The most important thing I could give you....

I was in a meeting a couple weeks ago and the speaker asked "if you could leave your children one thing, what would it be?" I didn't have to think very long before I had my answer. The most important thing I could give my children, my friends, my family, anyone, is my testimony of Jesus Christ. 

In this age where we share so much about ourselves, but sometimes say so little I realized that I have neglected to share the most important thing I could give anyone, my testimony. So here is my chance. I can't believe I didn't do it before.

I want you to know that I do know Jesus Christ lived. He was born of a Heavenly Father to a blessed mortal mother, Mary. He lived a perfect life and taught us truths from our Heavenly Father and when his time had come he died for our sins, yours and mine, and was crucified for our sake. He was resurrected and lives now as a resurrected perfect being. He is my elder brother, my Savior, my friend and my advocate with the Father. I am eternally grateful for his influence in my life and for his sacrifice on my behalf. 

I know I am a child of God. I know he is aware of me personally. He is mindful of my trials and His greatest joy is to have me return to Him. I am striving to live my life in such a way as to be a light to others of the joy He gives me, in my life. 

I know the Book of Mormon is a true book, translated by a prophet of God. I am so very grateful to Joseph Smith for enduring the trials he did and for finally giving his life to see this work go forth. If you want to know what the Lord says to us in this day and age, read The Book of Mormon. I testify to you it will testify to you of Jesus Christ and give you further light and knowledge for our day and age. 

I am so very grateful to my family. My parents were pioneers in the church. I am sure at times it was not easy for them but they gave me all the tools I needed to gain a testimony of my own. They taught me the importance of family and the beauty of the gospel. The sacrificed for me that I might have more and they did it willingly. I am so blessed to have had them as my role models and examples in life. I could not have chosen better. 

I am grateful for the husband and children I have. They teach me, they help me grow by stretching me, they encourage me when I'm down and they are the greatest source of happiness in my life. I would not change my life for anything. I would not be the person I am today if I didn't have their support. I testify to you all of these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

No More Showers!

Kai has been learning how to write independently at school. They sound out the words they want to use and he knows close to 40 words they've learned this year already. He's actually quite good with it. Well tonight I sent him up to take a shower in his bathroom. He doesn't like showers, he'd much rather play in the tub with his cars or plastic lizards but a shower is quicker and tonight he was already past his bedtime so it was suppose to be a shower. I went up to check on him after about 20 minutes. (I had lost track of time while I made some calls) On the door of the bathroom was this flag. I didn't really understand what was written but he translated it for me.

No More Showers! 

He had taken a bath and was still in the tub getting a bit chilly by now. I had to laugh at it. It's become a war of words over here. This is what Noah's bedroom door says right now.

No kids under 9 (except Noah) allowed

Kai was quick to put up a declaration of his own. He knew exactly who the kids under 9 was referring to!

Noah can't come in my room

What are they teaching kids at school these days! I guess it's good they're using their education but could we be more positive? Actually they've been playing pretty well together especially after I started having them clean a 12 inch square of tile grout every time they tattled or fought. The grout's looking very good!

Time Flies

This week just flew by. Monday night Kirstin did a presentation in front of the School Board for Black History Month. She, along with 3 other students, picked role models from the school system to highlight and do a presentation on. She had Mrs. Godfrey, an elementary school principal. She did a great job and was totally at ease. They tape all the School Board meetings to broadcast on the local station and she was cool as a cucumber. Her most interesting statement was when she announced Mrs. Godfrey's birthday and then said "I won't mention the year, for obvious reasons". Mrs. Godfrey is probably around 60.  I think I died just a little. When I discussed it with her afterwards she was totally oblivious to the fact that she could have offended poor Mrs. Godfrey. Ahhh... the naivety of youth. At least it wasn't intentional. 

Tuesday I got to go on a field trip to the planetarium at ECSU with Noah's 3rd grade class. There were some issues with finding parking spaces so I just skipped over to H.L. Trigg. It was my school from 4th-6th grade. It was a bit different but the parking was free so I wasn't complaining. I had a little bit of a walk but the weather was great so I didn't mind. Later I found out that 3 of the parents that ended up parking on the ECSU campus got their cars towed! (I would have been so hot! $75 is a bit expensive for a field trip to the planetarium.) Noah answered one of the questions correct and got a free color picture of a crab nebula. Only six other kids knew the correct answer. 

Wednesday was my trip to Trader Joe's. After years of hearing Sheila sing it's praises I was finally able to find one close and got to go check it out first hand. It was pretty cool and I was able to get some Valentine goodies for Emil there. 

Thursday was my cooking club. We made hard candy. It was fun but way too much work for me to want to ever do again. Plus you need other people to help. I skipped from there to an assembly at Noah and Kai's school. Kai busted his lip at recess that day and he was a sight to behold. It looked like someone had decked him. It's still moderately swollen and bruised. We celebrated the end of the Read-a-thon the PTA was doing. We made $852.00 last count. Which is quite a good fund raiser for a tiny school our size. Plus the kids were able to Duct tape the principal and the Assistant principal together because we met our reading goal. It was a fun time. Noah's grade did a music program for Black History Month and they had a PTA meeting Thursday night. He was so cute. That boy's a singer. Emil was taking pictures. I'd post them but I don't think you would recognize anyone. I'm going to have to give him some pointers on photography. Well here is one of me that's been touched up. 

Friday I cooked for Kirstin's birthday sleepover. You thought that was a long time ago eh? Well they cancelled school on her birthday because we had a chance of snow, then of course it didn't snow, but they had to make up school on that Saturday so we had to push back her birthday sleepover until this weekend. She wanted Lumpia which I finally mastered, crepes and a donut tower for her birthday cake. All homemade. I drew the line when she asked me to make General Tsau's Chicken. (I've never even tasted it!) I was beat before I picked up the 7 girls from school. The donuts were awesome! I even made raspberry filled! I will have to save that recipe for special occasions as I could see it driving me to another pants size.

The sleepover went well until the girls decided they wanted to sleep out in the tent. Emil helped them set it up and they got all bedded down and we went to bed. Around 2:30 I heard a lot of commotion and one of the girls had thrown up in the tent. So we got them re situated in the house and went back to sleep. She had another episode at around 4am and then she was fine. I hope I haven't exposed all the girls to the bird flu or something! At least they all got along. Here's a pic of Kirstin's birthday with the family. She got a climbing helmet from her Dad which she is modeling so nicely here. 

Today we just hung out at home and waited for the girls to leave. We've been doing chores and watching movies and it's been so nice. I hope next week is more restful than this one has been!