't, and I felt the need to repent for any unfair judgements I have made.  I would hope that others would grant me the same.

It was a...good day for reflection!

October 2022, Week 5

*Today at church we had the pleasure of hearing our daughter Caytie (15) give a talk about testimonies.  She not only taught about the topic, she also shared her own testimony and how she's been able to share it at school.  I'm grateful when I see my children pick up the tools that we've been handing them and start using them for themselves.

*Today we also heard from a friend who gives some of my favorite talks, lessons, and testimonies.  She is gifted in her delivery, even when she doesn't think so.  She shared her own journey in coming to learn and live the gospel, despite lack of support from home.  She said she's grateful now when her own children have questions and have courage to ask them.  She said she thinks of a class where no one asks questions or discusses anything, and how boring that can be.  We learn through the questions and discussions.

*A sweet kid who just started the Home MTC gave a talk and could hardly get through it due to his emotions.  It was clear, though, that he's grateful for the Book of Mormon and for being able to serve.

It was a delight!

October 2022, Week 4

*Today at church a youth got up to speak without any notes.  He is on the high school football team, with a super cool and casual manner, and I thought, "Hmm--looks like someone forgot to prepare a talk."  I was so wrong!  He gave a beautiful talk about a General Conference talk and it was memorized!  He even quoted from the talk, and related it to being a youth.  I was unfairly judgmental.  I told his mom after how much I enjoyed his talk, and she said she didn't even know he was speaking until he asked when he should go sit on the stand.

*A sweet baby was blessed today.  It makes me think of my babies getting their blessings, and now I get to see them being fulfilled.  Life is long.  Life is short.  I'm grateful for experiencing it all.

*I played the piano for a choir number.  Thankfully it went well.  I'm not fully comfortable in this role as substitute choir pianist, but the Lord is helping me, and I do have plenty of time to practice.  My eyes are questionable sometimes--I have to wear my glasses on days when they're tired.

*Funny note with my Sunbeams: my co-teacher is from the Philippines, and I love her.  She does have a bit of an accent, which usually isn't a problem. She was telling the kids that "Jeremiah had appeared..." (I don't remember the rest of it).  A cutie said, "My dad has a beard!"  Took me a minute to figure out why she said that. ☺ 

It was a delight!