Seminary and Sacrifice

My new calling for my church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is to be the early morning seminary teacher to 18 wonderful seniors, only three of which are in my ward (congregation). Every morning I get to teach a 50 minute lesson starting at 6:15 am about the Doctrine and Covenants. It's only been a few weeks, but I am already in love. In love with them as a group and in love with each and every one of them individually. They are a joy to teach, even if I caught two of them texting each other from across the room, and even if I see heads nodding from time to time.

Second to my love for them is the increased measure of love I have felt for my children when I come home and see their adorable faces. I am a happier mother as I get them ready for school. I love this joy I find in myself each morning, and I know that it is because I have just been immersed in the Spirit that makes me better.

Just below those joys is the Spirit of God that has entered into my life as I have prepared my lessons. I love feeling promptings from Heaven as to how my lessons should go. I love how, already, my testimony has increased just because I am that much more immersed in the Word of God on a daily basis. I have also become more selective of the media I consume the rest of the day because I am more aware of the effect it has on the Spirit. It has been a sanctifying experience for me and I am so grateful for it.

But despite these enormous blessings, I find myself frustrated that I don't seem to accomplish more in my day. I don't spend a tremendous amount of time preparing lessons, not anything bordering on excessive, and yet I seem to only have enough time for basic keeping house, exercise and seminary. The kids are gone for close to 7 hours every day, shouldn't I have time to those things plus tons more? I thought I would be able to do more paid work with the kids in school, but I am concerned that I no longer have the time. This dilemma mystifies and disconcerts me on a daily basis.

This concern may have been the subject of a personal fast. But then I read this conference talk by Elder Godoy in which he says:

"Regardless of the time the Lord, in His wisdom, determines to grant each of us, of one thing we can be sure: we all have a "today" to live, and the key to making our day successful is to be willing to sacrifice. 

The Lord said, "Behold, now it is called today until the coming of the Son of Man, and verily it is a day of sacrifice".

The word sacrifice comes from the Latin words sacer, which means "sacred," and facere, which means "to make" - in other words, to make things sacred, to bring honor to them."

How could these words not be inspired for me to read this afternoon? This time, this year of seminary is my sacrifice to my most loving Heavenly Father. I will have many many years to sew, and read for fun, and work, but this is my year to sacrifice for seminary and in turn, see the blessings of heaven.

I remember at the beginning of the year, being surprised and disappointed that I could not for the life of me get inspiration on what goals to set. I came up with a few, but truth be told, they were items I only felt semi-interested in pursuing. Nine months later I understand why. This is not my year to be super productive. This is my year to revel in the Spirit of God. I am so exited to see the additional blessings that will come this year now that I have adjusted my expectations. 

2018-2019 School Pictures

Cheeks is Kindergarten and Boy Howdy in First. Be still my heart. They are both a little odd, but I am in love with their school pictures. Cheeks seemed to get older overnight and Boy Howdy looks like a surprised GQ model. I love them. Good job sweet babes!

Cheeks' Birthday Interview

Hi, what's your name? Cheeks

Do you know what we're doing this interview for? Because it was my birthday.

When? August

What day is it today? Sunday!

Sunday September 23rd. So we have to make up your birthday interview a month later. Is that ok? Yep.

How old are you? 5.
What is your favorite thing to do? Play outside.
What do you want to be when you grow up? A mermaid. Now we've talked about this. She wants to be a horticulturist. You can ask her. But, I read her some of her answers from last year to try to coax her into doing an interview this year, and I think she got some silly ideas into her head. Sigh.
What is your favorite food? Tomato soup. 
Who do you like to spend time with? Aunt KK. She had just been to visit and Cheeks was DEVASTATED when she left.

Anyone else when she's not around? Because she's not around very often. Olivia.
What do you do really well? Be happy. 
What makes you laugh? When I take pictures of butts. Hehehehe. I'm pretty sure this also came from me reading her answers from the previous year.
What is the best time of the day? School!
What are you afraid of? Monsters and aliens.
Who is your best friend? Olivia and Ginny. I just have to do both.
What do you like to do with your family? Play games with them. Sleeping Queens, Monopoly, other games.

Pause for a bathroom break.
What do you love to learn about? Naked tigers. They're so much fun. My class laughed and laughed. Letters. Hehehehe. They're so funny. 
Where do you like to go? The zoo. And I really want to go to the zoo.
What is your favorite book? Mr Tiger goes Wild. I guess it's a book that she read at school and really liked.
What is your favorite show? The elf one - Mia and Me.
What is your favorite movie? Lego Ninjago. So much fun. I cringe and beam with pride at the same time. Because she likes the princess movies just fine, but she is ALWAYS up for Lego Ninjago. 
If you had one wish what would it be? Eating candy. 
What is your favorite thing about turning 5? Because you can be older and you can have more fun!!
Is there anything else you'd like to add to your interview? Well you can ask me what thing is the best.

Ok, what thing is the best? Well going and finding eggs.

Like going and finding Easter eggs? Yeah.

Because they have candy in them? Yeah. Sometimes.

First Day of School - 2018

Boy Howdy LOVED the lazy days of summer. Especially the end days when we would cuddle in bed and watch shows until it was time to get up and have breakfast before the kids went outside to play with their neighbor friends for most of the rest of the day. So I'm not sure he was super excited to start the new school year at a new school where he would need to make new friends. The only silver lining was being able to finally wear one of the school shirts I bought for him, a #2 pencil that laments not being #1. He let me walk him into school and we both put on a brave face when I had to say goodbye, though I confess I was not ready. Not like I thought I would be. It was hard this year to say goodbye to that sweet face. And what made it harder was that for the first few days of school, it was difficult for him having to start while his sister got to be at home until the following week. Poor boy. I know it will get easier for him bless his little heart.

This little girl on the other hand was ALL about starting Kindergarten. I remember Boy Howdy having the same enthusiasm last year. School, the routine, the bus, the school's hot lunch is so exciting when it's still novel. What helps too is that this little girl went to school already knowing several handfuls of kids, one of her best friends is in her class. She laments on Saturdays that she doesn't get to go to school. 

I broke her heart the first morning because I insisted that she let me drive her to school instead of riding the bus. Dang it, she was not going to take this mother moment away from me! Within moments of getting out of the car, in front of the school, I saw a precious 4-leaf clover and I knew it was a tender reminder from a loving Heavenly Father that He loved me and my little family and was aware of all of us. After I dropped off both my babes, I got into my car and sobbed. Not necessarily because of the new phase of life I'm in, because honestly somedays I feel guilty with how little I miss them while they are gone, but because of my tangible reminder that Heavenly Father is watching out for us and wants this to be a great year for everyone.

So there it is. Did I cry when I dropped my kids off at school? Yes! Do I miss them while they are at school? No! Am I so excited to see their adorable faces and smiles when they get off the bus? You betcha!!!