When we came home from church today, Marty (who has afternoon church), was making pancakes and bacon for everybody. After we ate, Nick went outside to shoot hoops while Chris practiced a trick on his skateboard.
Not wanting to miss out on hanging out with the boys, Dan and I weeded in the garden next to the driveway and cut back daffodil stems and Marge sat on the garden bench so she could be with us as well. It was so nice being outside all together.
We came inside after a while, but Chris stayed out longer. When he came in he was super excited that he'd done his skateboard trick and landed it. (I don't know the name... but while riding a skateboard, he jumped over another skateboard propped on its side and landed it.) He'd promised himself he'd work on it until he did it, no matter how long it took. At one point he felt like quitting, but then knew he'd feel bad if he gave up. He said it made him think of his mission and how he would keep working and not quit. And most importantly was the great feeling he had having stuck with it and accomplished his goal. His foot was bloody from landing the way he did so much. And yet he still didn't quit.
Life lessons, am I right?
While we napped, Marty got home from church and played the piano. Yes, the piano. He was listening to a song on his phone and trying to replicate it. Played the same few measures over and over. I told him it sounded awesome. He said it didn't because it wasn't much and playing a left hand with a right hand is super hard. He wondered if it becomes more natural. It does. I loved hearing him work on it. And I loved that he practiced those measures over and over because how much did we emphasize that when he was a kid? Practice the hard parts over and over and they will become easier!
For Come Follow Me I taught from Elder Bednar's talk on Tender Mercies and recognizing your blessings. It was based on what I've been thinking about this week from the readings in John 14. I also read what "chosen" means from his talk as well. We each wrote down blessings we've recognized in our life -- considering anything that happened today or this week or in life. It's really nice to have everyone at an age where they can share experiences we can each learn from.
*Nick talked about how grateful he was to have had a great counselor at BYU camp last week. He gave good devotionals and hung out with them and they all knew he cared about them. He also shared experience about his mission in Mozambique.
*Chris shared about the many blessings he recognized when he broke his femur. From not getting injured more seriously, to healing well. Plus all the support he receives from his friends.
*Marty said returning to Japan helped him realize how much good he actually did. He felt like he was doing his best, but going back and feeling so much love from the people and other missionaries confirmed that people actually appreciated him.
*Marge talked about how each day she's grateful she can get around. And often when she sees people who are slower than she is or bigger, she's so grateful for what she has because other people have it so much worse. And she's grateful for us. :-)
*Dan shared experiences from his calling how he's been inspired to visit with people and then after realized they needed a visit. Also how blessed we are to have been able to purchase our property in Colorado and how it will be a blessing to our family and our kids' families.
*I have felt grateful for inspiration I receive when reading the scriptures or from testimonies shared in church. Also for the inspiration I receive to help young women or my own children.
After FHE, we made dinner and had grilled salmon, asparagus, Asian salad and fried rice. It was so good! And we ate outside which we love. A couple of Marty's friends came early for game night so got to join us. It's been fun to include them often and enjoy their company and building a relationship with Marty's friends.
Funny moment: Marty helped make sure I was doing the fried rice right. I gave him a bowl to put it in and he was like, "you can't put fried rice in a bowl?!" He was literally flabbergasted. So I was like, "what do we put it in then?" Marty: "Directly on the plate!" We put it in the bowl anyway to get it outside and Johnny, who also went to Japan was like, "It's so weird seeing fried rice in a bowl!" Ha, Ha! Maybe it would be like if someone served us cereal on a plate. It was that weird to them!
After dinner the rest of Marty's friends came over for game night inside, and the rest of us sat outside roasting marshmallows and talking. It's so fun having Chris home because since he spent the whole week with friends, he was enjoying hanging out with us and not in a rush to go anywhere. What a great Sunday. It felt extra special.
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