Impressed.

The other day we recorded a movie off TV called the GIFTED HANDS. It was a true story about a brain surgeon's life. Gary and I were so impressed by the movie that we watched it again with our children for family night. What impressed us was how this single mother inspired her sons to educate themselves by reading more and watching less TV. Ben Carson (I believe) grew up with a few challenges but overcame them. One scene was when he was a high school student. His family had just moved because the previous school discriminated against his color and his mother wasn't going to have it. When he first arrived he was made fun of. The boys who made fun of him became his friends because he stood up to them. However, they encouraged him to buy a knife. His temper flared often during this age. One particular time was when he was carving with his new knife on an outside school table. He was listening to classical music on his portable radio while carving. A friend walked over to the table and asked what crap he was listening to. This friend then changed the station. This upset Ben so he turned it back claiming the music didn't suck and went back to his wittling. The dude knocked the radio over in disgust. In Ben's rage he plundged at the dude with his knife. Luckily the knife broke into two from the guys metal belt buckle, leaving him unharmed. Ben ran home crying in fear. He asked God to take away this temper he had. He sang hymns to stop the thoughts.
It was great to see that he relied on God through prayer. He prayed over every surgery he performed. He was a great success, helping many families. He seperated many twins that were conjoined at the head. It was an awesome movie that helped us teach our children about expanding our minds and turning to God in our every day lives.
SO we have set up some new rules at our house that we hope will expand our minds, with a little less TV.

Quote of the day

"God does not begin by asking us about our ablility,
but only about our availability,
And if we then prove our dependability,
He will increase our capability!"
Neal A. Maxwell.

Valentines

Every year for valentines we celebrate with a crab dinner. It's funny how things can evolve. At first it was snow crab and only a few. But as the children grew the bigger the crab have gotten and the amount has increased. It was the children that have helped us keep this tradition, they get excited about eating crab every year. We always pull out the goblet's and fill them with yummy thick drinks, like orange Julius. Then we read love notes. Gary and I alternate this task every year. The children now have binders that hold their love notes from mom and dad. It has been a fun tradition. One of the very few we have.
Hope everyones valentine's was filled with love.

Patience

I have recently read two books that have to do with near death experiences and they have made me reflect back to the many times that Heaven's power have been manifested in my life. I'm sure I don't even know of the times I have received assistance, but the ones I am aware of I treasure. They have been spoken deep within my soul, leaving its mark on my heart. I am so thankful for those experinces!
However, I know that I often forget my importance as a child of God. Reading these individuals experiences have made heaven fell closer, they are obviously aware and concerned for each of us. I should write down ALL my recalled memories over my life time, for they do come and go. Its the most recent that are easily remembered.
As I have reflected on my own lifes experiences, I have thought about a blessing I got for my tooth. (It's a long terrible story about being toothless and in pain. All for the sake of having beautiful white front teeth. Beauty pays one way or the other. lol!) Any how after feeling frustrated with the pain from eating and cold (after finally getting my fake new tooth to stay permentantly in my mouth), I turned to Gary for a blessing. The council I was give was to be 'patient.' Well that was not what I wanted to hear. I felt like I had been patient through the whole ordeal (and it was an ordeal, the kind that sounded like fiction) But I have patiently waited for this pain to go away, without getting a root canal. Well as I have tried to focus on other things my pain as ease. It's not gone, but now its bareable.
However, my other efforts (writing) have been taking over my energy (that should be good, right?) Yet I want my efforts to bare fruit. I have been discouraged over this, for the new school year's blessing I was told to have patience.
That patience thing has been hard for me. It was just days ago I thought, "I wonder if this patience council with my tooth is for me to be able to visualize the patience I need to have with my other efforts in life such as writing. It was then I felt like it was okay to have this affliction. I do know that all of these things are to give us experience and be for our good.
Hope my ramblings make since.

Adam's goal

Adam's goal
Adam is going to be involved with the Boy Scouts of America National Jamboree in Fort A.P> Hill Virginia on July 26th through Aug 4th in the year 2010. The scout Council from this area is taking 5 troops and have arranged for a week long tour of the East Coast before attending the Jamboree. They plan on visiting; Niagara Falls and Museum of Natural History in New York. They will stop in Palmyra then travel to Philadelpia where they will see the LIberty Bell and Independence Square as well as Gettsburg. On the third day they will arrive in Washington D.C. where they will visit the Holocaust Muesum, Smithsonian Museum, Vietnam & Korean Memorial, Air & Space Museum, Mint Museum and the Ford Theatre and of course the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. A trip to Arlington Cemetery, the National Catherdral and the Washington D.C. LDS Temple are also on the agenda. He will also get to see Fort McHenry in Maryland. (this is the birth place of the National Anthem) He is also attending a baseball game in Baltimore.After all the touring he will be going to the Jamboree where they can; scuba dive, kayak, raft, trap shoot, archery, bike, play buck skin games, and much, much more. It's said to house18, 000 tents, 36,000 partrol kitchens and 43,000 scouts and leaders. The President of the United States will address them and big ticket entertainers are puttin gon concerts.So you can see this is going to be a chance of a life time.However, an event like this isn't free, so Adam is going to be raising money through various different fund raisers and work.The odd thing about this is, I (his mother) was so opposed to spending this money to go. It will be $2,550. But one Sunday morning I heard, "your son needs to do this." Adam has turned fourteen and for some you know what that means. I believe the reason he needs to be involved in this is to have a goal that he has to work toward. I'm excited to see him work to earn this chance. So we thought we would let you know that is what he is doing and if there is anything he can do for you (long distance is hard) then let us know. We apprieciate your support and love.

BillyBob

After going to the school and talking about a boy swallowing some gum, my mind has been going crazy. I have a story I now want to create. Billybob was one of the names this cute boy suggested when I was their talking with the class. SO it's only appropiate to use that name. I loved it the second he said it. SO on Sunday I wrote this quirky poem. (Yes, I was still listening to the meeting)

Billybob was not like other girls and boys,
he didn't spend hours playing with toys,
instead he used his time looking for his favorite treat;
which was usually found under someones seat.

Hidden under bleachers and chairs,
stick something Billybob thinks is as yummy as eclairs.

Wonderful colors like pink, purple and green
give Billybob a delightful sensation that makes him want to scream.

Though he has to pry them off with his pocket knife,
this brings him a smile filled with life.

"I'll combine at least three."
He exclaims, "they're all for me."

In his mouth they go.
Chewing ABC gum give him a sour glow.
"I just don't want anyone to know."

Favorite riddle

How do you get holy water?

Boil the hell out of it.

Is that the best or what?