Fast Sunday was a sweet experience for me with the family. We all felt the need to fast for very specific people in our family. This was Jessie’s first time to fast and was very difficult for her. As the sacrament was passed she looked up at me telling me she was so hungry. I told her that I like to say a prayer for who I am fasting for because it takes my mind off myself and focuses my mind and heart on others. She was so happy that she was able to fast for those she loves happily. It was a great mom experience. :) It was a very busy day for Aaron meeting with a stake president, attending a ward and a branch and then to a coordinating council meeting. We didn’t see him until 8:00p.m for dinner. We did a family/spiritual strengthening activity this week that we all seemed to like (first victory). I asked each of the kids to find an article in one of the church magazines to share with us as a family. It was a peaceful activity, no fighting or teasing (second victory). We then went on our Sunday walk. Not so peaceful. We had a revolt going on that dragged on preventing us from going for almost hour and half. :( Not a victory! Overall for a Sunday, we made it more about the Savior and others than about ourselves.
Busy busy week ahead....
Bode has started riding his bike to school again now that it isn’t too cold or raining. This is a win-win for us. He gets to school when he wants to. Most days I have him there almost an hour before school starts. It is extra exercise for him and I don’t forget to pick him up which is almost a daily occurrence. ;) This also gives me an extra 20 minutes in the morning so I can get out the door on time as well. See more pluses than minuses.
I was able to get my missionary email out and remind the new missionaries about being prepared for their training on Thursday on Adjusting to Missionary Life and the Atonement on Monday. I also ordered food for one of the upcoming quarterly interviews at our home and prepared the sides. Birthday poster up at the mission office for May....only a week late. ;) Zac had a driving time today after school. He can only drive once every 14 days. It is kind of a pain because I have to sign him up at 1 pm on Saturday. It’s a race to get the spots. I am absolutely loving that he can drive! Yeah me! Yeah Zac! Bode to soccer practice and Jessie focused on her weekly homework.
I served chicken salad sandwiches with my standby sides I prepared yesterday to the Richmond zone. We took the Bay City zone out to lunch since we drove down to their area. The zones have enjoyed their lunch reward for finishing the District Video Challenge. I think there were some that doubted our commitment to making it happen. On that note, I have had to follow up with a few that were repenting for not completing the challenge which has been a very positive experience because their intent in watching is greater knowing I will be texting them what they are learning or experiencing as they watch the videos. It is fun to see the missionaries attitude change about watching and learning from the district videos. They report how by implementing the skills they are observing that their teaching, finding or OYMing improves. It's a great thing to see.
A Happy Birthday shout out to my Daddy-O! May 4th! May the forth be with him. ;) He is an amazing dad! An awesome Gpa! I love him! We all love him!!
I think the missionaries experience with Adjusting to Missionary Life is improving at our new missionary training. I think it is because they come more prepared and share ideas more readily. I know it has little to do with what I say but more about what they can learn from each other. I find it remarkable that I learn more about the atonement each time Aaron teaches the missionaries. Just shows that “line upon line, precept upon precept” is so true. We have to continue our learning so that we can progress along the path and as we do so our experiences with those principle become more personal and in true strength our testimonies in the principle. I love that! I hope that is something I can help our missionaries understand and that they will continue apply as they are released and go home to the so called “real” world.
At our mission leadership council we did training on being equally yoked as companionships so we can move the work forward. We hope to help the missionaries understand that they are equal partners in their efforts each day. We utilized President Utchdorf’s talk from the priesthood session in general conference titled “In Praise of Those Who Save”. Great article that is focused on marriages and families but just as useful for companionships. We also discussed our mission culture teaching repentance and baptizing converts, a Preach My Gospel mission, planning and holding ourselves accountable, being exactly obedient, having the Spirit guide us, and beginning with the end in mind. We feel it is important that we create a mission culture that will be felt long after we're all gone. Allie was supposed to get her senior pictures Friday night but because of the rain they are rescheduled for Monday. I am excited to see them. I can’t believe my girl is graduating. CRAZY!?!?
For the month of May Aaron challenged the missionaries to be obedient so we can receive all that is in store when we are exactly obedient. Our motto is "I'll Obey in May" and it's already helping many of them with the small and simple things. Overall we're an obedient, but we have those that don't wake up on time, exercise, hold purposeful individual and companionship study, get out on time for the day, work a full day, come in on time and plan for the next day. It's interesting that those that complain that missionary work is hard are those that struggle to do the small and simple things that will bless them to be better, more productive missionaries so that missionary work is easier and not a burden. Plus they will be happier. :)
Zac forgot to tell us that he had an art show over at the high school Friday night. Each art student did a display board of their art work for the show. Luckily he had one of his friends pick up his display board so that we could enjoy his accomplishments in art this year. I think he is pretty talented. I may be bias. :) See the pictures below to see for yourself.
The weather has been amazing. We have all been enjoying it. I went on a bike ride before Jessie and I went to a mother/daughter tea for Activity Days. We played some fun minute to win it games and a game to see all well we knew each other. Jessie and I may not have minute to win it skills but we rocked at how well we know each other!!! Fun time spent with Miss J. We went swimming afterwards. The joy of having a swimming pool in the yard, it is available any time. While we were at the tea Bode was subbing for the silver soccer team today. Unfortunately they lost 1 to 4. Zac has not only chauffeur's me around but Aaron too. I get uptight about his signaling techniques and his speed at which he starts and stops but it will come with time behind the wheel. I am still looking for the brake in the passenger side floor. ;) We enjoyed going to the Houston Dynamo soccer game today with Bode's team. Great game winning 2 to 0. It was a fun family outing for us. :)