Beautiful Sabbath Day

July 19, 2020

We have had a really nice Sunday so far. The kids behaved really well in at-home church today. Maybe the new entertainment center just looks so much nicer than the pile of toys that was there before that it was easier to invite the spirit of reverence into our home. The kids were reverent the entire time.

I was really proud of Bryce today and the talk that he gave. He talked about the Tree of Life. He read scripture versus from 1st Nephi 8 and explained things in his own way. His personality shined. I actually teared up as I imagined him on his mission one day. He still has a long ways to grow but his talk today gave me a lot of hope in his future.

I was also proud of Lizzie. She spoke about the "Come Follow Me" lesson from this past week. She talked about Alma 32. She brought up humility, prayer, and faith. She talked about the SEED acronym and how we need to "Nourish the Seeds and Pluck out the Weeds"...something that I told them this week and Lizzie thought that it was the coolest thing ever, ha ha.

The other kids just sat and listened to everyone's talks, one by one. I feel so blessed to be able to worship and partake of the sacrament from the comfort of our very own home. What a blessing this has been.

So many people are having the hardest times of their life right now. People are struggling economically. People are struggling with their health. People are struggling with their marriages. And on and on. I don't know why we have been so blessed during this time. We have not struggled with any of those issues. We have been so blessed. I feel so unworthy of the blessings that we have. I wish that I could do more for others. I feel so limited in my capacity to help and serve right now.

I feel like the only thing that I can do is pray and fast. Jon and I are fasting today. I have felt the need to fast during this quarantine. I haven't done it as often as I would have liked (I planned on doing it every Sunday), but when I feel a cause that is strong enough, than fasting is easy. I really would like to fast every week (on Sunday's). Or most Sunday's. When I fast, I really do feel different. I feel closer to my Father in Heaven and I feel like I am able to offer up my prayers with exponential power. Today Jon is fasting for a couple in our ward (one of the couples that we invited over for Christmas Eve). They are going through a divorce. It is very sad. I'm fasting for them as well. I'm also fasting for the parents of Kathie Smith (whom I minister to). Her parents have been kicked out of their rental home and they are now living with her. They can't find anywhere else to live. Kathie already has so many people living in her home. She has 7 kids herself as well as multiple grand-kids that are living under her roof. Two of her children are severely handicap and she is the sole person responsible for them. He life is very difficult. I'm fasting for her parents to be able to find a place to rent so that Kathie's burdens will be lightened. I'm also fasting for a sister in our stake who was recently diagnosed with cancer. I don't know her that well, but I know who she is. Jon worked with her when he was in the high council. She is in the Stake Primary Presidency. It's all very sad.

So many people are suffering. I wish that I could help but I feel so very helpless. This is one of the reasons I'd like to be a nurse. I will be able to help people. People will trust me to help them. My job would be to help take care of people. I really hope that I am able to make this dream come true. The counselor at AVC isn't getting back to me. I get the feeling that she doesn't like me for some reason. I am registered for and English 101 class as well as Stats 1040. I earned B's in both...if they are able to accept the new grades (I'm hoping to get an A) than I may have a better chance of getting accepted to the program.

These are my thoughts about our Relief Society lesson that I posted on Facebook today. As usual, I was the only one to make a comment. My comment today was shorter than usul.

"President Brigham Young said, “I do not know any other way for the Latter-day Saints than for every breath to be virtually a prayer for God to guide and direct his people.”

This is so powerful! It reminds me of what President Nelson recently said when he told us that in the coming days we will not be able to survive spiritually unless we are able to feel and follow through with the promptings of the spirit via personal revelation. I love the living prophets! I think I am looking forward to General Conference this October maybe more than I ever have before. I can hardly wait.

Jon posted this quote from President Hinckley today on our Ward Facebook page: "You aren't much to look at, but you're all the Lord has." I just finished listening to President Hinckley's biography and I know that he said this to a bunch of missionaries. I loved listening to his biography. I love President Hinckley and I miss him so much. What a blessing it is to have living prophets on the earth today. I can hardly wait for General Conference. October couldn't come soon enough.

The kids ate leftovers for lunch today. We only have 3 bar stools and the kids fight over them every day. So, today Lizzie came up with a brilliant plan. The boys can have the bar stools on the odd days, the girls get the even days. What a great plan!

Looking at these pictures makes me love our home even more. I can't believe that the Lord has blessed us so much to have given us such a beautiful home. I can't express my gratitude enough.