One of the things I don't have the opportunity to do right now is fight my kids during sacrament meeting. My wife may not believe it, but my heart aches for her as I watch her fight kids each Sunday, and I can't help her. It also means that she usually doesn't have a great spiritual experience during sacrament meeting. Her sacrament meetings are measured by how well the kids behaved, or how many times the baby had to be taken out, or whether or not the youngest managed to grab a handful of the sacrament bread as it went by (it happened). I want her to know how much I appreciate her for what she accomplishes with our children, and for what she sacrifices for them. Whether it is giving up her spiritual sacrament meetings, or giving up something she wants so the kids can have new shoes, I recognize what shes does and am grateful for her loving kindness.
On an Easter note, I wrote the bishopric message for April, and took the opportunity to testify of the Savior and his atonement. I love my Savior, and want to grow to love him even more. I put it here as a way to share my testimony with anyone who reads it.
"Today is Easter Sunday, when we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As I have pondered my message for this newletter, I remembered the numerous conference talks given last week that spoke of and testified of the atonement. How beautiful it was to listen to the testimonies of the general authorities! I encourage each of you to review those talks, and to allow the Holy Spirit to testify to you again of the truthfulness of their words. I wish to add my testimony to theirs, and to yours, as I know that you, too, believe. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior. I know that he brought to pass the atonement, and that he took upon himself the sins, the guilt, sicknesses, and pains of each of us, and that He did so because of his love for us as individuals. He knows our great worth, and wants us to take advantage of the succor and the forgiveness that He extends to us. I testify that Jesus Christ can and will do those things that he says He can do, among which are give us comfort, strength and peace during our trials, and make our garments clean and white through our repentance and his forgiveness. I testify that He was resurrected from the dead on Sunday morning, and that through His resurrection we too will live again after we die, and that by way of the covenants that we make and keep we will be with our families eternally and receive the fullness of joy and happiness that God himself enjoys. I testify of these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Pirouettes and Soccer
I have a lot of girls in my family. There's my wife, who is wonderful, then my daughter Erin, who is 13, then Abigail, 6, EmmaLee, 4, and Lindsay, 23 months. Each of my children have their strengths and things that they enjoy. Erin enjoys playing sports, especially volleyball and basketball. Abigail likes dance and gymnastics. EmmaLee likes to color and create, and Lindsay likes to be the center of attention and perform for everyone (being the youngest). I love to watch them grow in their strengths, and see them get even better at doing the things they do well.
I am also glad when they decide to do something new, so that maybe they will find something else that they enjoy. That's why I was excited when Abigail decided that she wanted to play soccer. I figured that a "ball" sport would help to broaden her horizons, strengthen her muscles for dance, and help her to have a good time and make new friends. I was quite excited for the first game, even though I knew that six year old soccer still has the "herd" mentality-all of the players crowded around the ball trying to kick it at the same time. Still, it was my girl's first game, and I couldn't wait.
I'm not a proud father or anything like that, but when I saw my perfect daughter standing out on that field, I sat up straighter in my chair, my chin went up, and my chest puffed out with pride. Not that I'm a proud father or anything. Anyway, the game started and I watched her run up and down the field, having a great time. Sometimes she was even able to get the ball away from the herd and move it up the field. Then she was made a defender. That means she had to stay back by the goal and not move. When it is Jacob in that position, he jumps all over, doing somersaults and being an all-around crazy man. When I looked over at Abigail, however, she was doing pirouettes, round-offs, and other dance/gymnastics moves that I don't know the name for. It made me happy to see her without any troubles or worries, and having such a good time. I know that state of being cannot last, which perhaps is why it made me so happy right then.
I am also glad when they decide to do something new, so that maybe they will find something else that they enjoy. That's why I was excited when Abigail decided that she wanted to play soccer. I figured that a "ball" sport would help to broaden her horizons, strengthen her muscles for dance, and help her to have a good time and make new friends. I was quite excited for the first game, even though I knew that six year old soccer still has the "herd" mentality-all of the players crowded around the ball trying to kick it at the same time. Still, it was my girl's first game, and I couldn't wait.
I'm not a proud father or anything like that, but when I saw my perfect daughter standing out on that field, I sat up straighter in my chair, my chin went up, and my chest puffed out with pride. Not that I'm a proud father or anything. Anyway, the game started and I watched her run up and down the field, having a great time. Sometimes she was even able to get the ball away from the herd and move it up the field. Then she was made a defender. That means she had to stay back by the goal and not move. When it is Jacob in that position, he jumps all over, doing somersaults and being an all-around crazy man. When I looked over at Abigail, however, she was doing pirouettes, round-offs, and other dance/gymnastics moves that I don't know the name for. It made me happy to see her without any troubles or worries, and having such a good time. I know that state of being cannot last, which perhaps is why it made me so happy right then.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Fringe benefits of serving as bishop
The privilege and opportunity of serving as bishop brings with it many things that are difficult to deal with, most notably the emotional ups and downs of dealing with so many people and their needs, as well as the amount of time taken away from family. But there are many benefits and blessings that come from this service as well, several of which I want to talk about.
As bishop I have the ability to interact with my children in ways that I would not be able to were I not in this calling. For example, in January my son Joshua turned twelve years old. Not only was I able to confer upon him the priesthood and ordain him to be a deacon, something I would have been able to do anyway, but I was also able to interview him for the priesthood, and sign his certificate of ordination after he was ordained. I would not have been able to do those things had I not been his bishop. I am grateful for the opportunity to have shared that with my son.
Another thing that I hope my children will remember is my candy jar. I keep a jar of candy in my office for primary children. On their birthdays, the primary president gives them a slip which they can redeem in my office for a piece of candy. Well, my children are in there every week, right after church, to get a piece of candy. No, it isn't their birthday every day, but they know they can come and write on my dry erase board and show me what they colored in primary and get a piece of candy. I love the fact that they want to be there, and I will always keep candy for them and hope that they will remember it as a good experience.
One other experience that I had with my older children recently was going to the Draper, Utah Temple open house with all the youth of my ward. I was able to go with Erin, who is 13, Joshua, 12, as they are both in mutual, and Jacob, 9 who was able to go because I went. It was a special opportunity to be in a temple with them, and to answer questions afterward.
I am grateful for these experiences that being bishop allows me to have with my family, along with all other blessings that we are being given, that are too numerous to mention.
As bishop I have the ability to interact with my children in ways that I would not be able to were I not in this calling. For example, in January my son Joshua turned twelve years old. Not only was I able to confer upon him the priesthood and ordain him to be a deacon, something I would have been able to do anyway, but I was also able to interview him for the priesthood, and sign his certificate of ordination after he was ordained. I would not have been able to do those things had I not been his bishop. I am grateful for the opportunity to have shared that with my son.
Another thing that I hope my children will remember is my candy jar. I keep a jar of candy in my office for primary children. On their birthdays, the primary president gives them a slip which they can redeem in my office for a piece of candy. Well, my children are in there every week, right after church, to get a piece of candy. No, it isn't their birthday every day, but they know they can come and write on my dry erase board and show me what they colored in primary and get a piece of candy. I love the fact that they want to be there, and I will always keep candy for them and hope that they will remember it as a good experience.
One other experience that I had with my older children recently was going to the Draper, Utah Temple open house with all the youth of my ward. I was able to go with Erin, who is 13, Joshua, 12, as they are both in mutual, and Jacob, 9 who was able to go because I went. It was a special opportunity to be in a temple with them, and to answer questions afterward.
I am grateful for these experiences that being bishop allows me to have with my family, along with all other blessings that we are being given, that are too numerous to mention.
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