Bali

Books we're reading:

Dan- Brothers Karamazov

Amy- These is my Words, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down (actually just finished this, but worth mentioning)

Mary- Wonder

Abe- Wonder, The Genius Aged 8 1/4, Magnets

Maeser- Bugs, Killer Insects

Scout- picture books

Moses- Animals and noises.

New Vocabulary:

Scout- actually, sure, except

Moses- car

Mary- 我会说中文

Abe- Maglev Train, 

Maeser- 

We postponed our traditional Thanksgiving Dinner so we could join Dan on a trip to Bali. Most amazing trip and never had to leave the hotel. We still celebrated Thanksgiving while eating spicy soup instead and turkey, chocolate cake instead of pie, and watching camels walk the beach instead of the Turkey bowl. (insert eye roll emoji.) Turkey is this week!

Moses turned TWO today! We spent the morning on the beach, packed out and stopped at the airport bookstore for two hot-wheel cars, then sang Happy Birthday at the gate. He ran his cars and forehead across the felted airport carpet for the next 40 minutes while we waited for our delayed flight. Gag. He loved it.

If I stop to listen, they make me smile.

"I don't feel very cunchtable." (comfortable) -Maeser

Scout is the best cheerleader: "You're a good job doing that, Abe! Try not to fall down. 1-2-3 Go!" 

And some photos:

Summer sledding.

Nap-time pedicures.

Cleaning the garage with Moses.

Morning swims with these two.

And a thought:

I read about Zeniff this week. His efforts weren't always aligned with God's will (but he had good intentions) and he wasn't successful. Repeatedly. If I haven't stopped to ask for the Lord's direction, it is easy to react to life rather than growing through the experiences. I also get over-zealous and am driven to pursue my own goals, and think I'm good enough to achieve them. Maybe they aren't the right goals. Maybe I need more help than my own, but I find my efforts are magnified when I ask the Lord for direction, inspiration and then help as I then strive to do the work.

Read 2 Ne 32:8-9, I've had a prayer in my heart for days. "Consecrate my performance", magnify my effort- I'm learning to recognise that I need the Lord's help in all things... that scripture runs through my mind before talking to the children, before bearing my testimony, before correcting a child, before teaching a class or helping at school... Whatever best I can give, I know it can be magnified by the Spirit to a great effect or outcome. And to that end, I am thankful for prayer. I am thankful for the opportunity to express my desires to God. To receive inspiration. Another thought: Prayer is work. Enos 1:12 "And it came to pass that after I had prayed and laboured with all diligence, the Lord said unto me..." What kind of labor is this? What do I need to give, in order to receive personal revelation or direction?

Important Decisions

I’ve been stumped the last few weeks. Life isn’t drudgery, but it’s same ol’ same ol’. Sometimes I flip through the pictures on my phone to remind myself of the things we did- because I honestly can’t remember. Then I remember that it was Abe’s birthday- he’s nine! And we had the primary program- it went superb and it’s so great to have it over with. And then I remember we had date night- first in weeks because we just never want to step out by the time we put the kids too bed.  And beyond deciding what to make for dinner or the most exciting decision I made today was if I was going to keep my biannual hair appointment or take a nap. So here I sit, in a tiny salon at he top of a grocery store and I’m so excited to have someone else wash my hair. I know- very important decisions.
I did have an amazing experience yesterday. I caught a glimpse of the love these women around me have for their children. I sat on the stand for the primary program- a first. I have always sat in the audience. From the stand I could see so many parents- trying to catch a child’s eye or mouthing the lyrics to the primary songs. I was overwhelmed with a sense that God could somehow love them even more.
Mosiah 4:9
9 Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend.
My thoughts have been consumed with this.
And this:
Mosiah 4:12
12 And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true.

I have felt more this week that my responsibility to my children is not first to discipline them, nor to correct or criticize them, nor is it to get them to school or church on time! Though all good intentions- the most important thing I can do for these small children is to love them. And with that love- desire to have a portion of God’s love for them. And sooner than later as some are not so small anymore. 😕

I was chastened by the spirit after loosing patience with my son when I asked him to do something for the 17th(!) time. And immediately I felt the prompting to love him. Not only should I model good behavior- how to act responsively, to be honest, good manners at the table- but more importantly to model kindness and friendship.

It has been a great week. I am grateful for the desire to understand Gods love for his children. I am thankful for those he trust to my home.
I am thankful for the faith I have to act and hope.

Keep doing good. Do better today than yesterday. As President Monson said, “May we ever choose the harder right than the easier wrong.”

Abe's birthday breakfast.

Date night sunglass shopping. Purple didn't make the cut.

Stake Primary activity. Dan and I built the wagon in 30 minutes!

Oh, Moses!

Getting my hair done in a tiny Chinese salon above our grocery story. Thrilled.

Time to Write!

I missed two weeks! We’re still kicking- swamped with swim meets and Halloween and the primary programs. I usually write on Sundays but they’ve become to busy it seems harder to write.

So glad Dallin is better. Derrick read from Hannah’s letter in his talk last week. And Dan enjoyed a fast trip to see Mom and Dad in Quezon City.

We handed out 9000 pieces of candy after combining forces with Derrick and Julie. Halloween is a nightmare up here.

Abe and Mary had multiple swim meets.

Dan ran the Zombie Run with Maeser, “He [Maeser] is so fast!”

Scout, praying: "And pwease bwess my familwy... except Maeser... and except Abe... and except Daddy and Mommy and Moses... and Mary. Amen."

Scout, playing a memory game: "Dad! I'm so good at this game!"