The snowflakes I made and then saved from this fun website (you may recall I blogged about it several months back). I actually made six different ones to use.
Note: I woke up in the wee morning hours after posting this with the thought that it would be so cute to do it as a mobile! Love it when I have new ways to make scripture study fun and creative for my kids to enjoy.
Conversation with my girls in the car yesterday:
Especially when there is all this laundry is piling up in the house? {this is only about half of it, too!}
The publisher Horizon/Cedar Fort sent me a box of 10 of my books and 1 of the CD version of it too! And it is so beautiful I can hardly stand it. Two weeks to go before it is in stores, but it is already advertised/for sale on the Cedar Fort website. Or you can buy it for 30% off at this website instead.
My boss, Ted Apostol, is really great! 
"I have learned that there are many benefits to memorizing. For me, personally, it deepens my understanding of the passage and fixes it in my heart. As you go over and over a passage in your mind, you think about it again and again. The richness of the words, the way they are put together, the possible symbolisms, the clever use of literary devices, and new meanings that you may never have noticed or understood before—all become apparent in the process of memorizing. Memorizing can put words in our hearts as well as in our minds. Learning by heart—which may be somewhat of a dying tradition—means to learn something so deeply that it becomes part of our core: it fills us; it changes us…
"Learning by heart is a rich phrase. Think about the word heart. We all know that our hearts are central to life. Physically the heart is the life-sustaining organ of our bodies. Likewise, heart is used to describe the essential, most vital part of our spiritual being—one’s innermost character, feelings, or inclinations. In a gospel sense the heart is our spiritual core. Hence the scriptures teach that “as [a man] thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7; emphasis added) and that “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21; emphasis added). The gospel must be “written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart” (2 Corinthians 3:3; emphasis added). Over and over in the scriptures prophets remind us, as Alma told his son, to “let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever” (Alma 37:36; emphasis added). Learning by heart in its richest sense is a gospel duty. It is a twin commandment to remembering. We are to learn spiritual truth by heart and then retain in remembrance what we have placed deep in our hearts."
Do you want to play along? Here are five easy (i.e., short) scriptures that are worth memorizing:
Aren't these popsicle molds cute? My kids love the ones we have, but they aren't this cute. I was given a popsicle recipe at Weight Watchers last week and have already made it twice (it's that good). I like to buy healthier-alternative popsicles, especially fruity kinds, but they are getting way expensive. And double bonus for me is that I often have bananas that need to be used quickly and making banana bread in the summer in Arizona just has NO appeal to me (350 degree oven + 115 degree weather = small fortune in air conditioning). So without further adieu, here is the recipe:
Today my Sweetie Peach and I were playing Hang Man. Now, Sweetie Peach is just learning to read and spell, so this was somewhat of a challenge for me. Her first word was elufint (meaning elephant). I lost the game on this one. I had EL_ _ _ NT. I guessed "P" wondering if she was misspelling elephant... but I did not take the idea far enough. She is so cute!
Patch, Kitty, and Sweetie Peach pretend to be pioneers in a covered wagon (2006).
Last Wednesday I was calling around town to try and find a copy of Agatha Christie's Curtain, which I needed to read for my book club meeting this upcoming week. I had had some e-mails from other club attendees who were also looking for the book, but had been unable to find a copy. I was able to locate one copy at a Barnes and Noble, but would have had to drive over 12 miles across town to get it. I decided to keep on calling and tried some used bookstores here in town. Finally (after a number of unsuccessful tries), a downtown Mesa bookstore confirmed they had a used copy. And as this was only 6 miles away, so I loaded the kids in the car and went to go pick it up. This would save me time, gas money, and the used copy was only $3, versus the $10 version at Barnes and Noble. I was feeling pretty blessed {anytime I can save both time and money I count it miraculous}. But it got even better. When I got to the store, the clerk showed me there was a bit of page stains (nothing serious whatsoever), and said he would let me have it for $1! When I went to pay with my debit card {do I ever have cash on me? No!} he said I could take it for FREE and pay an extra dollar the next time I came in. Well, it turned out I had enough dimes, nickels and pennies in my coin purse to pay the dollar. But still, I found it miraculous to meet such an honest and trusting man. And I have decided I will shop there more often.
I read the following article on another blog a few days ago and LOVED it! Just had to include it again here... it is worth the repeat. It was written in 1959. Please note the congregation Secretary Benson speaks to is not LDS; there were no LDS congregations in Russia at that time. Enjoy!
An office memo from Grant Salisbury and Warren K. Leffler, the writer-photographer team for “U.S. News & World Report” that accompanied Secretary of Agriculture Ezra T. Benson to Russia.
The night we left Moscow to fly down to Kiev, Secretary Benson literally took us to church.
Many of the reporters laughed about it on the way, because Mr. Benson, who is a leading Mormon, had arranged for us earlier to attend a service at the Latter-Day Saints Church in West Berlin, but all the newsmen found one excuse or another for not going. In Moscow, we had no choice because the cars picked us up at the hotel and stopped at the church on the way to the airport. It was around 7:30 o’clock on the chilly, rainy evening of October 1.
As the cavalcade of cars arrived at the Central Baptist Church, on a narrow side street not far from Red Square, somebody wisecracked, “Well, boys, you’re going to get to church whether you like it or not.”
It turned out to be one of the most moving experiences in the lifetime of many of us. One newsman, a former marine, ranked it with the sight of the American flag rising over the old American compound in Tientsin, China, at the end of World War II.
The small church was packed, with people standing wherever they could find room.
Secretary Benson and his family were ushered to the rostrum. After a hymn, sung beautifully by the congregation, Mr. Benson began to talk, drawing on his experiences as one of the leaders of the Mormon Church in America. Watching the Russian congregation, you could see tears welling up in the eyes of people as the Secretary’s words were relayed to them through a translator.
“It was very kind of your minister to ask me to extend greetings to you,” Mr. Benson began. “I bring you greetings from the millions and millions of church people in America and around the world.”
A soft, fervent “amen” came from the congregation. The Secretary continued, “Our Heavenly father is not far away. He can be very close to us. I know that God lives. He is our Father. Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of the World, watches over this earth. He will direct all things. Be unafraid, keep His commandments, love one another, pray for peace and all will be well.”
By now there was scarcely a dry eye in the church. Even the few young people were weeping openly.
“This life is only a part of eternity,” Mr. Benson went on. “We lived before we came here as spiritual children of God. We will live again after we leave this life. Christ broke the bonds of death and was resurrected. We will all be resurrected.”
At the mention of the promise of life hereafter, muffled sobs could be heard in the small church. These people, after all, were sacrificing their chances of participating in the gains of the Communist society of Russia. Though worshiping God no longer is forbidden in the Soviet Union, those who do so usually find themselves cut off from advancement.
Communism in Russia remains avowedly atheistic. In Moscow there is one other Baptist church; there are 23 Greek Orthodox churches, two synagogues and one Moslem temple. In a city of 5.4 million people, it’s a comparatively tiny crack in the godless society. The dedicated Communists, when talking to visitors about religion, usually claim that those Russians who do go to the few churches in the city do so out of curiosity – much as they would visit a museum – and not because of their devotion.
“I leave you my witness as a church servant for many years that the truth will endure,” Mr. Benson concluded. “Time is always on our side. God bless you and keep you all the days of your life, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.”
As the Secretary returned to his seat the congregation broke into the familiar hymn, “God Be With You Till We Meet Again.” They were still singing and waving their handkerchiefs as we followed Mr. Benson out of the church. All the way along the crowded aisle, hands were outstretched to shake our hands.
On the drive to the airport one of the interpreters – a young Russian girl who has never known any life save that under Communism – said, “I felt like crying.”
[“A Church Service in Soviet Russia,” U.S. News & World Report 47:17 (Oct. 26, 1959), p. 76-77]
Scripture of the Day: Alma 51:17
I just stumbled on a fun scripture study idea using the Arnold Friberg display at this website. Just a reminder, Friberg is the painter well known to the LDS community for his work Prayer at Valley Forge (see above picture) and his series of Book of Mormon paintings with muscular Nephites. The site has a "book" with Friberg's series of Book of Mormon paintings accompanied by the scriptural text for the story that each painting is drawn from. You could gather around the computer and read one of the scripture stories while looking at the painting. Since there are about 6 of them this would take care of nearly a week's worth scripture study sessions. Or you could go through the whole series of stories and paintings for a family home evening about the Book of Mormon. And while reading and looking at the paintings there is lovely hymn/Primary song piano music in the background.
Or, if you have a paperback copy of the Book of Mormon with Friberg's paintings in it, you can use this blog entry to learn how to teach what the basic plot of the Book of Mormon is by using the pictures. (Scroll down to the 6/16/08 entry.) This is a good basic introduction you can use for your children, as well as for missionary purposes.
They loved decorating their scooters/bike so much! In fact, Kitty drew up her plan the Monday before the Fourth and then revamped it several times during the week in anticipation of being able to put it all together. I love seeing her creativity!
Above is a picture of Kitty and two of her friends in line for pancakes after the parade. Even though it was early in the morning, it was still quite warm. Sweetie Peach got very flushed after riding her bike up and down the street four times. But after I sat her down in the shade and got some cold water into her she was fine. It was nice to be able to visit with friends and neighbors to help celebrate the day.
After the parade and pancake fun we headed home and went swimming in the new pool in our backyard. My husband would be appalled that I am posting this picture, so please don't mention it to him!
Afterward got ready to go to the movies. Who can survive the Fourth of July without going to the movies?!? We went and saw Kit Kittredge: An American Girl {an appropriate title for the day, right?}. It was a really cute movie and even educational in an historical kinda way. The kids had lots of questions about hobos vs. homeless people after it was over, so the conversation on the way home was definitely on the serious side. Still, there were lots of funny parts to the movie and we give it a thumbs up.
I hope you all had a wonderful, family filled Fourth of July! God bless America!
This week's miracle is certainly not one to razzle-dazzle you. I was hoping it might be since it is the fourth of July and razzle-dazzle is kind of the theme for the day. Instead it is kind of a string of coincidences, more like a sparkler than firecracker kind of miracle. Or maybe one of those worm glow thingies. But here we go anyway...
Read this this morning and it really spoke to me. It puts a lot in the right perspective!
"Some of our struggles involve making decisions, while others are a result of the decisions we have made. Some of our struggles result from choices others make that affect our lives. We cannot always control everything that happens to us in this life, but we can control how we respond. Many struggles come as problems and pressures that sometimes cause pain. Others come as temptations, trials, and tribulations."
| --L. Lionel Kendrick, "Strength During Struggles", Ensign, Oct 2001, 24 |
Scripture of the Day: Alma 43:49-50
