It is the first p-day of the summer for the kids. Jessie was invited to go over to a friend’s house fairly early this morning, 9:30. She had a great time and has the entrepreneur gene. She has been asking me for many days to do a lemonade stand in the neighborhood. I have not had the same enthusiasm as she has for the idea. Well she and a couple of friends did a mini muffin stand while at the friend’s house. They were pretty successful, each made $8 in about and hour and a half. They even offered delivery service. What funny, smart girls. After Aaron and I met with the AP’s, I wrote my weekly message, the boys did some must do’s and Zac got a cavity filled we headed over to our ward building to play basketball, volleyball and ping-pong with the missionaries. After an hour Jessie was ready to be picked up from her friend’s house. I took three sister missionaries with me so they could go on a Jeep ride with the front top off. On the way to get Jessie we saw a baby deer snacking in the neighborhood. A fun surprise! The boys really enjoyed their time playing ball with the missionaries. Zac maybe even schooled a few of them. J Jessie and I worked on our ping-pong skills. They still need lots of work. We headed home around four. I ran to Walmart for tie dying and craft supplies to hopefully have some fun projects on hand for when I hear “I’m bored”. We already have the tie dying planned for tomorrow.
Allie, Megan and Curtis got to visit with Uncle Nathan while he was in town this past weekend. I enjoy getting pictures from "home" of my Allie girl. She has definitely grown from this experience. I am so appreciative of all who have a role in her life, helping her along this journey. Thank you!
I met with a companionship and their mini missionary on Tuesday morning for comp study. It was really good because we were studying for a 9-year old girl that is getting baptized on Saturday. They wanted Jessie to go teach with them as a member friend. However I thought it would be great if more of the girls were involved from Jessie’s primary class and became better friends to this little girl. I invited several of the girls to come over at 11:30 to tie dye shirts, a missionary lesson and lunch. During the comp study we finished with role-playing specifically with Jessie for during the lesson. This was really good for Jessie so she was prepared to know what they would be asking and she could plan what she would like to say. The girls came over and loved tie dying. The lesson was awesome. All the girls participated and had a great time sharing their experiences about being baptized and how they felt. A testimony builder for each of them for sure. They had a fun lunch that allowed them to keep talking about their church experiences like activity days and primary. They then had an impromptu swim party. Jessie loved that! The boys then tie dyed shirts for themselves, which they actually enjoyed. A win for mom. J
Wednesday morning Zac had is midway driving time. We didn’t realize it included an evaluation. The instructor was pretty intense compared to the other instructors Zac has driven with in the past. Zac scored 80% so more practice is in his future. I am assuming the driving standards are just as high as the educational standards. ;) While he was driving, I worked on my talk for our mission tour with Elder Foster. I also alternated with preparing food for a possible dinner at out home with the Foster’s. After I picked Zac up from driving we headed to the dentist once again to get a couple of more cavities filled. He had total of 5 :P but they are all filled now. The Fosters were scheduled to arrive at 6:30 but we weren’t sure if they would still want to eat when we got back to Sugarland, which would be close to 8:00. Their flight was delayed a half hour and ended up eating on the flight so we had a nice visit before dropping them off at their hotel.
When we have a mission tour with a general authority we meet with one half of the mission on one day and the other half on the next. Aaron started the meeting by teaching the missionaries the principle of marginal gains, or the idea that small and simple things bring about great and amazing outcomes. We have noticed as we meet with the missionaries that they are looking for the “one great way” to find, “the secret” to working with missionaries or “the best way” to teach. There is this underlying belief if they can find this “master key” baptisms will be a given. Because of the “fast food” way of life they want to see immediate results but it the consistent effort in all aspects of missionary work that eventually brings the baptisms but they can’t give up when they don’t see results the way they expect to. It’s the Lord’s way not theirs. Line upon line, precept upon precept. It takes patience and diligence and we are pleased and so is Heavenly Father with the efforts they're making.
I choose to talk about Esther’s example of exceedingly great faith to help the missionaries see how they can apply faith in all they do. Sister Foster also talked on the topic of faith and the idea of working through hard things. She shared personal experiences from when Elder Foster was called to the area presidency in Argentina with short notice and her struggles with learning Spanish. It was very inspiring and not giving up. Elder Foster and Aaron teamed up to teach how to work with members and how to take the mission from level 1 (missionaries doing it on their own), level 2 (members working), to level 3, (missionaries enabling members). Level three is where both members and missionaries are equally yoked and really working together. Elder Foster then taught from the Book of Moses (chapter 1) and helped the missionaries see how God knows and loves them. He shared Moses' experience of seeing the creation, the expanse the universe, all the inhabitants of the earth, and how it blew Moses away. Instead of Moses feeling small and insignificant, he came to appreciate all that God had created, and that he was still a beloved son of a loving Father in Heaven. It was a powerful teaching moment to help the missionaries see that God is fully aware of them and their needs. Conference ended with us all singing "A Child's Prayer", a fitting ending.
Zac went to bball camp at the University of Houston with his friend Sam this morning until 4. He thought it was a great camp until the afternoon scrimmage when he was placed on a team where his teammate would not pass the ball. He was a bit frustrated with that but still enjoyed his time their. Zac and Bode headed to campout this evening at Mckinney ranch with the Deacons and teachers from the ward. I had to do a quick run (30 mins before they were to leave) to the sports store for another sleeping bag, tent and backpack so they were both outfitted. I have never had both of them go camping at the same time. Yikes but it will happen again because they will both be gone at the same time for their camps too. This camp out is in preparation for their summer camps. They will be hiking 8 miles. Bode sent me a text at 1:30 Saturday morning informing me he wasn’t sleeping. Not sure what he wanted me to do 2 and half hours away. It was a rough night for him. While they were at the campout Jessie, Aaron and I went to Sugarland Town Center for Rock the Block performances where we watched young artists sing and play. It was inspiring for Miss J. She sang along and danced. Allie went on adventure up to Mantua during the week. Running in the poppies and enjoying nature with some of her friends. See pictures. :)
Jessie, Aaron and I spent the most of the morning/early afternoon in the pool after another weekend warrior exercise workout. Aaron and I are off to an adult session of the Friendswood Stake Conference and will be speaking tomorrow in the Sunday session. We will be speaking on how the Book of Mormon blesses families. We are grateful for Zac’s driver’s permit. We rely on him a lot for moments like this. He is able to drive the kids to church when we are away. Have another amazing week!