Baily turned 6 years old last Thursday! She was really excited about it, and reminded us every day for about two weeks how many days were left until her birthday. We had some kids from the neighborhood and the ward over to play in the kid pool, run through Baily’s new sprinkler (that shoots balls out the top), and have cake and ice-cream. I came home for a couple hours at lunch time to watch the party and enjoy all the kids. It was a lot of fun. It was so good to watch Baily enjoying the water with her friends. Amy and I often worry about how she sometimes would rather spend her time doing things with grownups rather than kids her age. She did really well though this time and we didn’t even have to encourage her to go out and play. We sure do love our Baily and her wonderful smile. She’s the one kid we can rely on to not “burn the house down” when we turn our heads for five minutes. She is always so willing to go with me when I help people move or when we thin peaches out at the Church orchard. She likes to be where the action is. Baily is also very tender hearted and it doesn’t take much discipline to make her feel really sorry for something she did wrong. Baily likes to sit and listen as Amy and I read a book and likes to be a part of our conversations, asking lots of questions to make sure we involve her in it. I hope we can always have a close relationship with our Baily.
Saturday sure was busy. I woke up early to go to the temple, came back and had breakfast, helped Amy stain our fence, worked in the garden a little, fixed a couple of sprinklers, fixed a flat tire on my bike, went on a family bike ride, attended a birthday party for Garret Pancheri’s daughter, made cookies, helped with meals, and took care of all kinds of fatherly duties like diapers, rocking babies, disciplining, and providing snacks. It always feels good at the end of a day where I’ve gotten a lot done, but I also go to bed wishing I had a little more quiet time to spend with Amy.
On Sunday Amy was released from her calling as Sunday school teacher of the Priest and Laurel aged youth. It was hard for her to be released because she felt so close to those youth and felt like they were doing so well together. She is now responsible for Achievement Day girls, and with some time I know she will learn to love this calling just as much. She certainly puts a lot of effort into her responsibilities. We had an extremely unique sacrament meeting. A ceiling light fell from the chapel ceiling and dangled from its wires a short distance in front of us. We sang hymn #21, while the organist played hymn #22 and very few people even noticed. The conductor struggled through the song trying to stay on beat, but it looked like she was struggling to figure out what was wrong with the timing and placement of the wording. These two occurrences were representative of how the rest of the meetings went. The words of Alma come to mind: “By small and simple things are great things brought to pass.” Certainly the power of the Spirit comes more readily when sincerity, simplicity, and directness are used.
My good friend Ryan McBride and his wife Rose just got back from the Peace Corps in Morocco. It was so good to speak with him again this past week. He just got a job in Boulder Colorado where they’ll be living for at least a couple of years. I often wish that the good friends Amy and I have made over the years could all live close by, rather than being spread out all over the nation. I have recently been feeling a strong desire to have my family close too. Again, I look forward to the time when distance no longer prevents us from seeing each other and being a part of each other’s lives.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
Rafting, Tending, 5 Minute Sit, & The Brothers
It was a busy weekend. We weeded, watched our neighbor’s 3 children, I took the scouts to do yard work for a couple people in the ward, I drove up to Emmett and went rafting with Gary and his bishopric in his raft, played games with the 7 kids, talked to my Dad for his birthday, prepared lessons for Sunday, attended all my Sunday meetings, and got to relax a little and do some reading Sunday afternoon. Rafting was definitely a highlight! It was so nice to be up in the mountains. It reminded me how much I enjoyed growing up so close to mountains. The rafting was wonderful and no one fell out (unless aided by others in the raft). Gary and I decided we’ll have no problem making a couple runs for the reunion. Still, we felt we needed to make sure we get enough practice. We’re going to try to get some more practice in the next couple weekends.
Well, I’ve decided to stick with the 5 minute sit! Yesterday was wonderful. I only had to leave sacrament meeting one time with Lily, and she only started screaming during the closing hymn, so it wasn’t so bad. Grant didn’t have to go out at all! The oldest two were almost perfect (well, not quite, but they did do great!). Grant even made it through Sunday school. I just hope this continues. It was sooooooo nice to be able to enjoy church rather than endure it.
Amy and I finished a novel this week that was set in the pre-existence. The book helped us talk about what it might have been like and also helped us see things a little differently. When we finished, we sat for a long time and talked about how our understanding of what happened in the pre-existence helps us to place the trials and heartaches of this life in an eternal perspective. We both discussed how we knew that difficulties and trials would face us and we still chose to follow the Father’s plan to come to earth. We talked about the different levels of commitment God’s children had in the pre-existence and speculated what our commitment level might have been. I felt that we both must have pledged our dedication. It seems that we probably perceived our impending discouragements as somewhat trivial in the context of the Plan. We might have been extremely disappointed in ourselves had we been able to see the sins we would commit, because we could see how those sins offered no lasting benefit. Finally, we decided that it didn’t matter so much if we didn’t have the strongest commitment in the pre-existence if we chose to act on the knowledge we have now. We recalled that the trials of life are not only for testing how committed we are, but they also are to help us strengthen our dedication, whether it was strong before or not. Certainly, God cares about each of his children and wants them to return to Him. This life is designed for that purpose. As Amy and I watched some neighbor’s children this weekend, for a couple days, I held the baby, and thought about how I wished I could help her understand the Plan of Happiness she had just recently forgotten. Still, I’m sure the Lord will provide reminders throughout each of our lives of life’s purpose. I feel a great responsibility to share that purpose.
Well, I’ve decided to stick with the 5 minute sit! Yesterday was wonderful. I only had to leave sacrament meeting one time with Lily, and she only started screaming during the closing hymn, so it wasn’t so bad. Grant didn’t have to go out at all! The oldest two were almost perfect (well, not quite, but they did do great!). Grant even made it through Sunday school. I just hope this continues. It was sooooooo nice to be able to enjoy church rather than endure it.
Amy and I finished a novel this week that was set in the pre-existence. The book helped us talk about what it might have been like and also helped us see things a little differently. When we finished, we sat for a long time and talked about how our understanding of what happened in the pre-existence helps us to place the trials and heartaches of this life in an eternal perspective. We both discussed how we knew that difficulties and trials would face us and we still chose to follow the Father’s plan to come to earth. We talked about the different levels of commitment God’s children had in the pre-existence and speculated what our commitment level might have been. I felt that we both must have pledged our dedication. It seems that we probably perceived our impending discouragements as somewhat trivial in the context of the Plan. We might have been extremely disappointed in ourselves had we been able to see the sins we would commit, because we could see how those sins offered no lasting benefit. Finally, we decided that it didn’t matter so much if we didn’t have the strongest commitment in the pre-existence if we chose to act on the knowledge we have now. We recalled that the trials of life are not only for testing how committed we are, but they also are to help us strengthen our dedication, whether it was strong before or not. Certainly, God cares about each of his children and wants them to return to Him. This life is designed for that purpose. As Amy and I watched some neighbor’s children this weekend, for a couple days, I held the baby, and thought about how I wished I could help her understand the Plan of Happiness she had just recently forgotten. Still, I’m sure the Lord will provide reminders throughout each of our lives of life’s purpose. I feel a great responsibility to share that purpose.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Catch Up
Unfortunately, it’s been far too long since I last wrote. Baily is out of school for the summer. She and Bethy are about to finish swim lessons at the Nampa Rec Center - from what I hear, they are both doing really well. The only major concern there is that Amy has to take all four kids to the Rec Center by herself and it doesn’t always go as smooth as she’d like. Bethy has no fear of anything dangerous (including knives, heights, and water) and oblivious to rules, her clone sister Lily just a step behind her, and Grant who likes letting everyone know he’s not happy sitting next to the pool while his sisters play – it can be pretty lively. Amy’s really looking forward to it being done.
The last few months, our family has made a concerted effort to be more active. For mother’s day this year, I gave Amy (and I guess the whole family) a trailer that goes behind my bike and can carry Grant and Lily. Bethy got a new bike for her birthday and Baily is now a pro at no-training-wheels riding. We have really enjoyed going on bike-rides as a family and sometimes joining up with the Dittrichs for a ride (they also have a bike trailer). I started riding my bike to work a couple of times a week about 2 ½ months ago, but unfortunately that didn’t last long because I got a sinus infection and a terrible cough and after 2 months of terrible coughing and two visits to the doctor, I’m finally starting to feel better. However, sickness hasn’t kept Amy from dragging me out of bed at 6:00 a.m. to exercise. We decided we’d try to motivate each other to get up and do some work out videos, although, Amy has mostly been the motivator. I never thought I could do work out videos because I was embarrassed that they’re mainly designed for women. I now have a new respect for them – I’m not going to say any more about it!
A little over a month ago, we went to Eastern Idaho to go to the Bryan’s church meetings. Josh spoke in sacrament meeting since he would be leaving on his mission to the Caribbean Islands. In some ways, I felt like Josh was my younger brother and I was so happy he made the decision to go (especially with so many of his friends not going and since he is a little older than the typical age). It was so good to see everyone (we had quite a few people turn up from the Bryan side). Josh bore a sincere humble testimony and I was so pleased with his commitment. On Saturday night we went out and rode in Uncle Mikes sand rail at the St. Anthony sand dunes. We all had a great time. I also loved being with Grandma and Grandpa Rasmussen. We stayed at their house and I loved just talking with them and having the girls be around them. They are such great people.
A couple weeks later, we went down to Utah to visit Ammon and Liz for the Memorial Day weekend (Kid’s Day). We had a great visit with them and just were able to relax and talk. Monday morning, Dad, Mom, Dawn, Ray, and Travis and Erin’s family came and we had our traditional trip to the super market for cereal. We played games all morning and just enjoyed being together. Amy and I have felt, once again, how blessed we are in the relationships we have with family and friends. I personally feel so thankful to have such a close relationship with my brother and his wife. And even though our family is mostly a good distance away, the Lord has really blessed us with such wonderful friends up here as well. Elder Eyering once said in a missionary broadcast that our true friends are those that in conversation with them the gospel is brought up naturally. While Amy and I don’t have a big group of friends, we have been blessed with a few “true friends,” including several members of our family. I am so grateful for that.
Life at home has been a little dramatic. It almost seems like the kids are battling for attention again. I thought that need for so much attention would diminish after they got used to Grant being around, but maybe the addition makes them feel like they have to compete more. I sure do have a lot to learn about being a father – unfortunately, I have to practice on “live” kids. How does God do it with all the children he has!? I’ve been a little frustrated with the way my family behaves at church, so we’ve been doing a “5 minute sit” every night for the past week and a half. The entire family has to sit on the couch for five minutes without wiggling, talking, or even touching each other. The girls actually have done really well in the practice runs (okay, except for Lily who screams the entire time as I hold her) However, despite their good behavior in practice they put on a major dramatic performance during sacrament meeting on Sunday. Several times, Amy and I were both outside of the church with the two youngest screamers, while praying that our two oldest would not be climbing on to the chapel podium squealing into the microphone when we returned. We finally had to strap Lily into her car seat while Amy held the baby next to her so I could return to check on the other two. I’m going to give the “5 minute sit” a little more time to show results before I start rethinking a strategy.
A couple days ago I learned from Dawn that Ray got his clearance to be sealed to her in the temple. They will be sealed in the Manti Temple on August 15, 2008. I am so pleased for her. The Lord has truly blessed our family.
The last few months, our family has made a concerted effort to be more active. For mother’s day this year, I gave Amy (and I guess the whole family) a trailer that goes behind my bike and can carry Grant and Lily. Bethy got a new bike for her birthday and Baily is now a pro at no-training-wheels riding. We have really enjoyed going on bike-rides as a family and sometimes joining up with the Dittrichs for a ride (they also have a bike trailer). I started riding my bike to work a couple of times a week about 2 ½ months ago, but unfortunately that didn’t last long because I got a sinus infection and a terrible cough and after 2 months of terrible coughing and two visits to the doctor, I’m finally starting to feel better. However, sickness hasn’t kept Amy from dragging me out of bed at 6:00 a.m. to exercise. We decided we’d try to motivate each other to get up and do some work out videos, although, Amy has mostly been the motivator. I never thought I could do work out videos because I was embarrassed that they’re mainly designed for women. I now have a new respect for them – I’m not going to say any more about it!
A little over a month ago, we went to Eastern Idaho to go to the Bryan’s church meetings. Josh spoke in sacrament meeting since he would be leaving on his mission to the Caribbean Islands. In some ways, I felt like Josh was my younger brother and I was so happy he made the decision to go (especially with so many of his friends not going and since he is a little older than the typical age). It was so good to see everyone (we had quite a few people turn up from the Bryan side). Josh bore a sincere humble testimony and I was so pleased with his commitment. On Saturday night we went out and rode in Uncle Mikes sand rail at the St. Anthony sand dunes. We all had a great time. I also loved being with Grandma and Grandpa Rasmussen. We stayed at their house and I loved just talking with them and having the girls be around them. They are such great people.
A couple weeks later, we went down to Utah to visit Ammon and Liz for the Memorial Day weekend (Kid’s Day). We had a great visit with them and just were able to relax and talk. Monday morning, Dad, Mom, Dawn, Ray, and Travis and Erin’s family came and we had our traditional trip to the super market for cereal. We played games all morning and just enjoyed being together. Amy and I have felt, once again, how blessed we are in the relationships we have with family and friends. I personally feel so thankful to have such a close relationship with my brother and his wife. And even though our family is mostly a good distance away, the Lord has really blessed us with such wonderful friends up here as well. Elder Eyering once said in a missionary broadcast that our true friends are those that in conversation with them the gospel is brought up naturally. While Amy and I don’t have a big group of friends, we have been blessed with a few “true friends,” including several members of our family. I am so grateful for that.
Life at home has been a little dramatic. It almost seems like the kids are battling for attention again. I thought that need for so much attention would diminish after they got used to Grant being around, but maybe the addition makes them feel like they have to compete more. I sure do have a lot to learn about being a father – unfortunately, I have to practice on “live” kids. How does God do it with all the children he has!? I’ve been a little frustrated with the way my family behaves at church, so we’ve been doing a “5 minute sit” every night for the past week and a half. The entire family has to sit on the couch for five minutes without wiggling, talking, or even touching each other. The girls actually have done really well in the practice runs (okay, except for Lily who screams the entire time as I hold her) However, despite their good behavior in practice they put on a major dramatic performance during sacrament meeting on Sunday. Several times, Amy and I were both outside of the church with the two youngest screamers, while praying that our two oldest would not be climbing on to the chapel podium squealing into the microphone when we returned. We finally had to strap Lily into her car seat while Amy held the baby next to her so I could return to check on the other two. I’m going to give the “5 minute sit” a little more time to show results before I start rethinking a strategy.
A couple days ago I learned from Dawn that Ray got his clearance to be sealed to her in the temple. They will be sealed in the Manti Temple on August 15, 2008. I am so pleased for her. The Lord has truly blessed our family.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)