Indianapolis Temple

Indianapolis Temple

Love and Serve

3/12/2016 07:31:00 PM Edit This 0 Comments »
Today we were driving to pick up my brother for a family event.  At an intersection I noticed a woman, probably early 20's, sitting with a "Homeless and Hungry" sign.  I felt so bad that I didn't have anything to give.  I had already given my food pack that I keep in the car for this purpose, and I hadn't refilled it yet.  I turned the corner and a few seconds later a little voice pipes up from the back "Mommy, I just saw a girl on the side of the road.  She's homeless and hungry and that makes me so worried."  I didn't realize that Vivi had noticed and had time to read the whole sign.  She has such a tender heart and really wished she could do something to help.  We discussed some ways that we could be better prepared next time and I told her that, as a family, we can find some ways that we can serve in our community.

Our church has put together a new website that is available for all organizations that are seeking volunteers.  The website is free to use and easy to navigate.

 https://www.justserve.org/

I can look up organizations in our area, see what projects are available, and can even make sure that children can participate.  Reed and I talked about choosing something for family home evening once a month.  Vivi really liked this idea and we also talked about that, as soon as possible, we'll put together some more food bags to keep in the van.  I am grateful for the opportunity to talk with Vivi about her love and desire to serve her fellow human beings.  And in the future I will be more prepared to help.

Kimmi's Theory About the Purpose of Yellowstone

8/29/2015 10:05:00 PM Edit This 0 Comments »
We took a family trip out west in June and spent an entire day in Yellowstone.  Yellowstone is one of my most favorite places to visit.  I have been 5 times and still haven't seen everything!
While walking around Norris Geyser Basin, my brother Josh asked the rhetorical question of "Wonder why Heavenly Father made this place."  Kimmi took this quite seriously.
She first started with the idea that Yellowstone was full of "pimples" of the earth that just needed to explode.
Then she went into a theory that because of Man's and Nature's relationship and dependency on each other, the Earth was like a mirror of the human body and "Well, everything needs to fart."  Thanks Kimmi...

















Teach the Children

1/09/2015 07:59:00 PM Edit This 0 Comments »
Lara turns 8 next month and that means she can choose to be baptized and make a covenant with Heavenly Father.  With her introverted nature she is taking this very seriously.  She is quite nervous about the physical setting of being baptized (she hates being the center of attention so she doesn't want people to watch her) and that nervousness is heightened when we try to talk to her about it.  Last week she left me a note on my pillow.

I have read and re-read that note dozens of times since then and I can't stop thinking about it either.  It struck me like a lightning bolt:  I have a responsibility to teach my children about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  Now, I've always known this.  Reed and I have been teaching them since they were newborns in our arms about their heavenly parents and their Savior.  But this note just made the gravity of our responsibility even more real.  

Reed wrote her a sweet note, telling her that it IS hard to believe and know something when you can't see it.  He gave her a few scriptures to read and set up a time to talk with her again.  Lara and I talked the next morning about how we can help each other see things throughout the day that testify of the love of our Heavenly Father.  We had a family home evening lesson and talked about all the things that we can do throughout our lives that strengthen our faith.  

I am glad Lara wrote me this note.  I am glad she asked me for help.  I hope I can help her.  I hope I can teach her although I am learning that it may be true what people say; children teach you far more than you teach them.

Sickness

7/29/2014 08:07:00 PM Edit This 0 Comments »
Lara:  Did you know that when you are about to throw-up your nose gets red, Mommy?

Vivi:  If you are not feeling well, then you should just lie down and go to bed.

Thanks, sweethearts.