Thanksgiving 2017

It was Joseph's family's turn for Thanksgiving this year.  I always love the traditions they have, either a 5k run or a game of Frisbee Football before dinner begins.  Micah and Chandler took the train a day before to bring cousins back to our place for a Thanksgiving Eve sleepover.

Thanksgiving is usually held at either Merrit's house or Lee's because they are the only homes that can accommodate 50 people.  This year, it was at Lee's. (The picture I've attached shows about half of us. There were three other large tables set up around the house.)

Before we ate, Lee arranged for several people to share what they were grateful for this past year.  The underlining theme shared was gratitude for our Savior Jesus Christ and for the life God has given us on earth. I appreciated Russ's testimony especially with all he's been through with his wife having cancer. Russ shared that he was grateful for the trials he has been through this past year because they have helped to shape him, helped him grow and appreciate in ways nothing else could.

Jeff closed our small devotional by sharing a short audio clip of President Hinckley testifying of Christ. The spirit filled the room and there was hardly a dry eye. Every heart was touched by gratitude and love for each other, for life, and for our Savior.

We had plans the next day to drive north with Lee and her family to find a Christmas tree so Joseph and the children slept that night at Lee's. I  had to drive an hour back down to Provo though to let our foster daughter be with her grandma and grandpa for the other half of Thanksgiving.  Before we left, our FD wanted to hug all 50 people individually. Everyone's heart melted by her expression of affection.

Micah tagged along with FD and I back down to Provo because he was feeling sick - he rested on the couch and watched movies while I worked on homework until it came time for me to pick up our FD from her grandma's Thanksgiving dinner.

The next morning, I drove back up to Lee's to gather those who had slept over. We drove out with her family just past the Utah/Wyoming border to find the perfect Christmas tree. I love the satisfaction of cutting down our own tree, of picking it out together. They kids may not agree but I think it's very worth the long drive and bundling up warm.

Putting up our tree last night made me more aware that Christmas is just a few weeks away and another year is almost over. Wow, I can't believe how fast this year went by!

Seeking Inspiration

I'm really pleased with how our new approach to family scripture study is going. It seems like everyone is participating more. With this new way, Joseph and I aren't the ones doing all the talking. The kids share what they are learning and we are able to keep record of the comments each of them  make. So far, it seems they are enjoying the overall experience more.

I'm trying to find ways now that will help me with my personal scripture study. I'm pretty good at maintaining daily reading but I don't always do so well retaining what I've read.(If that makes sense.)

I think at this time in my life, I'm really seeking to find verses of scripture that will inspire me to action in my specific realm of influence: in my calling, as a wife, as a mother, as a foster mom, as a student, etc. After prayer, I open the pages and want words to jump out at me - I want my eyes to be open to the things I keep missing, to recognize what the Lord is trying to tell me.

I've discovered that a good mixture of conference talks and scriptures each day work best for me. I'm not a huge book reader but I love listening to talks and books. I feel like I can get a lot more accomplished if I'm moving while I'm listening.  I don't sit still very well.... never have.

-Alicia

We Determine Our Response

Is it just me, or does it seem like society in general today is far more sensitive and explosive than it has ever been? It has almost become a sport, a favorite pastime, to find any and all high-profile people and examine them under a microscope, pinpoint each flaw, and then expose them to the world like a giant boil through social media and gossip threads. Satan must be loving the whirlwind of contention and pride this kind of behavior causes. He thrives on pessimism and cynicism.

To illustrate the scrutiny we put each other under in today’s world, I had this experience:

The other day, I felt bad for nagging my oldest son, so I wrote him a little apology email and was searching for a funny little GIF to attach of a nagging mom. The sidebar of videos drew my attention, “Mom Nagging Her Son Caught On Tape” and “Check Out My Nagging Mother” - It was terrible! These were teenagers who sneakily captured on video their moms and exploited their weakness all over Youtube. I thought to myself, “Man, nobody can make any kind of mistake these days without the risk of it being advertized!”  This shame culture drives me nuts! These kids seem to only recognize how bad shaming is when it’s directed at them but don’t have a clue that they are shaming right back.

I’m at 3 Nephi Chapter 6 in my personal scripture study.  Verse 15 stood out to me today, “Some were lifted up in pride, and others were exceedingly humble; some did return railing for railing, while others would receive railing and persecution and all manner of afflictions, and would not turn and revile again, but were humble and penitent before God.”

Then I read this quote in my study guide by Marvin J. Ashton, “Certainly one of our God-given privileges is the right to choose what our attitude will be in any given set of circumstances. We can let the events that surround us determine our actions—or we can personally take charge and rule our lives, using as guidelines the principles of pure religion. Pure religion is learning the gospel of Jesus Christ and then putting it into action. Nothing will ever be of real benefit to us until it is incorporated into our own lives.”

Our society is so quick to criticize, so quick to exploit the weaknesses of others.  What would happen if people did the reverse and spent more time searching out the virtues in each other and publishing those things to the world? What if people practiced forgiveness for offences instead of harboring hatred, assumed the best instead of exposing the worst? I just feel like shouting, “Where is the love people?! Where is the love?!” [insert song by Black Eyed Peas ;)]

-Alicia

Making it Meaningful

We had a really great Stake Conference over the weekend! The emphasis of every talk was to follow the Prophet's words where he "implored" us to study the Book of Mormon daily. During the Conference, I had a few thoughts come to my mind of ways to improve our morning family scripture study with our kids each day.

A few months ago, we started a family google document where we record the passages we read and allow each family member to type in any thoughts or impressions they have after we've all read two verses. Our family scripture study usually lasts about 15 minutes... and between the kids eating breakfast, or the high schoolers darting out the door to catch their ride, there wasn't much time for them to record or share their thoughts. 

Over Stake Conference I had the impression to try a different approach with the hope that it will make scripture study more personal and meaningful for our kids. I shared it with Joseph and he really liked the idea. 

Instead of going around in a circle and taking turns reading a couple of verses, we're going to have everyone read silently to themselves the section of passages and then go around in a circle taking turns having each person share a verse or two that stood out to them and why.  As they share, I'll type each comment in our google document. This way, we each have time to share, we have record that our children participated, and they can look back and see what they learned.  

I think it turned out pretty great today!  Everyone shared this morning!  

Well... almost everyone... Micah zonked out the minute he sat down at the table. 

For his comment, I just typed, "zzzzzzzzz".   Oh well, you can't win every time, right? At least he got out of bed to join us for study. 

This morning was our first attempt doing scripture study this way: having them read silently first and then take turns sharing what they've learned. We'll see how it goes. We hope it teaches our children to ponder and apply the scriptures and not just glaze over them.  Ultimately, we hope doing it this way invites the Spirit more and makes it meaningful. 

-Alicia