Closer to Christ - Days 31-37

DAY 31

Scripture study: Mosiah 14-15

Mark and ponder: Mosiah 15:19

Scripture thought of the day: 2 Nephi 9:7

Thought of the day: "The atonement of the master is the central part of world history. Without it, the whole purpose for the creation of the earth and our living upon it, would fail." -Marion G. Romney

DAY 32

Scripture study: Mosiah 16-18

Mark and ponder: Mosiah 16:17

Scripture thought of the day: Hosea 13:14

Thought of the day: "Against the medals and monuments of centuries of men's fleeting victories stand the only monument necessary to work the eternal triumphs - an empty garden tomb." -Howard W. Hunter

DAY 33

Scripture study: Mosiah 19-22

Mark and ponder: Mosiah 21:15

Scripture thought of the day: Hosea Proverbs 15:29

Thought of the day: "Though persecutions arise, though reverses come, in prayer we can find reassurance, for God will speak to the soul. That peace, that spirit of serenity, is life's greatest blessing." -Ezra Taft Benson

DAY 34

Scripture study: Mosiah 23-26

Mark and ponder: Mosiah 24:15

Scripture thought of the day: Matthew 11:28

Thought of the day: "This marvelous offer of assistance extended by the son of God himself was not restricted to the Galileans of his day. This call to shoulder his easy yoke and accept his light burden is not limited to bygone generations. It was and is a universal appeal to all people, to all cities and nations, to every man, woman, and child everywhere." -Howard W. Hunter

DAY 35

Scripture study: Mosiah 27-29

Mark and ponder: Mosiah 27:25-26

Scripture thought of the day: Alma 5:14

Thought of the day: "This is a wonderful time to be living here on earth. Our opportunities are limitless. While there are some things wrong in the world today, there are many thing right, such as teachers who teach, ministers who minister, marriages that make it, parents who sacrifice, and friends who help. We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our heart an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues." -Thomas S. Monson

DAY 36

Scripture study: Alma 1-2

Mark and ponder: Alma 1:25

Scripture thought of the day: Joshua 24:15

Thought of the day: "There is, in fact, no such thing as neutrality where the gospel is concerned." -Joseph Smith

DAY 37

Scripture study: Alma 3-4

Mark and ponder: Alma 3:26-27

Scripture thought of the day: Romans 6:16

Thought of the day: "We must put God in the forefront of everything else in our lives . . . When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives." -Ezra Taft Benson

Changes

Finally, the blinds and shutters made it on the slow boat from China. Is there anything that ISN'T made in China? Just as we are happy to block the world out, I'm sure our neighbors are just as happy that we enclosed our little world and won't be sharing so much.

Our Ruebush cousins have broken ground next door and are starting to build their home. It is going to be one long year and I don't envy them one bit. I'm so happy to be on the other side of that project!

We have an accepted offer on our Stansbury house. The buyers didn't have a realtor* and even went above list to get all the concessions they wanted. We're hoping to close in a couple of weeks if all goes smoothly. The first hurdle is the appraisal which comes in tomorrow. Lucky for us this appraiser was the one who got our Lake Point home to appraise where it needed to and he also appraised our Stansbury house when we were buying it. However, we are dealing with FHA rules and the comps might be a little tricky to find. Keeping my fingers crossed.

*Can I just say these people DO NOT know how to write up an offer. They NEEDED a realtor desperately. Tyler finally had to just close the deal over the phone and forego all the paperwork because it just wasn't happenin'.

The consequences if there had been no atonement

Wow. The following really got me thinking especially about "what might NOT have been" if there was no cause for Easter celebrations, no dying on the cross, and certainly no resurrection. How do you thank someone who saves you from those "what might have beens?" You REMEMBER Him. You ALWAYS remember Him. Those words are for another day, another post.

What might have been, even for the "righteous" if there had been no atoning sacrifice, stirs the very depths of human emotion.

First, there would be no resurrection, or as suggested in the explicit language of Jacob: "This flesh must have laid down to rot and to crumble to its mother earth, to rise no more" (2 Nephi 9:7).

Secondly, our spirit would become subject to the devil. He would have "all power over you" and "seal you his" (Alma 34:35). In fact we would become like him, even "angels to a devil" (2 Nephi 9:9).

Third, we would be "shut out from the presence of our God" (2 Nephi 9:9), to remain forever with the father of lies.

Fourth, we would be without hope, for "if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. . . . If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable" (1 Corinthians 15:14).

. . . If there had been no Atonement, the rising of every sun would be a reminder that for us it would one day rise no more, that for each of us death would claim its victory, and the grave would have its sting. Every death would be a tragedy, and every birth but a tragedy in embryo. The culmination of love between husband and wives, fathers and sons, mothers and daughters would perish in the grave, to rise no more. Without the Atonement, futility would replace purpose, hopelessness would be exchanged for hope, and misery would be traded for happiness. If there were no Atonement, Elder Marion G. Romney declared, "The whole purpose for the creation of earth and our living upon it would fail." (Conference Report, Oct. 1953, 34.)

*Taken from Tad R. Callister, The Infinite Atonement, Deseret Book, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2000, 54-57.

Closer to Christ - Days 24-30

DAY 24

Scripture study: Enos, Jarom Omni

Mark and ponder: Omni 1:26

Scripture thought of the day: Mosiah 2:34

Thought of the day: "May I suggest three short tests to avoid being deceived . . . 1. What do the standards works hae to say about it? 2. What do latter-day Presidents of the church have to say on the subject -- particularly the living President? 3. The third and final test is the Holy Ghost. This test can only be fully effective if one's channels of communication with God are clean and virtuous and uncluttered with sin." -Ezra Taft Benson

DAY 25

Scripture study: Words of Mormon, Mosiah 1

Mark and ponder: Mosiah 1:3-7

Scripture thought of the day: Alma 37:9

Thought of the day:"Do not wonder at your sons and daughters going astray and losing the faith, when they do not read the word of God." -George Q. Cannon

DAY 26

Scripture study: Mosiah 2-3

Mark and ponder: Mosiah 3:19

Scripture thought of the day: Mosiah 2:17

Thought of the day: "Those we serve, we love." -Robert L. Backman

DAY 27

Scripture study: Mosiah 4-6

Mark and ponder: Mosiah 4:27

Scripture thought of the day: 1 Corinthians 9:24

Thought of the day: "Who can resist the power possessed by the Latter-day Saints in their faith? And the stronger our faith, the more mighty are the bounds of our strength." -Brigham Young

DAY 28

Scripture study: Mosiah 7-9

Mark and ponder: Mosiah 7:33, 9:13-17

Scripture thought of the day: D&C 21:1

Thought of the day: "If we seek first the kingdom of God, all good things will be added." -Joseph Smith

DAY 29

Scripture study: Mosiah 10-11

Mark and ponder: Mosiah 10:14

Scripture thought of the day: Isaiah 55:8-9

Thought of the day: "The assurance of resurrection gives us the strength and perspective to endure the mortal challenges faced by each of us and by those we love. Because of the resurrection, we know that their mortal deficiencies are only temporary!" -Dallin H. Oaks

DAY 30

Scripture study: Mosiah 19-22

Mark and ponder: Mosiah 21:15

Scripture thought of the day: Proverbs 15:29

Thought of the day: "Though persecutions arise, though reverses come, in prayer we can find reassurance, for God will speak to the soul. That peace, that spirit of serenity, is life's greatest blessing." -Ezra Taft Benson

Easter traditions

Apparently I've made the same pact with the Easter Bunny as my mother did and he has agreed to come a day early. This was a tradition I grew up with and love the idea of making Sunday a more holy day instead of holiday. Also, several, several years ago I took each kid's Easter basket, tied it with a colored yarn different from the others, hid the basket, and wound the string all through the house (sometimes the yard), ending at their bed. When they woke up they had to follow the string to their basket. I did this for a few years, then got burned out. That string took a lot of time.

This year Kiersten requested that I do it again. So I obliged. Tyler wasn't too keen on helping, but once he got into it, he really went all out, going around the outside of the house, out the 2nd story windows, taping it to the ceiling. After the baskets were all carefully hidden and string crisscrossed throughout the house, he admitted it was pretty fun. I want to continue it even if it does require a few hours.

This year I also wanted to focus more on the real Easter. It seems that every year it creeps up on me and I haven't really spend any time preparing. We do the bunny thing on Saturday, go to church on Sunday, and call it good. It seems the whole month of December is spent preparing for Christmas Day, so why not the same for Easter. At least I could devote a week. I decided this year to start on the Sunday before Easter Sunday and hold a little "day in the life of Christ" devotional where we would discuss what happened each day leading up to Easter. I gathered all the gospel art pictures portraying that week and we got the first two days hung up on our timeline. But then it was spring break and we were gone a couple of days and it just didn't happen like I wanted it to. It was a good start and next year I'll do better.

 

Favorite piano piece from our date the other night

I failed to mention that my favorite piece of the night was titled Etude no. 3, "La campanella" by Franz Liszt.

This isn't Josh Wright since we weren't allowed to videotape, but this guy is pretty darn amazing too.

I even went so far as to find the sheet music online and would love to be able to play this piece. But let's be honest, it will probably end up in my stack of "to do someday".

A Friday night date with the mom

I took these three on date.

We picked up pictures from Sears. We shopped at the scout shop and dropped a whole lot of cash (Wowzers! That place is expensive. I'm still keeping my eye out for a tan scout shirt, perhaps at DI, so I can take back the one I bought for Erik.). We rode trax to Gateway and looked around the Planetarium. As we were walking out, Nate smelled french fries. So I treated them to McDonald's fries, and then we headed for Temple Square. Our real date hadn't even started.

When my kids were young, one of my mom goals was to expose my kids to some culture, i.e., music, drama. Josh Wright, a classical pianist, was performing at the Assembly Hall and it was FREE. So I didn't ask; I just told them they were coming with me. Unfortunately the age limit was 8 years and up so Ashlyn couldn't be a part of our little entourage.

Here's what ensued while we waited.

Kiersten told me afterwards how much she enjoyed it.

The boys not so much.

They were all pretty amazed that the Assembly Hall was so old and wasn't about to fall down anytime soon.

All three got a kick out of the sloped benches, the pioneer's idea of stadium seating.

Kiersten thought we should have added stained-glass windows somewhere in our home.

I thought I should have fancied my face up a little with some makeup. After all I was on a date. Oh well. Some days just go that way.

Nate definitely decided that Josh Wright practices way more than 20 minutes a day.

It was a fantastic evening with three of my favorite people.

Our Stansbury house is still for sale

We call it our house in Stansbury and our home in Lake Point. And, yes, I miss my house in Stansbury, even more so the more time I spend over there shipshaping it up for potential walk-throughs and buyers (yes, I know shipshaping is not a word, but I still liked it). I love that I still have a place to really beautify and have even started planting my garden over there. For some reason I just can't get excited about the piles of dirt at our home in Lake Point.

WE NEED TO SELL so I can give my heart and soul to my home in Lake Point.

This past week we had 4 families walk through and 3 offered. Yeah!! HOWEVER . . . 

One had to rescind when they discovered a foreclosure was still on their record. (I hope they didn't waste too much of their realtor's time. Some things should be found out before a realtor is even involved.)

One didn't accept our counteroffer and decided they should probably sell the home they are in now before buying. (That might be smart.)

And the third offer is still there. But again, they have been unable to sell their current home, would like to rent it instead, and are still waiting for the bank to approve them for our Stansbury house and to rent theirs. They don't have an agent which we are loving, but they do not know how to fill out basic real estate forms and are a little (I'd love to say A LOT) clueless about the entire process even though they assured us they've done this before. Are ya sure?

I told the kids tonight that we should pray that the bank accepts the conditions for these potential buyers so we can get this home sold. I want someone to enjoy it as much as we do/did.

Closer to Christ - Days 17 - 23

DAY 17

Scripture study: 2 Nephi 20-24

Mark and ponder: 22:1-2

Scripture thought of the day: Moses 6:57

Thought of the day: "There was no man ever born into this world that could have stood under the weight of the load that was upon the son of God, when he was carrying my sins and yours and making it possible that we might escape from our sins." -Doctrines of Salvation 1:130-131

DAY 18

Scripture study: 2 Nephi 25-27

Mark and ponder: 2 Nephi 25:26

Scripture thought of the day: D&C 6:13

Thought of the day: "It is not enough simply for parents to provide food and shelter for their children's physical well-being. There is an equal responsibility to provide nourishment and direction to the spirit and the mind and the heart." -Gordon B. Hinckley

DAY 19

Scripture study: 2 Nephi 28-30

Mark and ponder: 2 Nephi 28:30

Scripture thought of the day: 2 Nephi 9:28-29

Thought of the day: "There are at least three dangers that threaten the Church within, and the authorities need to awaken to the fact that the people should be warned unceasingly against them. As I these, they are flattery of prominent men in the world, false educational ideas, and sexual impurity. -Joseph Smith

DAY 20

Scripture study: 2 Nephi 31-33

Mark and ponder: 2 Nephi 31:10

Scripture thought of the day: 3 Nephi 11:33

Thought of the day: "Everyone of us needs to stand tall and be strong and faithful and walk in the footsteps of the Master. We need to examine our own lives to see that they radiate the Spirit of the Lord who taught us the great saving principles of the gospel." -Gordon B. Hinckley

DAY 21

Scripture study: Jacob 1-4

Mark and ponder: Jacob 4:11-12

Scripture thought of the day: John 1:3

Thought of the day: "The doctrine of the atonement embrace and is the force to all other gospel doctrines. It is the foundation upon which all truth rests, and all things grow out of it and come because of it. Indeed, the atonement is the gospel." -Bruce R. McConkie

DAY 22

Scripture study: Jacob 5

Mark and ponder: Jacob 5:37

Scripture thought of the day: D&C 39:20-23

Thought of the day: "Amidst the confusion of the times, the conflicts of conscience, and the turmoil of daily living, an abiding faith becomes an anchor to our lives." -Thomas S. Monson

DAY 23

Scripture study: Jacob 6-7

Mark and ponder: Jacob 6:2, 5, 8, 11-12

Scripture thought of the day: 1 Nephi 22:21

Thought of the day: "How happy is that person who has one true friend, and how much more happy are those who can call a large multitude their friends, true unto death, bound together in one everlasting covenant, never to be broken. Such a people is my people and the God of such a people is my God forever . . . and whatever there is in my disposition or habit that does not harmonize with such a glorious people, I pray fervently that it may be altered and put away, until I am one with the faithful Saints . . . who love God and his priesthood." -Orson Spencer

A temple sealing

Yesterday I attended the sealing of a cousin in the Rexburg Temple and was so grateful to be able to go. I LOVE being in the temple. When we arrived there was a lot of chaos and commotion outside as brides and grooms and families were picture taking. But inside it was quiet and serene and such a contrast from what was taking place outside. I was able to sit for about 20 minutes and ponder and think and look in those mirrors that go on f. o. r. e. v. e. r. I reflected on my own sealing and what an amazing day it was (and how I hated having everyone looking at me). But I loved being reminded of those sealing words that bound Tyler and me together literally for eternity. What an amazing promise if we keep our covenants.

I also loved that the sealer performed the sealing first thing so that the couple could relax as he gave them some counsel. Something he said stuck with me. The husband is the presider and his wife is a counselor whom he should counsel with often. And then the Lord is the other counselor. I've always known that by having a temple marriage, you are covenanting with the Lord and allowing him to be a third member of that marriage. But I'd never quite thought of Him as being a counselor like in a bishopric. I liked that analogy.

After we had all given our congrats and hugs, the sealer shut the doors and left that happy couple in the sealing room by themselves for just a few minutes. Oh, how I wished we had been able to do that. I love the idea of having a few minutes alone, together, to reflect on what just occured and perhaps take a second look in those mirrors before tackling the remainder of a crazy day.

And to think that I'll be able to do it all again in a few weeks. I can hardly wait. Bring on the Kleenex. I think I'm going to need a whole box.

Closer to Christ - Days 10 - 16

DAY 10

Scripture study: 1 Nephi 20-22

Mark and ponder: 1 Nephi 22:16-17

Scripture thought of the day: Matthew 11:28-30

Thought of the day: "Our faith in the Lord is the source of spiritual power that will give you and me the assurance that we have nothing to fear from the journey." -Elder M. Russell Ballard

DAY 11

Scripture study: 2 Nephi 1-2

Mark and ponder: 2 Nephi 2:11

Scripture thought of the day: Moroni 10:32-22

Thought of the day: "Our detours and disappointments are the straight and narrow path to Jesus Christ." -Howard W. Hunter

DAY 12

Scripture study: 2 Nephi 3-5

Mark and ponder: 2 Nephi 4:15-16

Scripture thought of the day: Romans 15:4

Thought of the day: "When we read and study the scriptures, benefits and blessings of many kind come to use. This is the most profitable of all study in which we can engage." -Howard W. Hunter

DAY 13

Scripture study: 2 Nephi 6-8

Mark and ponder: 6:13-14

Scripture thought of the day: D&C 133:45

Thought of the day: "Men and woman who turn their lives over to God will find out that he can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends, and pour out peace. Whoever will lose his life to God will find he has eternal life." -Ezra Taft Benson

DAY 14

Scripture study: 2 Nephi 9

Mark and ponder: 2 Nephi 9:18-19

Scripture thought of the day: D&C 135:3

Thought of the day: "Learn to hold loosely all that is not eternal." -A. Maude Royden

DAY 15

Scripture study: 2 Nephi 10-14

Mark and ponder: 2 Nephi 10:23-25

Scripture thought of the day: 2 Nephi 2:27

Thought of the day: "Choice, not chance, determines destiny."

DAY 16

Scripture study: 2 Nephi 15-19

Mark and ponder: 2 Nephi 19:6

Scripture thought of the day: Ether 3:14

Thought of the day: "No other single influence has had so great an impact on this earth as the life of Jesus Christ. We cannot conceive of our lives without his teachings. Without him we would be lost in a mirage of beliefs and worship, born in fear and darkness where the sensual and materialistic hold sway. We are far short of the goal he set for us, but we must never lost sight of it nor must we forget that our climb toward the light, toward perfection, would not be possible except for His teachings, his life, his death, and his resurrection." -Gordon B. Hinckley

Pack 3421 is lookin' mighty fine

Nine months later I finally got Nate's scout shirt looking good. I hated the thoughts of sewing patches and numbers on, and I guess it took me getting called as the Wolf leader to finally get it done because, hey, I've got my own shirt now. (I also found some glue on something or other at Wal-Mart that saved me all the grief of sewing. Smile, smile.) We are both looking fantastic and I'm loving my calling.

A marriage is in the works

My brother Matt is GETTING MARRIED!!! We are all so excited for him. I think he's happy to have finally found the right girl. He is going to make an awesome dad some day because he is an awesome uncle. He is fun. He is patient. He is kind. He is thoughtful. And he's the best roofer we've ever had.

One project completed

I can't believe what a difference having a backsplash makes in our kitchen. It just feels finished and Tyler and I both love it. Our tiler also discovered a snail fossil in one of the tiles located right behind the cooktop. How cool is that!

I also won the Oreo prize for brackets. Yea for Butler! Alex took 2nd although he doesn't look too happy about it and Kiersten came in 3rd. Also I'm not sure why the picture looks yellow. I'm going to have to figure that one out. Maybe it has something to do with our compact fluorescent lights. But it seems that only the nighttime pictures turn out like this. Hmmmm . . .

Thoughts on my reading assignment today

Last night as I was reading 1 Nephi 2:12, the questions that came to me were "Why did Laman and Lemuel murmur and complain? Why do members of the church complain today about hard doctrines or doing their callings? Why do some become inactive or leave the church? It is because "they knew not the dealings of God." When we really understand God and his plan and the WHYs, than the murmuring/complaining ceases. But to understand takes faith, a lot of faith sometimes, especially when we are in the midst of hard things.

General Conference traditions

We always play conference bingo.
Sometimes with sour patch kids, sometimes with skittles, a lot of times with m&ms.

This year was a first . . . carrots?

I had the kids peeling carrots for chicken pot pie (another one of those mothering teaching moments and they all wanted a turn using the peeler). Erik thought he'd use them for his space markers on his card. I'm for anything that will keep them listening and "there".

We didn't watch the first session yesterday because Nate had his first soccer game. He was incredibly fun to watch. Many times as I'm driving by the school during school hours, I catch him playing soccer at recess and will always unroll my window to cheer him on and then watch him get really aggressive for my benefit. One day I asked if that embarrassed him and would he like me to not do that any more. He said no way. I'm glad he still likes me.

This year we pretty much stayed in jammies all day (maybe the snow had something to do with it?) and it also seems one conference tradition that happens without fail is a Sunday nap. That last hour usually gets me and today was no exception. I didn't snooze too long and heard the last 45 minutes, enough to listen to the speaker whose name was C. Scott Grow. We all got a big chuckle out of that one and had to do a little explaining to Ash.

Donuts are another thing we do. I love donuts, but I don't love how unhealthy they are. So I only allow myself that luxury a couple of times year. A few years ago I bought a deep fat fryer (a big boo boo, but only something I use occasionally) and attempted to make homemade donuts. They just didn't turn out great. I came across a very easy recipe that I have been using for several years now.

 

Biscuit Donuts

1 can refrigerated Pillsbury buttermilk biscuits

Take out of package and slightly flatten with hand. Make a hole in the center. Deep fry until golden brown. Dip in powdered sugar, white sugar, or frost with chocolate glaze. If using the chocolate glaze, allow to cool.

Chocolate Glaze:

2 T. plus 2 t. butter, softened

1 c. powdered sugar

1/4 t. vanilla

2 T. plus 2 t. hot water

1/2 c. chocolate chips

sprinkles (optional)

Combine butter and powdered sugar. Add vanilla and hot water. Mix until smooth. Melt chocolate chips in microwave in 30 second intervals. Be careful not to burn the chocolate and add to powdered sugar mixture. Let firm up about 15 minutes.

Closer to Christ - Days 3 - 9

DAY 3
Scripture study: 1 Nephi 8-10

Mark and ponder: 1 Nephi 10:18

Scripture thought of the day: 3 Nephi 27:27

Thought of the day: "A man filled with the Love of God is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race." -Joseph Smith

Day 4

Scripture study: 1 Nephi 11-12

Mark and ponder: 1 Nephi 11:21-22

Scripture thought of the day: Revelation 2:7

Thought of the day: "We are meeting the adversary every day. The challenges of this era will rival any of the past, and these challenges will increase both spiritually and temporally. We must be close to Christ, we must daily take His name upon us, always remember Him, and keep His commandments." -Ezra Taft Benson

Day 5

Scripture study: 1 Nephi 13-14

Mark and ponder: 1 Nephi 13:39

Scripture thought of the day: Ezekiel 27:16-17

Thought of the day:"The Bible, the Book of Mormon, the book of Doctrine and Covenants contain the words of eternal life unto this generation, and they will rise in judgment against those who reject them." -Wilford Woodruff

DAY 6

Scripture study: 1 Nephi 15

Mark and ponder: 1 Nephi 15:34

Scripture thought: D&C 11:12-14

Thought of the day: "Faith is a gift from God; it is the fruitage of righteous living. It does not come to us by our command but is the result of doing the will of our Heavenly Father." -George A. Smith

DAY 7

Scripture study: 1 Nephi 16

Mark and ponder: 1 Nephi 16:2

Scripture thought: Moses 1:39

Thought of the day: "Character is the ability to carry out a decision after the emotion of making the decision is past."

DAY 8

Scripture study: 1 Nephi 17

Mark and ponder: 1 Nephi 17:3

Scripture thought of the day: John 1:23

Thought of the day: "Where one door shuts, another opens. We come to an end and find a beginning. Often we worry about arriving at the end with too little faith in what follows." -Don Quixote

DAY 9

Scripture study: 1 Nephi 18-19

Mark and ponder: 1 Nephi 19:23

Scripture thought of the day: Mosiah 5:13

Thought of the day: "You have not failed until you quit trying." -Gordon B. Hinckley

Sheep and lambs

I heard this poem today during general conference and loved it. I told my kids as we watched that we are going to memorize it. Or at least I am. 

'Twas a sheep not a lamb that strayed away
In the parable Jesus told,
A grown up sheep that had gone astray
From the ninety and nine in the fold.

Out on the hillside, out in the cold, 
'Twas a sheep the Good Shepherd sought
And back to the flock, safe into the fold
'Twas a sheep the Good Shepherd brought.

And why for the sheep should we earnestly long
And as earnestly hope and pray?
Because there is danger if they go wrong
They will lead the lambs astray.

For the lambs will follow the sheep, you know, 
Wherever the sheep may stray
When the sheep go wrong it will not be long
Til the lambs are as wrong as they.

And so with the sheep we earnestly plead
For the sake of the lambs today
If a sheep is lost, what a terrible cost
Some lamb will have to pay.

("The Echo," C. C. Miller, quoted in Hugh B. Brown, The Abundant Life [1965], 166­67)

90 Days Closer to Christ - Day 1 and 2

Oooh, I am so excited for this challenge. In case you haven't figured that out by now I love challenges that get me reading the Book of Mormon. In 2007 I made a goal to read the Book of Mormon every year and so far I've kept it thanks to all the little challenges that come my way.

Our Relief Society started this particular challenge and I accepted to read the ponder the Book of Mormon every day and then I April fooled myself yesterday and totally forgot. I know it will be a huge benefit to me at this particular time in my life. I'll just admit it right here; I have been lousy with my scripture reading since our move. I read snippets here and there mostly while I wait at the bus stop with Ashlyn. But that's not the studying I really desire (did you hear President Oaks talk today?).

DAY 1

Scripture study: 1 Nephi 1-3

Mark and ponder : 1 Nephi 3:7

Scripture thought of the day: D& C 8:2

Thought of the day: "It is the right and privilege of every man, woman, and child who has reached the years of accountablility to enjoy the spirit of revelation, and be possessed of the spirit of inspiration in the discharge of their duties to members of the church." -Joseph Smith

DAY 2

Scripture study: 1 Nephi: 4-7

Mark and ponder : 1 Nephi 4:14

Scripture thought of the day: Hebrew 11:1

Thought of the day: "It isn't the Lord who withholds himself from us. It is we who withhold ourselves from him because of our failure to keep his commandments. -Harold B. Lee

What NOT to do on April Fool's

Are you jokin' me? as Ash would say. I purposely got up earlier this morning knowing I had to be out the door at 9 am to get to Kiersten's field trip she so desperately wanted me to go on. I told her the only condition for me to go was that I had to bring Alex. No prob.

Just before nine I'm gathering up purse, sunglasses, keys, Ash, Ashie's backpack, diaper bag, Alex, binky. No binky, ANYWHERE.  I always leave it in his bed so I know exactly where it is. Well, after seeing Tyler's April Fool's joke of switching the couch and kitchen table,

the kids got in on the action and hid our toothbrushes (and then took off for the bus stop without disclosing where they were), changed my screen saver, and put the toy and animal bin in Alex's crib.

I became frantic, throwing things (because it makes me feel better, not because it's a good thing to do), yelling, grounding my kids, and then left . . . without it, because we had to. And he did all right. I came home and was talking to Tyler in the kitchen when I spied it on a shelf. I didn't put it there and I sure hope it wasn't an intentional April Fool's joke because it didn't make me a very happy momma.

I made it to Kiersten's field trip at the Clark Planetarium and Alex was the star. His sister certainly enjoyed showing him off. She is such a good girl with great friends. I wasn't planning on going, didn't really want to go, but she begged and pleaded and persuaded until I gave in and I'm glad I did. It's her last year, her last field trip, and I'm glad I got a little glimpse into her world today.