Look! I did it!
I made a page for my FHE lesson. I thought I would relaly have to post all 5 pages to the regular blog and people would just have to wear out their finger paging down through the whole thing. But, I finally (kind of accidentally) figured out how to do it.
I feel amazing!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
A Symbolic Passover Dinner
I hate to say aloud I did a Passover dinner in case some Jewish person accidentally came across it and is offended.
However, for Family Home evening last night, we did a sort of Passover type dinner. I butchered the whole Kosher / Unleavened Bread type thing. I skipped around in the order of things so it made more sense to me. I also put in plenty of Christianity beliefs and truths we know through modern day revelation. I probably shouldn't even call it a passover.
We didn't eat the right foods at the right time or any of that, but we did discuss what it was all about. If my children ever go to a real Jewish passover, they would at least have some idea of what it is all about. Hopefully, they just won't say anything about "When is the bacon dish coming out?" (part of my main dish last night!) I'll stress that part next year.
I'm attaching the file I typed up telling me what to do for the lesson / meal last night. Hopefully it will be here on the side (we'll see if I know how).
I put a tablecloth on our table (with the leaf in it) and set the table with my china, goblets, etc. I have huge stemware that I used for ice water and smaller glasses for the "wine" (Of course, we used juice instead of wine: cranberry pomagranite, sparkling cider, and milk).
This was a last minute idea for me, so I used my regular menu items---a Meat & Bean dish and cornbread as my main dinner. In addition to the regular dinner, I also put out the following on each plate:
While eating our regular dinner (after all the special stuff) we talked about the Hebrews getting quail and bread from heaven. We talked about how it didn't need to be cooked because God took care of them so it would taste good to them as it was. We talked about Cornbread being made from grains of the earth and how the Egyptains had stored grain to get through the famine, etc.
I think with this lesson written out now, next year I will be able to put more focus on the food and know my Exodus story in more detail. March is a good month to read directly from the Bible about this time. There is a lot I had forgotten or didn't see the symbolism of it like I do now as an adult.
However, for Family Home evening last night, we did a sort of Passover type dinner. I butchered the whole Kosher / Unleavened Bread type thing. I skipped around in the order of things so it made more sense to me. I also put in plenty of Christianity beliefs and truths we know through modern day revelation. I probably shouldn't even call it a passover.
We didn't eat the right foods at the right time or any of that, but we did discuss what it was all about. If my children ever go to a real Jewish passover, they would at least have some idea of what it is all about. Hopefully, they just won't say anything about "When is the bacon dish coming out?" (part of my main dish last night!) I'll stress that part next year.
I'm attaching the file I typed up telling me what to do for the lesson / meal last night. Hopefully it will be here on the side (we'll see if I know how).
I put a tablecloth on our table (with the leaf in it) and set the table with my china, goblets, etc. I have huge stemware that I used for ice water and smaller glasses for the "wine" (Of course, we used juice instead of wine: cranberry pomagranite, sparkling cider, and milk).
This was a last minute idea for me, so I used my regular menu items---a Meat & Bean dish and cornbread as my main dinner. In addition to the regular dinner, I also put out the following on each plate:
Spinach leaf in Salt Water
Lettuce leaf with a dollop of horseradish (Bitter herbs)
Granola
Slice of hard boiled Egg
Cracker
Monday, March 28, 2011
Suggestions
With time at a premium and no one else participating in this blog, how do you suggest I find time to post AND to read scriptures?
Friday, March 18, 2011
Reading versus Feasting
I keep a "scripture writing journal" where I make notes in it as I am reading. You pay attention more when you are reading because you look for things write down. This has helped me feel like I am "feasting" better. Instead of just reading to get done, I am reading and looking for things. Things that give me a purpose for reading that day.
Even if you don't want to blog, a scripture journal is a worthwhile thing. I just use a small, cute little notebook and keep it with my scriptures.
Lately, I've been trying out the LDS.org study guide section. You log in and go under Tools and "My study Notebook". Then you can read scriptures, the Ensign, conference articles or whatever, and highlight, bookmark, copy and paste, etc." as you go and keep everything online. The nice thing about that is when you are out of town, you don't use the excuse that you don't want to read scriptures cause you don't have your scripture reading journal to keep notes in. (Yes, I have thought that before and used that as my excuse).
The have a section for a "journal" also and you can have multiple journals---scripture reading one, personal, or whatever. The problem is, I am not sure how much personal stuff to put in there. Will I be able to print it out eventually? That is the unknown right now with these new options online.
Even if you don't want to blog, a scripture journal is a worthwhile thing. I just use a small, cute little notebook and keep it with my scriptures.
Lately, I've been trying out the LDS.org study guide section. You log in and go under Tools and "My study Notebook". Then you can read scriptures, the Ensign, conference articles or whatever, and highlight, bookmark, copy and paste, etc." as you go and keep everything online. The nice thing about that is when you are out of town, you don't use the excuse that you don't want to read scriptures cause you don't have your scripture reading journal to keep notes in. (Yes, I have thought that before and used that as my excuse).
The have a section for a "journal" also and you can have multiple journals---scripture reading one, personal, or whatever. The problem is, I am not sure how much personal stuff to put in there. Will I be able to print it out eventually? That is the unknown right now with these new options online.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Matthew 13:8
I remember someone pointing out that some seeds fall into good ground and bring forth 30 fold, some sixty fold, and some 100 fold. There is a big difference there between yields. There is not difference though, in the quality of the fruit. Only in how much one can give.
We are all at different places in the gospel and sometimes I forget that. I can be impatient with what others "give". Why can't they sacrifice 3 hours that week, like I am? They've made the same covenants that I have in the temple. Because they aren't that developed right now. And some never will be.
There are people that are lazy, distracted, or just not that "into the gospel" in their life. But, this part of the parable isn't about them. Some people are full size apple trees and some are dwarf apple trees. No matter how old the dwarf trees get, they will never be able to produce as many apples in a year as the full size tree can. That isn't because the dwarf tree is lazy or unrighteousness or selfish. It is because they are meant to fulfill the measure of THEIR creation....not the full size tree's creation.
That's where President Hinkley's "Do your best, but make sure it is your very best" comes into play. Who knew you could get so much out of just 3 line verse? : )
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Fertile Soil
So, I have been gone the last 2 weeks from church, but I think this Sunday's lesson is #11 about Matthew 13.
I think I am going to use the idea for "family discussion" in the little SS study guide but do the Parable of the sower instead of the wheat & the tares for our FHE. The wheat & the tares seems to be more about the world, the 2nd coming, judgement, etc. The sower seems to be more of what relates to my family right now.
The question in the study guide is why do you think the parable focuses more on the ground than the sower or the seed. As my children age and start developing their own testimonies (or not), I am fully aware that the soil really is the thing that matters the most. A boring sacrament talk, a blow off Youth Conference, or whatever isn't nearly as important as the person's soil that is listening to these things.
When your heart is in the right place, you can still pick up nugget of wisdom or feel the prick of the spirit regardless of the quality of the speaker or the spiritualness of the activity. Parents, teachers, etc. can dump compost into our soil, water the seeds, etc., but it is really up to agency and personal choice as to what we do with these things.
What kind of soil are we?
Stony? not a lot of soil to grow in. No roots so when the sun comes out they get burned and die. Both adults and kids are often living off someone else's testimony and not developing their own. So, when something happens--whether to the other's strong testimony or to your relationship with that person--you lose your testimony also.
Thorny? getting choked from the thorns. Is that temptations and the world that they succumb to?
Good ground? bring forth much fruit. You can look around at families that pretty much never prepared their kid's soil (church attendance, FHE, etc.) and yet these kids grow up, go on missions, marry in the temple, etc. Their soil was good soil even though their parents may have had stony or thorny soil. It is what each individual person is willing to hear. "Who hath ears to hear, let him hear."
Did we fall by the Wayside when planted? Are we those that hear but doesn't understand? Have we taken the time to try to understand? Do we have any desire to understand or do we flat out just not want it?
Just like the glass half full or half empty, I think everything in life is what you are willing to see and put into it.
The same person can be snobby and friendly. The gospel can be your wings or your shackles.
Members of the church can be your strength or your downfall. It is YOU. Your heart. Your prepareness. Your willingness to receive.
I think I am going to use the idea for "family discussion" in the little SS study guide but do the Parable of the sower instead of the wheat & the tares for our FHE. The wheat & the tares seems to be more about the world, the 2nd coming, judgement, etc. The sower seems to be more of what relates to my family right now.
The question in the study guide is why do you think the parable focuses more on the ground than the sower or the seed. As my children age and start developing their own testimonies (or not), I am fully aware that the soil really is the thing that matters the most. A boring sacrament talk, a blow off Youth Conference, or whatever isn't nearly as important as the person's soil that is listening to these things.
When your heart is in the right place, you can still pick up nugget of wisdom or feel the prick of the spirit regardless of the quality of the speaker or the spiritualness of the activity. Parents, teachers, etc. can dump compost into our soil, water the seeds, etc., but it is really up to agency and personal choice as to what we do with these things.
What kind of soil are we?
Stony? not a lot of soil to grow in. No roots so when the sun comes out they get burned and die. Both adults and kids are often living off someone else's testimony and not developing their own. So, when something happens--whether to the other's strong testimony or to your relationship with that person--you lose your testimony also.
Thorny? getting choked from the thorns. Is that temptations and the world that they succumb to?
Good ground? bring forth much fruit. You can look around at families that pretty much never prepared their kid's soil (church attendance, FHE, etc.) and yet these kids grow up, go on missions, marry in the temple, etc. Their soil was good soil even though their parents may have had stony or thorny soil. It is what each individual person is willing to hear. "Who hath ears to hear, let him hear."
Did we fall by the Wayside when planted? Are we those that hear but doesn't understand? Have we taken the time to try to understand? Do we have any desire to understand or do we flat out just not want it?
Just like the glass half full or half empty, I think everything in life is what you are willing to see and put into it.
The same person can be snobby and friendly. The gospel can be your wings or your shackles.
Members of the church can be your strength or your downfall. It is YOU. Your heart. Your prepareness. Your willingness to receive.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
post cruise entry
I bet you think I haven't read scriptures since my last post, but that is not true. I actually read multiple times in February, but I didn't have time to post. The thought of taking the time to write up what I was thinking and feeling was overwhelming! February was a crazy busy month! I forget to grab the travel size BoM out of the van in California, so I didn't read any on the cruise.
I was really irritated at how I was going on a cruise---something I have been dreaming of doing for 30+ years and I was too stinking busy to get ready for it. Crazy! It's not like I thought the whole world would stop for me to prepare for my cruise, but I guess it would a little. Naturally, since I control my world, it didn't stop cause I had scheduled way too much stuff for myself! It took about 3 or 4 days of being gone before my body really slowed down and relaxed, I think! Starting about Wednesday, I started sleeping really sound and heavy. I was more content to sit and feel the sun on my face instead of feeling like I had to be something a little "productive"--even if it was reading. It was so very good for my body to have this big SLOW DOWN time. It's kind of unsettling and even a little scary to realize how hard it is to really relax when you live a lifestyle like mine.
So, I have returned a kinder, gentler woman. (Good thing Mike doesn't read my blog---He'd roll his eyes and be like, "Oh boy! Here we go again.) But I mean it!
So far this week---starting on Monday---I've done pretty good. I'm actually struggling today a bit---hopping around with posting here, cleaning the kitchen, ripping stuff out of newspapers, making notes on my RS agenda notes and stuff. See, that is BAD, BAD, BAD!
The reason I've done good on Monday and Tuesday is because I didn't try to do anything extra. I worked on unpacking, doing the errands that needed to be done, unpacking some more, laundry, cooking dinner, doing car pool, scripture reading (2 days!) and stuff like that. I did not start listening to phone messages (15 of them) or check emails (156 of them) until late yesterday afternoon. That's a little where the frenzy is starting because I have responses to make and such. But, I am working hard at self talk here to keep me in line. "No. Focus on one thing at a time." "Finish the post and then go back to the kitchen." (cause I started on the kitchen when I was talking on the phone since I couldn't type then). Stuff like that.
I am really beginning to see that taking GOOD care of your family & home takes more time then I was giving it. If I am planning meals, shopping for the right stuff, cleaning the house if they kids don't, being ready for my RS meetings, having time to listen to my children, helping them get caught up with homework, etc. then I don't have a lot of extra time for all these other things that I am always trying to slide in there......PTA, city events, and all this other stuff.
So, I am working in earnest on being choosier with what I do with my time. I think if I could do that for a month or so, I would feel so much more in control with my family, home and church life and be able to add in a few things wisely. Wisely. That's the ticket.
Well, this isn't really a post about reading scriptures. I guess I could throw something in about "Be Still and Know that I am God" or "To every thing there is a Season" or something, but I won't for now. I started this blog with the hopes that ward members would see my struggle and join in with their own struggles while feeling better at the realization that "everyone else" isn't doing things perfectly. I was thinking someone else could be blogging on here about their efforts to have FHE each Monday or not yell at their kids or whatever they wanted to work on. That hasn't really happened, but the license was out there for their to be blogging about more then scripture reading. So, I am covered with that. : )
Next post, scriptures.
I was really irritated at how I was going on a cruise---something I have been dreaming of doing for 30+ years and I was too stinking busy to get ready for it. Crazy! It's not like I thought the whole world would stop for me to prepare for my cruise, but I guess it would a little. Naturally, since I control my world, it didn't stop cause I had scheduled way too much stuff for myself! It took about 3 or 4 days of being gone before my body really slowed down and relaxed, I think! Starting about Wednesday, I started sleeping really sound and heavy. I was more content to sit and feel the sun on my face instead of feeling like I had to be something a little "productive"--even if it was reading. It was so very good for my body to have this big SLOW DOWN time. It's kind of unsettling and even a little scary to realize how hard it is to really relax when you live a lifestyle like mine.
So, I have returned a kinder, gentler woman. (Good thing Mike doesn't read my blog---He'd roll his eyes and be like, "Oh boy! Here we go again.) But I mean it!
So far this week---starting on Monday---I've done pretty good. I'm actually struggling today a bit---hopping around with posting here, cleaning the kitchen, ripping stuff out of newspapers, making notes on my RS agenda notes and stuff. See, that is BAD, BAD, BAD!
The reason I've done good on Monday and Tuesday is because I didn't try to do anything extra. I worked on unpacking, doing the errands that needed to be done, unpacking some more, laundry, cooking dinner, doing car pool, scripture reading (2 days!) and stuff like that. I did not start listening to phone messages (15 of them) or check emails (156 of them) until late yesterday afternoon. That's a little where the frenzy is starting because I have responses to make and such. But, I am working hard at self talk here to keep me in line. "No. Focus on one thing at a time." "Finish the post and then go back to the kitchen." (cause I started on the kitchen when I was talking on the phone since I couldn't type then). Stuff like that.
I am really beginning to see that taking GOOD care of your family & home takes more time then I was giving it. If I am planning meals, shopping for the right stuff, cleaning the house if they kids don't, being ready for my RS meetings, having time to listen to my children, helping them get caught up with homework, etc. then I don't have a lot of extra time for all these other things that I am always trying to slide in there......PTA, city events, and all this other stuff.
So, I am working in earnest on being choosier with what I do with my time. I think if I could do that for a month or so, I would feel so much more in control with my family, home and church life and be able to add in a few things wisely. Wisely. That's the ticket.
Well, this isn't really a post about reading scriptures. I guess I could throw something in about "Be Still and Know that I am God" or "To every thing there is a Season" or something, but I won't for now. I started this blog with the hopes that ward members would see my struggle and join in with their own struggles while feeling better at the realization that "everyone else" isn't doing things perfectly. I was thinking someone else could be blogging on here about their efforts to have FHE each Monday or not yell at their kids or whatever they wanted to work on. That hasn't really happened, but the license was out there for their to be blogging about more then scripture reading. So, I am covered with that. : )
Next post, scriptures.
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