11.13.11
We all hear the adage you will get what you expect. This applies not only to ourselves but to those around us that we have personal influence on. Today we had our primary program. The kids had their parts memorized and did well with them. Aliza gave a talk about the priesthood and Joseph Smith searching for answers, reading James 1:5 and then his account of seeing God the Father and the Son. She was excited to get to say quote and end quote. All the speakers in general conference use that phrasing and she asked why they did. So she was proud of being able to encorporate it into her talk as well. She did a great job. I expected her to do a great job.
I expected all my children to be brave to give their part and if given the choice to say more than one mumbled word into their collar. I expected my class of 12 year olds to give talks that were more than just 2 sentence answers to questions. They too did a great job using 2 scriptures, personal stories and explaining how both fit together. It was great. I knew they could do it, for heaven's sake they are called on about 2x a year to give talks in the large group meeting called sacrament meeting. I have been pondering lately if I expect too much from others, the world in general, my spouse and family. Today I guess I saw that while not always does it work out... well sometimes it seems that rarely it works out. Those that I had had the opportunity to lay ground work, spend time with, encourage, and expect great things were completely up to what I knew they could do.
I have oft mentioned the books we read on this little email update but I would say that the thing that means more to me than the books is the scriptural study we do each day. Because we do have children often many years ago after Aliza (#3) was born I was going crazy with so many things and a very wise mom told me she did devotionals each day. Now this was before I had investigated homeschooling and setting the tone in your home etc. It was quite the concept to do more than just read scriptures with your kids. I pondered do you ever do too much scripture stuff. ... I mean you can drink too much water, and we've all experienced too much dessert or might at thanksgiving... so could you do too much scripture study. Well we decided to ere on the side of overdose and I and the three kids began doing a verse in the mornings. Just reading one verse sometimes the same verse. I found it gave me a focal point. A place to rest my thoughts or a sifter to run them through during the day. It was nice it helped my breathe again and to cope.
Well a few years passed and I was frustrated at my inability to teach or get my children to read. So I thought if they won't read it I will have them memorize it. So again we chose one verse and we would memorize it during the week. All the while we continued to read the scriptures every night as a family. We have done this since we were first married and I'm amazed that it is not so hard if it is just what you do. So we began memorizing simple three or four line scriptures. The kids got it, even my foggy brain got it. WE memorized verse after verse from all over in the scriptures. Well then we started school and I was scared about my innocent little daughter going to that den of wolves and my desire to protect her became more strong so we really hit the memorizing stuff about not being afraid, about God being with you, the power of prayer etc. I got busier the more kids that went to school so I asked Greg to pick the scripture he decided to go with his personal favorite the 30+ verses of the 121 section of the doctrine and covenants. I balked how could we memorize so much? But we did. The point of all this is not that we have the entire cannon of scripture memorized but that we have memorized some and we can call to mind parts of many more. And the quote I am so plastering HUGE on my walls is from Harry Houdini
" MY MIND SET ME FREE "
I think that is the thing I see the most in our world currently the disconnected, inactive, un-feeling minds. We are too busy, too bored, too tired, too smart to feel, take time to really think things over, too full of bits and pieces to connect dots or to know anything deeply. I loved this quote because I have been explaining to my kids my reason for expecting them to read harder books, to see the bigger picture than just the face-value-given answer. Their minds need to be strong so they won't be deceived and they will be able to be free. I try to keep my own mind thinking and active and which enables me to be roam freely in thought even when mired down in life and duty.
So the pictures Greg and Reed reading a tractor magazine. I wish I had audio of REed literally oohing over the tractors. They were both totally immersed and impressed with the subject.
Addie posing with her buddy (he moves slower than her and is less of a threat)
Reed eating his breakfast in bed. He took it there himself. That is my bed and no I never get or want breakfast in bed.
The kids this morning before the practice. Hail Aunt Alena the hairdresser angel. She does amazing, simple, beautiful things to my daughters that I don't have the knowledge to accomplish. Someday I would like classes in hairdressing and such. Seriously I don't know or see how to do the pretty things she and some of the other aunts do.
And finally GReg rescuing a picture session that was getting ugly. Unfortunately he hadn't combed his hair- he's not trendy into spikes- but doesn't he look great surrounded by such a beautiful group. I do love our family.
So be more, expect more, and do more. Hmmmm. I think President Gordon B. Hinckly asked it less blunt do a little better each day... Best to you all. A
I expected all my children to be brave to give their part and if given the choice to say more than one mumbled word into their collar. I expected my class of 12 year olds to give talks that were more than just 2 sentence answers to questions. They too did a great job using 2 scriptures, personal stories and explaining how both fit together. It was great. I knew they could do it, for heaven's sake they are called on about 2x a year to give talks in the large group meeting called sacrament meeting. I have been pondering lately if I expect too much from others, the world in general, my spouse and family. Today I guess I saw that while not always does it work out... well sometimes it seems that rarely it works out. Those that I had had the opportunity to lay ground work, spend time with, encourage, and expect great things were completely up to what I knew they could do.
I have oft mentioned the books we read on this little email update but I would say that the thing that means more to me than the books is the scriptural study we do each day. Because we do have children often many years ago after Aliza (#3) was born I was going crazy with so many things and a very wise mom told me she did devotionals each day. Now this was before I had investigated homeschooling and setting the tone in your home etc. It was quite the concept to do more than just read scriptures with your kids. I pondered do you ever do too much scripture stuff. ... I mean you can drink too much water, and we've all experienced too much dessert or might at thanksgiving... so could you do too much scripture study. Well we decided to ere on the side of overdose and I and the three kids began doing a verse in the mornings. Just reading one verse sometimes the same verse. I found it gave me a focal point. A place to rest my thoughts or a sifter to run them through during the day. It was nice it helped my breathe again and to cope.
Well a few years passed and I was frustrated at my inability to teach or get my children to read. So I thought if they won't read it I will have them memorize it. So again we chose one verse and we would memorize it during the week. All the while we continued to read the scriptures every night as a family. We have done this since we were first married and I'm amazed that it is not so hard if it is just what you do. So we began memorizing simple three or four line scriptures. The kids got it, even my foggy brain got it. WE memorized verse after verse from all over in the scriptures. Well then we started school and I was scared about my innocent little daughter going to that den of wolves and my desire to protect her became more strong so we really hit the memorizing stuff about not being afraid, about God being with you, the power of prayer etc. I got busier the more kids that went to school so I asked Greg to pick the scripture he decided to go with his personal favorite the 30+ verses of the 121 section of the doctrine and covenants. I balked how could we memorize so much? But we did. The point of all this is not that we have the entire cannon of scripture memorized but that we have memorized some and we can call to mind parts of many more. And the quote I am so plastering HUGE on my walls is from Harry Houdini
" MY MIND SET ME FREE "
I think that is the thing I see the most in our world currently the disconnected, inactive, un-feeling minds. We are too busy, too bored, too tired, too smart to feel, take time to really think things over, too full of bits and pieces to connect dots or to know anything deeply. I loved this quote because I have been explaining to my kids my reason for expecting them to read harder books, to see the bigger picture than just the face-value-given answer. Their minds need to be strong so they won't be deceived and they will be able to be free. I try to keep my own mind thinking and active and which enables me to be roam freely in thought even when mired down in life and duty.
So the pictures Greg and Reed reading a tractor magazine. I wish I had audio of REed literally oohing over the tractors. They were both totally immersed and impressed with the subject.
Addie posing with her buddy (he moves slower than her and is less of a threat)
Reed eating his breakfast in bed. He took it there himself. That is my bed and no I never get or want breakfast in bed.
The kids this morning before the practice. Hail Aunt Alena the hairdresser angel. She does amazing, simple, beautiful things to my daughters that I don't have the knowledge to accomplish. Someday I would like classes in hairdressing and such. Seriously I don't know or see how to do the pretty things she and some of the other aunts do.
And finally GReg rescuing a picture session that was getting ugly. Unfortunately he hadn't combed his hair- he's not trendy into spikes- but doesn't he look great surrounded by such a beautiful group. I do love our family.
So be more, expect more, and do more. Hmmmm. I think President Gordon B. Hinckly asked it less blunt do a little better each day... Best to you all. A
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