Liberty......past and present

Last night for FHE we talked about Liberty. We compared Captain Moroni and the Title of Liberty and our Founding Fathers and the Declaration of Independance.  We discussed how important Freedom and Liberty are to our Heavenly Father. We talked about how America and it's importance was revealed to Nephi in 1 Nephi 13 and how Christopher Columbus was led by the Spirit.  We talked about how the winning of the Revolutionary War was a miracle and how a free land was needed in order for the church to be restored.  It was a great lesson in preperation for July 4th. We ended by talking about those who continue to fight for our Liberty and our Freedoms.  We talked about what Daddy has done and how Bro. Lykins and several other in our ward are out right now, away from their families, protecting that freedom. So, we ended the night writing letters and drawing pictures for Bro. Lykins. 

Aileen worked very hard on this picture and is very proud. I think it's amazing. :)

  

Fort Leonard Wood Tornado

Fort Leonard Wood had its own torando on New Years Eve last year. It did signigicant damage to the base, including a portion of housing. This is an amazing picture of the tornado taken right outside of Sam's office on post by his Chief.

Joplin

I had the opportunity to go to Joplin to deliver some donation items I had collected from wonderful members of our ward.  My bestest friend, Daisy, lives there and she took me around.  There are absolutely no words. I will post some pictures, but they do it absolutely no justice.  Her ward was devastated, the stake center, where her ward held their meetings, is gone. While we were driving in the car, I looked out on the ravaged city and could not wrap my head around how ANYONE survived.  But, I do know. I know that our Heavenly Father loves us.  The countless stories of survival by the hands of the Lord's angels and the power of the Holy Ghost and His ability to guide us to safety magnifies my testimony of this love.  This was NOT an act of God, but He was there....and he brought the hosts of Heaven with Him.   

Daisy's friend's house. They hid in the crawl space. You can see her standing over it in the picture.

  one view of the neighborhood

People had been bringing stuff they had found and piling it up in their driveway. Then someone had gone around to the homes and placed American Flags there. The Flags were everywhere!

 The Joplin Stake Center. She says it is said to be rebuilt by Dec 2012.



Zoo Fun!

Living near the St Louis zoo is great!! Not only is the general part of the zoo free, but it's a really awesome zoo!!  This particular time we went to the zoo was on military appreciation day. So EVERYTHING at the zoo was free!!!  Plus...for an added bonus.....it was raining!!!  This just added to fun and excitement. We got to ride the carousel and the train and go on the virtual roller coaster (which I thought for sure Aileen would puke on and Parker would hate.....WRONG! They LOVED it!!)  We braved it with our good friends the Sorensen's and the Watkins! The Sorensen's moved in a few houses down from us and we have LOVED having them so close!!!  We will be so sad when they move in Aug. :(  Anyway, I'm not going to think about that now.  Tillie is Aileen's age and they have been two peas in a pod from the get go.  Here are a few pics from our super fun day.  It's days like this I KNOW the kids will remember...the day we went to zoo in the rain!!

Okay, this MUST be told. Right after I took this picture we were hanging out watching these chimps and Leslie had all the kids line up in front of the window to take a picture.  All the kids had their backs turned looking at Leslie and this chimp swung down right into that window!!  She smacked it as hard as she could with her hand and scared them to death.  It was HILARIOUS!!  We laughed so hard.  :)



Preschool!!

This past school year some friends and I did a preschool for our "pre" preschoolers. Each week was dedicated to a letter and number and we alternated homes.  We had so much FUN!! 

Parker's first day!

Celebrating Parker's B-day

Shanna

 

Parker

 

Haley

Kaytee



Hailey

I'm so sad I don't have a picture of Eric.  :(  He wasn't at our end of the year party, but he and Parker became good buddies!!  I loved getting to know these kids.  What a great time we had together.

So, my next few posts are going to be me playing a little bit of catch up!

I'm So glad when Daddy comes home.....

As the primary kids were singing this song in church today I thought.....for my kids.....this is so TRUE!!  Every day when they hear the door unlock, they run into the front room to greet him.  I'm so blessed to have husband who is such a great Dad.  He's not afraid to be silly and roll around on the floor, or make poop jokes, but he also is a great example and teacher.  I have to be honest....I am NOT comfortable teaching little kids.  I never have been.  I struggle with teaching to any age level, to be honest.  I've never thought of this as one of my talents (which I will get to in a minute). My husband, on the other hand, is a WONDERFUL teacher...any age group....any topic....2 weeks notice or 5 minutes notice...he can do it...with ease. It's something I really admire about him. 

I am also very grateful to have a remarkable Dad of my own.  He is the hardest worker I know and also one of the most tender.  I am so proud to be his daughter and so grateful my Heavenly Father gave him to me.  I love my DAD!!!

Back to my lack of a teaching talent.....In Sunday school today (so glad I went...lately I have found myself in the foyer doing YW stuff) we talked about the parable of the talents.  How we all have certain ones and how we all have some we still need to develop. I have been in the YW presidency the last 2 years I have been given many opportunities to teach.  I have definitely seen my skills in this area improve!!  There is hope for me yet! Sometimes I still get nervous and I still freak out if I have to teach on the spot, but I have also felt the spirit guide my words....when I have done all I can do to prepare.....He makes up the difference. Isn't that like all of life, here on earth and in the hereafter.....when we have done all we can do....He will make up the difference.

Err on the side of compassion

We had a wonderful visiting teaching brunch today!  I heard something I haven't heard before..... "err on the side of compassion".  Wow!! This really hit me like a ton of bricks. I like to think of myself as a compassionate person, but do I always err on the side of compassion? It shouldn't matter why, or under what circumstance a person finds themselves in need of service.....I should be willing to do it! It is never going to hurt to serve.....even if you feel it will go unappreciated or unwelcome, or even if you feel like they don't "need" or "deserve" what they are asking for.  The Savior never questioned before he served...never gave a thought to whether it would be unwelcome or unappreciated. I have had great examples of service in my life, and still do now. Sometimes I look at people (a couple in particular) and think, "How do they even find time to sleep?!" I never hear them question why or say, "UGH! This person has needed too much service lately." or "I've already served so much this week. I'm gonna take a break." They just jump into action when needed.  Service truly is a path to happiness. It truly is all of our responsibility!!  I never feel better about myself than when I serve.  So, I hope I will take the lesson I always, "err on the side of compassion" and serve without hesitation.

Back on the blogging wagon

So, I'm dedicating myself (again) to blogging. I'm such a slacker when it comes to this stuff!! It's never to late, right?  Anyways, I'll start anew and hopefully stay on the blogging wagon this time.  :)