Light in the Darkness

So I have heard that if you need speak to God you pray, and when you want God to speak to you, you open the scriptures.  Totally happened to me this week.

I find myself reading message boards about controversial topics usually that have to do with the principles that I am trying to teach my growing boys.  And a mother that considers herself Christian can feel a little battered and bruised listening to the attacks on Christians these days.  I know that we live in a world where there is a lot of diverse ideology and everyone wants to be left in peace to live as they wish.  But I also believe in a loving Heavenly Father that gives us commandments to help guide us through life.  And I believe in one that would like to destroy us, and bring us down to his world of misery.  He is real and he has nothing but our destruction in mind.  So I believe that commandments aren't restrictions, but fences that keep me in the safe place, the place where I can find peace and comfort.

But I feel like those that criticize Christians don't know me.  They don't know that I love Jesus and I know that he loves ALL of us.  I try to treat people kindly.  But I also believe there are blessings in obedience to Him who knows and understand all.  But I worry for my children, that they will be attacked because they feel this way to.  Because they believe.  And I want them to feel safe, but some in this diverse world want to not only ignore their choice of lifestyle, they want to crush it.  So I have felt a little in turmoil about what the future holds for them.

I was heavy-hearted, but had to get dinner on the table.  My boys were doing homework.  While I was stirring the food, I opened my New Testament.  And I am not kidding, there were answers everywhere.  I started writing them down, as fast as I found them.  It's a wonder my dinner wasn't burned.  So in my hectic, noisy house, in front of a hot stove, holding a spatula, He answered me.  My questions.  And soothed my heart.  I am still nervous.  But not heavy.  And I have a list of verses I can return to when I need to remember...  I love the verse that says "I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you."  (John 14:18)  He definitely took care of me this week.

"I’m One of the Ninety and Nine"

My friend Verena posted this to her Facebook page.  It's a magazine blog post with a song that is worth a minute to check out.  Thanks Verena.  :)

Michael McLean is the author and songwriter.  Here is a bit of a quote.  Hope it makes you curious to listen to the song.  I've definitely felt this way a few times. 

"Why is it, I wondered, that the lost souls get so much attention in the scriptures.  If you’re a prodigal son and come home your dad throws a party.  If you’re a world-class persecutor on the road to Damascus you get a light and a voice.  Even if you’re a sheep that strays from the fold the good shepherd leaves the ninety and nine good guy sheep in search of the lost one.  

The argument can be made that all of us are lost, and these stories remind us that no matter how far we’ve strayed or how far we’ve fallen, there’s hope and a way back.  These stories are EXACTLY what you need to hear when you’re feeling lost and alone.  

But what about the people who aren’t particularly lost, but may feel unnoticed? What about the ones who are carpooling cub scouts, serving in the soup kitchens, taking clothing to good will, donating blood, singing in the choir, volunteering at the hospital, visiting the nursing home, tutoring students, teaching Sunday School, coaching little league and doing the thousand of other activities the regular good guys do...without any spotlights or fanfare, without seeking any credit, without building up themselves up, but rather, wearing out their lives more or less being the kind of people the good shepherd doesn’t have to worry about. What about them?

I was rather surprised at how intensely I asked this question and how quickly I got a musical answer..."  

http://www.ldsmag.com/component/zine/article/6454?ac=1

Now I Know My ABCs

I have a bunch more videos to add if my computer will cooperate, but enjoy this one.  :)  G. is in kindergarten this year.  One of the things he has to do for homework is study his letter sounds.  His teacher has taught him ways to remember the sounds and I find them completely entertaining.  Hope you enjoy them as well.  :)

The letters for this video are S, R, Y, and P.

His Day

I love this picture because we have one where Grandpa Johnson is the dad and Andy is the kid.

A. turned 8 this year.  In our church, it's the year you get to be baptized.  (Go here for more about baptism in our church.)  Since he turned seven, A. has been telling people (even complete strangers!) that when he turns eight, he gets baptized and he gets to go to cub scouts.  He has been really looking forward to it.  Aunt Charlotte gave the talk and Uncle Stan gave the closing prayer.  Uncle Arnie and Uncle Spence were the witnesses.  And I got to welcome him into the primary.  (You know, since I am the primary president again... The main reason I was sad to be released last time.)

It was an emotional day for Andy and I.  We were remembering how emotional we were the day he was born and the day we blessed him.  And how emotional we were at our wedding.  Andy said something about maybe being less emotional as we baptize each subsequent kid.  I'm not betting on it, because important family moments make us blubber every time.  :)  We were so proud of him-- the boy he's becoming, the choices he's making-- and just in awe at how quickly his life is flying by.  We are blessed that God sent him to us.  He has blessed our family and he is a strong spirit.  I am grateful for his influence on my other boys.  Just the other day, I noticed G. saying his personal nightly prayer.  I hadn't reminded him.  I think it's the combination of seeing A. be so good about it and the teachings of his church teachers.  (I go to bed so much later than him, that I'm sure it's not much of my influence.)

We were so grateful to have such support from so much family.  It was so fun to have them see our new place and spend time with them.  We have missed the Johnson's and living so close to cousins.  We saw them all the time before we moved, so my kids were going through withdrawals.  My sister's family drove five hours and stayed the weekend.  It was the first time we had met their beautiful baby boy and he's such a sweetheart.  We were also excited to have my aunt's family come.  Their son had a cross-country meet here so their trip was extra worth-it.  I really appreciated that they came all the way.  It's funny that she was always my faraway aunt and now she lives close enough to come to A.'s baptism.  :)  Her boys were so sweet to the Johnson cousins.  

The weather was perfect and it was a fantastic reason to get together.  We shared a lasagna dinner before most of them had to leave.  The only bummer of the day was that Anna twisted her ankle, but luckily Spence (the trained EMT in the family) taped her up.  And she says she is healing nicely.

I think A. had a very memorable day.

My Future Missionary

Uncle Spence took all the stylin' pics of A.

Click on this pic to see it BIG.

Our family.  They are all growing up so fast!             
And yes, we bribed G. to get him to smile.  It worked a little too well!          

8 years ago, this guy came into our lives.  :)

The following  are some of my thoughts in preparation for A.'s baptism.  Some background info:  Mormons know how to have a good time and we have activities that are noisy and joyous.  But if you have never been to a service, you should know that we teach our children to show their respect for Heavenly Father by being reverent.  Also, when they are quiet, they will learn the way the Holy Ghost speaks to them- spirit to spirit.  This means that in our meetings, we attempt to get our children to talk in hushed voices and we don't applaud during services.  Needless to say, when I have been in churches with electric guitars and drum sets, I am a little out of my element.  :)

     I attended a baptism once where the family of the child to be baptized were relatively new to the church.  Because of this, no one was surprised when after he emerged from the water, many in the family applauded.  This response was quickly, but politely, hushed. 

     My oldest child will be baptized in a few weeks.  We have looked forward to this day almost his entire life.  I often contemplate how though joyous for us when our children are born, it must be a bittersweet day for our Heavenly Father.  I am sure He misses us and worries about us even though our sojourn on this earth is part of His plan.  On that day of baptism though, we as parents share with Him in the excitement of the moment.  This is the day where that son or daughter chooses to become His. 

     I recognize the appropriateness of reverence at worship meetings, as well as baptisms.  But I also have heard sacred music sung when I longed to have some way to express my appreciation.  At the baptism that day, perhaps the applause of joy was not the norm.  But it did express how we all felt.  When Alma asked the people if they desired to be baptized, to be called His people and come into the fold of God, "they clapped their hands for joy, and exclaimed: This is the desire of our hearts." (Mosiah 18:8,11)

     It has been years since my baptism and I only remember a few things.    Now as I prepare the program for my boy's baptism, I cheer inside that our Heavenly Father lets us be old enough to choose his plan.  On that day, I will have to cheer on the inside that my boy has the desire to come into the fold of God.  I won't clap, but I will want to.

We Fly the Friendly Skies

K. has a basket full of airplanes. One day I noticed he had them all lined up next to the pantry. He told me that it was an airport! Gotta love that this kid still PLAYS with toys. My other two would rather spend time with anything that has a screen. But K. has imagination. :)

Bobcats and Wolves and Bears! Oh, my!

So this is A. the first night he got his cub scout stuff. He has been looking forward to cub scouts for about a year now. His aunt went by the scout store and picked up all the things he needed. She arrived around dinner time and before bed that night, he had completed seven out of the eight requirements to get his Bobcat advancement. This boy is just itching to work on requirements!
This is A. off to his third den meeting, his first one with a uniform. Doesn't he look excited! So we didn't tuck it in because we thought it wouldn't fit, but we did the next week. Good thing, because they chose him for uniform inspection, which he aced!
Tradition is that you pin a Bobcat pin on your mom and this all happens upside down. Then all the boys count to see how long it takes. Whatever number you get is how many good deeds you have to do. A. kept dropping it so he owes 30 good deeds. He is taking this tradition very seriously so he has been extremely helpful the past 4 days. LOL
Notice how red his face is getting!

Tonight at dinner we told A. the joke about Pete and Repeat sitting in a boat and A. cracked up. I love being the one to make him laugh! He is a great kid and we just love all the enthusiasm he has for life. He tries several times a week to pretend it was a bad day when he comes up the road from the bus stop. But I never believe it and after questioning him, he always breaks into a smile. :)

Thank God I'm a Country Boy

Got to love this pic we took with cousin S. right before we moved. You can just tell the boys love him. :)

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The other day, we were watching a PBS special on John Denver. My kids love "Thank God I'm a Country Boy". We used to listen to it in the van on the way to school and whenever someone was grumpy or irritable on car rides. They were really interested as they watched the special. When the kids asked about all the old footage I had to explain that sadly, John wasn't alive anymore. After watching a bit more, G. says "I'm one of his fans, right Mom." I don't know that G. considers himself a fan of anyone else. I don't really know where he learned about "fans", but yes, John, a whole bunch of your fans live at my house. :)