MaeLyn's Musings

There are some moments that fill my heart with pure joy. Thank God for children. A week ago Sunday, I watched my son Joshua pass the sacrament for the first time. I marveled at the respect and reverence with which he passed the trays. I rejoiced that another member of my family holds the priesthood, and has the power to serve in God's name.  That same Sunday, after church, Hannah and I were pulled aside by a member of the bishopric, and Hannah was extended the calling to lead the music in Sacrament Meeting. Without a doubt or a qualm, she willingly and happily accepted the call to serve.  Yesterday, John began teaching Peter how to play "Follow the Prophet" on the piano. Once again I was filled with joy to watch my children sharing their talents, their willingness to serve others. I understand the apostle John's words when he said, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." (3 John 1:4)

Last night, my boys asked for a bedtime story. Josh held out a book for me to read to them: Harry Potter . Since it was late and a school night, I decided to tell them a slightly shorter story. This is the story I told: Once there were two sisters who shared a bedroom. They slept on a bunk bed, with the older sister on the top bunk, and the younger sister on the bottom bunk. At night, these two girls loved to talk and laugh and play games long after their parents had sent them to bed. One night, they came up with a new game: they were going to try to scare each other. They told each other scary stories. They sneaked off their beds in the dark and tried to jump out and startle each other. Finally, their parents came to their bedroom and told them they needed to go to sleep.  The younger sister left the room to go to the bathroom, and when she returned to her bedroom the pile of blankets on the top bunk was still and quiet, and she assumed her older sister had obeyed her parent...

Elder M Russell Ballard said: "The Savior tearfully urged his Nephite followers to 'behold your little ones' (3 Ne. 17:23). Notice that He didn't say 'glance at them' or 'casually observe them' or 'occasionally take a look in their general direction.' He said to behold them. To me that means that we should embrace them with our eyes and with our hearts; we should see and appreciate them for who they really are: spirit children of our Heavenly Father, with divine attributes. When we truly behold our little ones, we behold the glory, wonder, and majesty of God, our Eternal Father. All children are His spirit offspring. We have no more eloquent testimony that our Heavenly Father lives and that He loves us than the first raspy cry of a newborn child. All babies have faith in their eyes and purity in their hearts. They are receptive to the truth because they have no preconceived notions; everything is real to children. Regardless of physical limi...

Since I was called to be the ward music director, I get to sit on the stand at church until after the sacrament has been passed. A couple weeks ago, Steven had been asked to help pass the sacrament, and so the kids (minus John, who was also helping to pass the sacrament) were sitting on the bench without parental supervision. As I watched from the stand while the sacrament was being passed, my two younger boys started squabbling over something, obviously causing a distraction for the family behind them. I tried in vain to catch their eye, to motion to them to be quiet, but they were too involved with each other to look towards me. It wasn't until the brother in the bench behind them leaned forward and tapped them on the shoulder and gestured to me on the stand (with my finger on my lips) that they realized that they were being too loud. On fast Sundays, like yesterday, a young woman in our ward directs the music and I can sit with the family. Yesterday, again during the passing ...

On Tuesdays, I usually go to institute (and then blog about it), but this week they were cleaning the carpets in the building so institute was cancelled. I puttered around the house doing laundry and stuff, and then looked at the boys room, which had once again reached the point where it looked like a tornado had passed through and it was difficult to find the carpet, and came up with the idea of a Gunny Bag Buffet, thinking that if there really were gunny bag "monsters" who enjoyed eating leftover toys, they would have a blast in my boys' room. I came up with the menu, and posted it on the boys' bedroom door so they would see it when they got home from school. It served as a warning, so they could put away anything they cared about that evening. (They understood the warning, and tried a couple ways to get out of it, like moving the sign to Hannah's door, and crossing out the "Free" and writing "Payment: everything you ate before.") Yesterday...

Joshua's activity of choice the last few days has been building houses in our planting boxes. (There's nothing planted in them yet.) Each house has walls of stones, and is topped with leaves from our flag iris. They have stood up to plenty of rain and have provided hours of muddy fun. Someone was playing with the camera yesterday and took this partial screenshot of a game Peter was playing on the computer. Bonus points if anyone knows what educational website he was on.

I've had a headache for the last three days. Sometimes I can push it to the back of my mind and focus on other things. Other times it seems to take over my brain and I just want to detach my head and stick it in a closet for a couple hours so I don't have to feel it. This is the menu that Peter made. Thankfully, this is Spring Break. Steven let me sleep in this morning since we didn't have to get the kids up and off to school. I ended up sleeping until about 9:30. When I did finally get up and wandered out of my room, my children met me in the dining room. Josh had a towel over his arm and a notepad in his hand as he led me to my seat at the table where he pulled out my chair for me. I sat, and was presented with a menu. I made my selections, and very shortly, Hannah was cooking me pancakes - to order, Peter was filling up a glass with water for me, and John was slicing my orange. I ate my wonderful breakfast - even having Peter refill my water glass a couple times. ...

Peter got to give in a talk in Primary on Sunday. He wrote the talk himself. Here is what he said (according to his own writing): Jesus is our Savior. Well first, what is a savior? A savior is someone who saves, like a teacher who teaches. Jesus Christ came to earth to save us. Then, why do we need to be saved? Well 2 reasons. 1st, we die. 2nd we sin. But Jesus saves us. But how? Think you are a chalkboard. Jesus is the eraser and your sins are the chalk. So when we sin, the chalk draws on the chalkboard. But when we repent, the eraser erases the drawing. But how does Jesus save us from dieing? Well what's the next holiday? EASTER! And what's Easter all about? Resurrection! Resurrection is living after you die. Jesus is our Savior because he made it possible to live with him again. I say this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

In the last couple days since Halloween, I've noticed something. People eat candy in different ways. Some people save their candy, and ration it out at a rate of one a day. Some people eat it slowly, savoring each piece. Some gobble it down as fast as they can, hardly waiting until the taste from one has diminished before popping the next in their mouths. And then there are my kids. They like to play with it before they eat it. Here are a few of the creations I've seen in the last couple days.

Twas the night 'fore November and all through the house  every creature was stirring - except the dead mouse     (which the cats had dragged in.)  The children were dressed in costumes with care,  and expectations of sugar plums filled the air.  Pumpkins had been carved with smiles and grins From the tips of their stems to the base of their chins A good friend arrived to join in the fun No one can wait for the set of the sun. At last it is dark a nd the fun can begin They grab up their sacks to put the loot in. Away to the neighbors' they fly like a flash Hoping for candy, or maybe some cash They give the door a knock or a ring "Trick or treat" in unison they sing.  From house to house they walk, hop or race They set themselves a furious pace For this is the night that comes once a year When they can beg for candy without any fear The streets are filled with tot, youth and teen For this is the night we call Halloween! ...

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (aka the Mormon Church), the Primary is the organization designed for children aged 18 months through 11 years. According to the Church's Handbook of Instructions: The purposes of Primary are to help children: Feel Heavenly Father’s love for them. Learn and understand the gospel of Jesus Christ. Feel and recognize the influence of the Holy Ghost. Prepare to make and keep sacred covenants.  I have served as President of my ward (congregation) Primary for three years today. (Read here for the post I wrote the day I was sustained.) During that time I have seen a lot, learned a lot, and hopefully I have grown a lot. One thing that I have noticed - and I've been bothered by, is that many people seem to think of serving in the Primary, particularly as Primary Teacher as a "place holder" or "low class" calling. They seem to think the bishopric had nowhere else to put them and so threw them into the ...

Last week Thursday we had Parent Teacher Conferences. I spent over three hours talking with the boys' teachers - Josh's teacher, Peter's teacher, a speech therapist, John's Math, Social Studies, Language Arts, Science and Engineering teachers, two art teachers, two media teachers, two music teachers, and two PE teachers. Later that day I went to Hannah's school and spent another hour talking with her Math, Language Arts and History Teachers, as well as her Great Books and Orchestra teacher. (Her Science teacher was out of town.) In general my children are doing very well. They have all scored very well on assessments, some are showing very good leadership skills when working with other students. John's math teacher described him as being "a Ferrari of math brains", jumping from problem to solution so fast, that he is working on getting John to slow down a bit so he can explain what he is doing to get the solution. At the moment Hannah is getting stra...

A little over a week ago, on Oct 5th, a girl named Jessica Ridgeway disappeared on her way to school. Five days later, her body was found, dismembered in such a way that it took two days for authorities to say decisively that the body was hers. She lived only 7 1/2 miles from us. As of now, police appear to have no suspects. At my own boys' K-8 school last week a 14 year old boy sexually assaulted a six year old. The incident was immediately reported, the 14 year old was removed from school, and letters have been sent home to assure us that increased security measures have been put in place to keep it from happening again. Hannah usually walks with friends to her bus stop. She learned last night that one of those friends wouldn't be walking to school with her until Jessica Ridgeway's killer is apprehended. This morning, I made sure that the boys were ready earlier so we could all walk together to Hannah's bus stop, and from there to the boys' school. I refuse...

This morning we awoke to a layer of white on the grass and the car. It was still coming down as we ate breakfast, but by the time the kids left for school it had stopped, and the sky was blue. I love living in Colorado. Peter kind of looks like an elf in his chosen coat and hat. The coat is actually one of Hannah's... Josh chose to wear layers of about three hoodies, rather than one coat. John wore a regular coat - and two hats, one big knitted one to keep his ears warm, and a smaller felt one on top of that to keep the snow from coming in through the holes in the knitted hat. Is it a good thing my children don't seem to care what others think about what they wear?

Last night I took the three older children to scouts and Young Womens. When I returned home, Peter was sound asleep in bed, but I could see what he had been doing. Several of Peter's favorite stuffed animals were lined up against the wall, each with either a backpack or a jacket. Facing them was the rocking chair and bench/desk with some books. Of all my children, Peter is the most attached to his stuffed animals. How many of your children set up elaborate games to play with their stuffed animals? (And how do you teach them to put the toys away when they are done with them - without being reminded?)

This picture was taken on the kids' first day of school.

Hannah likes to come up with nicknames for her brothers. For months, she has been calling Peter, "Widdow Peedoh"(Like little Peter, but with a baby's pronunciation), much to his chagrin.  A few days ago, my children came up with Star Wars nicknames for each other. These included: Peter      Darth Peter/ Pete Vader      C-3Pdoh Joshua      Josh2-D2      Josha the Hut John      John Groundwalker (rather than Skywalker)      Obi-John Kenobi Hannah      Hannah Solo

I read my sister's blog today, and in it, she mentioned some of the games we used to play when we were little. She mentioned pretending our beds were pirate ships, and pretending there were tiny people living in our backyard. This set me off on a trip down memory lane, thinking of the things we did when we were young. With this sister, I remember making homes for tiny people in some cement blocks in the side yard. I remember making up plays to the music of the Nutcracker. I remember trying to scare each other at night in the dark. I remember playing "secretary", using a lite bright and Lego constructions for computers. I remember celebrating our parents' anniversaries by making our own restaurant, and even making it a dinner theater, singing songs like "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head". I remember playing in the trees in front of our house - how one was her house, and the other was mine. I remember posting street signs around our driveway and riding our ...

I'm not sure exactly what world Joshua lives in, but he is definitely in a world of his own, marching to the beat of a drum only he can hear. I never know what he is going to be wearing next, or what creative game he will be playing. Whether he is wearing a lab coat, a monkey suit, a monk's robe or his "explorer" garb, I always know he is having fun. The following pictures were all taken in the last few months (since Christmas): Josh was thrilled with the lab coat and tools he got for Christmas. The better to play "mad scientist" with, I guess. Josh the Explorer warms his hands over a campfire. Josh the monkey has a chat with his friend Buzz Lightyear. Even when just dressing for school, Josh definitely has a certain style.

Something must be clogging the gutters. We get huge icicles! Last Thursday we had parent teacher conferences. All my children are doing wonderfully well. Because of conferences, there wasn't regular school Thursday, and Friday was a furlough day for the teachers. (In order to save the district money, the teachers "get" a day off school with no pay.) So, we had to find ways to keep the kids entertained. Thursday morning we spent a couple hours at the school visiting not only with the boys' teachers, but also with the specials teachers (P.E., art, music). When we got home, I left Hannah to watch the others, and I took Joshua with me to the store to pick up some groceries. He was supposed to go shopping with a parent as part of his homework for the week; otherwise I would have done that shopping trip the day before. When we returned home, the kids had pulled out the beads and put on a movie. The beads kept them occupied for pretty much the rest of the day. Can yo...