Orion's talk on Forgiveness June 28, 2009

My cute 5 year old gave this talk today. He came up with it (I found the scriptures, but he did the rest. As is pretty obvious by the story.) He did a great job and I am so proud of him.


As I forgive, I will be forgiven.

To forgive means that if someone hurts you or offends you, you say “it’s okay. I forgive you.” You don’t stay mad or try to hurt them back. You act with righteousness. You CALM down!

We are suppose to forgive because Jesus taught us to forgive. He and Heavenly Father forgive us when we do naughty things.
In the scriptures it says:
14 For if ye aforgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if ye aforgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matt 6: 14-15)

Joseph Smith also taught us about forgiveness as he taught the Saints in Kirtland:
9 Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to aforgive one another; for he that bforgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin.
10 I, the Lord, will aforgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to bforgive all men. (D & C 64: 9-10)

One day Xavier kicked me. I felt sad. I forgave him. Another day, I accidentally hurt him and he forgave me. I am glad that we forgive each other in our family. When we forgive, it makes Jesus happy.

I believe God is true. I love Jesus. I love coming to church to learn about him. I am glad I have an eternal family. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Second Day of Summer Vacation...and so forth

Summer vacation is still lots of fun. Don't think that I am going to be able to blog the whole summer day by day, but while I can, I'm going to keep a record. So more pool today--and a great big HUGE thunderstorm. My kids still like each other. I even squeezed in a nap. We watched Tinkerbell...again! I'm taking that one back to the library. Friday was full of fun--especially the Surgical Department Party. Paddle boats and kayaks too! I even let Xavier go out in the kayak by himself. He was so proud that he could do it alone. I think I almost had a heart attack, but he got himself back to shore without capsizing and without me running in to get him. Dad took Orion out and almost went in the drink--but he did it! My outdoors-y hubby. He got his khaki's wet and wasn't happy, but it was good for him. Bella ate her body weight in BBQ and ice cream and was content with her paddle boat ride with Daddy. I was content to meet the other spouses and make plans for getting together in the future. They are a pretty eclectic lot. Saturday has been a day of errands and shopping. Why is Big Lots such a crazy place? I always buy way too many snacks and some really dumb things--but I did manage to get out without buying any toys! Go Mom! Target was another stop--with one purpose: Find the new Dora Super Babies movie. We went in, we found it, we got out with minimal fuss (okay, there was a fuss at the Bakugan section and the candy aisle). So here I sit blogging while my kids, yes, even the 8 yr old, are singing along with "Super Babies...Super Babies...googoo ga ga..." Aargh.

To bed with the minions. Sunday cometh. Summer vacation is fun...

First Day of Summer Vacation

I adore my children. I may not like the last day of school, but I LOVE summer vacation. Today was a fabulous reminder of what great little people I have. Our first day of summer vacation was spent with minimal arguing, a little work and a lot of fun. The only rule we had today was NO GETTING DRESSED. Pajama Day! (Swimsuits excepted.) We got up and played some computer games in our pjs--because we could! We had some breakfast--together! We did some chores--with minimal groaning because of the fabulous carrot that was dangling...swimming in the new pool in the yard. (Although swimming is relative--it is a blow up pool from Target. And yes, my arms are quite buff from pumping it up with the $5 pump from Walmart. Note to self: buy the electric pump next time.) Then it was WATER TIME!

Filling the pool is half the fun, you know. So is throwing in all the toys and then having to make room for your siblings. Bella has to use a stool to get in because the side is a little high for her, but she figured it out. Orion remembered that she needed it and ran in to get it for her this morning--he is so thoughtful. They played in the sun for 3 hours while I vacuumed and mopped in peace. If anyone had told me that I would be able to clean my house in peace during summer vacation I would have told them they were crazy. Meanwhile, the kids were getting waterlogged and hungry. So, next up was an oh-so-nutritious lunch of pbj, oranges and otter pop/freezer pop (hey, it was HOT!) and back into the water. Bella and I had a raucous game of Dora Candyland and then she decided to go back in the water...in her pajamas, but oh well. Finally, everyone came in a little pink, exhausted and hungry, of course. Dinner was even calm and then time with Grandma Susie writing out our list of To Dos for the Summer: Fantasy Island, the park (daily preferably), the Glass museum, James' House, James' Grandma's House, ArtPark, Kirtland, the Zoo and the Dollar Store are some of the many on the list we're posting on the wall.

We're wrapping up our day with a Veggie Tales movie (a little learning about telling the truth) and we're off to bed--and I bet they sleep well. We're all tired and have enjoyed today. I am so glad it is summer vacation. I needed to be reminded a fundamental truth: I adore my children.

Last Day of School

I don't think I like the last day of school much. I've been waiting and waiting for it--I like my kids and I like having them around. However, I also really like their teachers this year and I'm going to miss them. I'm going to miss that there is someone else that gets my kids like I do. I 'm going to miss that there is someone who wants to hear about the minutiae in my son's mind--because my sons' amazing teachers did. So I went to school today and delivered the end-of-the-year presents. I cried. My sons cried. And their teachers cried. I don't think I like the last day of school much.

Rainy Day Blues meander

I have the rainy day blues....not something that is good to have when one lives in Buffalo, NY. Why? Because it rains more here than it rains almost anywhere. When I was little and we went to visit Seattle, WA, I'd tell my mom, "I really like it here, but it rains way too much. I could never live here." I said the same thing to my mother-in-law when she was gently urging us to move to Tacoma, WA. (I really meant it--I LOVE my mother-in-law!) So when we found out we were moving to Buffalo, we did a little research and found out that Buffalo actually gets more precipitation than Tacoma, WA every year (albeit some of ours is frozen.) Talk about a downer--I actually live somewhere it is cloudy and rainy more than sunny EVERY YEAR. Frankly, being an Alaskan, one would think this wouldn't bother me too much, but I get bluesy sometimes. Maybe that has more to do with Xavier having the stomach flu, my husband working late (again), my laundry pile being large and my list of to-dos being rather extensive. I'd rather read a book. I think I'll go make some brownies...I have the rainy day blues...