Carter's talk.

My son was asked to speak in church this past Sunday. I wanted to share his talk because I thought it was so sweet. This boy has such a good heart. I am amazed by the things that go through his brain. He sometimes has me puzzled, because I can't get a read on him when he is so quiet... but then I just tickle him or squeeze him tight and get a smile out of him and I know all is well in his heart.

Enjoy his short but sweet talk. (He decided he would keep it short because two boys from our ward were giving a missionary farwell talk and he wanted to give plenty of time to them! Smart kid)

Talk given by Carter Noh 09-27-09

Service

Today I have been asked to speak on Service to Others. When the Savior was on the earth, he spent his time serving others.

Serving someone does not have to be a large act. Sometimes making someone’s day can be as small an act as smiling and being friendly. You might be serving others without even knowing it.

Service is only service if we do it with a glad heart. If we are helping someone, but we do so unhappily and murmuring, it is not real service. But if service is done with a happy heart and a good attitude, it will help us grow spiritually.

President Spencer W. Kimball once said, “The more we serve our fellow men in appropriate ways, the more substance there is to our souls.”

One of the greatest acts of service is love. The Savior has told us to love our neighbors as ourselves. When we show love to others, we are serving them very much.

Sometimes Heavenly Father will use us to help others. When we serve them we are acting as tools in his hands. When you serve others you are also serving the Lord.

There are many ways to serve those around us. When we magnify our church callings, we are serving others. By being a good son or daughter and mother or father, we are serving our families. At school, we can serve others by setting a good example and being a good student. By being a good citizen in our town and country, we are serving others. We should always try to seek out opportunities to serve others in our homes, at church an everywhere we go. When we do missionary work and invite others into the gospel, we are also serving them and the Lord.

Some of the people who have served me are my parents, my teachers, and the church. My parents have given me the greatest kind of service; they have loved me, cared for me and taught me what is right. My teachers in both school and church have also done me a great service. By educating me and helping me grow, they have helped prepare me for a full and successful life. The church has shown me service by showing me what is right and pointed me in the right direction.

When the Savior was on the earth, He spent his time serving others. If you follow His example, you will be blessed and will come closer to Him.

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I wanna know!

I wanna know why I like that song so much? Yes, that song, the one that comes up on this blog every time you log on. The one you are probably sick of hearing. Ordinary Miracle ~ ya, that one. It is so beautiful. Clara and I went to our neighbor's dance recital yesterday and little girls in flowing white dresses danced a ballet to that song. I nearly cried!

Well that wasn't why I started this blog, but when I logged on it camp up and I realized again that I love it. I was originally thinking that I wanna learn Photo Shop! How do I do it? Does anyone out there have a good class I can attend or log on to or something?

And while I'm on the subject, I wanna learn the guitar. I know where I can find classes for that... I just have to go get it done! hmmmmm

Well, it seems that we have all the answers here, so I'll keep asking! Why does my house get so messy so fast? I really don't get it. I can spend all day cleaning and seriously by the end of the day it's like those hours of cleaning never happened.

Why do my kids fight? Why does sleep feel so good and why is the good stuff always bad for you? Why are there weeds? Why do the black widow spiders like to hang out around my front door? Why doesn't our pool vacuum want to work? Why is there seemingly unlimited resources for energy in the US, but my house doesn't have enough electricity to not pop breakers? Why am I too tired to paint my walls and why don't I have trim where trim should be?

Shall I go on? I guess I'll spare you this time... Now tomorrow I better do a grateful blog!

I really want to know... should I do a grateful blog?

Blog-able

There are so many mundane blog-able events have happened today. Or should I say that DIDN'T happen today? Yep, that’s more like it.

The things I didn’t do today…

I didn’t get out of bed till 1 PM (except to take the kids to school)! It felt so good in my slippery, soft sheets… I didn’t want to get up and face the world.

I didn’t put away the boxes after I worked for a while emptying them. (I still have boxes of stuff from the old kitchen that I didn’t ever put away in the new kitchen…) But hey, I got more boxes emptied. That’s something, right?



I didn’t fold the laundry that I have been washing the past couple days. I could of, I should of, but I didn’t.

I didn’t cook the meat I took out of the freezer this afternoon. Really, I don’t know why I took it out. Did I really think I could get it thawed in time to put it in the slow cooker or even in time to grill it? Um… I didn’t even get it out till 2:30. That was just silly thinking.



I didn’t get out of the house to get a much needed soda till I had to go get the kids at 5 PM! That’s just insane!

Tomorrow I am going to do something worth blogging about! I might get out of bed and stay out of bed! Ya, that'd be great!

Dear Brother Summers...

Dear Brother Summers,

I love that you enjoy reading my blog...
I love that you married such a fun lady!
I love that I don't know you very well but yesterday your smile made me smile and warmed my heart!

The other day my mom asked me why anyone would want to keep a "journal" that anyone and everyone could read. I just told her that I enjoy it, and I do! I've heard it said that people write as a way to experience the wonderful things in life another time, (or something like that). I am writing to ingrain in myself the parts of my life that are worth shareing! If I have a week full of Heavenly Father's love I better share it, in hopes of continuing whatever it was that led me to feel that Spirit in the first place... So in the spirit of those thoughts I wanted to share a portion of an email I sent to a friend last night about what a wonderful day Sunday it was and what a wonderful week this has been...


email...
Wow, what a Sunday! It was so wonderful to see you (my friend) at church today!!! I mean it, when you walked in my heart was just happy and then when (your daughter and her husband) walked in with that beautiful grand baby it was even more full of joy! I had the perfect spot to be able to watch(your beautiful grand baby)smile and coo and suck her daddy's finger... It was great and just added that much more joy to my day! (And the smile (your daughter)had every time she would look at that baby is just priceless!)

I love our new Bishopric! I think it is a perfect mix of 3 humble men who will do a great job at serving our ward and I am so excited to see how that plays forward! I know everyone will miss the Fox's and it is true that they will leave a hole in the ward! But with change always comes good and bad. I hope the good out of it is that they love their new ward and are able to bring that strength and joy that we have felt from them!

Scott and I were able to go to the Temple with (young man prepairing to serve a mission)when he went in for his endowments this past week! It was great. Not so much because (YM) was there for the first time, (although that is always wonderful and refreshing) but because we hadn't been in waaaay too long and while we were there I was just so aware of Heavenly Father and the love he has for me and how aware he is of me. It brought me to a place I have needed to get to for a while now, and it felt wonderful! I guess that is a testimony of where I need to be more often!!!

And then today being Fast Sunday I took the opportunity to fast for a whole list of people who need prayers right now, but as I was fasting for them I was so blessed to feel an overwhelming feeling of peace and joy from the Spirit. The Sacrament meeting being what it was, was full of the Spirit anyway, but it just penetrated my sole! I was smiling the whole time and I felt those sore cheeks that you have been experiencing this weekend! What a wonderful feeling to know of the love from Heavenly Father!

I truly have been blessed this week. Because of the feelings of the day I made some commitments to make small changes in my life that will also bless me in that way.

Thank you for your friendships. I am blessed to have good friends like you in my life!

So you see Brother Summers, why I blog? Do you see how blessed we are to be in the same ward together, a ward that is part of a church that is led by a Prophet who is led by God! God is Good! That's what I know. Oh, and I also know that you and your wife will forever bring a smile to my face too!

Now make a comment on my blog so everyone won't think I made you up! And if anyone else reads this, leave me a comment so I will know that someone cares enough to read! Don't just read and run, it makes me wonder who is stalking me and my mom is worried about it... So if you take time to leave a comment we can assure my dear mother (and me) that no one is stalking me!

Have a blessed week...

Tough Times

Worry and concern fill my mind when I consider all the friends and loved ones in tough times right now. I wish I had the words to say that would make it all better for them. Hospital stays, mistery illness, marriages crumbleing, loss of jobs and homes, old age and life gone by. I have so much worry and concern for people that I love...

To you all in need of prayers, they are being said! I have been so wonderfully surprised by the amount of prayer given on the behalf of those in need. I don't know why it surprises me, people really come through. My husband has been such a good example to me of the opportunities to serve through fasting and praying. He has taken opportunities to fast for family as well as friends and he does it with such a sweet heart.

Prayers are being answered. Blessing are being given. Even in the darkness, light comes through. We have to keep hopeing and having incredible faith sometimes, and it may seem like forever, but it will come. The light is there.

I love you all who struggle through your days. You are examples to me of great stregnth!

Riverside Prep!!!

You know how cool it is to have all your kids attending the same school? Pretty cool! This happened once when I had two in middle school and one in elementary. Never thought it'd happen again! But Holy Canoly... it has! And I am glad! "Clara" (as she is refered to at school) and Brodric started at Riverside Prep today, Carter started there three weeks ago at the beginning of this School year and Kendahl attended there last year, so there you go, we're all in!

I feel a bit guilty though. I thought the trouble would come with Carter because he knew all summer that he would be attending this significantly smaller school. He was not too pleased. But from day one he has shown enthusiasum toward the school and everything else. *sigh*

Today seemed to go well getting the younger two in. One in fifth and one in first. The first grade teacher is a girl that I've watched grow up in our current ward, so I knew her and was super excited about her being Brodric's teacher. She's young but she's sweet. It's her fourth year teaching and I am hoping all goes well.

My first pangs of hesitation came tonight while I was putting Clara Baillie to bed... the tears started to flow and she was having a rough time. She was never totally on board with this whole "changing schools" idea because she has lots of friends at her other school and she has really come into her own in showing her cool personality and being able to be her fun, goofy self. Tonight she began sharing her sadness of leaving her friends and the lonliness she felt today not knowing a soul at the school (except her cousin who already has a group of good friends there.) I felt so bad for her. She said, "mom, there was one girl that looked like my other friend and I got excited, but then when she turned around I remembered it wasn't her and I was sad." and then, "I know EVERYONE at Rio Vista, all the teachers and everyone." I found myself questioning the decision... I hope I did the right thing and that I didn't pull her out at a critical time... Don't we always second guess as mothers? Next year she would of been at this school anyway, so she will have to adjust some time, but I just worry for her. After spending a while listening to her and letting her know how confident I am in her ability to make new friends and be able to show who she "really is", I suggested to her that if by tomorrow she isn't feeling better maybe she can ask for a blessing from dad. That seemed to help her feel better and she went to sleep more calm and I hope ready for tomorrow.

Since the kids are getting out of school later than usual and our time together is going to be cut short each evening, I tried really hard tonight to spend time with them from the time I picked them up until they were asleep. We played "ha" (remember that?) and told silly jokes for FHE... Everyone but Brodric got into it. This is us on the floor having a good time!

Here's hopeing that all goes well tomorrow...



(Brodric was being a stinker and didn't want to be in the picture... but after a good camera chase I got him anyway!!!)

Back to it... Our time in Nauvoo

I've had a few people remind me that I never finished blogging the trip... I knew it would happen. I knew that if I didn't do it while we were there it wouldn't get done, but dang it, I was just too tired! Now weeks later Im sure I will use less words to desciribe the experience, but hopefully the pictures and spirit will speak for it's self...

Nauvoo is just WONDERFUL. I can't believe I didn't know it before. President Hinckley said it and I will repeat something that sounds like what he said (because I can't remember the exact quote), "Everyone sould go to Nauvoo!!!" It is a special place with a spirit about it that I have never before felt. I feel like I know the people who experienced the hard ships so well. I feel like I understand a tiny bit of their trials. I feel like we are more like kin that ever before. It gave me a connection I didn't know I would find or enjoy!

There are so many things to do and see there that even if you couldn't make it to see the pagent you wouldn't even know there was anything you missed! They keep you busy with all kinds of wonderful entertainment and things to do and see! It was a great experience to be there with our kids and to see them enjoy it so much. Kendahl did love the pagent and went two nights in a row and then begged to go the third night.

We enjoyed a three mile trek like the pioneers took with the hand cart. We were blessed because I guess we had it easy. It hadn't rained in days, so there was no mud to speak of, which I take it is not always the case. There were dried up ruts and I could tell that if there had been rain it would of been a much different experience. But we did the whole three miles and enjoyed while we traveled along! Along the path you read stories and events that the saints had to endure while on their journey to the the Salt Lake Valley. It was tender and brought their struggles more to light. And then there were SO many more experiences just as amazing.

Oh I think I could go on and on, but the main thing that I want to portray is that there are others before us who were devoted saints and lived and died for a church and a prophet that they believed in so fully that they were willing to give of their lives to continue in the work of our Heavenly Father. I felt their testimonies in Nauvoo and I felt of the faith they had! I feel blessed to be able to have had the opportunity to get that glimpse of their lives and know and feel even a small part of their testimonies!

I don't think I have been able to put in words the things that are in my heart, but those who have studied Church History and know the stories better than I do would understand. I am NO historian and not even a good story teller, so I am not really a good one to get any good information from. Sorry about that, I guess you'll just have to find a way to go and experience Nauvoo for yourself!

Here's some of the fun stuff. Before one of the shows they had a little parade the kids could participate in. Carter joined in even though he was techinally to old. He is an awesome kid!

The National Anthem

More games.



Scott won the stick pull but Brodric got the kiss!!!




This was the trek we took. It wasn't all fun and games, some parts were tough. But we all loved it.




The Nauvoo Temple, it's beautiful!

Us at the Temple.

This is the end of Parley Street or what they call the Trail of Tears. This is the point where the pioneers either crossed the river by ferry or some crossed on frozen ice when the river miraculusly froze overnight. It was a miracle. This was a beautiful trail to walk and read exerpts from journals of the pioneer explaining their hardships. It was a really special time for us as a family as we read thier writings and walked down to the river.


Finally I wanted to add a bit about Carthage Jail. This is where the Prophet Joseph Smith was martered. He was shot through the window and fell to his death. The holes in the door were as the mobsters were shooting into the room where the Prophet and several other men were being held. It was another place where the Spirit was felt so strongly as we sat and experienced the place that the Prophet Joseph died. These are the actual bullet holes in the door.

The window looks so peaceful now. Not so much then...

Us standing outside the window where the Prophet Joseph Smith died.

missing you, enjoying God's creative beauty

I haven't been able to blog NAUVOO yet!!! I just could no longer do the late late nights to get it all in!

After traveling from one end of this country to the other I have to say that Heavenly Father has made such an amazing earth for us to borrow! What incredible beauty we have witnessed as we have traveled. Today we drove through Utah and I just LOVE the mountains from top to bottom!! Ending in St. George tonight, as we watched the sun set on the red rock mountains of southern Utah and I just couldn't get enough of them! I was driving so it was not to safe, but they are stunning!

Tomorrow we will be home and after I make sure all the kids are in school and happy I will get back into taking care of this little blog and posting the last pictures of our journey!!

Been missing blogging and missing everyone!!