Sunday Thinkin'

*We had some crazy wind gusts today -- one of my favorite trees in our backyard snapped at the trunk. Chloe was really upset by it. She came in, "Mom, my favorite tree in our backyard is broken. I really don't want it to be dead." It was pretty sad -- it was a really lovely maple. Why couldn't it have been one of our prolific sumacs??
Do you see that brown thing sticking out of the ground near the fence post? That's the 3" trunk of this tree.

*Stanton took the kids outside as the storm front moved in. As the winds were gusting, Lily looked at Stanton and said, "Is he coming, Daddy?" "Is who coming?," Stanton asked. "The Savior," was Lily's reply. A nursery lesson or remembering?

*Chloe had a pretty rough day today -- regression from the huge improvements she's been making. I wasn't very patient. And I'm sorry for that.

*Sacrament meeting was c-razy. I was sweating bullets. Our snack cups are really really small, but when they're spilled all over the floor, it feels like an entire box of Cheerios. And a drink spilled all over the floor never seems minor. Thank goodness it was water. Unfortunately, it spilled on Jared Day's church manual. Sorry Jared.

*We attended the baptism of a boy in our ward Saturday. It was a sweet experience. And Lily just didn't understand why she couldn't dress in white and get baptized by her daddy right then and there.

*Speaking of baptizing, Jared was holding Cannon during sacrament meeting and spilled a sacrament cup of water on his head. His dad, Craig, leaned over and said, "Cannon's been baptized!" (Angie, I hope that's okay to tease about? Tell me if it isn't, please!)

*I've been pondering this scripture today after a great lesson from our bishop, Bishop Farmer. 2 Nephi 2:22-23

22 And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end.

23 And they would have had no ^achildren; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no ^bjoy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no ^csin.

Families are the center of Heavenly Father's plan and I'm thinking this scripture reveals why that it so. "...they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy for they knew no misery..." Isn't that the truth? Children are the most intense source of misery we can experience (I know, I know, but stick with me for a minute...) -- whether it's the unfulfilled desire for children, or a child who is rebelling, or the early stages of nursing, or temper tantrums , etc. But experiencing that misery makes the moments of joy so incredibly joyous. Holding a newborn in your arms, seeing a child take his first steps, hearing them tell you about their first day of school, sending a child on a mission, seeing them marry a good companion, etc. Family is where we experience the best and the worst of life -- and, for me, it helps me understand that even at its worst, it's the best.

*I'm wondering if Brigham's missing his former role of baby of the family...
*Brigham is starting to learn what it means to "talk like a big boy" and the benefits that follow. His favorite word lately is "Peeease?"