Scripture Power

I can't get the lyrics to this song out of my head!

Because I want to be like the Savior, and I can
I'm reading His instructions, I'm following His plan
Because I want the power His word will give to me
I'm changing how I live, I'm changing what I'll be

I'll find the sword of truth in each scripture that I learn.
I'll take the shield of faith from these pages that I turn.
I'll wear each vital part of the armor of the Lord
And fight my daily battles, and win a great reward

CHORUS
Scripture power keeps me safe from sin
Scripture power is the power to win!
Scripture power, everyday I need
The power that I get each time I read.


I think it's because I am in the midst of making some big changes in my life ("I'm changing how I live, I'm changing what I'll be")...about how I approach life, what I include in it, and the direction it's taking. I feel I need the Lord's help in making these changes, and perhaps it's his way of reminding me to turn to the scriptures for inspiration and help.

Christmas

Christmas morning came on my favorite day of the week...Sunday! I got to spend a tiny portion of the day in my favorite place of learning...church! We had been practicing our cantata for months, and to be honest, I was beginning to get annoyed with it. However, when our meeting closed for the day, the congregation sang "Away in a Manger," and all at once, I was struck with the sure testimony of the reality of our Savior and his love for us. The spirit overcame me and I could not sing. I felt like this was a gift from the Savior to me personally, a light into my heart and a lift to my spirits that I needed with every fiber of my being. It was another of the gifts of "true Christmas" that the Father blessed me with this Christmas. I'm so grateful!

The children were pretty happy with their gifts. Kelly loved her memory foam pillow (from me) and the nail polishes and remover from her siblings (all sparkly colors!). Joe was so happy to find a guitar case under the tree from me, and thrilled with the portal "turret" that he received from his siblings. Laine received the exact pillow pet she had been wanting (a panda) and from her siblings, she received a desk organizer and a bunch of writing supplies. Johnny was excited that he now has a new set of scriptures with a snap, exactly what he hoped to get. From his siblings, he received a big block of pepper jack cheese, a weather radio and a lamp (kind of like a lava lamp, only with little fish inside that "swim" around). Santa brought the family a telescope, a game called the Settlers of Catan, a new Brandon Mull book, and a bunch of edible treats for pets and people.

We have been so blessed this year. I'm looking forward to 2012 for a variety of reasons, but I can't let the year pass away without expressing again how grateful I am for the blessings the Lord has placed in our lives. We couldn't make it through each day without the love of all of our friends and family!

Johnny and the Clarinet

Last school year, Johnny took a great interest in learning to play an instrument. I love to see the kids get interested in music...I think music is a tremendous blessing, and being able to create your own music is a gift not just to that individual, but to others around them. Joe is learning to play guitar, Kelly is learning piano and ukelele, and Laine is studying voice and piano. Johnny decided he would like to learn to play the clarinet (like his older sister, Erin).

I obtained a clarinet and paid a few hundred dollars to get it properly conditioned. I spoke to the music store about lessons and bought reeds. Then school started and we asked for information about beginning band. Johnny picked up his clarinet and tried blowing through it. Not a sound. He tried pushing some keys...still no sound. He became anxious about missing class to take music lessons at school. He thought he would look dumb if he couldn't even make one sound. He demanded to quit band. I made a deal with him...if you still can't make a sound after one month in band, then you can quit.

Every day, especially when he's upset with his father, he gives me grief about practicing clarinet. Yet, we long since passed the one month mark, and he's not only making sounds, he's making music! He was half-hearted in his practicing, and I wanted to step it up a little, so I told him that I would pay him a penny a note during practice time. (See, he's already making money off of music!!) His practicing stepped up dramatically, and he's doing much better. I told him we were committed for a year. I'm just hoping that he eventually comes to like being in band and that music can take hold in him.

Pi Day

Today was Pi day! Get it? 3.14.....

Joe made a shirt for Pi day (which I'm trying to get Kelly to take a photo of so that I can post it here. I don't have a digital camera). Have you ever heard my kids sing the Pi song? It's pretty funny. Joe has Pi memorized out to something like 25 digits, and I think Johnny has it memorized to about 12. For family home evening, we had -- guess what? -- pie for dessert! Sara Lee chocolate cream. Mmmm! Except I couldn't have any since I've given up desserts until Easter. Sigh.

Our lesson was on the Prodigal Son, which we really enjoyed. We talked about the atonement and how it makes us "at-one" with one another in addition to God if we let it. We sang "Families Can Be Together Forever" and since we're learning to conduct at the same time, we sang it twice. Johnny said I conduct like a girl, and he wouldn't do it that way, so I had to show him how to conduct like a boy.

We played Clue and I won. Sort of makes up for no dessert. But only sort of.