Hobby

I have been schooled by my younger brother.

This week marked two events. One, and this isn't really noteworthy because it seems to happen all the time, I complained to my husband that I don't have anything of my own. No time, no space, no outside interests. Anything I do for the sake of a hobby still involves my children somehow.

Two, a huge package arrived on our doorstep. It was a mystery, made more magical by my earlier announcement that no mail would be arriving that day, President's Day and all. (Thanks, UPS!) Beyond belief, this giant container that could house Samuel was actually addressed to Samuel. No one recognized the return address (except quiet me). Oh, the intrigue!

The older children helped Samuel uncover this amazing rocking horse, made by Uncle Jeffy's very own hands. Touch your computer screen. Go on, do it! That's how glossy smooth the horse's seat feels beneath your fingers. (Ahem, the wood is even smoother, I believe -- I discovered several sticky spots on my screen just now.)

As soon as we got the horse out of the box Samuel was off! Samuel treasures this horse, I can tell.

Thank you, Uncle Jeffy, for this extremely generous gift of your time and talents. Thank you for the smile on my son's face. You gave me a gift, too: the reminder that making someone else happy is the best hobby of all.


P.S.

While we're on the subject of hobbies, see how the package provided a new version of James' favorite thing to do:

Did anyone guess
"Make snow angels"
??

Talk talk

Each month a different church class takes care of the weekly Primary opening exercise assignments of talk, scripture, Article of Faith and prayer. I really need to peek in on Elise's class when they make those assignments. Is she piping up with an "Oooh, pick me, pick me! I want to do the talk!"? Or is it more, "OK, if no one else will, I guess I'll give the talk"? Because either way, it seems like she gives the talk A LOT.


I'm grateful for the chance to work with her on these little speeches, however. I learn so much in the process of boiling down gospel truths to the essence a child can understand. Recently the assigned topic of "Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer" had me scratching my head. It's a fundamental truth, but how to explain it? Here's what we came up with:



Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer. It is important for us to know what those words mean.


Sometimes we use the word "redeem" when talking about buying items. We redeem coupons to help make it easier to pay for something. We turn in the coupon to the cashier, so the cost is less. We also redeem, or turn in, movie tickets so we can see the show.


These uses of the word "redeem" give us a glimpse of what it means to be a Redeemer. Heavenly Father has set requirements to be able to come back to Heaven. The scriptures tell us, "No unclean thing can enter in."


Jesus Christ's atonement allows us to fully repent. Sometimes it is so hard. When we have done all we can, he steps in and makes up the difference. He redeemed, or turned in his life, to make our price easier to pay.


He is a Savior because he saves us and helps us return to Heavenly Father.



Elise ended by reading from the hymn "I Know my Redeemer Lives." I hope she'll remember hearing that sentence many times from her mother's lips. What an incredible stewardship we have as parents.

Thank you!

Thanks, everyone -- you helped me win the photography class scholarship. It was a tie, and two of us get to go. I can't wait!

I'm working through some thoughts for another post, I promise. In the meantime here's a little Valentine's ditty I wrote elsewhere. Have a great holiday!