Hannah moments - July 2013

On Monday morning on the way to school she said “Its Monday today. Can we listen to The wheels on the bus?” I had told her that Sunday that we needed to only listen to Sunday music on the way to church.

She will always jump in and start saying the prayer before we can even assign someone, not always reverently. But ever since Easter she will always say, thank you that Jesus died and came alive in the morning, and now she'll usually add something relevant as well, like saying thank you for the food.

We hear very often, “yes, that's interesting...”

“Go and wake daddy up in Caleb's room to come and sing for me.” They know him so well!

While she and Caleb were sitting on the car. “Okay my baby. Do you want to sit on my lap?”

Andrew told her it was time to get out the shower and her response was, “if you let me stay in I'll be your friend and you can buy me lipstick.” Where does she learn this stuff?!

“Do movies and books sleep?”

Hannah is becoming more and more independent. She can now get herself dressed in the morning, and even manages to undo the buttons on her pajamas.

She's at the stage where her prayers are full of all sorts of gratitude, the exact mix depends on her mood. We've had things like Jesus, her body, her arms, her legs, Josh, Caleb, Mommy and Daddy, lipstick, books, movies, the cell phone not going off, angry birds on the tablet, Mr Magorium

I was lying on my bed in the sun and Hannah wanted to be a mommy, so she took off my boots, despite struggling with them and covered me with a blanket, and then kept on coming back to check on me and pat my back. So sweet!

"Do I have to pose for a photo with my cute hair?"

 Just like a lady!

 The concentration! And she often steadies her page with her other hand.

"I did my lipstick all by myself!"

Such a little lady, even in her sleep!

 Playing in the dishwasher box

At the park with Daddy

Such a clown!

At one of Hannah's first birthday parties she was invited to the older sister, Jessica, took Hannah under her wing and tried to help her feel comfortable. Such a sweet girl!

 Right at the end of the party Hannah finally got comfortable enough to do some of the party things!

She was given a fairy outfit at the party, but she only put it on properly when we got home! :(

 But she did look cute anyway ;)

Lucille is really great with the kids, and she often has Luke, plus a few of my kids gathered around her.

Hannah built a train in our lounge!

Reading a story with Mom

Some art and creative stuff from home.

Drawing all over the bathroom walls with bath crayons!

Hannah singing the grandparents day song, but in her usual shy way...

Joshua moments - July 2013

On the way to school on Monday he told me that Teaches Megan is back today! He missed her the week she was on leave!
When he was in the shower he was occupied for ages by squeezing soap out of the sponge on the glass and watching it run down, over and over again.
Whenever he plays on his own, which is becoming more frequent, he will constantly be talking to himself or at least mouthing things.
When he saw Veronica arriving one morning he went and tidied the few toys lying on the study and lounge floors, without any prompting! So helpful!
"At church we learn about Jesus and at school we learn how to grow big."
Andrew found him lying in bed looking very guilty and reading a story using the passage light. "I just want to finish reading this story.." And so it starts!
Josh was all excited about something he was doing and said to Andrew, "Dane, look here!" Before he realised who was next to him...
Andrew was talking to him about why uncle Andrew's bikes light needed to be fixed, and he said, maybe the glass broke, or the hellotricity ran out or the batteries are flat.
Caleb had a telephone pull along toy from Christmas, and the receiver came off the string, so Josh says, "yay, now I have a real telephone!" This crazy generation these kids are growing up in!
I was reading his shark book to him for the first time in ages, and twice when we read about a characteristic of a shark he said, that's like the __ shark, and he remembered the details!

Very proud of completing his puzzle

 Showing Grammy and Grampa how it's done on the tablet

There was a digger outside the Fish Hoek house, and he was very keen to explore!

Completely covered in cushions - and he set himself up like this...

 Building a house for the ants

Watching a Land Before Time movie - he got so into it!

He decided that he wanted all of his art on the wall by his bed instead of on his cupboard where we normally put it. So he moved it all completely himself, which involves taking it off the cupboard, getting it onto his top bunk and then sticking them up, and arranging them how he likes. When he wants something done he'll do it!

Some of his art from school and creative stuff from home

He copied the picture with playdough...

... and then decided he wanted a dragon instead.

A sea horse. I had to check for myself if the tail was going the right way on a picture, but he had known!

Talk: Blessings of the temple

Temple Attendance: A spiritual recharge, an opportunity to leave the turmoil of the world and to enhance our relationship with our Heavenly Father and His Son

Elder Franklin D. Richards (Of The First Quorum Of The Seventy)

Our Father in Heaven is a loving parent. He has said: “For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality‍ and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). To this end, He restored the gospel in this dispensation.

Pres Monson

Until you have entered the house of the Lord and have received all the blessings which await you there, you have not obtained everything the Church has to offer. The all-important and crowning blessings of membership in the Church are those blessings which we receive in the temples of God.

Elder Richards: A temple is a place where the divine spark in man, or the infinite in man, can seek the infinite in God.

(www.lds.org) What Happens in Temples

In the temple we are taught, we make covenants, and we are promised blessings. We receive ordinances that enable us to live in the presence of God.

If we don’t live the law set out, we cannot expect to have the blessings. If we want to live in the Celestial Kingdom we have to live by the conditions set by Heavenly Father to be allowed to gain entry. Just like you can’t get into university without meeting the requirements, and with good reason. You won’t be ready or able to be there.

Endowment

One ordinance we receive in the temple is the endowment. The word endowment means “gift” or “bestowal.” As part of this ordinance, we are taught about the purpose of life, the mission and Atonement of Jesus Christ, and Heavenly Father’s plan for His children. We gain a glimpse of what it will be like to live in His presence as we feel the peaceful atmosphere of the temple.

Sealing

Another temple ordinance is the sealing ordinance, in which husbands and wives are sealed to each other and children are sealed to their parents in eternal families. This means that if we are faithful to our covenants, our family relationships will continue for eternity. People sometimes also refer to this ordinance as “temple marriage” or “eternal marriage.”

Ordinances for the Deceased

In addition to receiving these ordinances for ourselves, we can receive them for our deceased ancestors. In this way, people who died without receiving essential ordinances such as baptism and confirmation, the endowment, and sealing have the opportunity to accept these ordinances.

Look at family. Imagine not having them in the eternities.

Have to be sealed to qualify to have them.

D&C 131

1  IN the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees;

2  And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage];

3  And if he does not, he cannot obtain it.

4  He may enter into the other, but that is the end of his kingdom; he cannot have an increase.

D&C 132

4  For behold, I reveal unto you a new and an everlasting covenant; and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory.

5  For all who will have a blessing at my hands shall abide the law which was appointed for that blessing, and the conditions thereof, as were instituted from before the foundation of the world.

…

7  And verily I say unto you, that the conditions of this law are these: All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, … that are not made and entered into and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, of him who is anointed, both as well for time and for all eternity, … are of no efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the dead; for all contracts that are not made unto this end have an end when men are dead.

…

15  Therefore, if a man marry him a wife in the world, and he marry her not by me nor by my word, and he covenant with her so long as he is in the world and she with him, their covenant and marriage are not of force when they are dead, and when they are out of the world; therefore, they are not bound by any law when they are out of the world.

16  Therefore, when they are out of the world they … are appointed angels in heaven, which angels are ministering servants, to minister for those who are worthy of a far more, and an exceeding, and an eternal weight of glory.

17  For these angels did not abide my law; therefore, they cannot be enlarged, but remain separately and singly, without exaltation, in their saved condition, to all eternity; and from henceforth are not gods, but are angels of God forever and ever.

…

19  And again, verily I say unto you, if a man marry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and everlasting covenant, and it is sealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of promise, by him who is anointed, unto whom I have appointed this power and the keys of this priesthood; … it … shall be of full force when they are out of the world; and they shall pass by the angels, and the gods, which are set there, to their exaltation and glory in all things, as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory shall be a fulness and a continuation of the seeds forever and ever.

Have to do everything in our power to have those sealing ordinances. Church will help you get there for your first time even so there is no excuse about finances.

Devastated if a parent or child dies. How will you feel for all eternity? We WILL be resurrected and live for eternity. Wouldn’t want to do that without our families.

Even if family , members have major issues, we will all be perfected at the stage of going to the celestial kingdom, including ourselves!

But if you have been to the temple...

Security of knowing you're sealed to your spouse and parents and children. Accident on the way home from our sealing.

Temple sealing a comfort and security for children in the family.

Going to temple itself brings many blessings to you

Change in life to be worthy, and then stay worthy – obedience to all commandments will bring us joy and happiness

The blessings of the ordinances – the knowledge, sealing

Learning about the plan of Salvation. See the fall of Adam, and the need for a saviour.

Coming closer to the Saviour

Feeling the Spirit during the ordinances, and in the celestial room.

(www.lds.org) Temples are places of learning. Their principal purpose is to provide ordinances necessary for the children of God to enable them to return to dwell with Him. Temple ordinances lead to the greatest blessings available through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Everything in the Church—the meetings and activities, the missionary efforts, the lessons taught and the hymns—all lead to the work done in holy temples.

One ordinance received in the temple is called the endowment. The word endowment means “gift,” and the temple endowment truly is a gift from God. The ordinance consists of a series of instructions and includes covenants to live righteously and follow the requirements of the gospel. The endowment focuses on the Savior, His role in Heavenly Father's plan, and the personal commitment of each member to follow Him.

Another temple ordinance is celestial marriage. In this ordinance husband and wife are sealed to one another for eternity. A sealing performed in the temple continues forever if the husband and wife are faithful to the covenants they make.

Children born to parents who have been sealed in the temple are born in the covenant. These children automatically become part of an eternal family. Children who are not born in the covenant can also become part of an eternal family once their natural or adoptive parents have been sealed to one another. The ordinance of sealing children to parents is performed in the temple.

Change in your life focus which brings peace. 

Talk by Elder Cook

“The peace to which I am referring is not just a temporary tranquillity. It is an abiding deep happiness and spiritual contentment.

it is priesthood authority in the Church that provides for sacred ordinances and covenants that bind families together and qualify each of us to return to God the Father and Jesus Christ in the celestial kingdom. These ordinances bring peace because they are covenants with the Lord.

Temples are where many of these sacred ordinances occur and are also a source of peaceful refuge from the world.”

Peace is different to being happy all the time. Things do still go wrong but you are better able to deal with it. Possibly why the pioneers were strengthened by first going to the temple. Eternal perspective, and knowing family is sealed.

Pres Faust

As the pioneers had the larger vision in their daily challenge for survival, so also we need to have a greater vision and understanding of our eternal destiny. Our challenges are more subtle but equally hard. Maintaining our spiritual strength is also a daily challenge. The greatest source of that spiritual strength comes, as it did in their time, from our temples.

D&C 124:36

36  For it is ordained that in Zion, and in her stakes, and in Jerusalem, those places which I have appointed for refuge, shall be the places for your baptisms for your dead.

The Lord has actually appointed the temple as the place we should go as a refuge.

Spiritual recharge. Grandpa said every 6 months.

(www.lds.org) Blessings of the Temple

“I think there is no place in the world where I feel closer to the Lord than in one of His holy temples.”

—President Thomas S. Monson

In addition to the closeness we feel to the Lord when we are in the temple, we can continue to receive blessings even after we have returned to our everyday lives. Attending the temple gives us a clearer perspective and a sense of purpose and peace. President Thomas S. Monson described temple blessings as follows:

“As we go to the holy house, as we remember the covenants we make therein, we will be able to bear every trial and overcome each temptation. The temple provides purpose for our lives. It brings peace to our souls—not the peace provided by men but the peace promised by the Son of God when He said, ‘Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.’”

President Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, described additional blessings of attending the temple:

“When members of the Church are troubled or when crucial decisions weigh heavily upon their minds, it is a common thing for them to go to the temple. It is a good place to take our cares. In the temple we can receive spiritual perspective. There, during the time of the temple service, we are ‘out of the world.’

“Sometimes our minds are so beset with problems, and there are so many things clamoring for attention at once that we just cannot think clearly and see clearly. At the temple the dust of distraction seems to settle out, the fog and the haze seem to lift, and we can ‘see’ things that we were not able to see before and find a way through our troubles that we had not previously known.

“The Lord will bless us as we attend to the sacred ordinance work of the temples. Blessings there will not be limited to our temple service. We will be blessed in all of our affairs” (“The Holy Temple,”Ensign, Feb. 1995).

(www.lds.org) Blessings from Attending the Temple

In addition to being a place where sacred priesthood ordinances are performed, the temple is a place of peace and revelation. It is a place where spiritual guidance can be received for crucial decisions or concerns.

The Lord blesses those who attend to the sacred ordinance work in the temple. And the blessings He gives will not be limited to the time spent in the temple. Those who do temple work will be blessed in all aspects of their lives. Their labors in the temple will strengthen them and refine them spiritually.

Pres Monson

The world can be a challenging and difficult place in which to live. We are often surrounded by that which would drag us down. As you and I go to the holy houses of God, as we remember the covenants we make within, we will be more able to bear every trial and to overcome each temptation. In this sacred sanctuary we will find peace; we will be renewed and fortified

Letter to Richard - 29 July 2013

Dear Richard

I lectured the second years this week, and except for not having enough time for the material, I think it went quite well! And I spent some time doing a recording of me explaining the one lecture example we didn’t get to, so that’s also something different to give some variety to my life. It’s one of my favourite topics to lecture, so that also helps, and it was very gratifying to see a number of people looking like they’re getting it J But it does mean an early start every day… I managed to get there on time every day, although it was a close thing on the first day because we had hectic rain, and so the traffic was much worse… But I still got there, and it happened okay. Whenever I lecture a new class for the first time I always like to introduce myself, my academic road to get where I am, and then show them pictures of my kids and point out that I got married while I was studying, and had Josh during my articles, so they can see someone who made it work. I always get an appreciative response, especially from the girls. But what was interesting was that I had a student come to me a couple days later after the lecture and say, “This is weird, I know, but are you a Christian? I figured after what you said about your family that you must be someone who knows Jesus” So that was the first time I’ve had a response like that, but actually this week I also had another student in my office who was wearing what looked like a wedding ring. And when I asked him he said it’s a purity ring, and we also had a conversation about our standards. So not bad for a first week with these guys J I don’t outright talk religion to my classes, because that isn’t what I’m there to do, and I don’t think it’s appropriate. But there are opportunities that come up every now and again J

Some nice news for the ward is that the Borehams are moving back to our ward! Just Bro Dave, Sis Charmaine and her mom, but at least that’s something! And Adam and Jessica Spires are also moving back to Cape Town, although they’re looking at Hout Bay. But Cape Town is pulling some of these wanderers back finally!

So last Monday we spent our home evening trying to help Josh and Hannah see how to behave during prayers. We’ve spoken before, and we’ll do it again, but it was time for that conversation again. And the good news is that on Tuesday evening we had amazingly reverent children for prayers! It hasn’t been maintained the entire week, but things are better than they were before, so there is progress! Tonight we spoke about how to behave during sacrament meeting, after a pretty bad one yesterday… We’ll have to see how things go with that… :P

Joshua is really loving his swimming lessons again! He had a couple weeks break during the holiday, and I was worried we would have a backslide again, but I think he didn’t lose any ground, and in fact he has gone back to wanting to play in the water after the lesson again! I’m so glad J I hope that he handles his teacher coming back from maternity leave on Thursday as well as that!

Friday was grandparents day at the school, and so Mom and Dad went and spent the morning with Josh and Hannah. The kids learnt a very cute rhyme that they recited, the grandparents got to see the kids in their classes and have some eats. And then they took Josh and Hannah home to have some more special time for the afternoon! So I had two kids who were very happy J

Its Grandparents day and were here to say

We love our grandparents in a major way

Some grandparents are skinny, some eat a lot,

some are funny, some are not

Some short, some tall, some big, some small

It doesn’t matter we love them all

Enjoy this day

It’s especially for you

And for us to show you

We love you too.

(Complete with lots of actions of course J)

On Friday we had a timer installed for our geyser. Between that and our new dishwasher we’re hoping to save some money on our electricity. It’s taken us a while to get going with this, but we’re finally making moves J

On Saturday we went to Fish Hoek in the morning. Andrew’s mom is currently in Gauteng visiting her sister, as well as the other family she has up there, so the Fish Hoek house definitely feels like there’s something missing. But we had a nice visit anyway.

Then in the evening Andrew and I went out together and Cindy looked after the kids for us. So nice to have some time out on our own J You know of course we’ll be getting you to babysit for us when you come home ;) Cindy should be married by then, so we’ll be needing new babysitters! But Mom is definitely doing a lot better, so hopefully you won’t be alone J

Yesterday I gave a talk on the temple, as a refuge from the world, and the blessings of the temple, particularly the necessity of being sealed, so that we can be together with our family in the eternities. I’m really happy with how it went, but I know I was very much inspired with what I put together, so it’s not surprising that it went well J I’ve included my notes from the talk – I found some great quotes!

We also had a great Sunday School lesson on missionary work (member missionary work obviously…), and I made these notes:

·         We are not there to convert everyone necessarily, but wanted to educate them so they will know when they come into contact with anti-Mormon stuff that it's not true.

·         But we need to also be finding out about their religions, embracing each other.

·         Remember to ask about them, and show an interest, so they don't think we're selfish.

·         Isn't our problem if they join or not or do anything wrong. We just have to invite, and then they need to act. Important that we keep on setting an example and loving them.

·         We should think of why we should accept calls/assignments, not excuses why we can't accept.

·         The Lord knows who is ready, and he will prepare a way for us to be able to talk to them.

·         There is power in being able to say to someone that we felt inspired to speak to them when we have prayed about it.

Oh, and yesterday we took some flowers from our garden and some carrot cake to one of the sisters. But we did it tok-tokkie style J The kids loved knocking on the gate and then running to the car for our getaway! She guessed it was us, but it was still fun for the kids!

And that’s the story of our week! Glad to hear things are going well for you as well, and that you’ve been getting our letters and parcels. Enjoy J

Lots of love

Shelly

Letter to Richard - start of the semester

Dear Richard

So last week saw the students back on campus, and I was lecturing my third years. They’re such a fantastic class, and I feel like my teaching has really improved over the last 6 months or so, so it was just a really great environment. And that’s despite the fact that we had huge issues with the notes not being printed, and the laptop not working on the first day, and the projector also not working… So the first day I was teaching in a completely different way to how I normally do – the students had nothing in front of them, and nothing on the screen… So I was really just talking (thankfully it was a topic that they had done last year, so the first day was revision, before we started building on it later in the week) but the lecture actually went really well! And the whole week actually went well, despite the continued challenges around the printing. I even got an email today from a student saying that the lectures were really helpful last week. So I’m feeling good J

We’ve had sick kids (and us a bit too) a lot of the week – from a cold to a mild gastro over the weekend… And then to add to that Andrew was out a LOT last week… Home teaching, youth, a ward activity on Friday evening to watch the Work of Salvation broadcast, and then a really last Sunday afternoon because of his monthly interview with Pres Holmes… Thankfully not all of the weeks are like that J and he still is out less than someone like Pres Holmes, so I’d rather have him in the ward still. So I had some good evenings, and some not so good ones, especially when they weren’t feeling well. But for the most part things are still improving as they get older bit by bit. Oh, and it seems that Caleb is definitely a true Herbert in terms of his sleeping patterns… Joshua is like me, but Hannah and Caleb are both doing the early rising thing. So thankfully Andrew is generally awake to do the early morning shift!

Thursday was Nelson Mandela’s 95^th birthday, and I think as a country we were all glad that he is still alive. It’s been 6 weeks that he’s been in hospital now, and although they say he is improving I’m not sure how much longer he’ll last. But it was nice symbolically that he made it to his birthday at least. For Mandela Day we made sandwiches for a local school, so it was cool to get involved.

I had a cool experience when I was visiting teaching this week. I had been planning on giving the same message as last week, but as I was walking up to the house I felt that I should rather share an article I had read in the Ensign on Sunday (and because of the tablet I had it all with me, and I could just change like that, with the good parts already marked etc. Loving the tablet! J) and as the sister was talking I realised just how much Heavenly Father was wanting her to have this message. So I was able to follow that prompting, and I think it was a positive experience for us both J

I also got to watch the first half of the broadcast after the kids went to bed on Friday, before Andrew came home (I had kept the kids at home because of Caleb’s chest and the cold night air). Ah man, I was getting so emotional seeing all those missionaries, and thinking about you! You made me cry! But it’s so wonderful to see the army that is going forth into the world!

I took Hannah to a party on Saturday morning, and strangely she did a similar thing to what Josh has done so many times. She was all shy, and not wanting to join in right until the time that the party was due to end! Thankfully the party was a home party, and they were quite happy for us to stay a bit longer, so she did get to be part of things a bit before we left. But I didn’t expect that from Hannah! I thought she would be the more confident one… Maybe Caleb…? But the boy’s older sister was so sweet – she took Hannah into her room and was showing her toys, and really trying hard to help Hannah feel at home. I can see Hannah being like that in a couple years – really maternal J

And Caleb went to Nursery again yesterday (in his mind there wasn’t even a question!) and so I actually got to serve completely at church. I sat with one teacher during Sunday School helping her prepare for her lesson next week, and I evaluated a Relief Society lesson, and I even played the piano in Relief Society. I can participate again! So awesome!!!

So a busy week, and tomorrow I start a 4 week stint of lecturing the second years, which means 8:00 lectures, and a really early start. But I’m excited about the lectures – I think that things are coming together for me nicely J

Love you lots

Shelly

Letter to Richard - 14 July 2013

Dear Elder Powrie

I was just working out now that it’s nearly 4 months since you went to the MTC already! “And they said, ‘How time’s flown’, and ‘Haven’t you grown’” (from The Snail and the Whale) So true…

My work week was the last slower week I’ll have, pretty much until November… The second semester starts tomorrow, and then I don’t hold out much hope of having a moment to catch my breath for a few months to come. So I spent this week getting course material ready for this quarter, but also quite a bit of procrastinating… And I took time off to go to gym 3 times, do 80% of my visiting teaching and do grocery shopping… Oh, and I also spent time looking online for Christmas/birthday presents for the kids and stuff (only because Kalahari had a special on toys… but I guess I was glad for the distraction still J) Oh, and I also spent time returning a faulty one, and then buying a new one… We got a dishwasher! I’m SO excited!!! J

Andrew also took some time off this week, partly just to get some rest, but then he also fetched Josh early from school and took him to watch a movie – some special time for them. But of course Hannah couldn’t be left out. So the promise was that daddy would take her to do something special on Saturday. Well what she wanted to do was go and buy some lipstick (labello) and have a party pack. That was all that her list of demands contained. But as soon as I woke up yesterday morning she wanted me to help her get dressed and ready for her “date” with daddy, and when Andrew was finally ready to go as well she took her little handbag and was just the happiest little girl around! She is SUCH a girl, but SO cute!

The kids have also been wanting to go and visit granny almost every day this week. Most days when we’ve got home from school they ask to go and say hello, and Mom’s mental state is definitely improving! She has been much more stable the last week or two, so I feel happy to let them go and visit her. Although crossing the threshold of that house does in some ways bring out the worst in my kids – they suddenly go into hyper mode – but we’re managing to have short visits at least J Even on Friday afternoon, when Josh and Hannah had a brother and sister that they’re friends with come to play Mom and Dad both came out to say hello to the kids. Friday was pretty intense – I had 5 kids in the house, aged 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1. Hectic!!! But it went quite well, and I think the kids all enjoyed it. But I don’t know how many play dates there will be for the next while, so I needed to get it in before the rush.

Oh, and you’d have been so proud of Josh! He was asking Dane if he goes to Primary. Dane says no, a bit confused about what Primary is. So Josh asks if he goes to church, and Dane says no (I was surprised at that – I thought his parents did go to church) So Josh says “Do you want to come to my church?” to which Dane says Yes. So of course we’ll need to work on the parents a bit first, but I was planning on inviting them to come and watch the primary presentation anyway, and I’ll definitely do that. And then see if Dane wants to come to primary on another occasion. But Josh is a little missionary in the making J And we spoke afterwards about how important it is to go to church and he tells me “Church is where you learn about Jesus, and school is where you learn to be big”.

We had enrichment yesterday, which was on service. One of the less-active sisters that we visit teach was going to come, but then she phoned at the last minute to say that she couldn’t make it because her hips were giving her too much of a problem – but we almost got her there! We did a couple of cool activities around service. We started off by each drawing a number that represented the sister that we had to serve soup and rolls to. So everyone served someone else, and got served as well. It was a really nice simple thing, but pretty powerful. And then towards the end we each had to “pledge” something that we would do to serve someone. Our pledges got put into a box, and drawn by someone else, and then we have to perform that service by the end of July for the sister that drew our pledge. I said I would help with her tax return or bake cupcakes. Cindy drew me, and she doesn’t do a tax return yet, so then it was making cupcakes for her. I actually made them last night, and then after church today we took to Cindy, and also Sis Marie, and (at Joshua’s specific request) to Uncle Ron and Pamela.

So last week Caleb was desperate to go to Nursery, but he only went for the last 25 minutes or so. But today I was getting Hannah settled and Andrew made the mistake of bringing Caleb to find me (although I think he did have people waiting to meet with him). Well Caleb just wanted to stay, and Aunty Corbie said if he’s ready and wanting to, then it’s fine that it’s a couple weeks early, as long as he’s not disruptive. Well I went off to class on my own, and he didn’t cry at all, and I didn’t hear a thing about him needing me… So it looks like I’m going to get to be concentrating in classes, and performing my calling properly, sooner that I thought J It’s over 5 years now since I started having kids in classes with me, and expect for 2 short spells between kids, it’s been pretty much non-stop. The end of quite an era! But at this stage any mom will tell you that their toddler is SO ready to go to Nursery and be able to play and interact with other kids instead of being contained (or and attempt made anyway) in Sunday School and Relief Society… And Caleb has been ready to move on for a couple months already. So I’m glad they’re letting him.

This afternoon I read a few Ensign articles, in the brief time that the kids allow us to have some alone time. I found a really nice quote by Elder Hales:

“There is nothing that we are enduring that Jesus does not understand, and He waits for us to go to our Heavenly Father in prayer. I testify that if we will be obedient and if we are diligent, our prayers will be answered, our problems will diminish, our fears will dissipate, light will come upon us, the darkness of despair will be dispersed, and we will be close to the Lord and feel of His love and of the comfort of the Holy Ghost.” (“Behold, We Count Them Happy Which Endure,” Ensign, May 1998, 77.)

He is there, waiting to help us, but we have to first ask…

Anyway, I have to be up early tomorrow for the start of the new term (hopefully I can do better at getting the kids to school on time this term!)

Love you lots!

Shelly

Letter to Richard - 7 July 2013

I saw something on facebook saying “Whohoo, it’s Friday! Oh wait, I’m a mom…” And I must be honest there are plenty of Fridays that I feel like that… But this weekend has been probably one of the best we’ve ever had with the kids! All three of them are starting to be willing to play on their own at times, and so we’re not having to be at their beck and call constantly for the whole time. Fantastic! The nights have still been bad, but despite us being really tired during the day, we’ve still managed to contain our emotions and have a pleasant time as a family. Progress! J

At work I finally managed to leave scholarly activity behind, and I’ve started preparing for the second semester’s teaching. I’m feeling pretty excited about getting back into the classroom. I feel like I’ve also learnt so much, and my teaching is improving a lot this year. So I’m excited J

Josh had a better/happier week at school, because his teacher was back from leave, and Dane was back after being sick. All of us are pretty much over the colds we had, so the great thing about that is that the children tend to behave better when they’re healthy. Maybe that’s also why the weekend was better…

I took Josh and Hannah, and Mom, to go and watch Peter Pan at Canal Walk on Friday. The show was really well done, with an especially cool and creative set. It is aimed at kids, so the acting isn’t spectacular, but it still is overall a high quality production. And of course the kids just loved it!

We went over to Fish Hoek yesterday, and had a braai J I’m guessing you don’t have many braais in Zim… We’ll have a special big one when you come home! J But before going to Fish Hoek we first had to deal with the fact that we had hardly any water at home… A pipe had burst in the road behind us, and so the water was just trickling – although at least it was still coming! We took the kids for a walk to see it, and at that stage all they City had done was cordon off the area, but Josh and Hannah were interested to see the water still flowing down the street. Josh was especially looking at where the water was just pooling, and where it was flowing… I think he’s got a scientific mind… Watch this space J

Our Sunday School lesson today was on learning by study and faith. There was an interesting talk last year in the Young Women session by Sis Mary N Cook on a similar theme. A cool quote from her:

“Seek learning by faith. We learn by faith as we diligently gain spiritual knowledge through prayer, scripture study, and obedience and as we seek the guidance of the Holy Ghost, who testifies of all truth. If you do your part to gain knowledge, the Holy Ghost can enlighten your mind. As you strive to keep yourself worthy, the Holy Ghost will give direction and added light to your learning.”

Before I reread this quote in the class Bro Terry asked me what one of my favourite scriptures is, and I chose Moroni 10:5, which happens to go really nicely with the quote too. But the Holy Ghost is amazing in helping you to know the truth about the gospel, but also in so many other things, in all areas of our lives. What an Amazing gift! I think we’re often too casual about it!

We also had a really great testimony meeting today. Andrew decided a few weeks ago that he really wanted to ward to focus more on the Saviour, and the one thing he could influence directly was the sacrament meeting talk topics. So we started 2 weeks ago a series of sacrament meetings that will focus on the Saviour. But it was interesting to see in testimony meeting today how many people focused their testimonies predominantly on the Saviour. And those are unplanned! So it’s great to see that the ward members are having the focus shift, although they probably don’t realise it’s happening :P

There was also a shake-up in the priesthood callings today, well part 1 today. Bro Bothwell has been released from the bishopric, and Sam called in his place! Andrew is really excited to have him as a counsellor J Bro Terry was changed to the ward clerk, and then a couple changes to the High Priest group as well. But hopefully things are going to be moving forward from here!

So another exciting week!

Shelly