Easter

We spent Easter going to church and Mom & Dad's. I tried to get some cute pictures of the kids in their Easter outfits, but didn't get them just as I wanted. We might try again this Sunday!

Nauvoo

Last Saturday Dallin & I took the kids to Nauvoo. Our ward had a youth temple trip that same day, and my parents were going to help out. They wanted to do a session before the youth got there, so we worked out that Dallin & I would go through a session with them, and Mom and Dad would bring down my brothers to watch the kids. It was so nice being there. It's been so long!

Random Daily Happenings...

The other day Tyler & I were dancing to some music, and he told me to come dance in a certain spot. I said, "No, thanks. I'm just fine over here." Then he proceeded to count -- while using his fingers -- "1, 2,...Mom, if you're not over here by the time I get to 5, you're going to be in big trouble!"

Yesterday while Tyler, Adeline & I were in the car running errands, Tyler said, "Mom there are 3 of us in the car." "Yes there are." "And when we pick up Dad there will be four of us." "Yes. Yes there will be!"

A week or so ago, Dallin accused me -- in front of Tyler (but that's for another time) -- of not doing things with Tyler. I asked Tyler right then and there if he was sad that I didn't spend time with him. He said, "No. You spend time with Addie." I then asked him if he would rather I spent more time with him. He said, "No. I like Daddy more." 'Nuff said.

Adeline plays peek-a-boo with her hands or whatever is in her hands at the time. She's trying to move around -- she can go from sitting to on her knees back to sitting. And she can scoot around the room on her behind. While I'm excited to see her progress, I'm dreading the day when she actually figures out how to move around!

She also find everything on the floor and puts it in her mouth. She has tantrums when something is taken from her. She has tantrums if I leave the room, and she wants me to stay. She has tantrums if she's put down but wants to be held. She has tantrums if she wants to be put down, but has to be held instead.

Adeline loves her brother, and her brother loves her. They have a special relationship already. She gets just as excited to see Tyler as she does to see me -- very humbling. She loves spending time with Dad, which is really nice.

Listening to the Spirit

I am the Primary Chorister in my ward and today I taught the 1st verse of our song for this month -- If the Savior Stood Beside Me by Sally DeFord.

My day was just awesome! And until I walked up to the front of the room, I still wasn't sure exactly what I was going to do. I didn't even bring in any pictures or anything from home. I went through the pictures in our file in the closet, and found a picture of Christ & of someone getting baptized. Then I grabbed a bag of chalk/easer. I did basically the same thing with Jr. & Sr.

I put up the picture of Christ on the board and drew a picture of a stick figure with a thought bubble and the commandments. Next I drew a CTR shield next to that. And finally was the picture of the person being baptized. Then I explained the structure of the song -- that it has 3 parts and the first 2 parts ask questions & the 3 part gives answers. The 1st part talks about actions. And I asked them to listen for those actions. I sang the 1st verse for them, then went through it line by line. I repeated the 1st phrase and asked them what were some things they would NOT do if the Savior were visiting our primary? They listed things like, not spitting on Him, not paying attention, not playing with toys, etc. Then I asked what they WOULD do. The list included singing, sitting reverently, etc. Then we sang that first phrase. Next we talked about my poorly drawn pictures and sang that line and then sang the 1st and second lines. Next we talked about the baptism picture and how when we are baptized we are following Jesus' example. And how if we are nice to our friends we are also following Jesus' example because Jesus was nice to his friends, too. Then we sang that line & then all 3 of the lines. Then we did the last line and I told them that all 3 parts of the song ended with this same line. I asked them to really imagine what it would be like to have the Savior standing next to them -- we also discussed the word "nigh" -- as we sang through the song. It really worked! Sr. Primary sang so well they made me cry! I also bore my testimony to both groups -- which I don't always do -- and I cried again in front of Sr. primary! The kids went around telling their parents that they made me cry! "Oh, but in a good way, Mom." :)

This was a total testimony to me of following the spirit. I had a very nice & uplifting weekend at a TOFW in Chi-town and learned some things about following and trusting in the spirit to guide us. I had been praying & thinking about this song for so long, and trying to come up with some great and glorious way to teach this song that I thought would just be so difficult for the kids to learn, and I had a complete stupor of thought. But when I got up there with my dinky little drawings and my testimony of this song, the kids just learned it so quickly -- Jr. primary especially surprised me because they were so rowdy and just had ants in their pants. But when I asked them to imagine Jesus right next to them they calmed down.

Sorry this is so long. It was just such an amazing day -- oh, and I lost my voice over the weekend as well, and so really couldn't sing very well -- and I almost scrapped the whole plan for the day. I am so glad I didn't!! I'm also glad that I chose to listen and follow the spirit today. I know the kids felt it, and I know this song will be a favorite with them -- especially if they can make me cry! :)

TOFW Chicago

Friday & Saturday I spent in Chi-town with my mom & Adeline at a Time Out For Women event. If you have never been to one of these -- YOU ARE MISSING OUT!!! They are amazing! I went to the one in Minneapolis last September and then Chicago this last weekend, and I want to go to more! Here is a link where you can learn more about them:

http://deseretbook.com/time-out/schedule

Here's a link to the people we heard from:

http://deseretbook.com/time-out/event?event_id=333

It was such a great time! I met Cherie Call, Dean Hughes, Chieko Okazaki, and Jane Clayson Johnson -- who by the way is absolutely beautiful! The theme for this year is Joyful Life. And that is just how I felt going to this event! It's not a cheap weekend by any means, but it is so worth it! The tickets are reasonable and accommodations can be split. I definitely recommend it!