Aaronic Priesthood Ordination

This Sunday Joshua was ordained a Priest and Joseph a Teacher. To began their service, Joshua blessed the sacrament and Joseph went home teaching for the first time, he  tught the lesson and did great. I figured the best way to learn is by doing.

All the Children, Oldest to youngest.

If you are reading this and have no idea what I am talking about, We are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints, you can learn more about what I am talking about here at Mormon.org or LDS.org.

Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert

Unbeknownst (perhaps not a word, but fun to use) to us, every year Kelly, my sister-in-law-now-residing-in-North Carolina, puts all of the family's names in for the Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert. It just so happened that this year, our names were selected...Thanks Kelly. We invited Amanda and Dallin to go with us, thus keeping it in the family.

This is the set, is was magnificently done, with candles on the trees. The first number was incredible, complete with dancers (which we saw again later) and great music, definitely a get-your-attention type of song. David Archuleta was the guest this year and to be honest I was a little hesitant as I do not normally enjoy his music. However, to my great surprise, I thought he was a wonderful addition and brought a great spirit into the room. Not too mention the screaming young women.

After the concert traffic was horrific so we quickly toured temple square. It was very busy, but worth it. One of the highlights of the night was the fact that Dallin (Amanda's Date) brought little gift bags to give to the homeless instead of money. Some appreciated them, others not so much, but it was enjoyable watching them be passed out.

We make temple square look good, or at least Hot mama does.

A and D, just being casual.

There was a multitude of people there, this was the line to get in. We (I) was a little concerned about getting in after the previous night ( many with tickets didn't get in), but we experienced no problems whatsoever and in fact, there were a few empty seats when it began.

It was a great experience and would gladly do it again if given the opportunity.

When a Good thing goes . . .Good!

I love to read. If boredom begins to set in, I will read anything that is placed, or happens to be in front of me. This idea came from such an experience as I sat perusing Hot Mama's copy of "Rachael Ray Everyday."

Yes . . . I know.

In the most recent edition was a section for Holiday traditions. One of them was something called, or that I called, service jars.

Here is what we did. One Monday night we gathered all the children and came up with 24 ideas of how they could serve others during the month of December. Simple things, like; opening doors, smiling at others, or hanging out with those who have less friends. Then the ideas were typed  and nine copies printed. Later that night each child cut their ideas into 24 individual slips of paper. These slips were then placed into small individual jars (that we purchased at a dollar store) for each family member.

Every morning as we begin the day we each individual chooses one slip of paper from their Jar. The paper is read, then placed in a small gift box and becomes our Gift to Christ that day. Through out the day we look for any and all opportunities to serve others. The results have been fantastic.

Each day the children share how they tried to serve others. One day, little man pulled out "Smile at others". From then on he had a constant smile on his face, when I dropped him off for school I said "have a good day", he looked back with his biggest smile and said, "Have a much better day"! Squishy, among other things,  changed every diaper yesterday, without being asked, (no small task for a 7 year old) because her's that day was "Help others as much as you can" Tiny invited a less popular kid to hang out. His Highness encouraged those who were down one day. . .

I could go on and on.

It has changed our children from just wanting, to wanting to give. Even the youngest ones are focused more on what their sheet says than on what they are asking for or perhaps receiving this year. The Christmas season is more about Service and love.

All this from a "wasted" moment looking at a cooking magazine, 1 dollar jars, and seven pieces of paper. 

Life can be so simple and wonderful!

Merry Christmas

So Much To Be Thankful For...

This is an amazing song. It helps me remember what this season is all about.

And as a Follow up;

May we all make this a season of Thanks and Giving.

A Thanksgiving lesson learned

Just a quick Story, and a lesson.

Tonight during family scripture study,

 We were discussing some things we are going to do at Christmas to better serve others.

(I found it in a Rachael ray Magazine my wife receives, We call them service jars, for the next 25 days we pull out one slip a day which has written on it one way to serve others, that day we focus on doing that thing for as many as we can, 9 jars, everyone has a different item)

The conversation turned to money and family and blessings

We read Malachi 3: 13-18 which essentially teaches that one cannot judge on this earth the blessings that one receives from righteousness.

Then My twelve year old son said, "Dad this came into my mind as you were talking;

Money means nothing, Faith is the currency of the Lord"

What?! A twelve year old?

That was a lesson I learned on Thanksgiving day.

Naisi Zhao - An amazing person



Naisi Zhao is on the right,



I had the opportunity to teach a young lady named Naisi Zhao.  She was a transfer student from China, who enrolled in seminary, began studying the Gospel and scriptures voraciously, and was later baptized while attending BYU.

The link below will take you to an article by the New York Times that was published about her while she served as a LDS Missionary New York.

She is truly an amazing person. One of my heroes.

http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/nyregion/1-in-8-million/index.html