This
little group of Kindergarteners love to ride their bikes to school and
one day something just struck me when I was following them in the
car....and that was that life is good, kids grow up and they are so cute
in their independence riding all the way to school. Jaquelle, Torin,
and Ty.
The
colors in this picture are so vibrant! I wonder why?? Maybe it was a
filter on my camera. ANYWAYS, the day before Seth's baptism Cordelle's
dad cam and set up this awesome basketball hoop he welded together and
this shed that Cameron's neighbor was getting ride of. We are so
excited for both the hoop and the shed!! And so grateful for Grandpa
Morris for making it for us! He can build or create anything!
AWESOME!! We are so blessed. All of our big projects have involved
Cordelle's parents in one way or another and we couldn't be more
grateful for their work in making our home/yard so complete.
....now for the cement....:)
Seth's first lego completion by himself! (a gift from aunt Tallie)
I
included this picture (and am frustrated I didn't get more pictures of
all the other cute decorations when they were up) because I was asked to
speak at an enrichment activity called "For Relief and Rescue." It was
a really cool experience I had in preparing the talk, presenting it,
and then having a conference talk a few weeks later totally affirm to me
everything I had studied and learned for that talk. I decided to
include it here in super small print.
We’re
going to do fun little exercise. I want you to imagine if you will,
that you are a boat or a ship. Perhaps you can identify with one of
these.
Maybe you see yourself as a SPEED BOAT- you live a fast pace life but enjoy it. When rough waters come up you are reminded to slow down a little and appreciate your limitations. Overall though, you enjoy getting as much done as you possibly can in a day and being efficient with your time.
Maybe you see yourself as a FISHING BOAT- you take pride in working hard providing food/necessities of life for others. Your less concerned with speed or show, and like to utilize what the world around you can offer. You see the rewards of patient, hard work and bless many around you because of it.
Maybe you see yourself as a SAILBOAT- You are free spirited and glide through life where ever it takes you.You are powerful and fast, but you know to give credit to the source that keeps up your sail. You understand your dependency on God to move you along and when the conditions aren’t just right, despite feeling stuck or alone, you are patient and endure through prayer to be filled with the wind that will carry you on.
Maybe you see youself as a RAFT- You are adventurous and outgoing. You take white water challenges in stride and take pride in overcoming each obstacle. You work best as a team, are optimistic and appreciate the work it takes to stay safe within the guidelines God has given you. You are well aquainted with both the joys of calm waters and the hardships of rapids. But you have faith that the water keeps moving and enduring is key.
Maybe you see yourself as a ROWBOAT- You are grateful for the body and gifts Heavenly Father has blessed you with because it is through your own strengths that you are propelled forward. You are neither fast nor powerful in the world’s sense, but are humble and useful. Through your own hard work you can get things done and yet you easily can stop, sit, and be still to enjoy and appreciate the scenery of life that surrounds you.
Maybe you see yourself as a CRUISE LINER - No..this is not a fat joke. But rather, you have been blessed with the luxuries of life, but with that come great responsibility to care for and give back to others. You love people and bless many with joy by sharing your blessings, talents, and yourself with others.
Maybe you see yourself as a NEW BOAT - ready to test out the waters and take on the world. Maybe you see yourself as an OLD BOAT - a little bit rusty, and perhaps with some holes that need patching. But you still float well and have gained a great understanding of ocean life with years of experience and have much to offer about steering a correct course in life out at sea.
Through my very limited google research I discovered there are almost just as many types of boats out there as there are people. But despite their differences, they all have one thing in common.....Any boat can sink.
Small boats, large boats, old boats, new boats, engines may fail, storms may arise and yes there are guidelines and safety precautions that keep them safe, but when the unexpected come up...every boat knows they can make a call for help. As most of us know that call goes out to the greatest maritime relief effort known as the Coast Guard.
If the coast guard is the means to seeking out those in need of relief or to rescue, imagine with me if you will who might we envision as the Captain? (Jesus Christ). Now what i find fascinating, is although the captain surely hears the radio call for help, he usually does not go out Himself, but rather sends out teams to do the rescuing. Sound familiar? These teams go out both by sea and by air. But unlike these trained professionals, “our Captain” of “our relief effort” ask us, commands us, or sometimes pleads with us to join his crew and help in HIS relief effort despite or limitations, anxieties or fears. He only asks for a willing and knowingly imperfect crew.
“The Savior taught His disciples and he teaches us, ‘For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.’
As we talk about this theme of LIFE SAVERS tonight I want you to remember this teaching form our Savior. WHO really is being saved, when we look outside ourselves and seek not just to serve but to really LOVE those around us.
So lets jump back into our boat analogy. We have the call to dock our own ships, forget about our own holes or engine problems, or how your occupant capacity is at its max and you feel like taking a few precious passengers and tossing them overboard sometimes. Whatever it may be, he asks us to dock our ships and join his crew...Maybe, sometimes you get excited to go out and serve but you don’t know where to start or what to do. Sometimes I wonder if the Holy Ghost is over there raising his hand, saying “Oh, I know! Pick me, pick me! How about two divinely appointed, very specific visiting teachers you’ve been assigned? Now of course we sometimes have these little battles with the Holy Ghost where we say things like, “shhh Holy Ghost, I already did my visiting teaching this month.” But I wonder if we prayed about the sisters we visit like we’ve been asked to do, if we’d find ourselves over in their homes more often than just once a month.
Now, I know its hard, and if we were taking one on one you could probably tell me all the excuses why you haven’t gone for so long or why you can’t go now...but could you imagine how ludicrous it would be to be sent out on a search and rescue boat only to return back to the captain of the Coast Guard with an excuse like,
1- You know what? They were kind of an older boat and I just don’t think we would have much in common...so I decided not to actually approach the boat.” OR
2- I know you said that they radioed in for help but I have tried to catch up with that boat before and they are just so busy fishing, I know they wouldn’t have time to be saved right now....OR
3- “I drove the search and rescue boat over there but they totally seemed fine, no one was sinking, the boat was still floating, so I threw some brownies on the deck of the boat and left with a life preserver that said, “If you need something call me”...I don’t think they need any help, you might want to check that CB radio again.”
NO!! These excuses are ridiculous! The truth of the matter is, we don’t receive the distress calls. . Most often they they get filtered down to us from “The Captain” through leaders or impressions, but WE have to have faith that we are doing our best to answer a distress call by being LOVING, CONSISTENT and GENUINE in our visiting teaching, even when it seems like everyone is fine and no one is in need of rescue.
President Monson said,
“I am confident it is the intention of each member of the Church to serve and to help those in need. … How often have you intended to be the one to help? And yet how often has day-to-day living interfered and you’ve left it for others to help, feeling that ‘oh, surely someone will take care of that need.’” -pres. monson
I wonder how different things would be if instead of being visiting teachers with good intentions we were visiting teachers of great action...
President Monson continues by encouraging us to trust in the Lord as we serve. “Occasionally discouragement may darken our pathway; frustration may be a constant companion. In our ears there may sound the sophistry of Satan as he whispers, ‘you cannot save the world; your small efforts are meaningless. You haven’t time to be concerned for others.’
“Trusting in the Lord, let us turn our heads from such falsehoods and make certain our feet are firmly planted in the path of service and our hearts and souls dedicated to follow the example of the Lord. In moments when the light of resolution dims and when the heart grows faint, we can take comfort from His promise: ‘Be not weary in well-doing. … Out of small things procedeth that which is great’
Or how I interpret that.... don’t give up when your doing all the right things, but be patient because the miracles come from being consistent, loving and genuine.
I feel it important to repeat the statement that, We don’t get that distress call. But Our Captain does, we only can trust that once we get our little bodies over there and have the faith to act, then will The Holy Ghost whisper something that might help relieve or calm the struggles of the sisters we visit. You know, maybe she really is doing fine and all she needs is a pat her on the back with someone to say, “I’m glad life is going good.” But what I find is so powerful and fascinating about this program is Our captain is so all knowing and merciful that sometimes he sends us out when the skies are clear, to show that sister they are loved even BEFORE the storm comes up, before they even need that call for help. Because then when the storm does come, they know they will have the support system they need and the love and friendship around them to receive relief. They will need and know that there will be people there to help in their rescue.
Now I know there are some of you out there that feel like you are sinking...and perhaps the idea to get out and join the coast guard when your own boat is filling up with water is almost impossible......can i once again offer you the advice taught by our Savior, ‘For whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.’ Lose yourself in something else or someone else...and don’t stop communicating with the captain...relief will come.
We dont always ask the other boats around us especially when we have a deep personal leak we are afraid will sink us, but what I love about prayer and the kindness of our Heavenly Father is through Christ those prayers are radioed back to those people in the rafts (those willing but imperfect search and rescue teams)
“With so much need for relief and rescue in the lives of sisters and their families today, our Heavenly Father needs us to follow a higher path and demonstrate our discipleship by sincerely caring for His children." In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Maybe you see yourself as a SPEED BOAT- you live a fast pace life but enjoy it. When rough waters come up you are reminded to slow down a little and appreciate your limitations. Overall though, you enjoy getting as much done as you possibly can in a day and being efficient with your time.
Maybe you see yourself as a FISHING BOAT- you take pride in working hard providing food/necessities of life for others. Your less concerned with speed or show, and like to utilize what the world around you can offer. You see the rewards of patient, hard work and bless many around you because of it.
Maybe you see yourself as a SAILBOAT- You are free spirited and glide through life where ever it takes you.You are powerful and fast, but you know to give credit to the source that keeps up your sail. You understand your dependency on God to move you along and when the conditions aren’t just right, despite feeling stuck or alone, you are patient and endure through prayer to be filled with the wind that will carry you on.
Maybe you see youself as a RAFT- You are adventurous and outgoing. You take white water challenges in stride and take pride in overcoming each obstacle. You work best as a team, are optimistic and appreciate the work it takes to stay safe within the guidelines God has given you. You are well aquainted with both the joys of calm waters and the hardships of rapids. But you have faith that the water keeps moving and enduring is key.
Maybe you see yourself as a ROWBOAT- You are grateful for the body and gifts Heavenly Father has blessed you with because it is through your own strengths that you are propelled forward. You are neither fast nor powerful in the world’s sense, but are humble and useful. Through your own hard work you can get things done and yet you easily can stop, sit, and be still to enjoy and appreciate the scenery of life that surrounds you.
Maybe you see yourself as a CRUISE LINER - No..this is not a fat joke. But rather, you have been blessed with the luxuries of life, but with that come great responsibility to care for and give back to others. You love people and bless many with joy by sharing your blessings, talents, and yourself with others.
Maybe you see yourself as a NEW BOAT - ready to test out the waters and take on the world. Maybe you see yourself as an OLD BOAT - a little bit rusty, and perhaps with some holes that need patching. But you still float well and have gained a great understanding of ocean life with years of experience and have much to offer about steering a correct course in life out at sea.
Through my very limited google research I discovered there are almost just as many types of boats out there as there are people. But despite their differences, they all have one thing in common.....Any boat can sink.
Small boats, large boats, old boats, new boats, engines may fail, storms may arise and yes there are guidelines and safety precautions that keep them safe, but when the unexpected come up...every boat knows they can make a call for help. As most of us know that call goes out to the greatest maritime relief effort known as the Coast Guard.
If the coast guard is the means to seeking out those in need of relief or to rescue, imagine with me if you will who might we envision as the Captain? (Jesus Christ). Now what i find fascinating, is although the captain surely hears the radio call for help, he usually does not go out Himself, but rather sends out teams to do the rescuing. Sound familiar? These teams go out both by sea and by air. But unlike these trained professionals, “our Captain” of “our relief effort” ask us, commands us, or sometimes pleads with us to join his crew and help in HIS relief effort despite or limitations, anxieties or fears. He only asks for a willing and knowingly imperfect crew.
“The Savior taught His disciples and he teaches us, ‘For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.’
As we talk about this theme of LIFE SAVERS tonight I want you to remember this teaching form our Savior. WHO really is being saved, when we look outside ourselves and seek not just to serve but to really LOVE those around us.
So lets jump back into our boat analogy. We have the call to dock our own ships, forget about our own holes or engine problems, or how your occupant capacity is at its max and you feel like taking a few precious passengers and tossing them overboard sometimes. Whatever it may be, he asks us to dock our ships and join his crew...Maybe, sometimes you get excited to go out and serve but you don’t know where to start or what to do. Sometimes I wonder if the Holy Ghost is over there raising his hand, saying “Oh, I know! Pick me, pick me! How about two divinely appointed, very specific visiting teachers you’ve been assigned? Now of course we sometimes have these little battles with the Holy Ghost where we say things like, “shhh Holy Ghost, I already did my visiting teaching this month.” But I wonder if we prayed about the sisters we visit like we’ve been asked to do, if we’d find ourselves over in their homes more often than just once a month.
Now, I know its hard, and if we were taking one on one you could probably tell me all the excuses why you haven’t gone for so long or why you can’t go now...but could you imagine how ludicrous it would be to be sent out on a search and rescue boat only to return back to the captain of the Coast Guard with an excuse like,
1- You know what? They were kind of an older boat and I just don’t think we would have much in common...so I decided not to actually approach the boat.” OR
2- I know you said that they radioed in for help but I have tried to catch up with that boat before and they are just so busy fishing, I know they wouldn’t have time to be saved right now....OR
3- “I drove the search and rescue boat over there but they totally seemed fine, no one was sinking, the boat was still floating, so I threw some brownies on the deck of the boat and left with a life preserver that said, “If you need something call me”...I don’t think they need any help, you might want to check that CB radio again.”
NO!! These excuses are ridiculous! The truth of the matter is, we don’t receive the distress calls. . Most often they they get filtered down to us from “The Captain” through leaders or impressions, but WE have to have faith that we are doing our best to answer a distress call by being LOVING, CONSISTENT and GENUINE in our visiting teaching, even when it seems like everyone is fine and no one is in need of rescue.
President Monson said,
“I am confident it is the intention of each member of the Church to serve and to help those in need. … How often have you intended to be the one to help? And yet how often has day-to-day living interfered and you’ve left it for others to help, feeling that ‘oh, surely someone will take care of that need.’” -pres. monson
I wonder how different things would be if instead of being visiting teachers with good intentions we were visiting teachers of great action...
President Monson continues by encouraging us to trust in the Lord as we serve. “Occasionally discouragement may darken our pathway; frustration may be a constant companion. In our ears there may sound the sophistry of Satan as he whispers, ‘you cannot save the world; your small efforts are meaningless. You haven’t time to be concerned for others.’
“Trusting in the Lord, let us turn our heads from such falsehoods and make certain our feet are firmly planted in the path of service and our hearts and souls dedicated to follow the example of the Lord. In moments when the light of resolution dims and when the heart grows faint, we can take comfort from His promise: ‘Be not weary in well-doing. … Out of small things procedeth that which is great’
Or how I interpret that.... don’t give up when your doing all the right things, but be patient because the miracles come from being consistent, loving and genuine.
I feel it important to repeat the statement that, We don’t get that distress call. But Our Captain does, we only can trust that once we get our little bodies over there and have the faith to act, then will The Holy Ghost whisper something that might help relieve or calm the struggles of the sisters we visit. You know, maybe she really is doing fine and all she needs is a pat her on the back with someone to say, “I’m glad life is going good.” But what I find is so powerful and fascinating about this program is Our captain is so all knowing and merciful that sometimes he sends us out when the skies are clear, to show that sister they are loved even BEFORE the storm comes up, before they even need that call for help. Because then when the storm does come, they know they will have the support system they need and the love and friendship around them to receive relief. They will need and know that there will be people there to help in their rescue.
Now I know there are some of you out there that feel like you are sinking...and perhaps the idea to get out and join the coast guard when your own boat is filling up with water is almost impossible......can i once again offer you the advice taught by our Savior, ‘For whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.’ Lose yourself in something else or someone else...and don’t stop communicating with the captain...relief will come.
We dont always ask the other boats around us especially when we have a deep personal leak we are afraid will sink us, but what I love about prayer and the kindness of our Heavenly Father is through Christ those prayers are radioed back to those people in the rafts (those willing but imperfect search and rescue teams)
“With so much need for relief and rescue in the lives of sisters and their families today, our Heavenly Father needs us to follow a higher path and demonstrate our discipleship by sincerely caring for His children." In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Funny pictures after bath time with Collin.
One
day Seth was flexing and being all ninja like (an 8 year old thing??)
Anyways, Collin thought it was great and started doing his own. It was
so hillarious to me the different positions his arms would go in to do
his "ninja moves." Oh boys!
HOW CUTE IS HE??? Collin LOVES sunglasses!!
Here are some more ninja poses. So funny.
These raspberries are from our own yard!! It has always been a dream of mine to have raspberries and I couldn't have been happier with the ones we had this year! The Fall raspberries were huge! We DEVOURED them.
Sometimes you just have to stop and take a picture of nature because its incredible.
