Answers in the Scriptures

Today, Andre & Ivan gave their first talks in Sacrament Meeting. Andre's was about keeping the commandments. Ivan's was about searching the scriptures. Jim helped Andre with his, and I helped Ivan. We read about how all of life's answers could be found in the scriptures. He wasn't sure if that was true or not, so we decided to do an experiment.

We were in the kitchen talking while Ivan was washing the dishes. I asked him to think of something that he might not find an answer to in the scriptures. He said: "Why do I have to wash these dishes?"

So I looked in the topical guide under "Work". I found 1 Thessalonians 4:11. It said: "And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;"

He used that in his talk. It was a big hit!

Lexie

Yesterday, we had to say goodbye to our dog, Lexie. She's a good dog. We've had her for 7 years - since she was a baby. But... She attacked our mailman.

She'd never done anything like that before. She would bark like crazy whenever anyone came to the door. But if she could just get a chance to get a whiff of whoever was there, she was perfectly happy. She really liked just about everybody she met.

She loved being with her family. She wanted to always be wherever we were. She would whine like a baby if any of us went outside without her. She would lie down in front of the door at night until everyone was home. But her favorite person of all was Daddy. She would just go nuts when she heard his truck coming up the street, then hurl herself off the porch to greet him as he got out of the truck.

She was often a pain, though...barking when we didn't want her to, pushing open the screen door to chase a cat down the street, not coming when she was called, shedding her hair all over the house, getting on our bed when we weren't home. But she was a good dog. She loved sleeping with the kids, and they loved playing with her. She was getting really good at catching a frisbee. She love wrestling with Jim. She loved the snow. It was so entertaining to watch her catch snowballs and run with her snout down in the snow like a snowplow. She would bark at the snow shovel and loved to have the snow thrown on her.

So, anyway, we took her to a shelter where we were assured that they would find a good home for her. Likely a place where she can run around and maybe chase a few sheep. We could have kept her, but we could no longer trust her. We had always told people that she would never bite anyone. We couldn't do that anymore. We didn't want to take the chance that it would happen again and face the option of putting her down.

We are all very sad now. I got teary-eyed all day today wondering how she is doing and wondering how long it would be before she forgets us and learns to love a new family.

But on the flip-side, the kids are already asking me: "What are we going to name our new dog, Mom?"

Balloons at Sunrise

Over the 4th of July weekend, Provo holds its Freedom Festival. Part of the festivities is the hot air balloon launch.
We had never been before, but I love hot air balloons so I made everybody get up super early and go see it.

It was pretty cool.

Too bad they weren't offering rides!

Andre had an assignment to write a poem using all of his spelling words.
He was having a bad day.
This is his poem:

Bad Day

All day, one word echoes inside my head

"All your hopes are dead!"

I feel like my life is cut in halves.

My soul sings sad solos

While the leaves rustle below my feet.

I know what it's like to feel defeat.

My heroes call me zeroes.

I see dark clilffs and pale scarves

Around necks as dry as potatoes

And I hear sad songs from old pianos.

Folks' hate flows like lava from volcanoes.

Even the sheriffs shun me for days

Where the sun's rays are as red as tomatoes

And as low as the cellos

Or howls of the wolves.

No ratios or stereos play good from the studios

Or on the bookshelves.

Dear friend, to avoid thee

And believing yourselves

Or end up like calves.

Sad.

His teacher said, "WOW!"

So did I.

Winter is Here!

Today we had our first "real" snow. It was beautiful to wake up to, and even more beautiful when the sun came out this afternoon and made the snow sparkle.
I didn't get a picture of it, but I found this one that I really liked.
(Besides, I really, really needed to update this blog. I'm sure you were all getting tired of looking at Max's face - as handsome as it is!)

Happy Birthday, Max!

Isn't he handsome?I can't believe my little boy is 15 years old!

Sundance

Last weekend, Nikita & I went up to Sundance with the sisters in our ward for a Relief Society Retreat. It was absolutely BEAUTIFUL! We hiked up to Stewart Falls.

We got right up to the falls, and eventually went right into them.

We rode the ski lift up into the mountains.

We couldn't have asked for a more perfect weekend.