We Start Again
Good Sabbath Day!
I hope this post finds you all well, healthy, and full of spunk.
It has been a good week. Not all of us are quite back into the swing of everyday life and some of us are questioning what a "Normal" routine really means, but we are making it one day at a time.
As I sat in Sacrament Meeting today and listened to testimonies my thought jumped between two thoughts. The first has been with me all week. It started as a result of last weeks meeting. We sat in front of a young family who are really doing their best to make it to church each week. The children are young. Their oldest is preparing for baptism next month. I don't believe they have much support from extended family and the patriarch of the home is not even a member, but he humors his wife and attends church on occasion. Last week was not one of those weeks.
Anyway, the family had been blessed with a meager Christmas which meant the children all received new books, markers, or coloring tools to keep them entertained during Sacrament Meeting. As the meeting started, another young family asked if they could sit with them on the pew. They two were missing the patriarch of the home and a few children who were ill.
It did not take long for the children of the second family to become interested in the entertainment of the first family. The matriarch of the first was more than happy to let her children share their fun with the other children. However, the children of the first we not as enthusiastic, especially the oldest.
After a few moments an argument erupted. The youngest of the second family was not treating the markers of the oldest of the first with proper respect. He was sure they were going to dry out because the other child was pressing too hard, smelling them, or waving them around too much to show the pretty colors. For each family, the disagreement was too loud. Finally, after several attempts to get them to be quiet and teach them how to share, all the markers were gathered up and the oldest was seated between the two matriarchs.
This is when I became interested. Matriarch one kept trying to console her child by telling them they needed to share. The child refused to be consoled and repeatedly commented how they were always required to share, yet no one ever shared with them. The child was reminded of a few occasions where sharing had taken place, but it was not because the person wanted to share it was because they had to share, just like they were being forced to share. Now the argument between parent and child went on for quite some time before the parent escorted the child out of the chapel. (side note, this argument was more disruptive than the first between children)
I have thought upon this scenario a couple of time this week as I have studied. My study took me to the New Testament as we start a new year. I read and pondered the lessons for Sunday School and several of the talks from conference, Ensign, and New ERA. For some reason they all came up with the same theme, Christ's sacrifice for us and His interaction with the few apostles who followed Him to the garden. They were asked to wait upon Him for but an hour.
Each week, we are asked to do the same. We are asked to spend a minimum of one hour waiting upon Him, while He shared what is most incredible and beneficial to all of us. What if He had refused to share? What if we refuse to treat that which He shared without the proper respect? Where would we be? I know where my thoughts have gone, I will leave you to ponder upon the story on your own.
On with the week.
The Queen and I returned to our individual work spaces in the house. There were some ups and downs, but we were able to muddle through it. I have a feeling that the Queen will return to her training mode next week. One of the most challenging things we have muddled through is the way the phone line and the Internet meet. Whenever the Queen starts, goes on break, returns, or ends her day, it disconnects my connection from the Internet.
The Professor has been battling the normal winter break re-generation. She has been riding on adrenaline for several weeks and now that she has not had to work, her body gave in to the cold, flu, exhaustion, and what not. She is hoping it is enough to jump back in with both feet tomorrow.
Tall Man really didn't have a break, so his routine continued with minor differences. We see him as he walks out and when he walks in. The rest of the time he is going, going, going or sleeping, sleeping, sleeping. I guess that is what happens when you are young and burn the candles from both ends.
Puddin continued in the somewhat normal routine as well. We were both sadden to know that your Monday Temple trips would be coming to an end this week. They have decided to open a temple at the other end of the valley on Mondays, which means we will not be able to attend before work and both make it back in time for work. We are either going to have to change the day or time. We will figure it out.
SnackPack ended up in his own bed last night. That must mean the break is over. We were all surprised not to find him on the couch in front of the TV this morning. He has done all he can to enjoy the time off. Tomorrow, it is back to the grind. For him, that means early morning swim practice. We will see what happens.
I will do my best to get back into the exercise routine as well. It has been a nice break. Time for New Year's resolutions and such. I know that the Queen and the Professor will be starting something new as well. It should all be interesting. Puddin says he is going to travel more, learn a new language, become more social, and look for opportunities to share his testimony more, all good resolutions.
Until next week.
I hope this post finds you all well, healthy, and full of spunk.
It has been a good week. Not all of us are quite back into the swing of everyday life and some of us are questioning what a "Normal" routine really means, but we are making it one day at a time.
As I sat in Sacrament Meeting today and listened to testimonies my thought jumped between two thoughts. The first has been with me all week. It started as a result of last weeks meeting. We sat in front of a young family who are really doing their best to make it to church each week. The children are young. Their oldest is preparing for baptism next month. I don't believe they have much support from extended family and the patriarch of the home is not even a member, but he humors his wife and attends church on occasion. Last week was not one of those weeks.
Anyway, the family had been blessed with a meager Christmas which meant the children all received new books, markers, or coloring tools to keep them entertained during Sacrament Meeting. As the meeting started, another young family asked if they could sit with them on the pew. They two were missing the patriarch of the home and a few children who were ill.
It did not take long for the children of the second family to become interested in the entertainment of the first family. The matriarch of the first was more than happy to let her children share their fun with the other children. However, the children of the first we not as enthusiastic, especially the oldest.
After a few moments an argument erupted. The youngest of the second family was not treating the markers of the oldest of the first with proper respect. He was sure they were going to dry out because the other child was pressing too hard, smelling them, or waving them around too much to show the pretty colors. For each family, the disagreement was too loud. Finally, after several attempts to get them to be quiet and teach them how to share, all the markers were gathered up and the oldest was seated between the two matriarchs.
This is when I became interested. Matriarch one kept trying to console her child by telling them they needed to share. The child refused to be consoled and repeatedly commented how they were always required to share, yet no one ever shared with them. The child was reminded of a few occasions where sharing had taken place, but it was not because the person wanted to share it was because they had to share, just like they were being forced to share. Now the argument between parent and child went on for quite some time before the parent escorted the child out of the chapel. (side note, this argument was more disruptive than the first between children)
I have thought upon this scenario a couple of time this week as I have studied. My study took me to the New Testament as we start a new year. I read and pondered the lessons for Sunday School and several of the talks from conference, Ensign, and New ERA. For some reason they all came up with the same theme, Christ's sacrifice for us and His interaction with the few apostles who followed Him to the garden. They were asked to wait upon Him for but an hour.
Each week, we are asked to do the same. We are asked to spend a minimum of one hour waiting upon Him, while He shared what is most incredible and beneficial to all of us. What if He had refused to share? What if we refuse to treat that which He shared without the proper respect? Where would we be? I know where my thoughts have gone, I will leave you to ponder upon the story on your own.
On with the week.
The Queen and I returned to our individual work spaces in the house. There were some ups and downs, but we were able to muddle through it. I have a feeling that the Queen will return to her training mode next week. One of the most challenging things we have muddled through is the way the phone line and the Internet meet. Whenever the Queen starts, goes on break, returns, or ends her day, it disconnects my connection from the Internet.
The Professor has been battling the normal winter break re-generation. She has been riding on adrenaline for several weeks and now that she has not had to work, her body gave in to the cold, flu, exhaustion, and what not. She is hoping it is enough to jump back in with both feet tomorrow.
Tall Man really didn't have a break, so his routine continued with minor differences. We see him as he walks out and when he walks in. The rest of the time he is going, going, going or sleeping, sleeping, sleeping. I guess that is what happens when you are young and burn the candles from both ends.
Puddin continued in the somewhat normal routine as well. We were both sadden to know that your Monday Temple trips would be coming to an end this week. They have decided to open a temple at the other end of the valley on Mondays, which means we will not be able to attend before work and both make it back in time for work. We are either going to have to change the day or time. We will figure it out.
SnackPack ended up in his own bed last night. That must mean the break is over. We were all surprised not to find him on the couch in front of the TV this morning. He has done all he can to enjoy the time off. Tomorrow, it is back to the grind. For him, that means early morning swim practice. We will see what happens.
I will do my best to get back into the exercise routine as well. It has been a nice break. Time for New Year's resolutions and such. I know that the Queen and the Professor will be starting something new as well. It should all be interesting. Puddin says he is going to travel more, learn a new language, become more social, and look for opportunities to share his testimony more, all good resolutions.
Until next week.
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