Sunday, Sunday

Today I had the IMMENSE pleasure of getting my promised hug from CW in person! (It was great, by the way.)

As she, her sister (who came over from Coeur d' Alene, ID) and I sat under the Space Needle on the lush, green grass, enjoying the 70 degree loveliness, we pondered on all sorts of life oddities. One particular subject was that of Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy (and how everybody has their interpretation of that commandment; some more strict than others).

This reminded me of a change I'm making in my family this week.

See, we're used to not shopping, going to restaurants or participating in rigorous outdoor activities (sports and yard work) on Sundays. Instead we attend church, use our talents for the Lord (sing in the choir or teach Sunday School, for example), spend time with family and friends, write letters to family (Ben's brothers are serving two year missions for the church out of the country and really enjoy hearing news from back home), journal (would blogging count?) and rest from our labors (don't work).

But we still watch TV, play video games and spend time on the computer/internet. Those are the things that have been bothering me lately, because I'm thinking that we can eliminate them for ONE DAY out of the week and find other wholesome things to take their place. I'm not saying that anyone that does those things is sinning or not Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy (don't take this post as some high-and-mighty soapbox, this is a personal reflection and not a judgement), I'm just thinking that our family would feel more of the Spirit in our home without those distractions. If anything, wouldn't it be worth a try? Couldn't hurt, right?

Here's an article I found about the subject by Earl C. Tingey...
The Lord counseled the Church more than 165 years ago that we can keep ourselves “unspotted from the world” by properly observing the Sabbath day. While others may watch how we observe the Sabbath day, we should not be self-righteous or attempt to elevate ourselves in the eyes of others (see Matt. 6:1–6, 16–18). We should simply keep the Sabbath day holy because it is what the Lord would have us do. Then we will receive joy and strength from doing so.

The Lord teaches us in Doctrine and Covenants 59:9–13 that Sunday is a day to:
• Rest.
• Worship.
• Offer up vows in righteousness.
• Confess our sins.
• Partake of the sacrament.
• Prepare food with singleness of heart.
• Perfect our fasting.

Additionally, President Spencer W. Kimball said the Sabbath can be used for:
• Reading good books.
• Contemplating.
• Studying the scriptures and preparing talks.
• Visiting the sick.
• Preaching the gospel.
• Doing good.
• Visiting quietly with family members.
• Seeking forgiveness of sin.
• Journal writing.
• Fellowshipping members and nonmembers.
• Enjoying uplifting music.
• Resting.

President Ezra Taft Benson said the Sabbath should not be used for:
• Gardening and housework.
• Taking trips to recreational areas or resorts.
• Wasting time.
• Making up for sleep lost on Saturday.
• Refueling the car.
• Being so busy there is no time for prayer or meditation.
• Engaging in sports or hunting.
• Reading material that does not spiritually uplift us.
• Shopping.

So tomorrow, I've vowed to have our family NOT watch TV, play mindless video games or get on the internet. Instead we'll have breakfast without the TV being on, do a craft with the kids (make magnets for their bulletin boards), get ready and go to church then go to our friends house for dinner. At bedtime, I'll ask the kids what they thought of the day sans TV and video games. Hopefully their answer will be positive and hearts will be filled with the Spirit confirming to them of their obedience.

Exodus 20:8-11 (all these scripture references are KJV)
8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.


Exodus 31:16-17
16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.

17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.


Deuteronomy 5:12-15
12 Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee.

13 Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work:

14 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou.


15 And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the Lord thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.

Q: Do you have any uplifting stories to share about Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy? How about your family teachings on what to do or not to do on the Sabbath? I'd love some ideas of alternative activities that kids could do in keeping with this doctrine.

Reason for the Season

Tonight at the in-laws, Grandpa asked Piper (4) why we have Christmas...

"Because if we don't have Christmas Santa won't bring presents and that's why we have Christmas."

We had been talking about the true meaning of Christmas just hours earlier during our last-minute-shopping spree. We even re-discussed that Santa brings the kids 3 gifts each (two plus the stocking) to remind them of the 3 gifts the wisemen brought Jesus when he was born.

So Grandpa asked Jack (7) the same question...

"It's to remember Jesus' birth in a stable."

Phew... I'm not that bad of a mother!

Merry Christmas everyone! May your season be filled with the peace and comfort of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

The Atonement

My friend, Jacqui, sent me this email today about her experience at church recently:

Today in Sacrament we listened to 6 men they wore short haircuts and white shirts with colorful ties, they smiled and joked. They looked like you and me but this was a sacrament meeting unlike any other I have ever attended and one of the most sobering times I think I shall ever experience but also one of the most spiritual times I shall ever encounter.

Within our ward boundaries we have a drug rehabilitation center called the Renaissance Ranch. People come from all over the country to attend, but all are members of the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Days Saints. For an hour and a half our family and others listened to these men young and old confess that they were all recovering drug addicts and alcoholics.

You might think that these men were what you would consider your stereotypical drug addicts from broken homes and not very educated but they weren't. These were men, who had been successful in their lives, who had been bishops son's and had served missions, been sealed in the temple and had loving parents. As we listened they spoke to us of the devastation that drug addiction had played in their lives and how it has damaged their families. They spoke of what had brought them to this point and they also spoke of how the atonement was what had finally brought them home.

Our first young man spoke of how he had been in a family that looked perfect from outside but was emotionally distant within, though they attended church, they were unhappy as a family.

Our second young man from Arizona spoke of how he had served a mission, he was one of five kids and had loving parents but he also spoke of the expectations that come from being a latter day saint and how we are often given the message to be perfect and how often we are judged by those around us if we get it wrong and how we feel we sometimes cant live up to those expectations, so we live a lie. This young guy spoke of how he and his counselor wrote on a stick it note “today is the day I begin to live real.”

Are you living real? Are you happy with your life? Are you being really who you are? These were all questions he asked us. We aren't expected to be perfect. Begin today by living real, being honest and open about what you really are.

Our third guy who spoke to us, he too had served a mission and had a good career, been married within the temple , he had a beautiful family with four children, he was sixty days clean, he had just two years ago began using drugs by the time he arrived at the renaissance ranch he was a heroin addict. He said he felt worthless till he was able to put the atonement within his life.

You see, yesterday I realized the power the atonement really has within our lives. These men told us that they had been to hell and back literally that they had done things that they were so ashamed of, that it was only through the atonement of Jesus Christ that they could stand before us and truly know they were forgiven.

Our last man who stood before us was not young, he was graying around the temples, he was older than the others, he looked like he had been here before but one thing he said touched everyone, he said "help someone around you who is struggling and help yourself in the process."

I looked at my children today and wondered what lessons could be learnt from these men and the other recovering addicts that have passed through our ward this past year. I think the words that were spoken rang loudly in my ears; it’s okay to be you, to make mistakes. Today is the day we can all begin living real, the day we can use the Saviors atonement within our lives.

Today is the day we can look around us and realize we are all part of the same family and that when we help those around us suffering we help ourselves. I felt inspired to share this experience; it certainly made me think of what is real in my life. I hope you can for a moment ponder on what is real in your life and then if you feel someone else may benefit from reading this… PAY IT FORWARD.
Jacqui

I don't think she meant to start an email chain by that last line. But I posted it because I thought it was a good point about being judgemental, (critical, if you will) even within our own families.

Recently, we had a family over for dinner and the husband made a comment that I found interesting. He told me, "I'm glad you talk to me." Then he explained that he's a friendly person and says "hi" to people who pass him. In his experience, he's found that many women shrink away, especially if they see that he has a wedding ring. It's as if because he's wearing a ring, he shouldn't talk to women other than his wife (um, what country do we live in?) or that means they're going to have an affair. That broke my heart to think that a nice guy is getting treated that way because of a snap judgement being made. He doesn't seem creepy or look weird - I'd understand if people were apprehensive if he were, although that wouldn't be an acceptable excuse.

I wish more people would just be niiiice to everyone.

Took My Kids to Temple Square

Monday daddy was sick so the kids and I took off for a day of whatever came our way. We had a few errands to run (pick up the disc Holly left at a local boutique because she was late for a wedding out of town, meet Angie at South Towne Mall to deliver said disc, plus mine, so she could choose favorites from her engagement session, drop off pictures to Matt from Lisa as a surprise - I love GOOD surprises).

Gardner Village was our next stop. We went to wander and found these...

I almost can't stand how cute my boy is!!!
Inside these cups are Baboa Tea thingys - not too sure what they're made out of but they're an Asian version of a smoothy that was VERY refreshing.
Our families favorite holiday is Halloween.
These boots aren't made for walkin'.


We ended up at Temple Square (got a sweet parking spot in the SHADE) so the kids could just run around and look. The Assembly Hall was open so we walked in to take a look - just a little chapel inside with the organ against the back wall so we turned back around since that's not the funnest place for kids. Took a look at a couple of statues then a sister missionary told us about the new family exhibit in the north visitor's building that the kids might like. Alright, let's head that way. Inside that building there's a mock-up Jeruselem, huge paintings depicting stories in the scriptures and the Christus.

Ah the Christus. Jack asked me to come with him to the 11' statue of Christ to show me something he learned. He pointed out the holes in His hands and in His feet. Very nice! We were having a lovely time when Piper pointed out something too. "Mom," looking at Jesus' face, "he's so CUTE!" Thanks for the buzz kill. :o)

Then we went through the little family exhibit and the kids were so well-behaved. The sister missionaries asked them (mostly Jack) questions and they answered politely. The guy acting as the dad is CJane's husband, so that was fun to point out to the kids that he was at our house for dinner recently. He did a FABULOUS job ;o)

On our way home we stopped by Karen & Heather's for a little visiting and ended up home about 8pm (after getting Wendy's on the way).

Lovely day.