Frankenstein Goes to Church

On Sunday I applied the full Frankenstein mask and off we all went to church. This picture is of me & the gang AFTER church, which is why I look slightly hammered. I teach Isabelle's primary class, the 7-year olds, and I come home so exhausted each week. And they're not even naughty!!! They're a really cute, reverent and teachable class! The song leader even said in sharing time that my class was the best and they all got to have a turn coming up to the front to spin the song wheel. Where's my stamina?

I made Mike be IN the picture here! No hiding behind the lense as the "photographer" now that I've discovered self portraits. (thanks Jill, for the SP inspiration! I love your SP's!)

Speaking of Jill, reading her "Sunday Thoughts" posts have become a part of my Sabbath Day ritual. I come home from church, get into my fleecey flourescent Hello Kitty jammie pants, and settle into Jill's Sunday Thoughts with a good snack. She'll probably never know how she impacts little ol' me, a complete stranger. She teaches the Marriage & Family Relations class and always has a good snippet that get my perspective centered for the week to come. Here is something from her lesson this last Sunday that I really enjoyed:

In the February letter, the First Presidency taught that by teaching and rearing children in gospel principles, parents can protect their families from corrosive elements. They further counseled parents and children “to give highest priority to family prayer, family home evening, gospel study and instruction, and wholesome family activities. However worthy and appropriate other demands or activities may be, they must not be permitted to displace the divinely-appointed duties that only parents and families can adequately perform” (First Presidency letter, 11 Feb. 1999; cited in Church News, 27 Feb. 1999, 3).

This quote from the Marriage & Family Relations manual instantly made me think of Elder Oak's wonderful talk this last conference. Oh, how I loved that talk. He strongly taught us that nothing--absolutely nothing--should interfere with our essential routines and activities in the home. Nothing, said Elder Oaks, should interfere with family prayer, scripture study, family home evening and even dinner together.

I so appreciate this reminder from Jill's lesson! I found myself cutting & pasting stuff I loved from her lesson and quickly realized I was basically copying her entire post to put on my blog--so just go here to read the outline of her lesson. Her lesson, from the manual, covers how home should be a safe place of belonging and soft words. I love this quote, directly from the manual (i think):

"Remember, 'a soft answer turneth away wrath' (Proverbs 15:1). We must never, out of anger, lock the door of our home or our heart to our children. Like the prodigal son, our children need to know that when they come to themselves they can turn to us for love and counsel."

Oh, do I EVER need to work on this! I have a short fuse. Also, the lesson covers the value of spending individual time with our children. Okay, now I'm just reciting her entire post again! Seriously, go read it!

(Well, I can't resist one last little bullet point: she also covers the importance of extended family. AMEN to THAT.)

Love to all & have a great week!