School is Back in Session

 Things are going well!  School (and work) started up again on Monday.  Caitlyn and Mason are doing something different this semester.  Last semester they were doing the Acellus program, but this semester I switched them to online learning with an actual teacher from Del Sur.   The past few days have been really nice. The kids have more of a schedule than they did last semester.  They each meet with their classes, virtually, for 2 1-hour meetings a day.  Then they have assigned work to do in between meetings.  I have also made a few rules for them to follow that have made our days go by much smoother.

Knock on wood...it's only Tuesday, ha ha.  Hope it lasts!

I have really been enjoying my scripture study lately.  We are studying Doctrine and Covenants this year for Come Follow Me.  We have been reading Joseph Smith's History this week and last week.  So good!  I know that this year will be amazing.  I have read that story so many times and I have never dug deep before.  I am at a point in time that all I really want to do with my spare time is study the scriptures and learn more than I ever have before.  I have also been reading the Book of Mormon (2 chapters a day) and I am amazed at the insights and the notes that I have been recording so far.  I'm surprised because I learned so much from the Book of Mormon last year.  I thought that I would be reading along without really learning anything new this time around.  But it took me one hour to read 1st Nephi 17 because I kept writing note after note after note!  I'm hoping to read it 3 times this year.  The first time I will read it and just take notes on whatever pops out at me.  The next 2 times I read it I would like to focus on one concept.  Perhaps make a list of the specific ways that the Lord was merciful, or a list of how the Book of Mormon teaches us about parenting/teaching/leadership.  Something along those lines.  I'm very excited to dig into the scriptures and see what messages the Lord has for me.

Yesterday was Sandy's birthday.  The kids and I went to visit her and we dropped off home-made cinnamon rolls.  They made her cards and a little picture frame gift.

Every time I make cinnamon rolls I have a hard time keeping them for ourselves.  Cinnamon rolls just scream "Give us away!".  So the kids were disappointed when we each shared one roll (a few bites each person) and we gave the rest to Grandma and The Pettit Family.  I don't know if the Holy Ghost was prompting me to bring cinnamon rolls to the Pettit's.  But they popped into my mind and they never left.  I figured that I may as well give them the cinnamon rolls or else I would feel guilty for the rest of my days, ha ha.  I suppose that we don't always know how often our actions are motivated by the Holy Ghost or our own thoughts.  But if it's good, I try to follow through.  Every good gift comes from Christ, right?

Bryce got a new church suit this week.  He looks very sharp in it!  I am looking forward to him being ordained a Deacon soon.  Hopefully within the next few months.  It's hard to believe that we are old enough to have son who holds the holy priesthood of God.

And then there is our youngest son.  He who wears a suit for 10 minutes and then can't stand it anymore and gets undressed in the middle of virtual sacrament meeting.  I just have to love this kid.  What a joy he is!  We were talking to him about kindergarten today.  I can hardly believe he will be going to kindergarten this year!  He already knows how to read so it will be easy for him.  He will love the social aspect of it.  We were joking around with him telling him that the teacher would say, "Okay class, time to go to the library!  William, get in the stroller!".  We were dying laughing.  William still likes to ride in the stroller but he had better stop since his teacher at school will expect him to walk!

Caitlyn and William had fun exploring today.  They collected rocks and then Caitlyn painted them.

I have really been satisfied lately at how good our kids get along with one another.  There are rarely fights and, for the most part, they are very respectful of one another.  It brings me so much joy to see this happening.  I love watching them play games together.  I love watching them beg to have sleepovers with one another.

We have been very blessed with the children that God has entrusted us with.

Lizzie gave the lesson in Young Women's this past Sunday.  She did and incredible job!  It was about the First Vision.  She put together a google slides presentation.  The visuals were amazing!  I was so very proud of her.  And the cherry on top was her testimony that she bore at the end of the lesson.  She has a very strong testimony and a desire to do good.  She is an amazing, beautiful daughter of God.  I hope that she goes on a mission one day because I feel like she will be a very effective missionary.