Sunday
What a great Sunday! Today was fast Sunday and we've been talking to Kira and Calvin about trying to fast for one meal as they get older. When I talked to them about it this morning I said, "why don't you pick breakfast or lunch today to fast." Since it was time for breakfast and they were hungry, they of course immediately said "we'll fast lunch." After breakfast we got ready for our 11:00 church and decided to take the kids over to see the new house before church since we had about an hour and a half. We ended up having to go straight to Sacrament meeting from the new house rather than going home first. Jeff had just cleaned out the Armada (thanks honey!) so there was not a stitch of food or water in the car. I didn't think much of that until on the way back at 10:45 the kids say they're dying of hunger. With no time to stop by the house, there was no choice but to go to church hungry. Normally I would have probably given in and let them have a snack, but it just wasn't in the cards today.
All during Sacrament meeting Calvin and Kate whispered their pleas for food but again, I had none. Close to the end of Sacrament meeting when Calvin felt he could last no longer I thought, "this is why we fast!" or at least one of the reasons we fast. To feel compassion towards the poor and the needy. To give what we would have eaten for those meals to someone who needs it. I leaned over to Calvin and quietly explained that some kids, even in our own town, go hungry every day. There are Moms all across the world who hear their children plead for food but have none to give them. It really hit home to me and to Calvin. He suffered through the next two hours of church I think with a little more compassion than he had before.
Feeling a tiny glimpse of what those parents must go through on a daily basis made me realize how I have been blessed in my life and how I need to share my blessings with others. This morning while going through some unsorted mail I found a direct mail piece from the Salt Lake City mission describing their specific needs. As we're preparing to move and I feel like we have way too much stuff, I told the kids we were going to go through their list of needs and give all of our extra stuff (blankets, coats, canned food, household items, pots and pans, etc) to them. I also realized I probably need to step up my fast offerings each month. Jeff and I were just talking last night about a family vacation. Imagine not being able to feed our kids. It makes a lot of the things that we think about each day seem so trivial and insignificant. I want to do more.
This morning Isaac pulled out his piggy bank full of change. It actually had almost $7 in it! (He may be "finding" money in his siblings piggy banks. :) Actually, I think it's just been accumulating over the year and Jeff paid him $1 for each soccer goal he's scored. So we counted it up and I pulled out the 10% he needed to pay in tithing and showed him how little that was compared to what he got to keep. He had no problems thinking about giving it to the Bishop. He had me put it in an envelope and he was BEAMING all morning. He was so excited to give it to the Bishop. He kept saying things like, "Mom, you love me to pay my tithing?" or "Dad, you like me to pay my tithing, don't you?" with his cute little sideways smile. It was so cute. He's been having a lot of ear pain again. His tubes we put in 2 months ago are already out and I'm pretty sure he's got another ear infection. He told Jeff without reservation, "Dad, if I pay my tithing Heavenly Father will make my ear feel better." Children have so much faith. I love that little boy.
Kira and Kate bore their testimonies in Sacrament meeting today. I was out in the foyer with Isaac when they came out, Kate dragging Kira behind her. Kate says, "Mom, I want to go bear my testimony but Kira won't come with me." Kira was a little nervous. I was a little worried they would cause a distraction or be a little too irreverent so I quietly told Kira, "if you want to go, then go, I know you can do it, but you don't have to." She took a deep breath and headed up to the stand with Kate. Kate went first and was perfectly composed and sweet. Kira went second and was nervous but did great. I could tell they both felt the warmth of the Spirit as they briefly shared their feelings about our Savior and his gospel. I was so proud of them. I love watching their testimonies grow.
All during Sacrament meeting Calvin and Kate whispered their pleas for food but again, I had none. Close to the end of Sacrament meeting when Calvin felt he could last no longer I thought, "this is why we fast!" or at least one of the reasons we fast. To feel compassion towards the poor and the needy. To give what we would have eaten for those meals to someone who needs it. I leaned over to Calvin and quietly explained that some kids, even in our own town, go hungry every day. There are Moms all across the world who hear their children plead for food but have none to give them. It really hit home to me and to Calvin. He suffered through the next two hours of church I think with a little more compassion than he had before.
Feeling a tiny glimpse of what those parents must go through on a daily basis made me realize how I have been blessed in my life and how I need to share my blessings with others. This morning while going through some unsorted mail I found a direct mail piece from the Salt Lake City mission describing their specific needs. As we're preparing to move and I feel like we have way too much stuff, I told the kids we were going to go through their list of needs and give all of our extra stuff (blankets, coats, canned food, household items, pots and pans, etc) to them. I also realized I probably need to step up my fast offerings each month. Jeff and I were just talking last night about a family vacation. Imagine not being able to feed our kids. It makes a lot of the things that we think about each day seem so trivial and insignificant. I want to do more.
This morning Isaac pulled out his piggy bank full of change. It actually had almost $7 in it! (He may be "finding" money in his siblings piggy banks. :) Actually, I think it's just been accumulating over the year and Jeff paid him $1 for each soccer goal he's scored. So we counted it up and I pulled out the 10% he needed to pay in tithing and showed him how little that was compared to what he got to keep. He had no problems thinking about giving it to the Bishop. He had me put it in an envelope and he was BEAMING all morning. He was so excited to give it to the Bishop. He kept saying things like, "Mom, you love me to pay my tithing?" or "Dad, you like me to pay my tithing, don't you?" with his cute little sideways smile. It was so cute. He's been having a lot of ear pain again. His tubes we put in 2 months ago are already out and I'm pretty sure he's got another ear infection. He told Jeff without reservation, "Dad, if I pay my tithing Heavenly Father will make my ear feel better." Children have so much faith. I love that little boy.
Kira and Kate bore their testimonies in Sacrament meeting today. I was out in the foyer with Isaac when they came out, Kate dragging Kira behind her. Kate says, "Mom, I want to go bear my testimony but Kira won't come with me." Kira was a little nervous. I was a little worried they would cause a distraction or be a little too irreverent so I quietly told Kira, "if you want to go, then go, I know you can do it, but you don't have to." She took a deep breath and headed up to the stand with Kate. Kate went first and was perfectly composed and sweet. Kira went second and was nervous but did great. I could tell they both felt the warmth of the Spirit as they briefly shared their feelings about our Savior and his gospel. I was so proud of them. I love watching their testimonies grow.
Love your kids. I'm going to miss them!
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