So I have kind of given up posting on my family blog, sorry. If you really want to know what's going on in the life of the Anderson's just stop by Cake Crumbs and you'll get a shocking eye full.
Since I haven't posted in so long I don't really expect anyone to come and visit me, since I have been really really bad about coming to visit all of you. Sorry again. So I've decided that I am going to post something things that really have significant meaning to me on this blog, in hopes that I will one day look back and remember things that I have learned and felt.
On Thursday I had to teach at my first Auxillary Training for Primary. I was absolutely terrified! I shook the entire time. It was a good experience for me, I'm not sure that anyone got anything out of what I said, but that's ok, it was only 5 minutes.
I started out my little talk by having everyone turn to St. Luke chapter 14. I read the first few verses:
1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
3 ¶ And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
Then I asked if anyone knew what parable Christ was going to share. One sister did know and she recounted the parable:
4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
What happened when he found the sheep?
5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
Did he wrap a rope around the neck of the sheep dragging it home and telling it what a bad sheep it had been? No, he picked it up, loved it, and carried it home
What happened when he got the sheep home?
6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
He was so happy to have that one little sheep back that he gathered everyone that he cared about and they celebrated the return of that one little lamb.
If you love them today you can teach them tomorrow.
My topic for the training was to touch on "Rescuing The One". This is the church's version of "No Child Left Behind".
President Monson feels a strong need for us to Rescue all those who have been lost from the fold, he wants all of us as Primaries to reach out to all of the children that are in our care and rescue all those that are struggling.
I would like to share the story of my own rescue with you. I went through a very dark time during my teenage years, and unfortunately I quit going to church.
After I was married I tentatively started going back to church here and there with my husband. After we had been married for a short time we were called to be Sunbeam teachers. I doubted whether this was a calling from inspiration or one of desperation. I knew I was unfit to teach the gospel to anyone, especially someone who was just starting out.
And so our first class came, and oh, what a group of Sunbeams we had. When I would teach a lesson half of them wouldn't say a word and the other half wouldn't be quite long enough to hear a word I said. We had one little boy that refused to stay in class without his mom. And when his mom dared to leave he would sit in the corner and cry hysterically. I remember coming home the first few weeks feeling very defeated.
But I kept going. And I kept teaching.
Soon I found that I wanted to go to church, I felt like those kids needed me. So I would go every week. Some weeks went better than others, but I discovered to my amazement that I really loved those kids, they meant so much to me, and as I would prepare my lessons each week I was rediscovering the gospel. I was relearning the fundamentals of the gospel in its simplest form. It didn't take long before I remembered how much I loved the gospel.
If it hadn't been for the need and love from those small children I don't know if I would have ever made it back into the fold.
There is a quote that says "If you love them today you can teach them tomorrow." I know that for me this was very true.
We are having a problem in all of our Primaries. We have kids that are baptized with enthusiasm when they are eight years old, but they have fallen away from the fold before they graduate to priesthood and young women's. We need to go out and "Rescue The One" that has wandered.
How do we do this?
By helping each child feel loved, which means we as presidencies and teachers need to LOVE each of the kids that we have in our primaries.
The second thing that we need to do to help save all members of our fold is by teaching them the gospel principles. Help them to love the gospel. You need to help them gain a testimony of the gospel principles. Without an understanding and love of the gospel they will fall away from the church.
If we do these two things, love them and teach them, then the spirit will be felt. And this more than anything will bind them to the gospel. If they have had that testimony that their Savior and Heavenly Father are real and that they love them they will not fall away from the church.
What we are doing in Primary is the work of salvation. Our goal is to teach children to make covenants with their Heavenly Father.
Love them, teach them, and help them to feel the Holy Ghost. If you do these things we will succeed in helping them to make those sacred covenants.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Testing, testing, 123
Tap, tap, tap, (screech)
Hello, testing, testing, 123.
Just checking to see if my blog feed is updating yet. I seem to be having a problem with it! Let me know if it changes will you?
I promise that there will be a much more interesting post coming next week.
Although I could entertain you with a story for a minute.
So this morning (a very busy morning I might add)
I take the kids to school, drop Emma off at my mom's and head home and hop in the shower. I was thinking that all was going right on schedule and I might actually get everything done today that I need to.
So there I was, I had washed my face and had started soaking my hair to put the shampoo in when suddenly my nice hot stream of water died to a trickle then stopped all together.
Oh, sh*t, I thought to myself, did I forget to pay the water bill? As I searched my failing memory I did indeed remember that I had paid it so that wasn't the problem.
I got out and dried myself off (with an actual towel today! for those of you that read my story on Cake Crumbs) and started checking my doors for a tag to explain the lack of water through my entire house.
Well there weren't any tags, but there were two very kind ladies that were crouched around my water meter.
I called out and asked if there was a problem. When the one girl turned around her eyes got as big as saucer plates "Oh," she said. "Were you in the shower?! We can turn it back on really quick and let you finish, but we do have to get this changed pretty quick. Its broken and leaking all over the place."
As I finally noticed the side of the road covered with a deep puddle I sighed and thought of all the water that I'll have to deal with in my basement and said "No go ahead and fix it. I can wait."
And so now here I am wasting time on a day that I don't have to waste.
Ah, but there went my door bell! And my water's back on! I'm off to my resume my steaming hot shower! And then to the Carnival!
Hello, testing, testing, 123.
Just checking to see if my blog feed is updating yet. I seem to be having a problem with it! Let me know if it changes will you?
I promise that there will be a much more interesting post coming next week.
Although I could entertain you with a story for a minute.
So this morning (a very busy morning I might add)
I take the kids to school, drop Emma off at my mom's and head home and hop in the shower. I was thinking that all was going right on schedule and I might actually get everything done today that I need to.
So there I was, I had washed my face and had started soaking my hair to put the shampoo in when suddenly my nice hot stream of water died to a trickle then stopped all together.
Oh, sh*t, I thought to myself, did I forget to pay the water bill? As I searched my failing memory I did indeed remember that I had paid it so that wasn't the problem.
I got out and dried myself off (with an actual towel today! for those of you that read my story on Cake Crumbs) and started checking my doors for a tag to explain the lack of water through my entire house.
Well there weren't any tags, but there were two very kind ladies that were crouched around my water meter.
I called out and asked if there was a problem. When the one girl turned around her eyes got as big as saucer plates "Oh," she said. "Were you in the shower?! We can turn it back on really quick and let you finish, but we do have to get this changed pretty quick. Its broken and leaking all over the place."
As I finally noticed the side of the road covered with a deep puddle I sighed and thought of all the water that I'll have to deal with in my basement and said "No go ahead and fix it. I can wait."
And so now here I am wasting time on a day that I don't have to waste.
Ah, but there went my door bell! And my water's back on! I'm off to my resume my steaming hot shower! And then to the Carnival!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Learning About Apples
My Mom and I had a fun day with Emma and Derek out at Grandma Bates' house a few weeks ago. I am slow posting this, sorry!
We went out and visited with Grandma, then we sat down in the living room and read a book about harvesting apples. We learned how apples grow and then how they are harvested. We even learned the proper way to pick an apple.
Then we headed out to the "apple orchard" in G-ma's yard. Grandma watched from the window seat in the pink bedroom.
The kids both wanted to pick the crab apples, but were convinced to come and pick the sweeter red and green apples.
Emma wanted to climb the tree, so she tried.
Then we picked up apples, saved the best ones for ourselves, then lined up the rest and measured how long both of the kids were. Emma loved every minute of it!
And Derek lost interest in apples the moment he saw water swiftly flowing down the ditch. Rock after rock was thrown in. Until of course he discovered that if he threw in a stick he could race it. Oh the joy in his face as he fled down the length of the ditch. Who needs technology when you have a stick and a ditch! Much better entertainment.
Thanks for the fun afternoon Grandma!
We went out and visited with Grandma, then we sat down in the living room and read a book about harvesting apples. We learned how apples grow and then how they are harvested. We even learned the proper way to pick an apple.
Then we headed out to the "apple orchard" in G-ma's yard. Grandma watched from the window seat in the pink bedroom.
The kids both wanted to pick the crab apples, but were convinced to come and pick the sweeter red and green apples.
Emma wanted to climb the tree, so she tried.
Then we picked up apples, saved the best ones for ourselves, then lined up the rest and measured how long both of the kids were. Emma loved every minute of it!
And Derek lost interest in apples the moment he saw water swiftly flowing down the ditch. Rock after rock was thrown in. Until of course he discovered that if he threw in a stick he could race it. Oh the joy in his face as he fled down the length of the ditch. Who needs technology when you have a stick and a ditch! Much better entertainment.
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| Make a Smilebox slideshow |
Thanks for the fun afternoon Grandma!
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Happy Birthday Kevin!
We finished off the night with our traditional trip to Grandma and Grandpa Jensen's house. Then we came home and I put the kids to bed, talked to Kevin for a few minutes and then he went to work a graveyard shift.
I am so glad that my husband is who he is. He is very loyal, and he is very defensive of our kids and of me. I am grateful that he is so willing to work so hard and so long in order for me to stay home with our girls. I love his quirky sense of humor, even though sometimes I'm not really sure he's joking. I also love his smile, he has a beautiful smile, and always has.
Happy Birthday Kevin. I love you.
For Kevin's birthday we went up to the BYU vs USU game on Friday. It was a very fun trip. If you'd like to read a little about it you can visit my Cake Crumbs site the post is the Sunday Funnies/Spooks one.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
A Family Is Of God
A familiar scene, children rising almost as one drawing in a deep breath and exhaling the beautiful words of Christ's teachings.
We had our annual Primary program this past Sunday. The theme for this year was "Our Eternal Family." There was a lot of material that we really wanted to present, so the program was a little challenging to write this year. We did our best and I felt like in the end it was a success.
We likened our families to a home, the Proclamation to the World was like the blueprints to our home.
The foundation, of course is Christ & Heavenly Father. What family can succeed without their help in this challenging time in history.
The Floor is symbolic of the families that came before us, that taught us the way that we should raise our own children and treat our spouses.
The walls- just as a home cannot stand with only one wall, neither can a family be eternal without each member doing their part. President Harold B. Lee taught, "The most important of the Lord's work that you will ever do will be the work you do within the walls of your own home.
The nails, are the many principles of the gospel, they provide overall unity and strength to our families.
The doorway is of course baptism. The entrance into the home and also the entrance that we all need to return to our Savior and be a part of an eternal family.
Windows are the prophets, their words shine light on our often troubling and dark times.
The bricks are like the temple is to us as latter-day saints, a protection against the world. The mortar between can be likened to the blessings of the temple, it is what seals us together and holds us together for eternity.
The roof is like the Savior, He is our protector and keeps us sheltered from the elements of the world.
There was a song that we sang this year that has been so touching to me. Every time I sing it I have a very difficult time not breaking down into tears. It's called The Family Is Of God and its message is a powerful one. I apologize to all of those that are in Primary, just scroll past if you don't want to reread it.
This was a very emotional program for me. You see, they released the whole primary presidency this past week. Right before we started the program at church, we were released. It was very sad.
I had an even harder time with it because I was the only member in the presidency not to receive a new calling upon being released. So I moped around all day and felt unwanted and sorry for myself. I had convinced myself that I had done a terrible job in fulfilling my duties, and that the Lord no longer wanted me to help build up his kingdom.
I felt sorry for myself for the entire afternoon and made everyone else around me as miserable as I felt.
As I was putting the girls to bed Kira started to cry and was very upset that I wasn't coming back to primary next week. I wanted to cry with her. She asked me why I got fired, and I explained that I wasn't fired and that I didn't do anything wrong, the Lord just wanted someone else to be in primary.
Then she wanted to know where I was going to go during church. I told her about Relief Society, and she said that it wasn't fair. She told me that I did a good job and that I should stay in primary.
It made me feel better that at least one person was going to miss me, and one person thought I did a good job. But it didn't do much for my feeling sorry for myself.
After a few minutes of silence, Kira spoke up again.
"Mom, what would happen if you broke your back?"
This question made me step back for a second.
"You would be paralyzed," I said.
"What does paralyzed mean?"
"It means that you can't move or feel a part of your body." I answered her.
She asked me a few more in depth question about it until she felt satisfied that she understood.
As we talked I had an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my daughter and for my Heavenly Father. Here He was showing me through my daughter that I had nothing to feel sorry about. I am needed by my family, I am loved by them, and they want me. I also am very blessed to a have a family who are all whole. We have no medical problems to speak of. We are very blessed, in so many ways.
I am very grateful for My Eternal Family, and I am grateful for the chance that I had to serve in the Primary.
And I wish the new presidency all the luck in the world.
Thanks for reading my very long post.
We had our annual Primary program this past Sunday. The theme for this year was "Our Eternal Family." There was a lot of material that we really wanted to present, so the program was a little challenging to write this year. We did our best and I felt like in the end it was a success.
We likened our families to a home, the Proclamation to the World was like the blueprints to our home.
The foundation, of course is Christ & Heavenly Father. What family can succeed without their help in this challenging time in history.
The Floor is symbolic of the families that came before us, that taught us the way that we should raise our own children and treat our spouses.
The walls- just as a home cannot stand with only one wall, neither can a family be eternal without each member doing their part. President Harold B. Lee taught, "The most important of the Lord's work that you will ever do will be the work you do within the walls of your own home.
The nails, are the many principles of the gospel, they provide overall unity and strength to our families.
The doorway is of course baptism. The entrance into the home and also the entrance that we all need to return to our Savior and be a part of an eternal family.
Windows are the prophets, their words shine light on our often troubling and dark times.
The bricks are like the temple is to us as latter-day saints, a protection against the world. The mortar between can be likened to the blessings of the temple, it is what seals us together and holds us together for eternity.
The roof is like the Savior, He is our protector and keeps us sheltered from the elements of the world.
There was a song that we sang this year that has been so touching to me. Every time I sing it I have a very difficult time not breaking down into tears. It's called The Family Is Of God and its message is a powerful one. I apologize to all of those that are in Primary, just scroll past if you don't want to reread it.
Our Father has a family
it's me, it's you, it's all others too
we are his children.
He sent each one of us to earth
through birth
to live and learn here in families.
God gave us families, to help us become what he wants us to be
this is how he shares his love, For the Family is of God.
A father's place is to preside, provide,
to love and teach the gospel to his children.
A father leads in family prayer to share
their love for Father in Heaven.
Chorus
A mother's purpose is to care, prepare,
to nurture and to strengthen all her children.
She teaches children to obey, to pray
to love and serve the family
Chorus
I'll love and serve my family and be
a good example to each family member.
And when I am a mom or dad, so glad
I'll help my family remember.
God gave us families to help us become what He wants us to be
This is how He shares His love, For the Family is of God.
This was a very emotional program for me. You see, they released the whole primary presidency this past week. Right before we started the program at church, we were released. It was very sad.
I had an even harder time with it because I was the only member in the presidency not to receive a new calling upon being released. So I moped around all day and felt unwanted and sorry for myself. I had convinced myself that I had done a terrible job in fulfilling my duties, and that the Lord no longer wanted me to help build up his kingdom.
I felt sorry for myself for the entire afternoon and made everyone else around me as miserable as I felt.
As I was putting the girls to bed Kira started to cry and was very upset that I wasn't coming back to primary next week. I wanted to cry with her. She asked me why I got fired, and I explained that I wasn't fired and that I didn't do anything wrong, the Lord just wanted someone else to be in primary.
Then she wanted to know where I was going to go during church. I told her about Relief Society, and she said that it wasn't fair. She told me that I did a good job and that I should stay in primary.
It made me feel better that at least one person was going to miss me, and one person thought I did a good job. But it didn't do much for my feeling sorry for myself.
After a few minutes of silence, Kira spoke up again.
"Mom, what would happen if you broke your back?"
This question made me step back for a second.
"You would be paralyzed," I said.
"What does paralyzed mean?"
"It means that you can't move or feel a part of your body." I answered her.
She asked me a few more in depth question about it until she felt satisfied that she understood.
As we talked I had an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my daughter and for my Heavenly Father. Here He was showing me through my daughter that I had nothing to feel sorry about. I am needed by my family, I am loved by them, and they want me. I also am very blessed to a have a family who are all whole. We have no medical problems to speak of. We are very blessed, in so many ways.
I am very grateful for My Eternal Family, and I am grateful for the chance that I had to serve in the Primary.
And I wish the new presidency all the luck in the world.
Thanks for reading my very long post.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
We Have a New Reader in The House
Yes, the most exciting thing in the world has happened in the last three weeks of Kindergarten. Our second beautiful little girl has learned to read those little four page books that are sent home every Monday afternoon. This is the last book that IS brought home and the incredible thing is, she was able to READ it all by herself.
So to demonstrate this I put together this little silent film of her reading it exactly as she did to me.
Do your really want me to answer that?
We are so proud of her, but maybe we need to get her eyes checked.
Sorry to those of you that have already read this story, it was posted on my Cake Crumbs site but thought that the family might enjoy reading about it as well
So to demonstrate this I put together this little silent film of her reading it exactly as she did to me.
Do your really want me to answer that?
We are so proud of her, but maybe we need to get her eyes checked.
Sorry to those of you that have already read this story, it was posted on my Cake Crumbs site but thought that the family might enjoy reading about it as well
Friday, September 11, 2009
Update on Emma
Emma's cheek still has a home made dimple just above the apple. It adds personality, but it is still hard as rock and is still rather large. I took her to the doctor on Friday for a check up because she has been complaining that is hurts her still. So we packed her up and headed to Dr. Madsen's.
While waiting for him to come in she was singing and talking non-stop. Like usual. One of her comments that she repeated over and over was, "I love Dr. Madsen. He's so nice." I said to myself, we'll see how long that lasts.
When the Dr came in he poked and prodded the sore cheek, which Emma didn't even flinch at. (Of course, I take her to the doctor and she tries to make a liar out of me) Then he "hmm"ed and stepped out of the room for a few seconds, and brought back with him a tape measurer (is that even a word) and a terrible smell. I guess you have to let it rip whenever the opportunity presents itself. But then I have to wonder if he really had to leave the room to grab the tape or if he just had to provide himself that opportunity. Guess I'll never know.
Anyway, back to the story. He measured the lump in her cheek and reported that it was 4 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches. And was far to large considering how long ago she had injured herself. He suspected an abysses and so we were sent to the hospital to have blood work done.
This was Emma before we went back for the stick.
This was her after.
On the way home she said over and over, "I don't love Dr. Madsen."
We filled her script for antibiotics and headed home to start her treatment. Trying to get her to drink that stuff was like trying pull a nail out of a moving tire. But on the bright side, her lump has drastically shrunk in size. After 4 days of torture twice daily we got a phone call from Dr. Madsen.
D.M.- Well, good news, there's no sign of infection.
Me- What?! Then why is her lump shrinking?
DM- I'm not sure? That's interesting. Have you been putting the hot compresses on regularly like we talked about?
Me- Yes, pretty regularly (Yeah we did it once, the first day)
DM- Well that's probably what's doing the trick. Keep that up for a few days and she'll be ok. The lump will probably stay hard like that for 12 to 18 months and then start to soften up. But she will have the dimple indefinitely. I can refer you to a plastic surgeon if you'd like.
A plastic surgeon?! For a dimple, I told him no and that it would give her character. And asked about the antibiotic. He then told me to just have her stop using it.
GRRRRR! I just spent nearly $75 on meds and co-pays to have him tell me to JUST STOP. Not to mention the abuse I've administered along with the medicine. Not really but I though about it. And then to find out it wasn't even needed!!!! I have found myself echoing Emma, "I don't love Dr. Madsen."
While waiting for him to come in she was singing and talking non-stop. Like usual. One of her comments that she repeated over and over was, "I love Dr. Madsen. He's so nice." I said to myself, we'll see how long that lasts.
When the Dr came in he poked and prodded the sore cheek, which Emma didn't even flinch at. (Of course, I take her to the doctor and she tries to make a liar out of me) Then he "hmm"ed and stepped out of the room for a few seconds, and brought back with him a tape measurer (is that even a word) and a terrible smell. I guess you have to let it rip whenever the opportunity presents itself. But then I have to wonder if he really had to leave the room to grab the tape or if he just had to provide himself that opportunity. Guess I'll never know.
Anyway, back to the story. He measured the lump in her cheek and reported that it was 4 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches. And was far to large considering how long ago she had injured herself. He suspected an abysses and so we were sent to the hospital to have blood work done.
This was Emma before we went back for the stick.
This was her after.
On the way home she said over and over, "I don't love Dr. Madsen."
We filled her script for antibiotics and headed home to start her treatment. Trying to get her to drink that stuff was like trying pull a nail out of a moving tire. But on the bright side, her lump has drastically shrunk in size. After 4 days of torture twice daily we got a phone call from Dr. Madsen.
D.M.- Well, good news, there's no sign of infection.
Me- What?! Then why is her lump shrinking?
DM- I'm not sure? That's interesting. Have you been putting the hot compresses on regularly like we talked about?
Me- Yes, pretty regularly (Yeah we did it once, the first day)
DM- Well that's probably what's doing the trick. Keep that up for a few days and she'll be ok. The lump will probably stay hard like that for 12 to 18 months and then start to soften up. But she will have the dimple indefinitely. I can refer you to a plastic surgeon if you'd like.
A plastic surgeon?! For a dimple, I told him no and that it would give her character. And asked about the antibiotic. He then told me to just have her stop using it.
GRRRRR! I just spent nearly $75 on meds and co-pays to have him tell me to JUST STOP. Not to mention the abuse I've administered along with the medicine. Not really but I though about it. And then to find out it wasn't even needed!!!! I have found myself echoing Emma, "I don't love Dr. Madsen."
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