Our Family: Week of 8/4-8/10

On Monday we (finally) organized all of last year's school work.

I keep a box in my closet and throw every single thing they bring home from school, church, birthday cards, etc.  in it.

We go through it after school is over.

They each have a school file box, one file per grade, and get to keep whatever they want that will fit in that one pile.

The rest goes in the trash.

I have a family "scrapbook" box where we put all of the church, scout, birthday cards, etc. that they want to keep... that I will someday scrapbook.

Afterward, we headed down to Town Square to play on the playground/splash pad.

Some awesome designer is responsible for the treehouse, play houses, play stage and hedge maze that make up the play area at Town Square.

It is gorgeous and crazy fun.

 (Before I had him, every time I thought of the name "Sam" I always thought of a red-haired toddler.  Ironically enough, everyone always comments on how red his hair is.  It's darling.)

We had a fun time there, before heading home to feed Sam and enjoy Mike's grilling.

It was worth losing the hotel job just to enjoy more of that.  ;)

***

On Tuesday we dropped Mike off at work early.

These guys haven't had to get up that early to drop Mike off for a month.

So on the way home, we stopped at the grocery store for groceries and a little morning treat.

After we picked up Mike that afternoon, we made good use of the kites that Nate and Jess gave us months ago.

It was a perfectly gorgeous and slightly windy evening.

At the end, the kites were tied together to make a HUGE kite, that (unfortunately) got let go of, and floated over to the community center pool, where it got stuck in a light pole (and resulted in a lecture from a life guard).

Scoldings and all, it was a wonderful evening.

***

On Wednesday, we got the house in order, baby-sat for friends, got the house back in order, and Mike went to mutual.

After mutual, we stopped for some half-price mini shakes at Sonic.

These guys are amazing helpers around the house (and with baby-sitting).

***

On Thursday evening, my Dad came into town!

We got to spend a few hours with him, and he graciously took us out for some Thrifty ice cream.

It was sooo good to see him and visit with him for a few hours!

Thanks, Dad!

***

On Friday, a friend gave us tickets + free hat coupons to the 51s baseball game.  Her work had bought out the section, and we were happy to take a few tickets off her hands.  ;)

Adam really enjoyed watching it (they won!), Grace and Josh had fun running with our friends, and Mike and I had fun chatting/watching the kids/watching the game.

***

Saturday morning, we baby-sat again.

These two had two much fun playing in the sand and making "sand underwear."

That evening, we had a ward party.  We had sliders and sides, met some new friends, and the kids played games.

After dinner, Sam and I hung out in the foyer, while they raced and yelled inside the cultural hall.  

***

On Sunday, we went to church and gave our talks.

Adam wrote his entirely on his own, and did a wonderful job.

Mike and I survived, too.  ;)

That evening we went out late to watch the Perseids meteor shower.

Unfortunately clouds + a bright moon made seeing stars impossible.

Instead we just had fun driving in the dark, talking and laughing.

So thankful for that van.

Adam's Talk

A few years ago, while in school, I told my best friend about the church. I was telling him about sacrament meeting and I shared some of the plan of salvation with him and he seemed kinda interested. He hasn’t come to our church yet but it does take about 6-7 times of hearing about the church to join, so maybe that was his first and I just started a wanting to come to church.  So here are some questions people might have about the plan of salvation. I tried to answer them the best I can. 

Where Did We Come From?

We came from heaven were we were literally all brothers and sisters. We lived with heavenly father and waited to come to earth. When heavenly father told us the plan of salvation, Satan was mad. He and millions of followers went with him. They couldn’t get bodies and live with heavenly father again.

Why Are We Here?

Earth life is the step to eternal happiness. Here we our learning to choose between good and evil. Here we are being tested. President Thomas S. Monson, has said: “How grateful we should be at a wise Creator fashioned an earth and placed us here, with a veil of forgetfulness of our previous existence so that we might experience a time of testing, an opportunity to prove ourselves in order to qualify for all that God has prepared for us to receive.”

Where Are We Going after This Life?

We live after we die but our future lives are determined by how we live on earth.

In the Alma 40:11–12.we learn “that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.”

“And then it shall come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow”

If we try to live like Jesus Christ we can live with him again

Those who choose not to follow Christ and accept His gospel will not receive those blessings,

What Is the Role of Jesus Christ?

Heavenly father sent Jesus to show us how to live. The atonement allows us to be forgiven for our sins and live with Jesus and heavenly father again. After Jesus’ crucifixion his body was in the tomb for 3 days before he was resurrected. Mormon 7:5 reads: Know ye that ye must come to the knowledge of your fathers, and repent of all your sins and iniquities, and believe in Jesus Christ, that he is the Son of God, and that he was slain by the Jews, and by the power of the Father he hath risen again, whereby he hath gained the victory over the grave; and also in him is the sting of death swallowed up.

As a result of Jesus’ victory over the grave we will be resurrected after we die and live forever in our perfected bodies.

Brother Russell M. Ballard said:

“If you live the principles of the gospel [rather than] just study them, that special combination of knowledge will allow you to feel comfortable and prepared to teach what you know to be true.”

Bear testimony