Have Courage and Act

Cam had thrown up today and yesterday, so I kept him home from church while I dropped the other 4 boys off at church with Gayle.  While watching Sacrament meeting, Donna McInelly bore her testimony.  In all my years in this ward, I can't ever remember her doing this before.  As I sat listening to her sweet testimony and talking about how she knew God was aware of her and walking with their family during this time, I felt a gentle reprimand from the spirit and cried as I thought about the impressions I had felt during this past month or so.  Until recently Donna, her husband, daughter (Brandy) and grandson have been living together.  Within the recent past her husband has been placed in a care home, but I wasn't aware of this.  

During two of my morning runs, I had the impression to run by her house.  The name that kept coming to mind was Brandy.  I have never met Brandy and do not know much about her.  I was wondering, what am I supposed to do when I run by her house at 6am?!  The first impression I tried to shake off, but eventually changed directions until I ended up in front of their house.  I stood in front of it for several minutes trying to figure out what I needed to do.  As I'd been running over there I wondered if maybe Brandy would be leaving for work or somehow I'd run into her.  Not that I had any idea what I'd say.  There were lights on in the house, but I could not work up the courage to knock on the front door.  After I'd been standing there, I noticed movement on the front porch which startled me and I ran off.  The next time I ran by I also didn't knock on the door.  As I'd think about Brandy, I wondered if maybe I was just supposed to tell her that God was aware of her and that He loves her.  

I also talked with David earlier this weekend about inviting the McInelly's over for dinner, but made no definitive plans and extended no invitation.  

So, as I listened to Donna speak in church today, I knew that I had not acted.  Following a prompting is not always easy.  It takes courage to act.  Heavenly Father was teaching me today that I need to do better.  There is work He has for me to do, but He needs me to act even if I don't know exactly what I will be doing or what the outcome will be.  

This reminded me of how someone followed a prompting that blessed me and our family.  Adrianne showed up at my front door.  She was nervous (which is not normal for her).  Then she told me that every morning she prays to know who she can help.  That day my name had come into her mind.  As she stood at my door, she asked me if there was something I needed help with.  My mind drew a blank.  Then she said, if you can't think of anything, I have a suggestion.  Earlier in the week we had been running together and I had told her David's parents were coming in town and planning to stay with us.  After Kayla had moved out, I tried to clean that basement shower, but didn't put much effort in because it was going to be torn our during our remodel.  So, it had been left unclean and unused for several months.  It would be the bathroom David's parents would use while in town, so I thought I should clean it.  Well, Adrianne offered to clean it.  She went above and beyond cleaning it and preparing it so that it would be a comfortable place for David's parents.  We talked later about the courage it took for her to knock of my door and the courage it takes to accept her offer.  

I had been studying a talk by Elder Bednar about the characters of Christ.  He pointed out that in the word character is the word ACT.  Christ was a man of action and that is a characteristic that I need to develop.  There are random promptings that I receive all the time and I need to start doing something about them.  I need to be very deliberate when a thought comes because it is very easy to justify all the reasons why we shouldn't do something or if I don't act immediately, I'll get distracted and forget.

Thankfully Heavenly Father is patient with me and continues to work with me.  

Start of Volume 4

 Brooks' prayer: "Please bless that I won't be mean to Cam and that I'll enjoy the spirit."

Cam is starting to say more words and it's so cute when I realizes that I recognize what he's saying.  Some of the words he can say:

Dada, Momma, cheese, shoe, up, dog, this, again.  I'm sure there is more that I can't remember.

Porter thinks he only says, "thzthzthz"

Signs- please, more

He shakes his head yes and no.

Cam finally started walking in August before he turned 19 months.  He was so proud of himself and would clap every time he did it.  

Last night we had a fun family home evening where the boys had to act out an animal while Porter played a song on the piano that went along with the animal.  Cam loved this game and he would dance around and he tried to "jump" like a kangaroo when Mason acted this out.  Cam definitely got into it, but his little feet never left the ground.

Porter and Mason have both been playing football.  Porter's is tackle and Mason's is flag.  Porter's is pretty intense and they practice 3 nights/week for 1 hr 45 min and then an hour and 20 min before each game on Saturday.  His team is doing really well and is currently ranked 2nd in their division.  Porter had a great pick in one of his games.  It was actually a super exciting play.

Mason has loved flag football and he's turned out to be pretty good.  He had two pick sixes in one game along with another touch down.  He's thrown great passes and made great tackles.  It is so fun to watch him move and get into the game.  Mason is extremely athletic and he practices diligently to get better.  

Porter has gotten back into playing piano again and I love it.  The other day his friend Ollie Metcalfe was over and they sat down at the piano together and each played parts of a song.

Brooks started preschool on his birthday and is loving it.  He does not like if anyone at school "teases" him, but he doesn't like that at home either.  He is really good with numbers, but does not like working on his letters.  He always tells me, I already the song.  He does know the letters in his name and knows how to spell his name.  He continues to love puzzles, driving his new dune buggy like a maniac, playing any sports his brothers play and riding his bike.  

Jonas has developed a love of reading.  And my most favorite thing to see him read is the Friend Magazine.  He is so excited every time a new one comes in the mail and he devours it.  Jonas still loves to run and has started cross country season.  Jonas cut his face with a glass bottle that broke last month and he had to go to the ER to get stitches.  The owners of Sports Den were so unbelievably kind and generous.  I was at Little Caesars with Mason, Brooks, Cam and 3 of Mason's friends.  We had walked/ridden bikes.  When they called me about Jonas I was wondering how I was going to get over there to pick him up.  They drove him to me.  I was so grateful.

When I took Jonas to the ER, David met us.  Jonas has become a lot less shy and he even twerked for several of the staff.  I was dying and David I were wondering what happened to that shy, private little boy.

I miss his cute sweet toddler face, but he's growing up to be so handsome and funny.

8/13/2022

Last night Brooks had a poopy diaper that caused him to get a rash on his bum.  He was so sad about it and it hurt so bad.  This morning when I changed another poopy diaper, he said,”It doesn’t have a sore.”  Then he asked for me to put “wart cream” on it and said, “Let’s say a prayer.”  His prayer was his sweetest, most complete prayer yet.  He prayed for his bum to heal, Dadda at work, the boys to sleep well, momma to care for us at home.  I love that boy.  Then we hugged and I told him that I’m so glad he knows that Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers.

8/15/2022

 While sitting in the front seat of the car Brooks said, “I wish I were dad.”  I asked, “Why do you want to be dad?”  His response, “So I can sit in this seat.”

8/29/2022

Brooks woke up this morning but was still really tired. It was 6:30am.  I went to sit by him so he’d hopefully go back to sleep.  In his mad voice he said, “I’m never going to wake up again!”  Then within a minute he was sound asleep. It’s always funny to see what is going to come out of his mouth.

8/31/22

Mason has started kindergarten and loves it. When I asked him how it was his first day, with a smile on his face he said, “Fun!”  He did also tell me there is a kid at his table that isn’t very reverent and talks over the teacher.

Today he said a kid tried to cut in line and when he wouldn’t let him the kid pinched him.  Made me chuckle.
Jonas has loved playing kickball with friends at recess, but he has really missed Amitai. 
Porter has enjoyed school so far.  He got a really high score on a literacy test that placed him in the 11th/12th grade reading level! 
I’m really hoping Porter will find his good friend that he connects with in and out of school that is a good influence on him.
Last Sunday David gave Jonas and Mason back to school blessings and is planning to give Porter one after a few days of school. At lunch today Cam was sitting in his high chair and Brooks stood on the chair next to home facing him and he put his hands on Cam’s head.  Then he said, “I bless you.  You're a dumb nut on earth."

9/1/2022

I asked Brooks where he got his cute chin and he said, “From Jesus.”

During our walk today he said, “can I sit here and take a deep breath?”

Mason gives me a big hug and a kiss on my cheek when I drop him off at school:).

9/7/2022

Brooks had his 3 year check up yesterday.  Besides him being a little cuckachoo it was a good visit. He had to get one shot and they gave him a Spider-Man band-aid.  He loved it so much he said he wished he could get another shot so he could get another band-aid.  What kid says that?!

Mason is the sweetest to take to school.  He always gives me a hug and a kiss.  Then as he’s walking into the building, he looks back and blows me kisses.

9/27/2022

Mason’s sweet note from his friend at school, Winston.
Jonas is nervous about his upcoming cross country race.  As he was talking about being nervous, Porter was so kind and encouraging.  Jonas also showed us his stretches for warming up and cooling down.  I love the Spider-Man stretch and the Mario warmup.
Brooks has loved trying Remy’s bike with training wheels.  Tonight in his sweet, sweet voice he said, “I want you to teach me.”  Melt my heart.
He has also been really into helping me bake and cook.  Right now he is practicing his knife cutting skills.  He was originally using a butter knife to cut the green pepper and then he switched to his camping utensil knife because it was “sharper”. 
Cam is so stinking cute.

12/15/22

Jonas had a basketball game and he was wondering if he should wear a shirt under his jersey. He showed me that if he didn’t then you could see his arm muscles:).

Today is Mason’s last night as a 5 year old!  We made Cinnamon Sugar muffins tonight because that’s what he wants for breakfast tomorrow.  I love him.  He is getting so much better and more confident at reading. I always love this stage where they are figuring it out. It’s so exciting and liberating to realize you can sound out words.
Mason still loves to just play, help and snuggle.  He is getting really good at basketball.  For a kindergartener he’s fantastic.  During his games he always scores and he’s really good at dribbling.  You can tell he’s played and practiced. 

Brooks and I went to the Gingerbread Jamboree story time today and it was a lot of fun.  Brooks got to chase the gingerbread man.  He loved that!

 

Jonas' Baptism 1/1/2023

Today Jonas was baptized.  He has been so excited and watching him prepare over these last few months has been really sweet.  He earnestly desired to follow the Savior and prepare for the covenant he'd be making and the ordinance he'd be receiving.  

You could see his gifts of tenderness, thoughtfulness, ability to be a friend and seek after reverent things. 

A couple of weeks ago we talked about what name/title of Christ is our personal favorite.  Jonas picked the same one as me.  The Prince of Peace.  Jonas said he loves this title because he wants to feel peace.  When you know Jonas, you can see this and feel it.  

Yesterday Jonas and I were able to go on a breakfast date.  It is fun to chat and hear all the funny opinions he has.  We went to Waffle Love.

Before the baptism when the font was filled and before the doors were closed Brooks said, "I want to go in there!  I can swim by myself."

Then during the baptism as they opened the doors to the font he started banging on the glass and saying, "I want to be baptized.  I'm going to break the glass."

During Brooks' sleep he said, "I don't want eggs!  I want candy!" 

4/17/23- Mason and Basketball

 Mason had a basketball game.  He’s a fantastic player.  Great at dribbling, shooting, fast breaks, being part of a team.

But, my favorite thing about watching him play is his desire to help his teammates succeed.  Tonight I noticed that several times during the game he stopped and passed to the same teammate.  I’ve seen him do this before with his good friend when he was trying to help his friend to meet the requirements his dad gave him to win ice cream after the game.
But, this particular kid isn’t one of Mason’s good friends.  After the game I asked Mason if his coach had asked him to pass to this boy.  Mason said no.  He had just noticed this boy didn’t get the ball very often and he just wanted to help the boy make a basket.
Talk about sweet, kind, observant, humble, etc, etc.
I was so proud of him.  He really is one of a kind.