October General Conference

Here I am in another month. Time is flying by me. So much is happening I rarely take time to post. I must say that I really enjoyed General Conference last weekend. We listened and played. On Sunday we had a couple of students over and later had dinner with friends. The friends were mostly friends of Nathan and Johannah. After dinner we played games. What fun it is to be together!

Monday night Johannah invited her family home evening group to come over for a BBQ and games. Another night filled with fun. I really love having a large family! I feel very blessed.

Another Week

Last night we went swimming for Family Home Evening. The kids love to go to the BYU indoor pool. The boys like the high dives. They challenge each other to jump off the highest dive (25 feet) that is only open for a few minutes every hour. I noticed a funny thing last night as I watched Andrew and James each ready to jump off the short dive. Their swim trunks were exactly the same color and style except that Andrew's were covering his knees and James' were a little short. They were wearing the wrong suits. I don't know if they ever noticed.

Tonight for Young Women's the laurels will tie a senoir quilt for Johannah. Rather than just sewing 2 pieces of fabric together, I pieced a quilt top together. Her chosen colors were black and white. I really had a tough time sticking to just black and white. I'm not quite finished yet, I will need to spend some time this afternoon finishing the edges and sewing the back on. I'll have to take a picture and post it.

Josh is busy planning his Junior Prom date. He has lots of ideas. He was shocked to find out how much it will cost for just 1 date.

Well, Kate got a hair cut last week. She looks really cute. Her hair is now shoulder length. She has been wearing it to school with a headband. Very cute.

Be Strong in the Lord

Yesterday the high school kids were out of school. They spent most of their time playing video games on the computers. Nathan even came over to play for a while.

As I was thinking about a lesson for family night I thought I could incorporate the idea of video games. At the beginning of family night I asked the boys how they win the game, how they keep strong and powerful. They explained how to get extra men and gold and food and shelter. This was a great lead in to the lesson I had planned. I had read a talk given by Elder M. Russell Ballard, entitled, "Be Strong in the Lord". We began by reading Ephesians 6:10-13 (take unto you the whole armor of God). Elder Ballard says, "I like to think of this spiritual armor not as a solid piece of metal molded to fit the body but more like chain mail. Chain mail consists of tiny pieces of steel fastened together to allow the greater flexibility without losing protection. I say that because it has been my experience that there is not one great and grand thing we can do to arm ourselves spiritually. True spiritual power lies in numerous smaller act woven together in a fabric of spiritual fortification that protects and shields from all evil." Elder Ballard lists 6 things that will help us build our own spiritual chain mail.
1 - Protective Power of Prayer, D & C 10:5
2 - Procective Power of the Scriptures, 1 Nephi 15:24
3 - Draw on the Mericiful Grace of God, Ether 12:27
4 - Watch Yourselves, Mosiah 4:30
5 - Don't Waste the Days of Your Probation, 2 Nephi 9:27
6 - Reverence Invites Revelation, D & C 6:12
Elder Ballard says, "The Lord has given us specific doctrines and principles that show us how to clothe ourselves in the armor of God so we can stand against the powers of evil...As with chain mail, you need simply to add small, individual pieces of armor each day through prayer, scripture study, focusing on things that matter, and acting in a reverent manner."