Tender Mercies

Some days I wish that I could freeze time or slow it down in some way. I used to attempt to tell Jaxson that he wasn't allowed to grow up. He always would assure me that he would love me forever but that growing up was part of Heavenly Fathers plan. (Talk about being put in my place) Recently, I decided that although the moments are passing quickly, I love watching my children grow and learn. The best thing to me is watching them figure this world out all while discovering a relationship with Jesus Christ.

(Jaxson 1st grade)

This week we had daylight savings time....the one where you get extra sleep! Yeah baby! Come 05:30 in the morning I hear Jaxson rustling around in the kitchen. After willing myself out of bed, I attempted to reason with him about getting a little more sleep. What he said to me was priceless..."Mom, today is Sunday. I am so excited to go to church and be in the house of Jesus that I just cannot possibly sleep!" At that moment my heart was full....where did I get such great kids.

After church was finished we headed out to the car as per usual. Andrew, Jaxson and I were talking about our lessons. Jaxson then said "Mom, I just really love you. You give my heart a warm feeling that makes me want to cry." He then started to tear up. What a beautiful thing to hear as a mother. What a great opportunity for us to talk about what feeling the Holy Ghost feels like.

Mosiah 3:19

 

 For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.

Oh how relevant this passage is!

 

 

 

 

We had another fantastic date to the temple! It is strange to live what I would consider a distance from the temple. Growing up the Idaho Falls Temple was practically in our back yard! I appreciate growing up so close to such a beautiful place. I love to see the Temple!

 

After completing the session, we wandered over to the family history center. Somewhere, I picked up this idea that I want to start working on my family tree. They showed us what program to sign up for and how to submit family names. I found two men and one woman to start working on....yaya!

 

We were able to print out a fan chart that shows our family tree back nine generations. It was fun looking at all the names. We discovered that Andrew is related to some individuals with some great names! For example, Experience Phelps who was married to Preserved Alvord Bartlett. Come on, that one is good for a chuckle.  I called Kynwynn when I got home and gave these names to her as proof that the name Kynwynn Celecta is not so bad. Also, somewhere in that chart we found our babies name! :D

 

As we were driving home from the Tri-cities (Richland) I was reading names and then we would laugh or discuss what these people may have been like. We were having a blast talking (usually our car rides are pretty quiet). Suddenly, we come over a hill and were on a bridge crossing the Columbia River. The sign read "Welcome to Oregon." Hahahah we were so distracted that we drove 30 minutes in the wrong direction.

 

We found the nearest exit to turn around and Andrew said "You know, lets just get some gas." So we did the whole Oregon sit in your car and wait for someone to come fill you up thing. While waiting, I noticed the man in the van kiddy-corner to us kept looking our way and smiling. I love a smiles and happy people. As we were getting ready to drive away he came over to our car and handed us a little booklet. "The Happiness Digest." He said to Andrew "You must be a preacher or a salesman? Either way we are all fisherman, right?" With that he turned and walked back to the car. I found on the back cover a message about true happiness coming from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. My heart was overjoyed. First, I needed his example  (remember back to the missionary challenge I previously mentioned). I was truly impressed with the kind sweet manner that he shared a beautiful truth with us. I was touched that he would care enough to want to show me the way. Second, I love how truth is truth not matter what religion a person is.

 

Ether 6: 11&12

11 And thus they were driven forth, ^athree hundred and forty and four days upon the water.

12 And they did ^aland upon the shore of the ^bpromised land. And when they had set their feet upon the shores of the promised land they bowed themselves down upon the face of the land, and did humble themselves before the Lord, and did shed tears of joy before the Lord, because of the multitude of his ^ctender mercies over them. 

 

I am so thankful for a merciful Father who shows me so many tender mercies!