Tayson's Talk

Tayson gave his first talk in Sacrament meeting today.  He did such a great job and didn't seem nervous at all.  Then again, what did I expect...the kid loves a captive audience.  :)

His talk was on James 1:5 - he had such a great joke at the start.  Here is the first part of his talk:

Hi my name is Tayson Johnson I just turned twelve and I got the preisthood two weeks ago and I'm talk already - sigh.  To introduce myself I'm going to tell you three things I like and three things I don't like.  I like video games, sports and my awesome dad.  Three things I don't like are homework, waking up early and my dad telling me to write things about him being "awesome".  I was asked to speak on James 1:5.

Luke gave a talk in primary too.  It was crazy having both boys give talks on the same day.  His talk was on how wholesome activities strengthen the family.  He wrote his whole talk and even changed it a little on the fly because he realized our family bonded more in Cancun staying in a hotel together than just focusing on the Whale Shark tour :)

It was a very proud mom day today!

Tayson's Ordination

Today was such an amazing day.   Tayson was ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood today by Todd.  The spirit in the room was unbelievable and I truly hope Tayson never forgets the way he felt today.  After church we all met in the bishops office and Bishop Beesley asked some of us to say a few words.  First he had the grandmas both say a few words.  Grandma Johnson talked to Tayson about what a great example he was setting for his cousins and how proud of him she is as her oldest grandson.  Grandma Schultz talked about the responsibility he has now and told him that he is just an awesome kid and how much she loves him and how proud of him she is.  She also talked to him about his love for doing temple work and that she is so excited to go to the temple with him and work on family history. Then I had to talk (not easy since I was already in tears) and I don't really remember what I said but I know my feelings are that this is a big step for him and that now Satan will be doing everything in his power to keep Tayson from being worthy and serving a mission.  He needs to work on reading his scriptures and saying his prayers and he needs to develop his testimony so he can remain worthy.  Then Todd talked to him about how important it is that he not only have the priesthood but that he uses it to serve.  That he can't be exalted unless he uses and serves with his priesthood.  Then Tayson was ordained and the blessing he was giving was so powerful.  Again I don't remember what was said just the feelings I had.  I am so proud of you Tayson for the young man you have become and for your amazing spirit.  I am proud of you for making good choices and working hard to prepare for the priesthood. 

In the circle:  Todd, Grandpa Schultz, Grandpa Johnson, Steve, David, Timmy, Mark, and Bishop Beesley.

Eric and Cody

Elder Eric Schultz and Elder Cody Schultz both report to the Provo MTC on July 23rd.  I can't believe these 2 are headed into the MTC on the same day.  I can't believe how much I am going to miss these guys.  I can't believe they were surprised when I cried as I hugged them goodbye and told them I loved them. 

I know they will both be amazing missionaries and I am so grateful for their examples to my kids.  Two years will go by fast!!

Moroni and the Mayor

I am lucky to work right next to where the new Provo City Center Temple is being built.  It was so sad to watch the Tabernacle burn down but has been so amazing to watch it become a temple.  Because I work at Nu Skin we got front row seats to see Moroni being placed on top.  Kami dropped off Sophie and Glen after school too.  

Provo's mayor John Curtis was watching from the Nu Skin building where we were so when he came over to say hello I introduced Sophie to him.  I told her how he was the one who was responsible for our new rec center and getting us Google fiber.  Then they had a lengthy conversation about the band-aid on his thumb and how he got it and did it bleed and she showed him her injured finger nail.  It was hilarious.  He's a great mayor and an even better person.  When Sophie got home she told the other kids all about meeting the mayor - but forgot to mention she got to watch Moroni get placed on top of the temple.

I love being greeted by Moroni every morning as I walk into work....and I find myself singing "High on the Mountain Top" almost every day :)

Eric's Mission Call

Eric got his mission call today!  He will be serving in the New Jersey, Morristown mission leaving July 23rd. I am so grateful for him and for his amazing example to my kids.  He is such a great kid and is setting the standards high.  I love that my kids can look up to him and that he lives right across the street from us.  I wish my kids could live next door to all of their cousins!!!

Indexing

Last month in Ward Conference our Stake President challenged each family to learn to do indexing and to do 100 names a month.  So for FHE last night my dad came over and got our computers all set up and taught us what indexing is and how to do it.  Tayson, Luke and Claire each got a chance to do a few names.  We have now officially done 14 names....only 86 to go!

Quick trip to Vegas

I got a call on Wednesday from Danny that he was going to be made Bishop on Sunday.  So we rearranged a few things, packed our bags and headed down to Vegas for a quick weekend trip.  I am glad we were able to be there to support him as he takes on this new challenge and calling.  Saturday night he had all his brothers (Steve, Todd, Chris, David, Trent, Mark, and Jeremy) along with my dad give him a "brothers blessing" to comfort him.  I loved seeing all the boys using their priesthood and I could feel the spirit as they united together.  Danny will be a great bishop.  He will spend a lot of time on his knees and in the temple I'm sure.  I look up to him so much and am so grateful for his spirit and for my testimony of the gospel.  I am so grateful to be a part of such an amazing family and love that almost everyone was able to come down to support Danny in his newest adventure. 

I even got to go running outside with Kami and Danny on Saturday.  I love running in 50 degrees!

Stories of Jesus

Day 8 advent. Tell you favorite story of Jesus. Sophie: Christ's birth. Claire: Angel Gabriel. Luke: the crucifixion. Tayson: the 10 lepers.

Luke's Talk

He's really growing up on me.  He gave an amazing primary talk today and can now tie his own tie.  

Saturday is a special day

This is a common occurrence at our house now that we have 9:00 am church.  The girls get curlers in their hair, I iron the boys shirts and we get everything ready so that we can get up and get to church on-time.  I love my girls in curlers.  I'm not sure if they are cuter in curlers or their curls the next morning.  Love.

FHE

I decided to be brave and take the kids on an outing for FHE by myself.  It wasn't looking so good at the start.  I couldn't get the kids to stop fighting even while we were at the temple.  But we did it and after I bought them dinner and shakes at the BYU creamery everyone was happy and glad we did it.  We also discovered that the Provo Temple was dedicated in 1972 - a great year!!

Family Scripture Time

I have been having a hard time getting the kids to read the scriptures at night.  They just want me to read every night so we came up with a new plan.  I wrote the different options on popsicle sticks and each night one of them chooses then we do that.  It has cut down a lot on complaints and helps make scripture study more fun. 

Luke's Baptism

Luke got baptized.  I am so proud of him for the choices he has made and the little man he's becoming.  The service was amazing.  He shared his special day with another girl in our ward Amanda Day.  Todd gave an amazing talk on the Holy Ghost, Jeannie sang a beautiful solo, my dad and David were the witnesses and Christine gave a closing prayer.  Luke put a lot of thought into who he wanted to do each of these things and it went so great I think he chose perfectly.   Bishop Gardner spoke at the end about how the kids were just starting their race with baptism and was comparing this life to running a marathon (he said like I run ... but he's about to run his first marathon in a few weeks so I know it meant a lot to him as well).  He talked about how people will help them along the way, and that it doesn't matter what position you're in just that you finish.  At the end of a marathon everyone gets a medal - at the end of this life everyone can receive eternal life.  It was such a great day and I truly am so proud to be this kids mama. 

Luke and Todd

Luke in his new suit

All ready to go - they look good in white

Luke with Grandma Johnson

Meggan came to be a part of his special day

The whole crew

The Johnson family

The men who were in the circle for his confirmation 

(our bishop isn't in the picture)

Family picture time

With Grandma Johnson

A few things that really stood out for me are how overwhelmed I was by the spirit as Todd and my dad and my brothers all stood in the circle for his confirmation.  I am so grateful to be surrounded by so much priesthood power.  I love seeing Todd use his priesthood authority.  In the confirmation blessing he told Luke that the things he needs to do to keep the Holy Ghost as his constant companion are the small and simple things.  He needs to pray daily and read the scriptures regularly.  I know these things will help him through trials and life in general.  It was a good reminder for me and everyone to remember to do these things. 

Tayson's Baptism

Tayson was able to get baptized with Ryan. I love that they shared such a special day. The baptism was on Ryan's 8th birthday.

Todd, Tayson, Ryan & Steve

Proud parents

The whole family

Todd took Tayson to buy him his first suit. They found this good looking suit and a plain black one. Tayson wanted the black one but Todd offered to buy him a baseball bat if he got this one instead. Then after his baptism he said "dad, I'm glad you talked me into this suit. I like it"

He looks so old and handsome to me in this picture.

The baptism was amazing. In order to get as much family here as possible we had to do it on a different Saturday than the normal Stake baptisms so we got to do a family baptism. The spirit was so strong.

Here is how the program went:
Pianist: Alex Arnold
Chorister: Grandma Johnson
Opening Song: When I am Baptized
Opening prayer: Eric
Talk about Baptism: Grandma Schultz
Musical Number: Jeannie "When Jesus Christ was Baptized"
Talk about the Holy Ghost: Mark
Baptisms
Rest Hymns
Confirmation
Bishop's Remarks (he made Christine and I bear our testimonies before he gave his remarks)
Closing Song: I'm Trying to be like Jesus
Closing Prayer: Grandpa Johnson

When Jeannie was singing the second verse of her song the spirit hit very strong as she talked about the choice they were making to be baptized and follow Christ's example. Not a lot of dry eyes at that point. She had to stop for a minute and blamed it on her pregnancy :) - it was an incredible number and really brought the spirit to the room. The talks were amazing. Mark gave both boys a CTR ring to help them remember both to Choose the Right and the role of the Holy Ghost in their lives Comfort, Teach and bring all things to Remembrance. When the bishop announced that he wanted the mom's to bear their testimonies both Christine and I said "you've got to be kidding me" loudly and in unison. It was pretty funny but then we actually had to get up and bear our testimonies which was difficult since I was VERY weepy. The program was great! I am so lucky to have so much family and so many of them who traveled to be here for Tayson's special day.

On the way home after the baptism Luke said "Mom, I felt the Holy Ghost when Tayson got baptized and when Ryan got baptized too". Talk about a perfect day for a mom. Then he proceeded to ask me how the Holy Ghost works and we can all feel him and I didn't have a very good answer for him - but I was still so excited that he felt it.

After the baptism we went back to the house and took a few pictures then went to my parents house for a luncheon. For some reason I didn't take any pictures at the luncheon so I have nothing to show my side of the family at Tayson's baptism. Dang it!!!

Just for record keeping here are the people who came: My parents, Jan, Dave, Kelly and Brooke, Steve's family, Danny's family, Heidi's family, David's family, Jeannie's family, Timmy, Mark and Kayla, Alex and Desi, Meggan and David, the bishop, Bro. Stemmons, and Sis. Tubbs (Primary pres.)

I love my boots

This is post nap and leaving for Grandma & Grandpa's house for dinner. I had taken off Sophie's tights and black church shoes but left her dress on for her nap. Her hairdo didn't make it through the nap and of course she has food on her face. But we started gathering our stuff to go so she hurried and grabbed her boots. Those are her "go to" shoes. She loves them and always wants to wear them. Then she grabbed the first pink coat she could find (Claire's of course) and was ready to go. I couldn't resist taking a picture. She is so classic.


On a side note: She did great in nursery again. No tears. Hooray! When I picked her up her teacher said "she growled at us today". They said it was very cute and funny. She also made a sweet little necklace out of yarn with a few pictures they colored. When I picked her up she had it on and then when she realized it was time to go she tore off the pictures, crumpled them and threw them in the trash. Her teachers were cracking up at her. She is a silly silly girl.

My parable of the snow and the shovel

On Saturday when I was out shoveling the driveway to keep myself busy I was thinking about how I could liken the shoveling of the driveway to repentance.

It snowed earlier in the week and it didn't get shoveled but it did get driven on so when it snowed again there was a thick layer of ice under the snow. The snow on top was really easy to get off but to get the ice off (using my plastic snow shovel) took a lot of work. I would turn it over and scrape or pound it to break up the ice then shovel off the chunks. It was long hard work but it was working. Then Steve drove by and saw me out there using my plastic snow shovel to get the ice off the driveway. Apparently it was pretty funny and he said he could either laugh at me all day or come help. Of course Steve came right over with his gloves and a flat head metal shovel. He told me to clear off the top layer of snow then he would come behind me break up the ice and then I would clear the chunks away. The process was much faster and not just because there were two of us but because we had the right tools to do the right jobs.

So the parable is that the ice and snow were like sin. The longer they went the harder to remove it was and it just kept piling up. With repentance I could do it on my own and get the job done but once I had the right tools and someone helping me with the process (priesthood leader) it was much faster and easier.

These are just the things I think about when shoveling snow I guess....

General Conference

What a great weekend. I love General Conference. Here are a few of my favorites parts of the weekend aside from all the absolutely amazing talks.

Claire cuddling on the couch with me for about 45 minutes of the Saturday morning session quietly watching with me. We laid on the couch with a pillow and blanket cuddled up. Every once in a while she would look up at me and say things like "hims said Jesus....I know Jesus" or "temples? I love temples".

Saturday night during the dinner prayer Tayson said "please bless the missionaries around the world to find people to teach" and then he looked at me and said "that's what President Monson told us to pray for". Tayson also came in to listen to Pres. Monson speak and he said "his name is Thomas Monson not President". It cracked me up.

Then last night during Luke's personal prayers he said "please help us to do service for our cousins or strangers".

I love that my kids are actually getting tiny pieces out of conference. I love conference and how uplifting it is. I love that my kids know who Pres. Monson is and that they love him so much. I love the spirit that comes into my home during conference and the chance I have to easily watch all 4 sessions from the comfort of my home. When I was little we had to get all dressed up and go to the church and sit on hard chairs for 2 hours. Only 6 more months...

Really?

Right now life just won't slow down for me thanks to Sophie. Yesterday at church she was being as wiggly as ever. She would get up and then down and then up and then down. She drove Tayson and Claire crazy while they were doing their best to sit quietly and color. Then she was standing next to me on the pew taking toys, pretzels and marshmallows from the people sitting behind us. I wasn't paying much attention to her because I was trying to listen to the talks. The next thing I know she's in the pew behind me...she jumped over the pew. Thank goodness the people behind me were paying attention and caught her. What in the world!?! I honestly cannot keep up with this little girl.

And to top off a great day at church with the kids...Tayson was so bad in Primary he got taken to Todd during the 3rd hour. UGH!

Life is like running a marathon

This video is awesome. One of the girls I met this year when Sherry ran Boston made this.

General Conference

I loved conference this past weekend. It really hit me and I felt the spirit so strong. What was your favorite part?