Random Sampler

-- It's rare I let the boys linger in bath for very long. I'm a 'fast bather' with my kids and I always have been. This is a mom job I like over just after it started. Often I'm draining water after only a few inches have been filled in. They're washed, rinsed and clean, what's the reason to stay in longer? Water all over the bathroom is not my gig. Reed has been the luckiest kid, I'm more fun now I guess. I've let him linger in the bath double/triple the time compared to the older kids (maybe because 3 under 3yrs was hard??). He loves it though I'm not sure why, he likes tepid water. Not appealing to me. He's been wanting to bathe in my big tub forever and I finally let him yesterday. Owen wanted in on the action too. I had to sit and hold him, it was pretty deep but man he loved it. He tried eating bubbles and drinking the water (so gross). I had him out in a flash but Reed swam for quite some time. He was forced out after the water was finally cold.

Shadrach, Meshach, Abed-nego and King Nebuchadnezzar

-- Last night for FHE, we read about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in the Old Testament as part of our lesson. Without telling them what story we'd be reading, I asked them if they'd rather act out a story from the scriptures or use toys. They said toys so I thought I'd show you our props. I was pretty impressed they were pilots and not Batman, Robin and Joker. King Nebuchadnezzar is a little small but he's the meanest guy we could find. Except maybe Two Face. It marginally helped Reed stay focused during the lesson. It's been awhile since I've had a 5 year, I must surely have forgotten they are not reverent and they don't sit still. I keep thinking he will one day. It's not here yet.

We also read parts from one of my favorite conference talks, But If Not..... by Dennis Simmons. It's such a good talk and definitely worth your time to read. A few of my favorite quotes, emphasis added by the author (too lazy to take out all the footnotes, just extra links to click, ha)~

'Faith is not bravado, not just a wish, not just a hope. True faith is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ—confidence and trust in Jesus Christ that leads a person to follow Him. 1
Centuries ago, Daniel and his young associates were suddenly thrust from security into the world—a world foreign and intimidating. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego refused to bow down and worship a golden image set up by the king, a furious Nebuchadnezzar told them that if they would not worship as commanded, they would immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. “And who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?” 2
The three young men quickly and confidently responded, “If it be so [if you cast us into the furnace], our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand.” That sounds like my eighth-grade kind of faith. But then they demonstrated that they fully understood what faith is. They continued, “But if not, … we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” 3 That is a statement of true faith.
They knew that they could trust God—even if things didn’t turn out the way they hoped. 4 They knew that faith is more than mental assent, more than an acknowledgment that God lives. Faith is total trust in Him.
Faith is believing that although we do not understand all things, He does. Faith is knowing that although our power is limited, His is not. Faith in Jesus Christ consists of complete reliance on Him.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego knew they could always rely on Him because they knew His plan, and they knew that He does not change. 5 They knew, as we know, that mortality is not an accident of nature. It is a brief segment of the great plan 6 of our loving Father in Heaven to make it possible for us, His sons and daughters, to achieve the same blessings He enjoys, if we are willing.'

 'Men accomplish marvelous things by trusting in the Lord and keeping His commandments—by exercising faith even when they don’t know how the Lord is shaping them.'


'What does the Lord expect of us with respect to our challenges? He expects us to do all we can do. He does the rest. Nephi said, “For we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.” 19
We must have the same faith as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.
Our God will deliver us from ridicule and persecution, but if not. … Our God will deliver us from sickness and disease, but if not … . He will deliver us from loneliness, depression, or fear, but if not. … Our God will deliver us from threats, accusations, and insecurity, but if not. … He will deliver us from death or impairment of loved ones, but if not, … we will trust in the Lord.
Our God will see that we receive justice and fairness, but if not. … He will make sure that we are loved and recognized, but if not. … We will receive a perfect companion and righteous and obedient children, but if not, … we will have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, knowing that if we do all we can do, we will, in His time and in His way, be delivered and receive all that He has. 20'

I believe this is such an important lesson in our own conversions. Read the talk and share your thoughts with me. I'd love to hear them. 

 -- Today was pajama day at school for Nathan and Dane. More than once, and to each boy more than once, I got after them for not getting dressed in a timely manner. 'It's pajama day mom.... for the FIFTH time'. Yeah, it really took that many times. This is soooo against Nathan's nature. He doesn't like wearing sweats to school or the store even. Once he came home he went right upstairs and put jeans on. Funny kid.

-- I went to the dentist today (don't worry, no mouth pictures) and had a couple fillings. Having babies is hard on my teeth and I haven't been the greatest at getting in this last year. I don't know what's wrong with me in my middle age, but I could do without visiting that nice, rich guy and his loud drill. I never had dental anxiety as a kid, I liked going even. And now with TV's in the ceiling, what's the problem? Who knows, but I've got one. Not looking forward to the next appointment I avoided making. I have to recover from this one first!