Living

Currently: We're rockin' out to Piano Guys while some are finishing dinner, two are doing homework and I am writing.

Dan: still into healthy stuff. We're doing a KETO trial for two months and I'm dying. KETO is hard. Who knew we had so many carbs in the house. I'm trying to make the mental shift from "I can't have that." to "I don't want that." He did a half ironman on a whim last weekend, kinda inspired by his fitness level, but not committed enough to attain that level myself.

Amy: See video below.

Mary: Playing on two rep sports: rugby and cross country. She had her first game last week, has her second tomorrow and first CX meet on Wednesday.  Loves to bake. Loving middle school. 

Abe: flag football, swimming, lacrosse, math explorers and confident: "I wouldn't have been invited to take the test if I weren't one of the best in my class."  Loves grilled cheese and quesadillas.

Moses: new word every day, longer sentences- usually 3 words, usually in chanting form: "Scout watcha movie." "I go too." "I not coming." "I don't like." "Pass the rice." Still insists on praying every time we gather for prayer- he's takes the "pray always" commandment literally.

Scout: always about fun. Swimming independently, but still cautiously. Scares me when she half drowns everyday in the pool, but she's determined. And loves the zoo.

Maeser: into soccer and friends. And Pirates and doubloons.

Had the sister missionaries over for dinner Saturday, absolute mess. I don't know how it goes when they teach in a home, but it would be very difficult to understand the lesson if so many children were present during a discussion. I'm sure they won't be bringing an investigator over in the near future.

Talent Shows and Campouts

Highlights from this week:

Maeser finished his FIRST chapter book. 

There is an amazing group of women here who adventure to different destinations in Singapore each week. Last week was an Orchid Farm and giant pottery kiln. We picked for 15 minutes and our basket was full!

Further up the road is the Pottery Jungle. This is the head of the giant Dragon Kiln, and it goes all the way up the hill. You can make your own pottery in Saturday classes, or you can shop from the huge warehouse.

Mary had her first overnight outing with school, the experience is called Classroom Without Walls, and every consecutive year the trip gets longer. She hiked in Pulau Ubin, went bowling at the hotel, got rained out the second day and then returned for the remaining week of school. 

Dan "volunteered" for the stake talent show. Their act showcased the best talent of the night. The children enjoyed it thoroughly and the whole evening was reminiscent of the old roadshows... there were three mandatory practices prior to the evening performance. I was blown away by the amount of work some wards put into their contribution.

Hope

Because our routines vary in the extreme from day to day... it is difficult to remember exciting moments to record.

Does rearranging the living room count?

Dan just booked flights to come to the USA in two weeks.

We've done a lot of mountain biking in the evenings. Abe rolled Mary's bike and was proud of the tread marks left across his back. (He came out unscathed.)

I'm thankful that the children are picking up old friendships and starting new ones, they've mastered this skill and friends help transitions in the best way!

I have been thankful for my own little tribe and friends.

I was feeling mildly overwhelmed last week, maybe a little lack-luster, and quite short on humour (one of my most coveted traits, I'm sure...) When we attended Stake Conference. In passing, the counselor conducting the meeting said, "I feel impressed to tell you, God is mindful of you." That was it, he turned the meeting over to the next speaker and sat down. I felt so touched. I immediately felt the desire to repent of being angry over something small. Sometimes when we are angry, we withhold kindness and feel unrest. There is no peace in holding a grudge or withholding love.

I felt thankful for a tender mercy, for those who follow promptings and the opportunity for repentance. I wish I needed it less. The fact is, I need it daily. Almost to the point it could make one feel miserable, because it seems like a never ending cycle... But that's exactly what Moroni was teaching when he wrote, "Despair cometh because of iniquity (wickedness or sin)." And that is where hope comes in.

I hope to be better today than yesterday. I hope for peace that always comes with repentance. 

Like Nephi taught, "Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope..." This brightness casts aside our despair and misery, the Atonement of Jesus Christ was given with the intention that we would use it, and often. If we don't use it, then we do not understand it.

Continuing with Nephi, he wrote "and a love of God and of all men..." This is peace. It allows you to work in tandem with others, to grow together towards Christ. And then, "feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life."  Which, like Derrick mentioned (who also had to speak at Stake Conference), should be our greatest hope.

I do have hope. I do have faith that through the Atonement of Christ I can be better today than yesterday. This brief moment was a strong confirmation of truth that we profess, but don't live as often as we should. The knowledge that we are God's divine children and that He loves us is empowering.

This morning my friend said to me, "Faith has a short shelf life!" Another timely discussion, and a good reminder that we have to exercise our faith and replenish it frequently. "How is it that ye can attain faith, save ye shall have hope."

Ok, I feel like this echoes the daily happenings. Not much but learning, striving, and hopefully more humour to come!