Superhero Day

Yesterday was Superhero Day!

They woke up and remembered.

Duct tape came to the rescue!

We created together 2 wonderful superhero insignias.

Underfoot's super powers are kindness, observation, and strength.

His name is Lucky. He watches for opportunities to help others.

This was not created by his mother....

Hurricane's super powers are "to be a follower of God."

His words - he told his Dad, brother, and people who asked him.

The "G" stands for Gideon. The scriptures talk about 2 Gideons. 

One is in the Bible, and the other is in the Book of Mormon.

Each of these men were willing to be obedient to the commandments

and give ideas to protect their people. God blessed them.

They were normal people like you, me, and Hurricane.

Ammon and King Lamoni

Ammon showed up in King Lamoni's place.

He wanted to work for him.

King Lamoni wanted Ammon to marry his daughter.

Ammon said no and got to take care of sheep.

One day when Ammon and the other care takers were watering sheep

bad guys came to steal the sheep.

The other care takers got scared when the sheep ran away.

Ammon thought it was a great time

to teach the people about God since they didn't know about him.

He and the others got the sheep together.

Ammon had to fight the bad guys.

He threw rocks first and then 

in hand to hand combat cut off arms.

 

The other sheep care takers picked up the arms.

They brought the arms to King Lamoni.

 King Lamoni asked where Ammon was.

Ammon was getting ready the horses

for King Lamoni to go to a family party.

Ammon came in to ask

if there was anything else King Lamoni wanted him to do.

The King didn't talk for one hour.

Ammon asked again.

Ammon went to leave but the King said not to go.

Ammon taught the King about God.

The King passed out and slept.

His people thought he started to smell bad.

He laid on his bed for 3 days.

His wife didn't think he smelled bad

so they didn't bury him.

King Lamoni woke up and taught his family about God.

Angels

Many angels came and shared the birth of Jesus. We learned today about the shepherds.

We watched a new set of Bible videos. The text is taken from the Bible and are lovely.

Let Your Light Shine

Day 23

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16

Be A Builder

Moving away from home was an exciting adventure. First to college. Then on a mission. And finally with my Sweetheart. Home in my heart will always be Idaho. I know that I have a family now, and our home is where we are living. Yet in my heart, Idaho is my promised land. I love how well I know the land where I came from. I love the people there. I love my growing up and the many, many memories it evokes.

Many prophets talked about how the children of Israel would one day be carried off as slaves because of their disobedience. Yet they were promised they would return to build the walls of their promised land in Jerusalem. Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem and started the work. The people in the land weren't too keen on him doing this work, and tried to trick him to leave his work. He answered them saying, "I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?" (source) 

If the children of Israel were to return to Jerusalem before the birth of Christ, how do we prepare for the Second Coming of Christ? He is promised to return. The signs prophesied of Christ's coming surround us. Russell M. Nelson says:

Why do we need such resilient faith? Because difficult days are ahead. Rarely in the future will it be easy or popular to be a faithful Latter-day Saint. Each of us will be tested. The Apostle Paul warned that in the latter days, those who diligently follow the Lord “shall suffer persecution.”¹ That very persecution can either crush you into silent weakness or motivate you to be more exemplary and courageous in your daily lives.

How you deal with life’s trials is part of the development of your faith. Strength comes when you remember that you have a divine nature, an inheritance of infinite worth. The Lord has reminded you, your children, and your grandchildren that you are lawful heirs, that you have been reserved in heaven for your specific time and place to be born, to grow and become His standard bearers and covenant people. As you walk in the Lord’s path of righteousness, you will be blessed to continue in His goodness and be a light and a savior unto His people.²

(source)

(source)

 We can be builders and like Nehemiah not be tricked by what will come. We each have worth in the sight of our Savior and must follow his commandments. I am learning to hope for a home with God and have that be where my heart is at all times.

Just Stand

Have you ever felt betrayed or forgotten or hated? Have you ever had to stand up for something with your personal image on the line?

In the Old Testament, many heroes stand for events such as these. Usually they were not in the land of their inheritance. Esther did. Daniel did. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego did. Each was faced with a death sentence for what they stood. 

Consider that for just a moment. Are there things we face death for? People? Morals? I have not been threatened with physical death. I have though felt some of the sting of spiritual death. In my heart, I recognize the times I didn't want to stand up because I didn't want to look foolish. Those events are very clear in my memory. That is embarrassing to admit. I knew the truth and feared what others would say.

How can this great change occur? Howard W. Hunter gives encouragement saying,

A successful life, the good life, the righteous Christian life requires something more thaan a contribution, though every contribution is valuable. Ultimately it requires commitment—whole souled, deeply held, eternally cherished commitment to the principles we know to be true in the commandments God has given. We need such loyalty to the Church, but that must immediately be interpreted as a loyalty in our personal habits and behavior, integrity in the wider community and marketplace, and—for the future’s sake—devotion and character in our marriages and homes and families.

If we will be true and faithful to our principles, committed to a life of honesty and integrity, then no king or contest or fiery furnace will be able to compromise us. For the success of the kingdom of God on earth, may we stand as witnesses for him “at all times and in all things, and in all places that [we] may be in, even until death.” (Mosiah 18:9.) (source)

Source

 As I ponder where this might begin, I am struck by how my behavior is magnified by my sons. The place to start to stand as a witness in our homes with our families.

Home is strongest and most beautiful in which we find each person sensitive to the feelings of others, striving to serve others, striving to live at home the principles we demonstrate in more public settings. We need to try harder to live the gospel in our family circles. Our homes deserve our most faithful commitments. A child has the right to feel that in his home he is safe, that there he has a place of protection from the dangers and evils of the outside world. Family unity and integrity are necessary to supply this need. A child needs parents who are happy in their relationship to each other, who are working happily toward the fulfillment of ideal family living, who love their children with a sincere and unselfish love, and who are committed to the family’s success. (source)

 With the idea that it starts at home, the parents of Esther, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego must have taught them the law, and at some point they made their decision. As I have participated in our advent this season, I have found areas in where I need to better myself as an individual, spouse, and parent. The hope for this change comes through knowing Jesus Christ better and having faith in the atonement that I can repent and change to truly stand as a witness.

Small and simple

The Tale of Three Trees is a story that is the dream of three different trees. The trees imagine for themselves greatness. Their actual use is significantly less glamorous as a manger, fishing boat, and a cross.

Source

Each tree realizes that their dream has come true after an encounter with Jesus Christ. The trees realize "by small and simple things are great things brought to pass" (Alma 37:6). The trees were not made into something super flashy.

The town of Bethlehem was not a flashy town either. It was a quiet town. A quiet birth happened there. Because of this birth which was discreet and announced to shepherds, we will each have eternal life which is the greatest gift of God!

In my heart....

Once upon a time, I was a missionary. Since I was 3 years old, I talked about going on a mission. I wanted to go so much that I bought a fake engagement ring because of all the marriage talk around me. I wasn't dating anyone, and no one was looking my way so my $10 purchase could have been better placed like into a package of Oreo cookies.

Made with buttons from Sweetheart's Grandma's sewing items

In my heart, I wanted to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. I wanted to share the love that I had felt from the Savior with other people. And I got to do it. Every day for 18 months, I wore a name tag over my heart saying I was a disciple of Jesus Christ.

My Missionary Tag

In Jeremiah, a prophesy is shared about our day. The prophesy says that God "will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people" (source). In our day, God says that his children on the earth will want to know him, to follow his plan, and will want to share the good news with others. They will be good people and will carry the name of Christ on their hearts. Not all Christians wear the name of Jesus Christ on a name tag. They emulate it in their lives by living the law which is their love of God and their love of their fellowman.

Scraps from the dresses I wore a missionary. My Mom made it into a quilt for my first Christmas after my mission.

I am grateful for my neighbors of other faiths that show they love God through their actions and their expressions of faith. Dieter F. Uchtdorf said:

The gospel of Jesus Christ is not an obligation; it is a pathway, marked by our loving Father in Heaven, leading to happiness and peace in this life and glory and inexpressible fulfillment in the life to come. The gospel is a light that penetrates mortality and illuminates the way before us. (source).

I hope that others can see in our actions that we choose a path that will lead to happiness even without a name tag on our chest.

The Atonement during Christmas

To celebrate Easter during Christmas might seem odd. Because of Christmas we have Easter. This post was to go up yesterday, but we spent the day as a family doing odds and ends.

The past few days have been the prophesies of Isaiah. Jesus Christ said, "Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah."

In Isaiah 53, Isaiah gives a complete description of what the crucifixion would be. As we read this, what struck me was "yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him." God the Father knew that Jesus Christ was willing and had covenanted in the counsel in heaven to follow through on "this is my work and my glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." Heavenly Father did not take pleasure in the suffering of his son nor does he take pleasure in our suffering. He knew that it needed to happen for our happiness.

Our happiness is improve when we following the teachings of Christ such as prayer, service, scripture study, and having a Christian heart. In keeping with Christ's admonition to study Isaiah, Richard G. Scott about the power of scriptures in our lives.

Scriptures are like packets of light that illuminate our minds and give place to guidance and inspiration from on high. They can become the key to open the channel to communion with our Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. (source)

 I hope each of us can find Christ in our Christmas to ponder the miracle of his birth to bring about the miracle in our live to live with God again.

The Good Shepherd

Underfoot has been talking about helping people. We talked about what it means to rescue someone. Sometimes it is when they are hurt or in need of food. Other times it is when they are sad.

Day 16

We then watched this video and talked about how sheep know the voice of their shepherd. We hope we are teaching our sons to the know the voice of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd.

Where or where......

When I thought of this topic, I thought of the hymn, "Where Can I Turn for Peace?" Today in my life, I am busy trying to get Christmas done. I am working on finishing up the last present. I feel very anxious and nervous that I'm not doing the other "things" on my to-do list.

The hymn asks questions of where, when, and who. The third verse answers all the questions.

He answers privately, Reaches my reaching In my Gethsemane, Savior and Friend. Gentle the  peace he finds for my beseeching.Constant he is and kind, Love without end.

Day 15

 Isaiah prophesied that Christ would be the Prince of Peace. (Handel also used this same passage in his Easter presentation of the Messiah. Interesting how we now use it at Christmas.) Christ promised "peace I leave with you, peace I give unto you." I can feel this promised peace through the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost can communicate with us the peace my heart craves so much knowing that it comes from Jesus Christ and him keeping his promise.

Some times the whispers are so quiet I can miss them in my hurry.

“If life and its rushed pace and many stresses have made it difficult for you to feel like rejoicing, then perhaps now is a good time to refocus on what matters most. . . . It is good advice to slow down a little, steady the course, and focus on the essentials when experiencing adverse conditions” (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Of Things That Matter Most," Oct. 2010 general conference).

In our family we are really trying as parents to be consistent and to listen to the peace the Savior brings. We believe the peace starts with practice in our home.

“Since 'no other success can compensate for failure' here, we must place high priority on our families. We build deep and loving family relationships by doing simple things together, like family dinner and family home evening and by just having fun together. In family relationships love is really spelled t-i-m-e, time. Taking time for each other is the key for harmony at home. We talk with, rather than about, each other. We learn from each other, and we appreciate our differences as well as our commonalities. We establish a divine bond with each other as we approach God together through family prayer, gospel study, and Sunday worship” ("Of Things That Matter Most").

I hope that you can find the time to rejoice and feel the peace of the Savior today.

High on the Mountain Top

One week ago at church, the women had a social gathering. (We call this gathering an additional Relief Society meeting meaning it isn't on Sunday.) The purpose of the meeting is to bring women closer to Christ. The evening had food, conversation, and an opportunity to share a Christ-centered family tradition. Many ideas were shared of giving gifts through service organizations or to a family in need, filling a manager with hay for acts of service, each member of the family unwrapping a picture of Christ as the first present on Christmas morning, and many others.

One of our traditions is the Advent Jesse Tree. Over the past 13 days, I have shared each day of the advent by adding my own thoughts and feelings building up to the birth in Bethlehem through the Old Testament.

As we opened the "gift" today, Underfoot asked if after Christmas the picture could be put into his room for the rest of the year. I think it is sweet because the scripture we read talks about how a little child shall lead them.

The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.  And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. (Isaiah 11:6-9)

Isaiah prophesies of Jesus Christ's Second Coming. He sees that we will have peace on the earth after the coming of Christ. "Isaiah taught that even the animals will live in harmony: wolves, leopards, lions, and bears will no longer hunt lambs, goats, and calves" (source). Isaiah 11 is to encourage and give hope to the followers of Jesus Christ in a world where wickedness will be the same as in the days of Isaiah.

"And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people" (Isaiah 11:10). An ensign is a flag, a banner, or a standard that signals to others what the beliefs are of a group of people. My Dad's favorite hymn is High on a Mountain Top. For me, this anthem says that there is a "bigger picture" in God's plan than the pinhole approach sometimes I have. Isaiah shared this vision because he knew that men and women in the winding-up-scenes before the Second Coming would need to remember the Savior's love.

I am reminded each day recently through our advent experience that God does love his children and wants to teach them of His plan so they can return to live with Him. Our day is not isolated to receive the word of the Lord. He has given it to His children throughout all time - Adam and Eve, Noah, Moses, Ruth Esther, and many more.

The Giving Tree

Isaiah talks about how the "stem of Jesse" will come to judge us in righteousness. Olive tree are and were very common in Isaiah's area.

Source

Here are a few things I learned from a talk called The Olive Press:

• The olive tree is a perennial, not a deciduous tree. Its leaves do not seasonally fade nor fall. Through scorching heat and winter cold they are continually rejuvenated. The tree is thus evergreen, or “everolive.” 
• Without cultivation it is a wild, unruly, easily corrupted tree. Only after long, patient cultivating, usually eight to ten years, does it begin to yield fruit. 
• New shoots often come forth from apparently dead roots. 
• Today some trees, still productive on the Mount of Olives, are known by scientific measure to be at least 1,800 years old. ^a 
• Even after the harvest, the olives are bitter, useless to man or beast. To make them edible, one must place them in a large stone box, layer them with salt and vinegar, make more layers of olives, and add more purgatives. Slowly the bitterness is purged from them.
• To produce olive oil, the refined olives had to be crushed in a press. The mellowed and seasoned olives were placed in strong bags and flattened on a furrowed stone. Then a huge crushing circular rock was rolled around on top, paced by a mule or an ox and a stinging whip. Another method used heavy wooden levers or screws twisting beams downward like a winch upon the stone with the same effect: pressure, pressure, pressure—until the oil flowed.

Source

Truman G. Madsen spoke on this topic better than I about how Jesus Christ is the stem of Jesse and how Christ is similar to an olive tree and the fruit it produces. I encourage you to read Madsen's words.

My own paralells from the point above are:

• We are forever living. Because of the atonement of Jesus Christ, we will gain immortality. We may grow and change with time but our spirit lives on.
• Today we tied Ruth and Boaz to Obed to Jesse to David. Each was given the promise that Jesus Christ would be born through their lineage and what an honor it was for them. They were taught the commandments and given the choice to choose if they would follow Jesus Christ. "Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ" (source). 
• The gift of the atonement makes it possible for new life to come to each of us. We can repent and make a better life.
• We lived before we came to earth, and we will live again after this earth life.
• Some times we are bitter and mean, time, care, and experience helps each of us to be more specific in how we want to be better to ourselves and to each other.
• The refining process comes to each of us in our trials. We can either choose to reach out and ask for the aid of the Savior or suffer on our own.

All things denote there is a God even the new growth from an apparent dead stump and the hope that comes with new life.

On Target

We are really big into weapons around here. (We have two boys that are all boy.) When a weapon is taken away, Hurricane will use his finger to shoot anyone. He will shoot at Underfoot until Underfoot says to stop it. This morning they opened up the greatest weapon - a sling.
Daddy told the story of David and Goliath. He talked about David being obedient to Heavenly Father and not being afraid of the Philistine army. It was tradition in the days of David for the two armies to get together and pick two guys - one for each team to fight it out. Whoever won the fight won the battle. Goliath was HUGE. David was a teenager.

Source

Taunting was very common. When David shows up on the field, Goliath says, "Am I a dog?" Goliath was insulted that a little boy was coming before him, but no one else would fight.

David responds by saying:
The battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands.

For the advent I made this ornament, and Underfoot was super excited because he thought I was going to make a full size one for him to use. When thinking about the battle, I consider that the battle for my sons may not be to face a flesh and blood Goliath but a battle to stand for truth and to be obedient to ALL the commandments of Heavenly Father.

Russell M Nelson said:

You faithful Saints do not have to fight life’s battles alone. Think of that! The Lord declared, “I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.”¹⁷ Later came this promise to His faithful people: “I, the Lord, would fight their battles, and their children’s battles, and their children’s children’s, … to the third and fourth generation.”¹⁸

Our beloved President Thomas S. Monson has given us his prophetic witness. He said: “I testify to you that our promised blessings are beyond measure. Though the storm clouds may gather, though the rains may pour down upon us, our knowledge of the gospel and our love of our Heavenly Father and of our Savior will comfort and sustain us and bring joy to our hearts as we walk uprightly and keep the commandments.”

President Monson continued: “My beloved brothers and sisters, fear not. Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith.”¹⁹  (Source)

Our weapons may be our testimony  in the Savior, Jesus Christ, of his birth, life, teachings, death and resurrection. I hope to keep my own testimony bright.

Pure Religion

Last Christmas we learned about the Advent Jesse Tree. The family that invited us to participate explained to me one of their Christmas family traditions. When their daughter and son were young, they would receive a lot of presents from family for Christmas. The parents wanted their children to have a more giving heart and decided that they would make Christmas special for someone else. Their inspiration was from James 1:24

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

The parents with their children put together a plan. They decided they would pray through out the year for the inspiration to know of a widow who would need to feel the love of Christ at Christmastime. Usually this would be the first Christmas without their spouse. Once a widow was identified they would learn who she was and would prepare gifts with her and her children in mind.

Source

 The giving vehicle was the 12 days of Christmas. They called it their 12 Days Ministry. Instead of giving one item and building to 12 gifts, they would give specific items they knew the family would love. They would leave a note like a ransom letter out of magazine letters so the family could never identify them. They giggle as they would tell of their night time marauding and daring dashes to safety from being discovered.

Another widow sought for aid after the death of her husband. Elimelech and Naomi had two sons and decided to move to Moab because of the famine in Bethlehem. Both sons married women in the country they were living. At the death of Elimelech and his sons, Naomi decided to return to the land of her heritage. Orpah decided stay in the land, and Ruth said, "for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God."

Ruth followed Naomi. Ruth supported them by gathering the left over grain in the fields. Boaz saw this and asked the gathers to leave enough to support Naomi and Ruth.

Day 9 of Advent

Naomi knew the custom of her people was that the widows would be taken care of by family members. Naomi instructed Ruth on the custom and how to have Boaz claim her as a wife. Boaz being honorable did  marry her. They were promised that through them the Savior would be born.

Source

Boaz took care of the widows in his care. He followed the example that the Savior would teach about caring for the lonely and poor in spirit.

Last Christmas the above mentioned family were directed to a widower. He in turn would write each evening about the gifts he received, but more importantly he wrote about the change he felt come over him to feel the joy of the Christmas season as he had his first Christmas without his wife. He felt the heavens were opened to him, and he was blessed.

At first he wrote, he was curious to know who his "angels" were. But as time continued, he respected their wish to remain anonymous. Each night before picking up the gift, he would offer a prayer to heaven for them. On the 12th night, he shared his manuscript with his "angels." They don't know how the 12th night turned out. This was the first detailed written response they have had. I shared this post with the family, and they responded by saying,

Since we started the 12 Days ministry, we actually haven't exchanged gifts with anyone (friends or family so the journal we received from him was on only gift but undoubtedly the best gift we've ever received from when we used to exchange Christmas gifts. I would venture to say it was the best gift any of us has ever received, regardless of the gift-giving occasion.

As this family shared this story with me, I felt the love of the Savior and his mission is being carried out by his faithful followers on this earth.

How do you plan to share the love of  Christ this season with someone?

Too Hard to Try

Have you ever been paralyzed because of fear of failure so you don't even try? Now consider for a moment an event or task that you knew would be hard, and you accomplished it. For me, I can think of many things that I am fearful in even starting because I'm not sure of the outcome like teaching my child to read. It seems overwhelming and instead of having patience that he is learning I get frustrated with my inability to teach him. I will purposely put up obstacles so I don't have to do it.

Instead of getting on my knees and asking heaven for help, I act like the children of Israel in the desert. Twelve spies were sent by Moses to look at the land of Canaan. They came back with a glowing report that the land "floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it." The fruit was of grapes that had to be carried by two men, figs, and pomegranates (Genesis 13:23). The land was ideal. Yet 10 of the 12 spies said, "We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we" (source). Caleb and Joshua (the other 2 spies) were ready to go and claim the land. The people voted in favor of fear and were left to wander in the wilderness for 40 years.

Source

40 YEARS! What blessings am I delaying because of my fear? Why do I not trust in the Lord to make the pathway bright so he will help me on this journey? Joshua eventually said, "As for me and my house we will serve the Lord." Joshua was to lead a new generation into Canaan. Only a few who left Egypt came into the promised land.

Day 9 Advent

Caleb came into the land also. He was to defeat the Anakims, the giants. He showed his faith by saying, "Give me this mountain." He said to Joshua, "as yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me [at least in the spirit of the gospel and its call and needs]: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, … both to go out, and to come in” (Josh. 14:7–8, 10–11).

Spencer W. Kimball compared our journey now to Caleb's journey,

This is my feeling for the work at this moment. There are great challenges ahead of us, giant opportunities to be met. I welcome that exciting prospect and feel to say to the Lord, humbly, “Give me this mountain,” give me these challenges.

Humbly, I give this pledge to the Lord and to you, my beloved brothers and sisters, fellow workers in this sacred cause of Christ: I will go forward, with faith in the God of Israel, knowing that he will guide and direct us, and lead us, finally, to the accomplishment of his purposes and to our promised land and our promised blessings.

“And Jesus said unto him, No man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). (Source)

With the examples of the past, I can teach my son to read. I can conquer my giants. My friend, Suzette, says often, "I can do hard things."

Source

What blessings do you want but fear to ask for because of the figurative or literal giants in your way?

Late into the Night

Last night after reading our bedtime story, Underfoot asked if he had been a good boy that day. He had been wonderful! He played hard and listened to instructions. I asked him how he knew what it meant to be good. He said very matter-of-factly, "Well God tells us how."

We went on to talk about reading scriptures, saying our prayers, and listening for answers from God. Daddy came in and said we also learn from prophets.

This morning when we opened our advent we talked about how Moses got the commandments and that they had been written by the finger of God. (Underfoot is really into writing in his own language currently.) He said these are the things that helps us be good.

Somewhere in his brain he made the connection. He wants to be good.

I wonder what other conversations we will have late in the night so he will be a good boy and eventually a good man.

Any Dream Will Do

We did something fun and watched "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." My boys sat there watching instead of eating their lunch. They listened to the music and watched the colors.

The show is a lot of fun with the musical genres presented. Joseph's dreams sent him on an adventure of a lifetime. He went and did things that only a few can dream about doing.

Day 7 of Advent

 The best part of Joseph is he kept his base of knowing who he was and knowing that there was a plan for him. He kept himself chaste and ended up in jail. He always did his best and was trusted in Potiphar's home, the prison, and eventually by Pharaoh. (Genesis 37; 39-46)

As I look as Joseph, he was prepared to be the "dreamer" to save his family from eventual famine. In my own life, I wonder what God is preparing me to do to save us from "famine" in my daily activities. I have not been hated by my family, sold as a slave, gone to jail, or met and organized a mass national effort. I do have the choice to teach my children will say "we do not doubt our mother knew" God's plan for our family and that regardless of what happens God will guide us.

How do you see God's plan in your daily journey?

A Pure Heart

My cousin, Benjamin, is a dear. He and I have had discussions about his hopes and dreams. He didn't talk much about his hurts.

Benjamin being reverent as a 2 year old.

 When Benjamin was born, he was born with truncus arteriousus. His family gave him a name and blessing the very same day as his birth before his first operation. When I was around Benjamin, he was happy to just be who he was. He had his feet planted solid - like a firm foundation. He knew who to look to for his inspiration.

Benjamin was a believer in doing the right things. He believed in making covenants with God like it says in Psalms 24:

Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob.

 Jacob's ladder is referred in this psalm. Jacob had a dream on his way to find his Uncle Laban and to marry Leah and Rachel. Jacob dreamed that he sees a ladder that extends from Earth to God. On the ladder he sees ministering angels that teach the way to return to Heavenly Father (Genesis 28:10-22.) Jacob is given a vision on what he must do to return to heaven by making sacred covenants with him of baptism, confirmation, and temple covenants. After making the covenants like Job, he must "endure" to be happy.

Jacob is so affected by his vision that he names the place Bethel which is a holy place. Our home and temples can be similar in their holiness when we seek to be obedient to God.

Jacob is also promised that Jesus Christ will be born through his family in his dream. What a promise to know of the coming of the Savior and to believe that his redeeming power will happen as if it has already happened!

Benjamin, Boo (nephew), Button (niece)

Benjamin's goal was to return to the Savior, Jesus Christ. I am grateful for his example to want to return to his Heavenly Father and how well he endured. Benjamin's physical heart in this life failed him, but his pure heart helped him continue on his mission to teach the plan of salvation. 

A Test of a Lifetime

Last night late my parents called to share some tragic news and to provide me with some encouragement in our family goals. I learned that a friend's son had been struggling with headaches for the past week or so and had sought medical help. Yesterday he had a severe headache and decided to stay home from church while his expecting wife and 3 children went. When they returned home, he was in a coma. He was pronounced brain-dead last night, and today a medical team will give life to others with the donation of his organs. My heart mourns for this sudden, tragic loss of a father, husband, brother, and son.

Now if this were the only event that my friend's family had experienced it would be tragic. Yet over the past year, a Grandmother has passed away, a newborn child has passed away, and a horrific car accident took place that broke bones but didn't take any life. Our family friend has suffered. They seek the balm of Gilead to heal and repair their hearts and wounds.

Day 5 of our Advent

Abraham passed tests throughout his lifetime. He was to be sacrificed by his father. His wife was sought by the Egyptian court. Sarai and he ached because of infertility. He lived in Canaan, a desert that was not very desirable. Abraham and Sarah's miracle son was asked to be a sacrifice. Abraham's difficulties are written (Abraham 1:7-12; Genesis 20:1-12; Genesis 15; Genesis 17:4-8; Genesis 22:2.)

Source

A miracle occurs in each of his trials because of his faith in Jesus Christ. He is saved from death. His wife is protected. They have a son. The desert produced for him and made him a wealthy man. A ram is found in the bush for the sacrifice. God talks to Abraham and teaches him that Abraham's willingness to sacrifice is similar to the God's real sacrifice of his Son, Jesus Christ.

Source

Abraham showed his faith in God's plan by acting. He struggled, cried, and went forward to be obedient. Our family friend has faith in Jesus Christ also and hopefully through their trials they will cling to the promises God gives that all will be made well in the end. Through Abraham's and our friend's struggles, they know that they can trust in Jesus Christ. Barbara Thompson said:

Our testimonies fortify us and strengthen us as we face challenges in our daily lives. Some people struggle with difficult health problems; some experience financial problems; others have challenges in their marriage or with their children; some suffer from loneliness or unfulfilled hopes and dreams. It is our testimony, combined with our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and our knowledge of the plan of salvation, which helps to get us through these times of trial and hardship. Source

 I hope that each of us will take strength from Abraham and Isaac's example and go forward with faith.