In June, Jared and I had a "Couple's Conference" to go to in Las Vegas for 3 days. So my mom, sister Kristine, and two nieces (Heather and Erin) came to tend the kids so that we could leave and not WORRY for a single minute the entire 3 days. They are so good to us! The night that they arrived, we ate and played with the kids. As I tried to finally get them into bed that night, Joe escaped and was running towards the neighbor's house. Erin and I went after him. As we were walking Erin said to me, "Is this your life Aunt Kathy." YES :) "Well........I guess Heavenly Father thinks you can handle it." I wasn't sure if that was meant as a compliment or not, but I laughed for days!
While at the Conference, we listened to a short talk given about the Atonement. The Sister giving the talk said that she used to use the Atonement as a SPARE TIRE....Taking it out when it was needed, using it until she was "fixed" and then putting it back under the car for the next time. She decided that this was not the intent of the Atonement...Then she asked us, "What part of the car should represent the Atonement?" After several guesses, the STEERING WHEEL appeared to be the right answer. It is the only part that you HAVE to have some part of your body touching during your drive, guiding you to where ever you are going. I thought about that for quite some time......Perhaps the intent of the Savior was not only to "fix" our problems, but to LEAVE US BETTER, in the process, guide (or steer) us to a BETTER me. If that is how you would like to think of it.
The entire scenario came together for me when we got home from our mini vacation. Mom and Kristine had to leave the minute that we got home in order to take care of things at home. As we walked through the door they said their quick goodbyes, and as they got into the car Kristine said, "Your house is thorough cleaned, dinner is in the fridge and there is warm zucchini bread on the counter." They didn't just come to take care of things, they came AND LEFT THINGS BETTER. Why? Because they love me of course, they love Jared and my kids. Why does the Savior want to leave us better, help us be better? Because He loves me of course, He loves Jared, my kids, and you :) Often, (or all the time) He wants more for us, then we want for ourselves.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Just When You Think Your Child is Perfect!
Why Sam?
"Mom, it takes 2 years to get to the moon and back (I have no idea if that is true)! Do you have any idea how many Sundays are in 2 years? I couldn't miss church.....I can't be an astronaut."
This entire conversation came from TOTALLY out of the blue, but I was a pretty proud mom at that moment.
The proud feeling lasted right up until the moment I tucked him in bed. I was ready to tell him that it was so good that he didn't want to miss church when he said, "Mom, don't you think Daniel could sleep in the LAUNDRY ROOM, he bugs me!"
Just when I thought my child was perfect......
We are HOME!
Hello Blog, my old friend! It has been way too long and my thought process has been cut short for three months as I have had little time to write the things that are happening with us. I am sure that the next few weeks will be a whirlwind of posts from 2011 summer memories and epiphanies (it may take a while to collect my thoughts as they are scratched out on index cards and notebooks scattered through out my entire house).
This weekend our stake had a rare privilege of listening to a Living Apostle of Jesus Christ, and his wife. It was Elder Quentin L. Cook and his wife Mary. It would be hard for me to recap any of it. The words spoken left an important mark, however, the things that I FELT left deep impressions upon my mind. I know that there are living Prophets today.
President Messer had plead with the members of our stake to prepare our hearts for the message that Elder Cook would bring. He asked us to go to the Temple this week, and pray to have soft hearts. I am grateful for taking him up on the challenge. As the meeting began last night, I said a silent prayer that it would be gentle correction and guidance for me personally. During the opening hymn, I looked at Elder Cook. He was not singing. He was studying the people in the congregation. I am not going to pretend to have ANY IDEA what he was thinking at that particular moment. However, I may never forget what I was thinking at that moment. I knew for certain that the words he would speak were not his own, they would be inspired from a loving Heavenly Father, who knows His children and sees to their needs.
To end an already FABULOUS evening, one of my FAVORITE things happened on the way out of the church building. My friend told me that President May from the Las Vegas Temple Presidency, who had just spoken to us, was raised in St. Anthony, ID. Of course I had to meet him. As I shook his hand it dawned on me that I already knew him. He was MR. May's brother (my long time English teacher!). As I told him that I was raised in Ashton, it dawned on him that he already knew me too! (This is where my FAVORITE part comes in). He looked at me and said, "You are Joe Foster's daughter!" At which point my heart lept, and I said, "YES!"
This morning I called my mom and recapped the entire story. To which she said, "It is a good thing that we aren't ashamed of where we come from." How True! How True!
This weekend our stake had a rare privilege of listening to a Living Apostle of Jesus Christ, and his wife. It was Elder Quentin L. Cook and his wife Mary. It would be hard for me to recap any of it. The words spoken left an important mark, however, the things that I FELT left deep impressions upon my mind. I know that there are living Prophets today.
President Messer had plead with the members of our stake to prepare our hearts for the message that Elder Cook would bring. He asked us to go to the Temple this week, and pray to have soft hearts. I am grateful for taking him up on the challenge. As the meeting began last night, I said a silent prayer that it would be gentle correction and guidance for me personally. During the opening hymn, I looked at Elder Cook. He was not singing. He was studying the people in the congregation. I am not going to pretend to have ANY IDEA what he was thinking at that particular moment. However, I may never forget what I was thinking at that moment. I knew for certain that the words he would speak were not his own, they would be inspired from a loving Heavenly Father, who knows His children and sees to their needs.
To end an already FABULOUS evening, one of my FAVORITE things happened on the way out of the church building. My friend told me that President May from the Las Vegas Temple Presidency, who had just spoken to us, was raised in St. Anthony, ID. Of course I had to meet him. As I shook his hand it dawned on me that I already knew him. He was MR. May's brother (my long time English teacher!). As I told him that I was raised in Ashton, it dawned on him that he already knew me too! (This is where my FAVORITE part comes in). He looked at me and said, "You are Joe Foster's daughter!" At which point my heart lept, and I said, "YES!"
This morning I called my mom and recapped the entire story. To which she said, "It is a good thing that we aren't ashamed of where we come from." How True! How True!
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