In tune

Today-May 6th-was a great day in so many aspects.  It is Fast Sunday, so we were fasting for a couple specific purposes and I was looking forward to hearing the testimonies that would be born.  A baby was blessed & Maryn was confirmed, so that started the day off well.  The boys were being great during Sacrament and I just enjoyed the whole meeting.  One thing I love is that immediately after the Sacrament is passed & it's time for testimonies, all the boys who were passing & administering the Sacrament go sit on the stand to bear their testimonies.  This is an Owyhee ward tradition that has gone on as long as I can remember and I love hearing their simple and sincere testimonies.  Today, something cool happened.  I saw Doll start to get up & go with a couple of her cousins, and then all the young women got up from their various spots-including their YW leaders-and headed up together.  It was a Fast Sunday flash mob.  It was powerful.  My eyes welled up with tears at the greatness of our youth.  I remember when I realized at age 14 that I had a testimony of my own and that complete and fresh zeal for the gospel.  I remember passionately seeking out my relationship with Christ, which still continues to this day.  I loved hearing each of the girl's tender hearts.  They are incredible.  Our teenagers now are so strong, and lead us more than they know.  It was awesome.

Sometimes the spirit just unexpectedly touches me and I am overcome in the quick realization that my Heavenly Father is aware of me.  That happened this morning, too.  Jillian Nielson stood to bear her testimony and said something to the affect that she is so looking forward to being a mom and teaching her children the gospel and that she appreciates her past & current teachers & leaders for sharing examples of how to be great moms and teachers to their children.  Suddenly I had a myriad of thoughts in my head.
-I am a mother and it is my greatest calling in life.
-There are still young girls who want to grow up and become mom's
-I want to be a better leader and example of Christ to my kids
-I want to inspire others to desire Motherhood because of the way I love it.
-I really really love my kids.

I am grateful Jillian was in tune with the spirit and said exactly what Heavenly Father knew I needed to hear.  He loves me so much.

Primary was another experience.  We've been struggling with our reverence for a while now.  I've felt at a loss to even fix it, have spent lots of time praying/crying/wondering about how to really reach these littles, and have mostly come up with nothing.  Today Annette was teaching sharing time to the older kids.  Just a few days ago, her 6 year old grandson Trey was badly burned by a rice cooker & life flighted to SLC.  She's had her other grandkids and we've all been praying for Trey.  He's doing a lot better, but it's a long road to full recovery and Annette has her hands full being grandma right now.  The kids were having a hard time being reverent and respectful.  She finished her lesson and Tommy Rushton stood up and asked if he could say something.  He respectfully laid into the kids & I'm so glad he did!  He is such an asset to our primary & a great man for the kids to look up to.  He basically told them that we've veered down a few levels from where we should be with our reverence.  He told how Sister Johnston is struggling with some things in her personal life, yet still prepared a great lesson on repentance to teach.  He said that if we don't show her the respect she deserves, we are being rude, irreverent, and ultimately hurting her feelings, as well as the others who are trying to listen.  It made an impact for sure & the kids were better after that.

Penny taught singing time and left about 5 minutes at the end.  She shared an experience she'd had in Sacrament meeting that day.  Her daughter Preslie {6} had asked to go bear her testimony.  She kept asking and asking and Penny put her off because there were so many people wanting to share.  Finally Preslie said, "Mom, do I have a testimony?"  Penny whispered the following questions:
"Mom: Do you know this church is true?
P: Yep, uh huh.
Mom: Do you love your family?
P: Yes!
Mom: Do you love Jesus and Heavenly Father?
P: Yes!
Mom: Then yes, you have a testimony.  A testimony is something we know and you know those things, so that is your testimony."

Wow.  Totally inspiring.  I love the way she taught so simply about a testimony.  She didn't make it bigger or more complicated than needed.  She just shared and had a moment with her 6 year old that she'll most likely remember for a long time.

Penny then opened it up for testimonies for the kids since they might be a bit scared to go up in front of the whole ward or might not get a chance.  3 kids bravely bore short, sweet, and sincere testimonies and I was totally touched by the spirit.  I feel so blessed to rub shoulders with such greatness and hope I can continue to be open to the spirit and the growth that comes from leading and being lead by these little people with BIG spirits.

We went home after church, ate lunch together & napped for a bit.  When the boys were up & restless, I told them we'd go for a walk, so I pushed Beckham in the stroller and Grayson rode his {too small} trike down the road to Jeremy & Gwen's house.  Grayson talked the entire way there and pedaled so fast!  Last summer the journey took us over an hour and tonight it took just over 20 minutes, so he's gotten significantly faster.  Some of my favorite things he said, "Mom, have you ever seen a real live pirate here on earth?, I am awesome!  I will win the race to Bailey's house!  Wow, this is tough work, huh Mom?  I'm feeling a little sweaty-my shirt isn't cold anymore.  Exercise is sure hard, but it's good for us.  I need to take a little rest up there by that tree."  Along with constantly asking if Beckham and I were doing okay.  He's a good little man.  Zac came along in the pickup {I don't think he thought we'd make it!} about the time we pulled into J&G's, so we stayed and visited for an hour.  The kids played really well, but we had a bit of a scare.  Bailey {10} was watching Gray & Bex outside for a few minutes and Grayson ran in and told me Beckham was on the road.  He is super good about telling me if Beckham even goes close at our house, so I figured he was getting close to the end of their driveway.  I walked out and saw him at least a quarter mile down the road, booking it as fast as his legs could take him {which is dang fast for a squatty 2 year old!} in the middle of the highway.  Auhh!  Dang kid!  McKayla was running after him & Zac took off & got to him.  He fell right as Zac got him, so he was crying, and when he brought him to me I spanked him and told him that was a BIG no no and that was so naughty!  He was crying and pointed at the road and said, "no no naughty!"  Hopefully he'll be too scared to do that again!  He is fearless & crazy!!

After that I stayed outside with them and the kids showed us their awesome waterslide & Beckham plowed down it {no water} and ran to the mud puddle at the bottom.  Crazy kid.  Grayson is much more cautious and took a while just walking down & up the hill by himself.  They are polar opposites, that's for sure!  Gwen gave the kids push ups {they loved those} and right before we left, Beckham grabbed and apple & just went to town.  I knew he loved them cut up, but had never given him a whole apple.  He ate the entire thing.

We visited Cleaver's for a while and then my folks/siblings.  We are all anxiously awaiting Kelsey's baby even though her official due date is the 17th.  It was a night full of family and loved ones and we all hit our beds by 9:30 which was bliss.