Basically, we all have been doing nothing but sleeping, eating, school/work and soccer. Our kids go to their practices on Tuesday and their games on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturdays. I was being optimistic. I thought it wasn't too bad and it only lasts for a month and half. September 16 is the day of kids' last games.
One really insightful hit I got was last Wednesday. We were at Suzy's soccer game and there's a girl who have brother who is on Ian's soccer team. That boy was coupled with other boy, hanging out together. Ian saw them and saw how they got a garden snake. Ian became excited and wanted to hang out with them. I remember watching how he went and talked with them. They trotted to one part of field and sat there. Two boys got up and left Ian sitting there and left off. I remember seeing how Ian looked downcast. I waited until he came back to us. I asked him who the boys are. If he knows them. I then asked him how old they are. Then I asked him what they said to him. Ian became a bit distant and said, "I do not care what they say." I asked him same question again. He replied the same.
I said, "Of course, we NEED to care. The Lord want us to keep on caring and wants us to always have feelings. When we stop feeling, it is when we are in trouble." I then told Ian gently that it is good thing for him to feel something. It was when Ian wept into my shoulder. I told him that it is very good to cry. We then talked. Ian told me that two boys threatened him that they will kill him if he keeps on following him. (That threat is a turn off for me, to be honest with you . . . It really tells you what type of shows they watch or games they play with) ... Ian had his feelings hurt. He really wanted to see that garden snake.
I comforted him with a story of mine. I told him that there were some girls who were very rude to me and hurt my feelings. I told him that I forgave them and we became friends years later. I told him that we all need growing up and realize how insensitive we were. That girl was shocked when I told her what she did to me. She didn't remember it but realized how rude she was.
Ian seemed to be comforted with that information. There's so little comfort we can find in the ways of world.
I learned inadvertently from the words I spoke. As President Marion G. Romney echoed the following: "I always know when I am speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost because I always learn something from what I've said." Well, I learned at this very spot how diverged the roads world's and God's are. World teaches that we shouldn't feel so much. We should be harder and thick-skinned. Meanwhile, God teaches that we need to be more compassionate, loving, full of charity. It really hit me so hard and I realized all the more how I need to teach my children how to be God-like in that direction instead of telling, "steel yourself up. More hurt is coming." or "Ignore that boy. He just is a jerk." It misdirects my children and will only give them wrong strategies they need in overcoming the world. I do not want them to be too hardened that they cannot listen to the spirit. I wanted them to be always considerate, loving and tender-hearted. Those are what take them to the kingdom of God.
That is my insight for the week.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
The First Day of School
Ian and Suzy just went off . . . Ian skipped the breakfast just because he can be at the bus stop early and play with other kids. However, because of us not going to the opening school night and introducing our children to their teachers ... I asked Clint to take kids directly to their classrooms. Ian is very put out with me for that. Today is school early out so they will be back home, full of news and full backpack of introductory stuff.
I satisfied my urges in cleaning some of the house. Floor were sticky and spotty. None bugs me more than walking upon sticky spots. Carpet is clean too. I shampooed spots out of it too. I also cleaned the sink put things away. I feel a bit more decent now. Now, I am starving!!!
Annalise is upset that she is not going to the school this year. She saw her siblings totting their backpacks and going off. She rushed around, got dressed up, ate her breakfast and packed her backpack and tossed an apple into it for her lunch. I asked her what she was doing. She said that she is going to the school this year because she is five years old. I corrected her gently about her age. She won't accept it. My little girl! She is a sweet little thing. I will have hard time letting her go when her turn comes.
I have been entertaining the notion in getting a cell phone/pager but I haven't decided. It is a commitment I am not sure I should be making yet. I have seen many opportunities where it could helped me out. But people 100 years ago did make it. I figured that I made it so far and I could in the future. It does sort of bug other people knowing that I am a bit more difficult to contact, though. Ha ha. I sympathize with them!
A couple of thoughts here . . .
I have been reading a couple of chapters about building the foundation upon the rock of Christ and how Captain Moroni bewildered the hosts of Lamanites by putting up the fortress around many cities and the land. I discussed with Clint yesterday night about what they actually mean to us in our life. I asked him about his experience in teaching the youth. I pointed out that we can typically answer the stuff youth answer . . . Fortress may represent studying the scriptures, going to the temple, praying, and family home evening. I think there's more to it than just those. I told Clint that those activities are merely heap of dirt or one brick. Those things just make one ultimate thing which Heavenly Father really wanted us to understand. It is the state of mind we put ourselves into. When we are focused on the right things and have the desire in living righteously, Satan has no way of tempting us or no method of attacking us. It is what an eye single the the glory of God really means.
Other thing I have been thinking was the importance of recognizing the hand of the Lord in our lives. The instant moment when we cease to recognize His hand in our lives, we are not able to understand our personal relationship with Him. We need interaction to truly understand and identify our position. When a person is sunk into the sin, it is difficult for this person to feel that he/she is of worth . . . Because they don't understand or know the Lord personally. Through the filter of their filth, they aren't able to identify the influence of Holy Ghost. It really is so tragic. They stop believing in themselves. They stop believing in the gospel and no longer feel like God truly exists. Repentance truly is a necessary tool in restoring this person in his standing with God. How the atonement is important tool in helping this person to return to the divine communication with God. I think I understand it better and more when I grow older. With divine insights I am able to gain and I am ever thankful for that. It helps me to be a bit more compassionate towards my fellow beings.
I satisfied my urges in cleaning some of the house. Floor were sticky and spotty. None bugs me more than walking upon sticky spots. Carpet is clean too. I shampooed spots out of it too. I also cleaned the sink put things away. I feel a bit more decent now. Now, I am starving!!!
Annalise is upset that she is not going to the school this year. She saw her siblings totting their backpacks and going off. She rushed around, got dressed up, ate her breakfast and packed her backpack and tossed an apple into it for her lunch. I asked her what she was doing. She said that she is going to the school this year because she is five years old. I corrected her gently about her age. She won't accept it. My little girl! She is a sweet little thing. I will have hard time letting her go when her turn comes.
I have been entertaining the notion in getting a cell phone/pager but I haven't decided. It is a commitment I am not sure I should be making yet. I have seen many opportunities where it could helped me out. But people 100 years ago did make it. I figured that I made it so far and I could in the future. It does sort of bug other people knowing that I am a bit more difficult to contact, though. Ha ha. I sympathize with them!
A couple of thoughts here . . .
I have been reading a couple of chapters about building the foundation upon the rock of Christ and how Captain Moroni bewildered the hosts of Lamanites by putting up the fortress around many cities and the land. I discussed with Clint yesterday night about what they actually mean to us in our life. I asked him about his experience in teaching the youth. I pointed out that we can typically answer the stuff youth answer . . . Fortress may represent studying the scriptures, going to the temple, praying, and family home evening. I think there's more to it than just those. I told Clint that those activities are merely heap of dirt or one brick. Those things just make one ultimate thing which Heavenly Father really wanted us to understand. It is the state of mind we put ourselves into. When we are focused on the right things and have the desire in living righteously, Satan has no way of tempting us or no method of attacking us. It is what an eye single the the glory of God really means.
Other thing I have been thinking was the importance of recognizing the hand of the Lord in our lives. The instant moment when we cease to recognize His hand in our lives, we are not able to understand our personal relationship with Him. We need interaction to truly understand and identify our position. When a person is sunk into the sin, it is difficult for this person to feel that he/she is of worth . . . Because they don't understand or know the Lord personally. Through the filter of their filth, they aren't able to identify the influence of Holy Ghost. It really is so tragic. They stop believing in themselves. They stop believing in the gospel and no longer feel like God truly exists. Repentance truly is a necessary tool in restoring this person in his standing with God. How the atonement is important tool in helping this person to return to the divine communication with God. I think I understand it better and more when I grow older. With divine insights I am able to gain and I am ever thankful for that. It helps me to be a bit more compassionate towards my fellow beings.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Vacation/school
I'm trying my best to recover from the long vacation. I usually do not react to changes very well and I usually settle in very slowly. It is same with warming up to people, trying to get used to the bed, try to feel comfortable in new environment and understanding it.
I always have had hard time sleeping first nights at different places. In a week and half alone, I had to sleep in four different places. And every night, I am always worried about something- will Timmy sleep okay or won't he fall off that new bed? Will we be able to make it in our schedule? Will we have lots of fun? What should I be taking to prepare for this activity?
I have been sleep-deprived for a while. Ha. I'm pretty happy to be back home and realize all the more how a homebody I am!
We had fabulous time nonetheless. Pioneer trek was pretty difficult, I will admit. Timmy and Annalise had their schedule at home and didn't react very well to different situation. Timmy was crying half of the time because he needed nap so badly and only will sleep in our arms. We walked 9 miles with Timmy in our arms. It was very exhausting. Clint and I took turns with Timmy and pushed the handcart other time. I have a complete sympathy for pioneers who had to deal with their own cranky STARVING children in the winter time. I heard some stories while we did the walking activities. I heard how parents had to endure hearing their own little children crying themselves to sleep because they are so hungry. It pretty much broke my own heart. Basically, if people just went there just for sighteeing . . . There will be nothing to see. The main reason people went there is to EXPERIENCE, walk in the footsteps, and develop better empathy/understanding of the depth of sacrifice the pioneers made. People basically told some pioneer's stories while we made stop there and there. I know that I said that I walked nine miles. It was supposed to be 12 miles in total. But due to many having health problems and others having little children, our bishop announced that teen boys and fathers take handcarts back while mothers and others drive back to the meeting place to clean the handcarts down. SO I took our kids back in the van while Ian and Clint walked back. We ONLY HAD to wait for 45 minutes! I saw Clint pushing the handcart being red faced and out of breath. I asked him why. He said in between hard breaths that those teen boys in the lead practically were RUNNING back with handcart and all for three miles in straight! I had a good laugh! They must have been very anxious to be home. It took us two and half hours to the camp for three miles due to frequent stops but it just took forty-five minutes for teen boys to get back to the meeting place!
After pioneer trek, we went straight to mom's place in Rapid City. We were so happy to be back into cleaner place (it was very dusty and hot at Martin's Cove. We had to push handcarts in 102 degrees). I washed so many clothes. I was so glad to just be sleeping in a decent bed- and not worrying about rattlesnakes!
Then on Sunday, we went to the church with my parents and had fun meeting some people. We then got to return back home and celebrated Annalise's belated birthday. Mom made her cake and we had ice cream to go with it. On Monday, we went to Mt. Rushmore. On Tuesday, we went to Jewel cave. On Wednesday, we helped out at CSD serving food items to motorcyclists for Sturgis Rally. On Thursday, we went water sliding at a waterslide resort attached to two hotels. Then on Friday, we left for North Fork camping. Clint's family was having camping activity in North Fork. It is wonderful seeing our children getting together with their cousins and did a lot of fun stuff. My brother in law got a new kayak so he was teaching everyone else how to ride in it on Saturday. Ian and his new friend, Jesse, got into mud fight so they had to get their "CHILL" dip in Libby Lake. On the afternoon of Saturday, it poured so hard. Clint put our tent on higher ground so our stuff remained dry. I counted my good fortune in being married to a clever man like Clint. We managed to get our tent down on Sunday before it poured again.
We got home in the evening of Sunday and I was so glad to be sleeping on my own bed!
I will put up some pictures for you guys to see- in slide fashion!
Yesterday, I took Ian and Suzy to store to get some school supplies. The school is starting on 18th of August. Ugh. Too soon! I just was getting used to them! Ha. They really love playing with their friends and they aren't too much of a hassle like they used to be on the first week of summer. Ian, Suzy and Annalise all have soccer this year. I feel awfully torn. Everyone is having games, practices around same time and I guess Clint and I will be spending most of our time for a month and half splitting up and taking kids there and there!
Basically, it is our August. What a hectic month it is!
I always have had hard time sleeping first nights at different places. In a week and half alone, I had to sleep in four different places. And every night, I am always worried about something- will Timmy sleep okay or won't he fall off that new bed? Will we be able to make it in our schedule? Will we have lots of fun? What should I be taking to prepare for this activity?
I have been sleep-deprived for a while. Ha. I'm pretty happy to be back home and realize all the more how a homebody I am!
We had fabulous time nonetheless. Pioneer trek was pretty difficult, I will admit. Timmy and Annalise had their schedule at home and didn't react very well to different situation. Timmy was crying half of the time because he needed nap so badly and only will sleep in our arms. We walked 9 miles with Timmy in our arms. It was very exhausting. Clint and I took turns with Timmy and pushed the handcart other time. I have a complete sympathy for pioneers who had to deal with their own cranky STARVING children in the winter time. I heard some stories while we did the walking activities. I heard how parents had to endure hearing their own little children crying themselves to sleep because they are so hungry. It pretty much broke my own heart. Basically, if people just went there just for sighteeing . . . There will be nothing to see. The main reason people went there is to EXPERIENCE, walk in the footsteps, and develop better empathy/understanding of the depth of sacrifice the pioneers made. People basically told some pioneer's stories while we made stop there and there. I know that I said that I walked nine miles. It was supposed to be 12 miles in total. But due to many having health problems and others having little children, our bishop announced that teen boys and fathers take handcarts back while mothers and others drive back to the meeting place to clean the handcarts down. SO I took our kids back in the van while Ian and Clint walked back. We ONLY HAD to wait for 45 minutes! I saw Clint pushing the handcart being red faced and out of breath. I asked him why. He said in between hard breaths that those teen boys in the lead practically were RUNNING back with handcart and all for three miles in straight! I had a good laugh! They must have been very anxious to be home. It took us two and half hours to the camp for three miles due to frequent stops but it just took forty-five minutes for teen boys to get back to the meeting place!
After pioneer trek, we went straight to mom's place in Rapid City. We were so happy to be back into cleaner place (it was very dusty and hot at Martin's Cove. We had to push handcarts in 102 degrees). I washed so many clothes. I was so glad to just be sleeping in a decent bed- and not worrying about rattlesnakes!
Then on Sunday, we went to the church with my parents and had fun meeting some people. We then got to return back home and celebrated Annalise's belated birthday. Mom made her cake and we had ice cream to go with it. On Monday, we went to Mt. Rushmore. On Tuesday, we went to Jewel cave. On Wednesday, we helped out at CSD serving food items to motorcyclists for Sturgis Rally. On Thursday, we went water sliding at a waterslide resort attached to two hotels. Then on Friday, we left for North Fork camping. Clint's family was having camping activity in North Fork. It is wonderful seeing our children getting together with their cousins and did a lot of fun stuff. My brother in law got a new kayak so he was teaching everyone else how to ride in it on Saturday. Ian and his new friend, Jesse, got into mud fight so they had to get their "CHILL" dip in Libby Lake. On the afternoon of Saturday, it poured so hard. Clint put our tent on higher ground so our stuff remained dry. I counted my good fortune in being married to a clever man like Clint. We managed to get our tent down on Sunday before it poured again.
We got home in the evening of Sunday and I was so glad to be sleeping on my own bed!
I will put up some pictures for you guys to see- in slide fashion!
Yesterday, I took Ian and Suzy to store to get some school supplies. The school is starting on 18th of August. Ugh. Too soon! I just was getting used to them! Ha. They really love playing with their friends and they aren't too much of a hassle like they used to be on the first week of summer. Ian, Suzy and Annalise all have soccer this year. I feel awfully torn. Everyone is having games, practices around same time and I guess Clint and I will be spending most of our time for a month and half splitting up and taking kids there and there!
Basically, it is our August. What a hectic month it is!
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