Great are the Words of Isaiah

I am currently enrolled in an on-line book of Mormon class. This week our reading was in 2 Nephi chapters 9-16 which include a lot of the words of Isaiah. Isaiah is hard to understand. Knowing that I struggle with the Isaiah chapters I spent a lot of time this week reading and listening to the additional course materials. I watched and took notes on all the Digging Deeper clips. I read the Institute Manual sections for these chapters. I was hoping to gain additional insights with these resources. I read the Isaiah chapters. I struggled to understand what I was reading. I planned to go back over the Book of Mormon chapters to see if I could pick out the information that was discussed in the additional resources. However, life got in the way. I had some crazy stuff happen with my calling and my family. I appreciated this quote from President Packer in the institute manual: “Most [readers] readily understand the narrative of the Book of Mormon. “Then, just as you settle in to move comfortably along, you will meet a barrier. … Interspersed in the narrative, are chapters reciting the prophecies of the Old Testament prophet Isaiah. They loom as a barrier, like a roadblock or a checkpoint beyond which the casual reader, one with idle curiosity, generally will not go. “You, too, may be tempted to stop there, but do not do it! Do not stop reading! Move forward through those difficult-to-understand chapters of Old Testament prophecy, even if you understand very little of it. Move on, if all you do is skim and merely glean an impression here and there. Move on, if all you do is look at the words” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1986, 76; or Ensign, May 1986, 61). I was struggling with this weeks reading but I did read the words and a couple of things stuck out to me. 2 Nephi 9:20 reads, "O how great the holiness of our God!for he knoweth all things, and there is not anything save he knows it." It brings comfort to me to read these words and believe that God knows the beginning from the end. It helps me move along in my life trusting that He knows what I need to do and become and He will lead me along. I brings peace to my heart to know that God is in the details of my life. I also love 2 Nephi 9:41, "O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember that his paths are righteous. Behold, the way for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name." Knowing that Christ is the one who will make the final judgement is awesome. He who descended below all things and knows all things will be our final judge. he will not delegate away that responsibility. He will satisfy both justice and mercy. He loves us beyond our wildest imagination. He gave his life for us so we do not have to suffer. His judgement will be a righteous, loving tender and fair judgement. so, even though I had a tough week and did not get to do all that I wanted and had a hard time with the scriptures, I still learned valuable things. I had experiences that proved to me that God is indeed in the details of our lives and I am grateful for the tender mercies I received.

Nephi or Laman and Lemuel. Which one am I?

I am studying the Book of Mormon again. "I, Nephi, having been born or goodly parents..." I have read that phrase many times. The stories and events in the first book of Nephi are very familiar to me. I often think of Nephi as the good guy, the main character, and Laman and Lemuel the bad guys and smaller characters who just never get it. This time as I am studying this book I am drawn to Laman and Lemuel. Not that I want to be like them, but what can I learn from them so that I do not become like them. As I compare and contrast these three men to each other I see the vast differences in their attitudes and choices. Nephi is perfectly faithful and obedient and has a positive and grateful attitude in all circumstances. Even when he is tied up and being beaten by his brothers, he praises the Lord for his blessings. Laman and Lemuel constantly see the bad in all their circumstances. Whining and murmuring and being angry with their younger brother and their prophet father. their horrible attitudes always make the situation worse for themselves and for the people around them. Then I think of myself. Am I more like Nephi or more like Laman and Lemuel? Oh it is hard to search my soul, my attitude and my desires and see Laman and Lemuel in me. I get frustrated. I get angry. I murmur. I forget the great blessings the Lord has given to me in the past and worry that I will be left to wander in my own personal wilderness. I do not want to be like them. I do not want to be the bad guy. Laman and Lemuel were fair weather fans. When things were good, they were humble, they were decent. Then something would go wrong and they immediately lost faith and were angry. Do I do this? I have to admit that I have. Even as horrible as Laman and Lemuel were, every time they repented, they were forgiven. The Lord loved them too. He wanted them to be happy too. Maybe all the return trips to Jerusalem and the years in the wilderness were chances for them to change and become truly converted. Nephi, on the other hand is always faithful and obedient. When he needs guidance in any situation, he immediately turns to prayer, never doubting that the Lord will answer him. And then when he receives an answer, he acts on it. Trusting that the Lord will not leave him to fail. Nephi seeks the counsel of his prophet father and when he speaks, Nephi obeys. Do I listen and act on the counsel from prophets? Do I turn to the Lord for help? Nephi gets some pretty big assignments. Get the brass plates. Build a ship. I love how he does not ask for a blue print of the completed boat but instead asks where he should go to find ore to make tools. He learns step by step, line upon line. I so often want to know the end from the beginning before I act. Nephi has some pretty hard things happen to him. He has to leave his home and wealth to live in the wilderness. His brothers abuse him and try to kill him many times. He faces hunger and hard work in the wilderness. He never murmurs. He gives thanks to the Lord in his afflictions. Nephi is an amazing example of faith and obedience and forgiveness and gratitude. I want to be like Nephi. I have been thinking about these three men. Which one am I more like? I have realized that I am like all three of them at different times in my life. What I am learning is that I really want to be more like Nephi. When I see my Laman and Lemuel side coming out I need to step back and think about what I am doing and what the consequences might be. I can learn a lot from these guys. I have moments of Nephi like faith and obedience. I need to foster those attributes. I am grateful for the examples of all three men. I can choose daily who I am going to be. Today I choose Nephi.

Knights in Shining Armor or a good excuse...

I took the boys to Goodwill to outfit them for the upcoming trek. They were happy to see the group of girls they like at the store. Waverly was also excited to see her girlfriends. She followed them all around. They were nice to her. The boys had fun for a few minutes shopping with the girls, trying to find the craziest clothes they could. Moments after walking in the door, they got messages from the girls that their car won't start. Madsen was very quick to reply that he could go rescue them. The driver-girl even told her dad that M and S could get to them faster than he could. So, off they went to rescue these damsels in distress. The boys might be happy for an opportunity to serve... or the opportunity to hang out with the girls a little longer.

Summer of Missionary Prep/Life Skills...

This is the last week of school and just like it does every year, the anxiety is building up. I do love having my kids home, the lack of schedule, sleeping in, swimming, family adventures... But I also struggle having the kids home, lack of schedule, sleeping in... It does not take long for the kids to complain of being bored, hot etc. Every summer I have great plans to adventure and learn with the kids. Every summer I fail and we end up watching way too much t.v., playing too many video games and pretty much accomplishing nothing. I am determined to not have that happen this time!So my mental planning is happening. I plan to have a job every day, many projects completed, artwork created, books read, games played, miles run, hours at the pool, and yes, naps! Last night I had the stroke of genius to have a summer of missionary/college/life prep. I have one year (holy crap) left with Madsen in my house. He needs to learn how to live without his mother. The other boys can learn with him. So, if you have any great suggestions on things to teach my boy in the final year before he leaves home, I would love to hear it! Meal planning and shopping and cooking are top on the list. Laundry, budgeting, time management, cleaning, changing flat tires (I know how now after last weeks adventure), sewing on buttons, tie a tie... the list can go on and on. Some of my big projects include building a fire pit, building our own patio furniture, building Wave's playhouse, painting bedrooms, artwork for my big wall, building raised garden beds, building shelves for closets. Big plans. How much will actually happen is yet to be seen! I really want Madsen to get a job so he can earn some dollars for that upcoming mission. Matt is taking 2 weeks off, one in June and one in July. We are planning to spend some time in Asheville and the mountains we have yet to explore. The big adventure will be a trip to Washington D.C. We have lived here for 9 years and have yet to make that trip. We will also hit Colonial Williamsburg and Water Country USA. The boys love the beach so we will have to take a weekend or maybe just a day trip to the coast. My next post just might be all about my summer failings.

Prom tonight

Tonight is the Prom. So far it has cost me $400. Yep, for a date. For my 16 year old. He will have to pay me back for the corsage ($50!!!) and the tickets, $80. He is excited and his date is a super good and cute girl in our ward. We picked up his tux last night and he got his hair cut. They are taking pictures at 5:00, dinner at 6:30, dance for a while, bowling and then heading to one boys house for food and fun. Maddie has a 1:00 curfew so I told Madsen that his curfew is however many minutes later it takes him to get home from dropping her off, which is about 7. I hope they have a fun time and that Maddie will still like Madsen at church on Sunday! I will post pictures when we have them. And, for the record, I am going to learn how to make corsages and boutonnieres over the summer. That way for the dances next year I can make them for any kid that wants me to and save them a ton of money.

Prom Phase 1= Asking The Girl

Madsen and some friends decided to go to the Apex Prom together. Two of the boys attend Panther Creek High so they had to ask Apex girls. All 4 boys had girls in mind. They wanted to ask them in creative ways so the planning started. The first boy used one of his t-shirts and wrote on it "wash me to reveal your date. Will you go to prom with..." then there were a bunch of boy names. All but one were written in washable marker. THE one was in Sharpie so it did not wash off. They left it in a wrapped box on her porch. Cute, she said yes. Madsen had all sorts of ideas. What he ended up doing was funny. He printed out "if you go to prom with me we can be M & M (they have matching initials) What do you say?" He put 1 word in Easter eggs filled with m&m's. Then he had a paper saying "follow the chalk line to bring me your answer." He painted YES on a water bottle and NO on the fire hydrant at the end of her drive way. They used side walk chalk to draw a line and he was up the street a bit with a big jar of m's for her. She brought him the water bottle. Fun idea, right? His Eagle project was the next day... he painted fire hydrants. The remaining boys asked their girls the next days. Now the asking is over and Madsen gets to go to Prom with the cutest girl in our ward! Phase 2 is all their planning. Dinner, cars, where to take pictures- houses and outdoors, after prom activity... he did get his tux rented today. Phase 3 may need to be the job he gets to pay for all this!

Perspective and Streaking

Back in high school when I weighed about 115 pounds, a girl on my basketball team said that she weighed 150. I was shocked! She did not look fat, but oh my goodness! 150 pounds? My head was screaming how obese that is. I could not imagine weighing that much. Fast forward 20 plus years and not only can imagine it, but I am it. And most shocking of all, I think I am the only person on the planet who thinks I am even a little bit fat. I guess back then I was just really skinny. My sisters and I are going to go streaking together. Before you all get sick to your stomachs at the mental picture this phrase just created, it is not what you think! It will be a consecutive days (streak) of running contest. We will see who is the best streaker. The big problem with this streak is that Tam is making us start counting today! It is FRIDAY! You can not start something on Friday! Make me crazy, I tell you! The only saving grace of starting this streak on Friday is that it is February 1, and who does not love the first of the month to start something? Oh, and it is not quite totally unbearable because I have been exercising 4-5 days a week for the last 4 weeks so I am not all the way starting something on a Friday. I am on day 19 of Jillian Micheals 30 day Shred program. I have not shredded that much. Oh well. Tomorrow will be my last day of work out 2. I am afraid of work out 3. But, if it does not kill me, it will make me stronger, right? So, today was day one and counting. Before I know it I will weigh 115 again. Yeah right.