July 8 - 15

Monday, July 8
We had a quiet morning, and I had a dental appointment. And in an exciting development, the carpet dudes are here to install the carpet! Then home for lunch, and getting organized and then a rock painting party with the Penneys.

We had a really great afternoon. We got to the Penneys house around 2:30 maybe? We didn't leave until almost 6:00, and Fiona was beside herself begging to stay, and saying she wouldn't get in the van unless we promised to come back after dinner!

Oh and someone, I won't name names, turned ten and a half today. We went to a bakery and got a big box of yummy cookies to share.

I was so mad at myself when I realized I never took a picture of the kids painting rocks. We really had a great time. Here's to hoping that the rocks will be found, and pictures will be posted!

The carpet guys weren't done until 10 p.m. It's crazy that they worked so late. After they finished we took the vacuum downstairs and started cleaning up. Ken wired all of the speaker plates and then we just lay on the floor, the cushy, cushy, carpeted floor! We're so excited that the basement is almost finished.

Tuesday, July 9
We were all very excited that it was Lim-Anderson day today. Everyone was very excited to see their friends, and very, very excited to meet Bella. Bella did not disappoint, what a sweet pup.

We all had a lovely day visiting. Kate was very excited to show Emily that she knew how to ride her bike now. Kate has practiced a few times and is now feeling very confident on her bike. She and Alice are loving riding their bikes, and Ken and I are so proud of them and so happy!And Emily was excited to watch her too!

Wednesday, July 10

We originally had plans to meet at the Science Centre with friends, but our friends couldn't make it. So we had a quiet morning. I blogged, Kate made a Stop-motion movie, Fiona and Alice crafted. 

After lunch we dropped Alice off at Adelyn's. Fiona, Kate and I went to hide rocks. First we went to Veteran's Point Gardens, and then to Rotary Park. It was hot in the sun, but amazing in the shade. We had ice cream and sat at a picnic table watching the water. It was so lovely.

When we got home I decided that I wanted to sell stuff. I took pics and posted the wagon, the purple car and the screen. The wagon we've only used a few times and the girls are way too big for it. Fiona still likes the purple car, but she's been riding her bike, and it's so big. The screen, Ken and I received this as a wedding present and have held onto it for sixteen and a half years, and have never used it. Bye stuff - enjoy a new family!

Adelyn and Alice

After dinner we went back to Rotary Park to meet up with Gaby and her mom Marcella. Fiona has been dying to have a play date with Gaby for ages. Ages and ages and ages. Gaby and her Mom moved into our ward in March, maybe February, and Fiona and Gaby took to each other right away. Fiona gave Gaby her loot bag and the girls played and played.

Thursday, July 11

Palmyra got it's own blog post!

Friday, July 12

Museum of Play Day! We were going to visit after pageant, and I thought it was going to be just us, but then the Elliots didn't make it early enough on Thursday, so they joined us for the fun. We had lots of fun seeing the museum with new eyes - three little boys, instead of three girls. We all had fun visiting and playing.

At some point while I was walking around I received a notification from my CBC news app that Hodan Nalayeh had died in a bombing in Somalia. I taught one of her sons last year, and her younger son had also attended my school. I was shocked and messaged and emailed a few of my colleagues to let them know. I was so very sad to receive the news, thinking of her two boys having to grow up without their mom. She was born in Somalia, and was raised in Canada. She recently remarried and had moved back to Somalia, hoping to raise her boys in a new and more hopeful Somalia. 

Leaving the museum was fun... or not fun. We stayed too long, and Fiona had a meltdown, but we did eventually leave, we got drive-thru and we made it home, late and tired, and safe.

Saturday, July 13

Couch day finally arrived! We've had a few delays with our basement - carpet that seemed like it was never coming, and had to change our couch delivery time, but today was the day. The wagon was picked up. The couch came, and the girls immediately started making the area their own. 

Ken and I moved the entertainment unit downstairs, and Ken finished wiring up the receiver.

Sunday, July 14
The great unveiling of the TV was great, lol. I've got to say, it was slightly scary. I was afraid we were going to break it, but we didn't. Ken set it up and then it was the moment of truth. One by one each of the speakers worked, and I thought Ken was going to cry. The home theatre system set up was a success!

Monday, July 15
It was so cute when a few weeks ago the girls asked me when we were going to have our annual swim day at my friend Gayla's. (Well her Mom and Dad's!) We've been doing our swim day for a LONG time. The weather was perfect today, and the girls had fun. They all played pretty well with each other and Gayla and I got to sit in the lounge chairs and chat!

The cutest was when the kids were reminding us that we needed to take our annual picture! It's funny because I was a little stressed that I planned this the day before our flights to Utah, but it was a relaxing, lovely day.

And just like that, it's Utah time!

Pageant in the Rain

We saw the forecast. Ken asked: should we still go? I said yes, it doesn't rain on pageant. We were going to leave at 11, we left just after noon. We drove for an hour, then we had lunch. Then we drove for another hour and stopped at Canadian Tire to get rain ponchos 'just in case'. Then to the border and to Hill Cumorah.

We went to pageant two years ago. Fiona was four, she doesn't remember. Alice was six, she fell asleep. Kate was eight, and I thought she remembered but it turns out she didn't really remember it. When we went two years ago we barely made it in time to see the pageant, but we made it. This year we made it to the hill before 6. (Fiona does remember the Nauvoo Pageant last year, as does everyone, and we all remembered the bug bites - this year we used LOTS of bug spray!)

After putting a blanket across five chairs, we went to the visitors centre first. We sat for the presentation by the Christus. And I thought one of the sister missionaries looked familiar. Turns out that she was the same missionary that gave us a tour in March when we were at the Joseph Smith farm so that was awesome. She took a selfie with us, and I was a little sad I didn't take one too.

After wandering around the visitors centre and watching a short film, we went to the tent run by the Lion's Club and had dinner. Then we took turns sitting, going to the bathroom, meeting cast members and taking pictures.

 Alice and Samuel the Lamanite.

Kate and Alice with King Noah.

Then it was time for the show to start. Just before the show was about to start, the heavens opened. We scrambled to put the ponchos on. It poured. And then the music started, "The Spirit of God" and the rain stopped and the blue sky shone through and it seemed like a miracle. It doesn't rain on pageant!

And we watched pageant and it rained, it poured, not the entire time, but it rained, a lot. Because it does rain on pageant sometimes. Even when you are doing good things, and making good choices, it rains. And the lessons and learning is how you react, and how prepared you are for the rain.

We laughed, we shivered, and we still enjoyed pageant. The girls spirits were fed, pageant was wonderful, in spite of the rain. And we will have a memory.

I'll also remember getting stuck in the mud, trying to get out of the field, and lots of people walking around helping push people out of the mud. I'll remember sharing a blanket with the people from Utah sitting next to us. I'll remember the spirit I felt when I watched Jesus visiting the Nephites, blessing them and serving them and loving them. I'm so grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and I'm so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ, and His sacrifice for me.

Temple Thoughts and Mothers

On Saturday in the temple I had three thoughts. This summer I should organize my house and keep up with my blog. I also felt like Kate and I should learn about the mothers of the prophets of the restoration. Kate asks lots of questions about gender roles. She wants to know why we don't hear about women in the Book of Mormon. She wants to know why women don't hold the priesthood. She wants to know why we don't hear more about Heavenly Mother.

When she asks these questions, I think. I ponder. I try to find answers for her, and point her towards answers. I want her to ask questions and then pray to her Heavenly Father and look to good sources for answers. I want her search for understanding of the world around her to be motivated with love, not anger.

On Sunday afternoon we learned about the lives of the prophets' mothers. I read and Kate wrote down their names and a few ideas. The information came from the manuals "Teachings of Presidents of the Church". Some biographical information was more thorough than others. Reading stories about the lives of faithful men and women is so inspiring. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with all of this information, but here it is.

1. Joseph Smith
Mother: Lucy Mack Smith
From an article in the December 1973 New Era by Richard Lloyd Anderson: Joseph Smith’s lifelong sensitiveness to his mother is a mark of her powerful influence in molding his early character. He could call her “one of the noblest and the best of all women” for her sacrifices and the excellence of her example. Careful study shows that both parents labored to teach high ideals to their children. The Prophet said so at the peak of his career: “Words and language are inadequate to express the gratitude that I owe to God for having given me so honorable a parentage.” This comment tells much about the parents but also much about Joseph Smith himself. They were God-fearing and strictly honest, and he loved them because he treasured their characteristics in his own life. Such parents furnish profound insights into the true character of their son who proclaimed revelations from God.

2. Brigham Young
Mother: Abigail “Nabby” Howe Young
From a Deseret News article, June 28, 2011 by Susan Evans McCloud
She taught him to honour Jesus and Heavenly Father. She told him to read the Bible and live by its teachings, to take care of people in need, and to not let anger arise in his heart.

3. John Taylor

Mother: Agnes Taylor

He was taught to pray at an early age.

4. Wilford Woodruff

Mother: Beulah Thompson (She died when he was 15 months old)
Stepmother: Azubah Hart Woodruff

His step mother’s gospel teachings helped lead him to seek the Lord’s true church.

5. Lorenzo Snow

Mother: Rosetta Leonora Pettibone

His parents treated him with care and tenderness. They taught him to work hard, to be honest and to have intergrity. They taught their children to learn about other religions.

6. Joseph F. Smith

Mother: Mary Fielding Smith

His mother taught him to face challenges with faith.

7. Heber J. Grant

Mother: Rachel Ridgeway Ivins Grant

She taught him persistence, integrity, faith, inspiration. Heber’s father died when he was nine days old. She worked hard to provide for her son. They lived in poverty because she would not deny her faith, her wealthy brothers promised to take care of her financially if she denied her faith.

8. George Albert Smith

Mother: Sarah Farr Smith

He praised his mother for the sacrifices she made to raise her family in the gospel. His father served a mission when he was five and he never heard his mother complain. His mother taught him to pray and trust that God would answer.

9. David O. McKay

Mother Jeanette Evans McKay

His mother taught him to pray. She was loyal, patient, tender and in control of her emotions. When he was seven years old, His Dad served a mission. He was gone for two years and so David and his Mom took care of the house and farm, with help from family and friends they prospered.

10. Joseph Fielding Smith

Mother: Julina Lambson Smith

He helped his mother be a midwife by driving her in the horse cart to her appointments. His mother wanted a son and promised Heavenly Father she would raise him to be a credit to the Lord. She served as the second councselor in the Relief Society General presidency.

11. Harold B. Lee

Mother: Louisa Bingham

His mother taught him to play piano and love music. They were very poor but very happy. His mom drove him to school in the horse cart – she supported him in his education, driving him through all weather in the open, on rough rural roads.

12. Spencer W. Kimball

Mother: Olive Woolley

His mother taught him hi the importance of tithing. They were poor, but he didn’t know it. His mother died when he was eleven and it was very hard on him.

13. Ezra Taft Benson

Mother: Sarah Dunkley Benson

Lessons: Hard work, family, unity, service, gospel living. He father went on a mission when he was twelve.

14. Howard W. Hunter

Mother: Nellie Rasmussen

His mother was always faithful. His mother taught him the gospel and taught him to pray.

15. Gordon B. Hinckley

Mother: Ada Bitner

His Mom was optimistic. His parents helped their children grow and succeed. They read scriptures, they encouraged them to be their best. He was influenced by his parent’s faith.

16. Thomas S. Monson

Mother: Gladys Condie Monson

His mother often invited people who were hungry to dinner. His parents showed good will to their fellow man.

17. Russell M. Nelson

Mother: Edna Anderson Nelson

His mother taught him to pray. She would sing to him to comfort him. She was an accomplished musician. His parents put family first, and virtually every night was family night. His parents taught him to love and be concerned about other people.