Light the World

I am so grateful for Primary teachers who reinforce the things that we, as parents, strive to teach our children at home. 

David's Primary teacher helped the children in her class make a chain at the beginning of December.  Each day they were to take off one link of the chain,  and when all the links were removed, they would know that Christmas Day was finally here.  During that same lesson, she introduced the church's "Light the World" initiative. She told the children  that we had been asked, as a church,  to do something to serve or brighten someone's day, every day of the month of December. 

David got so excited at the idea of serving his family and friends.  He woke up that next morning and announced that he was going to sweep the neighbor's driveway all by himself.  He was adamant that he had to do it alone, and that no one could go with him, even just to be his buddy.  We finally convinced him to let a big sister tag along, and he did his act of service.  When he came home he tore off a link of his chain and said, "Mom, my teacher says I have to do service and then stick this on the wall."  He got some tape and stuck his link of paper chain on my kitchen wall.

Over the next few days, he did a lot of acts of service, and stuck a lot of bits of colored paper to my kitchen wall.  Sometimes I would walk in as he was taping one up and he would tell me, "Mom, I shared my apple with Nathan, " or "Mom, I put Sophia's shoes in the garage."  By the middle of December there were only a few links left on his chain.  He told me, "Mom, there are only a few days left until Christmas.  See, my chain is almost gone."

He was a little confused about the connection between his chain and being asked to serve.  But no matter.  My kitchen wall is a beautiful reminder of a little boy's desire to serve this Christmas season.  I love it, and may leave it up for a while, even after Christmas is over.  

Battle of the Boulders

We live on a street named after very large rocks.  We live in a subdivision named after rocks.  Our yard is full of…you guessed it….rocks!  

When we first built here many many years ago, we worked many many hours to clear away enough of those rocks that we could put in a lawn.  We had three boys back then… ages 6, 4, and 2.  Every evening after my husband came home from work we were all out there helping to pick up the rocks and put them in a wheelbarrow so they could be carted out to the back of the property to be dumped.  

When time came to put in the sprinkler system, we rented a trencher, but realized very quickly that it was not a powerful enough machine for our yard.  It simply bounced off the rocks still buried in the ground.  We ended up renting a small backhoe just to put in those sprinklers.  

The same thing happened when it came time to plant fruit trees.  This time we needed deeper holes, and the rocks we came across were much bigger.  These boulders necessitated a full size back hoe.  I laugh when I think of the enormous holes we had to dig in order to plant our little fruit trees.  We pulled boulder after boulder out of those holes, then finally were able to plant our trees and fill them back up.

Those boulders and rocks were piling up at the back of our property where we dumped them.  Eventually we gave many of them away to friends and neighbors wanting to build rock retaining walls.  But we still had enough big boulders to encircle a fire pit in our back yard.  Those rocks have provided seating for fun evenings of friends and hot dogs and s'mores for many years.

Though we have given away so many rocks there are still plenty of them in the back of our lot for the children to play with.  They move the smaller ones around and build forts and rooms and play all kinds of great imagination games back there. I found a book at the library when my oldest children were small, called, Roxaboxen. (by Alice McLerran)  It tells of some children who made a fantastic place to play and let their imaginations run wild out of a plain old rocky hill.  They called their imaginary land, Roxaboxen.  The boys and I started calling their rocky area of the backyard, Roxaboxen.  They loved to play back there, and the rest of the children to come have all loved it too.

This week David and Sophia, our two youngest, have been enjoying Roxaboxen, and have been creating their own fort out there with rocks and wood and whatever else they can find.  I love watching them have so much fun together out in the fresh air, running and building, and doing all those things that kids are just made to do.  Not too long ago I checked out the book, Roxaboxen, from the library again, so I could refresh my children on why we call their forts that strange name.  Some of them could not even remember why anymore.

And so it seems that for our family, rocks have been a source of lots of fun, but they have also been a means of teaching our children the value of hard work.  Our older children have reminded us many times over the years of how hard they worked to get our yard free of rocks so that we could put in a lawn and a swingset and a trampoline.  Lest they think that the younger children are only reaping the benefits of their valiant efforts….let me tell you about the last month or so.  

Our patio has been feeling its age.  We've had some areas that have sunk, while others have raised, and we've had a small amount of water getting in our basement.  We tore up the patio to repair the problem.  We needed to grade and fill and compact the area and get it ready for new concrete.  Our older boys still at home did plenty of lifting of pieces of concrete to load a dumpster so it could be carried away.  

We were soon to realize that we had not come to the end of our Battle with the Boulders.  We needed to dig out around our well, and dig a trench from the well to the house, in order to run conduit to ensure that we have proper well and water line access once the new patio is poured.  And once again we ran into rocks…small ones at first, but eventually we came to massive boulders, right there within feet of our house. Jerry and the big boys first tried to break them up with a sledgehammer so they could be removed piece by piece.   But this huge heavy tool just bounced right off of them, while the boulders just sat there laughing at them.  Just like we did years ago, we concluded that a great big excavator would be necessary and were finally able to remove the rocks.  (Anyone want any big boulders?….you can have them, but you have to do the transporting….the excavator goes back tomorrow)  The huge ones were moved out of the way with the giant tractor, while the smaller ones had to be loaded into the huge bucket by hand to be hauled away from the work site. 

It has been déjà vu to see my children, boys and girls, working out there, loading rocks, just like their big brothers did so many years ago.  David relishes the work.  He wakes up every morning and asks, "What are we doing for work today?"  The other morning I couldn't even get him to eat his eggs before he was putting on his boots and dashing out the door to load rocks into the tractor bucket.

..sidenote...those rocks in the picture are the really really small ones

Jerry has used this project to teach our children all kinds of new skills, and to work hard and long.  They've glued pvc pipe and conduit, they've driven tractors, they've dug holes, they've put in an underground gas line for a new gas fireplace, they've experienced "mistakes" when we broke a water pipe while digging, they've learned to use tools they'd never used before such as a laser level, and they've moved many many pounds of rocks.  When our project is complete I feel certain that each of them will take great satisfaction is knowing all that they did to contribute to a beautiful backyard.

Here is a poem our family has memorized about the importance of doing things well.

Whether you are working or playing, always put your whole self into what you are doing, and do your very best.

Work while you work

Play while you play

Once things each time

That is the way.

All that you do

Do with your might

Things done by halves

Are not done right.

Small but Priceless Lesson

Have you ever walked out of a store and realized that a small item at the bottom of your cart went unnoticed and did not get paid for?  Yesterday I was shopping with David and Sophia and had this experience.

We were shopping for a bridal shower gift for our newest daughter in law to be.  After finding everything that we needed and checking out we headed to the van.  As we were loading our bags we found one small item…a stainless steel toothbrush holder.  It had slipped underneath David's hoodie which he had taken off and put in the cart sometime during our shopping experience.  We hadn't moved the hoodie at the checkout and had therefore not noticed the small item.

Of course, I immediately realized that I would have to unload the children and head back into the store to pay for it.   I found myself excited at this small real life chance to teach my children about honesty and integrity.  I began to explain to them what had happened and asked them questions about what we should do. They knew exactly what we should do.   I unbuckled them and we headed back into the store to pay for the toothbrush holder.  

I love it when life happens and gives me chances to teach my children.  They learn so much from seeing their parents do the right thing and it is that much better when they get a chance to be part of it themselves.  It was a small thing, not very expensive, but the value of taking the time to do the right thing was a priceless lesson in the lives of my children, and a blessing in my life as well.

In the April 1990 General Conference, Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin said:

"Let us strive for personal, practical integrity in every endeavor, regardless of how mundane or inconsequential it may seem. The small matters accumulate to shape the direction of our lives."

All Together...at Last

A few weeks ago our son Benjamin returned home from his mission to Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Just before leaving for the airport we checked his flight to see if it was still going to be on time.  We were surprised to learn that it was going to be ten minutes early.  We jumped in the car and began our trip to the airport.  As we neared, we got online and checked one more time.  Now the schedule was saying that the flight would be fifteen minutes early.  We arrived at the parking garage to find it very full.  Knowing that we were cutting it close on time, I jumped out of the van with the children and Jerry went off to park.  He would meet us inside.  We hurried down to baggage claim where we would meet him.  It was absolutely filled with people.  We found a spot and stood there waiting, grateful that we hadn't missed his arrival.  Jerry found a parking spot and found us.  Then came our son and his wife, and another son and his fiance.  Everyone was here.

When Benjamin got on the escalator and started his descent he couldn't get there fast enough for me.  Despite the fact that he was carrying a couple of bags, I was wondering why he wasn't walking down as fast as he could.  No wonder the airport security guy had warned us missionary Moms that we were by no means allowed to run up the escalator to greet our missionary sons.  We all laughed when he said that but he told us in all seriousness that it had really happened before. That hug when he finally got there was wonderful.  Hugs went all around the family and David shyly said hello to his brother that he hadn't seen since he was a year old.  Cousins, aunts and uncles, and grandparents all hugged and said hello.

Five years have passed for our family, with having one and sometimes two missionaries in the field.  A baby was born during that five years.  And now we are finally all together at last. What a great feeling.

But the following Sunday as we all sat in church together listening to Benjamin speak was when my emotions really caught up with me.  I felt so much joy as I looked around to see all nine of my children, my husband, my daughter in law, and a very soon to be daughter in law, along with lots of cousins and grandparents, all sitting together in church… all grateful and happy to be there worshiping together.  

3 John 1:4 says,

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

That is so true. Seeing your family striving to keep the commandments and live the teachings of Jesus Christ does bring so much joy.

Lessons from a Robin

While I was gone at Girls Camp, the kids found a dead robin on our front lawn.  We were talking about it and they said that no one had moved it yet.  I asked David not to touch it because dead things are full of germs that can make you sick.  He surely needed this reminder.  Earlier this summer he found a small meadowlark that our cat that killed and left in the playhouse one morning. He came out of the playhouse carrying the bird, and said, "Mommy, this is my new pet bird."  Ughhhh!  I grabbed it from him and disposed of it….then explained.

Anyway, after the germ conversation, Sophia and David and I had a talk about death and what happens when a person or an animal dies.  Sophia already understands so much and she helped David to understand.  She knew that when a person dies the spirit goes back to Heavenly Father. Sophia added, "And to Jesus."   She understood that the spirit is what makes the body move.  She told David, "When you touch the robin with a stick it can't move because its Spirit left."  

She also understands what the resurrection is, even though it is a hard word for her to say.  She told David that we would see the robin again someday..and also our chicken that got eaten by an animal a couple of weeks ago.  

After a pause she then said…"And someday, when all the people are done coming here, Jesus will come back.  And David and me will ride our bikes down the hill to Jesus and we will say, "Come to our house!  Come to our house!"  

What simple faith and testimony.  Gospel truths are so simple that even three and five year old children can understand them.  

In a blog post from March 16, 2016, there was a statement from the Primary General Presidency (Sister Rosemary M. Wixom, Sister Cheryl A. Esplin, and Sister Mary R. Durham) that reads:

"Children are drawn to the plain and simple truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ and are far more capable of comprehending them than we think.

When we teach children plain and simple truths in a way that they can understand, we not only build a foundation for their testimony, but those very truths influence their behavior."

Become as a Little Child

When I was at BYU I took a class that required us to spend a certain amount of time observing at the BYU preschool on campus.  There was a long window with a counter and stools for college students to sit at and watch the goings on in the classroom.  The four year olds on the other side were oblivious.  If I remember correctly, the window we were looking out of looked like a mirror to them.

Each time we observed we were to choose a child and spend the entire time watching that child as he or she played, participated in group activities and had free time with the other children.  It was fascinating to me to watch and realize how much I could learn about how young children think and why they act the way they do just by observing them. 

My home has become my observatory for many years now and I still find myself fascinated as I watch my children on a regular basis.  I am always awestruck at how brilliant they are for their small size and at how much they understand at such young ages.

Recently, David, despite repeated warnings, broke a favorite pen of mine.  I had asked him not to play with it as it was a decorative pen that could be broken easily. He ignored my request and snapped the decorative plastic pieces off of it through his rough handling.  I took the broken pieces away from him and told him that I was sad that he had broken my pen. 

He hung his head and went totally quiet.  I asked him if he needed a hug.  He said nothing, but nodded his head.  He was quiet for a long time while we snuggled.  Eventually, he slid off my lap and ran off to play.

An hour later, while I was working in the kitchen he walked in and climbed up on one of the tall stools.  He asked me for a snack and while I was cutting up an apple he said, out of the blue, "I'm so sorry I broke your pen, Mommy." 
 
He was so sweet and so sincere.  I had already forgotten the incident and moved on, but when he ran off to play, he had obviously not stopped thinking about what had happened.  He realized that he had done wrong and he wanted to do what he could to make it right.  And then with the humble nature of a child, he came to ask for forgiveness.  Sometimes I think my children understand repentance better than I do. 

Our stake girls camp this summer chose as its theme, Become as a Little Child.  When I had this experience with David I thought of that theme and how inspired the leaders were to choose such an important principle to focus on for camp.

Our Savior, during his ministry here on the earth taught us to emulate the qualities of little children. 
 
And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them.
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:3-5

When I "grow up" I want to be just like David, and Sophia and many other children that I know.  The scriptures admonish us to become as little children, not necessarily "childish," but "childlike."

…Submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.

 Mosiah 3:19

But I'm Not Thirsty

This past week I found a unique teaching moment during Sacrament Meeting.  Sophia had found a sippee cup of water in the diaper bag early in the meeting and had been quenching her thirst with its contents.  I had her put it away as the sacrament started.  When the water was passed as part of the sacrament she whispered to me, "I don't need any.  I already had a drink and I'm not thirsty." 

 

I quietly whispered that she should still drink the water.  She did and the tray was passed down our row.  I then quietly talked to her about the sacrament, about what it represented, and helped her understand that the water was more than a "drink" after the bread.  Emily whispered a few words of wisdom to her as well. 

 

I love little chances like this to teach my children gospel truth.  I have learned that you can't put them off, thinking you might remember to talk to the child at a later time.  There is no better time than right then and there.

 

In an April 1991 General Conference address entitled, Teach the Children, Elder M. Russell Ballard quoted an anonymous author:

 

I saw tomorrow passing on little children’s feet
And on their forms and faces her prophecies complete.
And then I saw tomorrow look at me through little children’s eyes.
And I thought how carefully I must teach if I am wise!

 

He then said,

 

"My dear brothers and sisters, if we are concerned about our tomorrows, we will teach our children wisely and carefully, for in them lie our tomorrows."