Thoughts for Sunday

(Obviously this was supposed to be posted on Sunday!  But still here it is)

1. A lot of Sundays we don't get too much out of church- HASHTAG PARENTHOOD.   But the Spirit of God always still finds a way into our hearts during the week, at church or at home or at work.  This week while chopping veggies for dinner I listened to the talk by Sister Reeves called "Protection from Pornography- a Christ Focused Home" and was struck anew by this scripture:

“We talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, [and] we prophesy of Christ … that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.” 2 Nephi 25:26

(from the talk) "How can we do this in our homes? Some of you have heard me tell how overwhelmed my husband, Mel, and I felt as the parents of four young children. As we faced the challenges of parenting and keeping up with the demands of life, we were desperate for help. We prayed and pleaded to know what to do. The answer that came was clear: “It is OK if the house is a mess and the children are still in their pajamas and some responsibilities are left undone. The only things that really need to be accomplished in the home are daily scripture study and prayer and weekly family home evening.”

We were trying to do these things, but they were not always the priority and, amidst the chaos, were sometimes neglected. We changed our focus and tried not to worry about the less-important things. Our focus became to talk, rejoice, preach, and testify of Christ by striving to daily pray and study the scriptures and have weekly family home evening."

I'm going to strive to have us talk, preach, and prophesy of Christ more often, and especially openly rejoice in Christ more in our home.  Because my kids need to know.

our comfy cozy messy-but-full-of-love home

2. Another day this week (while cleaning the bathroom) I listened to the talk "Where Your Treasure Is" by Elder Michael John U. Teh and heard the much needed reminder of 

"Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."  Luke 12:34

It made me very reflective about what I treasure in life and made me wonder if my kids knew what I treasure.  Like if they were asked would they say, "Mommy treasures uhh...her phone" or "her decorations" or "her computer."  Do they know that it's them?  That it's our family.  That it's my faith.  That it's our relationships with others.  That it's their father.  Do they know, do I show them?  They are watching everything I do.  

I want this scripture to be up in our home as a constant reminder to ask myself, "What am I treasuring today?"

3. I've noticed that in down times in my day, my eye wanders around the room searching for something to look at, something for my eyes to rest on.  I look for comfort somewhere in the room.  I guess I am a visual person, I LOVE artwork.  Since I've noticed this I've been adamant about having a picture of Jesus in every room in our house.  My eye wanders around and then rests on Him.  I feel comfort in looking at Him and being reminded that He is always there.

in our living room

4. Sitting towards the back of the chapel today during sacrament meeting, I saw a little mother-son moment that I loved.  This single mom in our ward and her teenage son.  He said something to her, then she whispered in his ear and they both smiled and laughed a little, continued whispering for a minute, then she put her arm around him and rubbed his shoulder as they both listened to the speaker.  It's just the two of them going through this life together right now.  I looked down at my little son asleep in my arms and thought about him and all my hopes and dreams for his life and for our relationship.  I'm grateful to have seen that little moment that they both have probably forgotten about now.  I am so overwhelmingly inspired by small things and by good examples of what I hope my future will look like.  

Goal this week- get outside every single day, away from home at least twice.

By the way my hearing is all back!  I realized I never mentioned that big update.  My life is different with hearing!  I must sing praises to my Heavenly Father that it was just a temporary thing!