Tie Day at school

Today is tie day at school! I am so grateful for video chat! My husband helped me learn to tie a tie by walking me through it on video chat. That's right, I tied all these ties myself. woot woot! Also, a big thanks to my brother David for letting us borrow the ones that sing!

Can the Holy Ghost put me to Bed?

Tonight's family home evening was about the Holy Ghost, and I thought I would share a few of Landon's thoughts on the holy ghost that were shared throughout the evening.

I had Landon help me out by banging pots and pans while I whispered a message about the Holy Ghost to the family. I asked the kids what kinds of things got in the way of us hearing the promptings of the holy ghost. Landon said, "pots and pans."
I asked Landon if the Holy Ghost was loud or soft, he whispered soft. I asked him if we needed to be quiet to hear the Holy Ghost, he said, "Maybe the Holy Ghost can talk to me at bedtime, because that is when I am quiet."
Then, I blindfolded each of the kids and had them try to find a picture of the Savior after being turned around several times. It was difficult, and they ran into things, until they got some help and listened to the whisperings of the "holy ghost" who told them which way to go.

We talked about different ways the Holy Ghost helps us, guides us, and comforts us. All of a sudden Landon turns to me and says, "Maybe next time I am on the trampoline, the Holy Ghost can help me go higher!"

I talked to the kids about how we always want the Holy Ghost with us and what we need to do to always be worthy of his companionship. Landon says, "I hope the Holy Ghost can come to Faith's soccer game with us and watch her play."

Then, after prayers and scriptures Landon was ready for bed and asked me, "Mommy, can the Holy Ghost put me to bed?"

I am not sure if Landon knows exactly what the Holy Ghost is, but he knows that he is someone who helps us and someone he wants around. If all he knows is that the Holy Ghost is a good friend, well, I will take it. I love Family Home Evening!

A Wonderful Weekend

Conference weekend is always a special weekend. I make a special breakfast on Sunday morning, the kids play Conference Bingo, we spend the weekend as a family, and we are all spiritually uplifted.
Something really special happened this Conference. When Landon, my little three year old saw President Monsen on TV yesterday he started singing a Primary song we recently learned, "Our Prophet has some words for you, and these are his words, be true, be true. At work or at play, in darkness or light, be true be true, and stand for the right." The spirit touched my heart as I realized that he knows who the prophet is. I hope he knows how wonderful it is to have a prophet on the earth. I know I am grateful for a prophet on the earth. It was wonderful to hear him talk of temples and what a blessing they are.
There were so many beautiful and wonderful talks. I loved President Uchtdorf's talk and his analogy of the puzzle of the Savior, and how the Lord gives us a piece to the puzzle at a time, not always all at once. That kind of went along with Elder Bednar's analogy of the lightbulb vs the rising sun, and how usually it's a little knowledge or experience at a time, helping our testimony grow, line upon line and precept upon precept. I also loved President Uchtdorf talking about the knobs and tuning out the world to tune into the Holy Ghost. I also very much enjoyed M Russell Ballard's talk and how the "little flecks of gold", when compiled together amount to a lot. Thus, by small and simple means great things come to pass. I also loved this quote from his talk. "Unless we lose ourselves in service to others, there is little purpose to our own lives."
And finally, I really loved the question posed, "To Be or Not to Be, is actually a really good question." I think it is safe to say that I am taking a lot from Conference and I will be trying a little harder to be a little better each and every day.