Ponder The Path of Thy Feet

President Monson's talk "Ponder the Path of Thy Feet" from October 2014 General Conference really touched me.  And as the afternoons have been getting shorter I realized it had been a while since we had gone on a hike together.  And THEN I realized that a family walk on a path through the mountains would be a great opportunity to review these words from our prophet.  

 I wrote out 10 points I wanted to make sure we discussed by quoting and paraphrasing in more simple terms key parts of the talk.  Then I stuck each one in an envelope and hid them along the trail.

 The kids took turns finding and opening their mail from the prophet!

 Sammy got a little too eager!

 Although the focus may have started to shift on finding the envelopes quickly, before others walking the path could mess with them, we did our best as parents to slow things down and focus on really understanding what the paper said.

 Here is what we felt was important our family remember from this talk:

1)Heavenly Father made us and made a way for us to become like Him.
"All of us commenced a wonderful and essential journey when we left the spirit world and entered this often-challenging stage called mortality. The primary purposes of our existence upon the earth are to obtain a body of flesh and bones, to gain experience that could come only through separation from our heavenly parents, and to see if we would keep the commandments." -Pres. Thomas S. Monson
2) He did not send us here alone though.  He gave us tools to help us know how to return to Him.
 "Although we are left to find and follow that path which will lead us back to our Father in Heaven, He did not send us here without direction and guidance. Rather, He has given us the tools we need, and He will assist us as we seek His help and strive to do all in our power to endure to the end and gain eternal life." -Pres. Thomas S. Monson
3) "We have the words of God and of His Son found in the holy scriptures."
4) "We have the counsel and teachings of God's prophets."
5) "We, with Jesus, can walk the path of obedience."
6) "We, like Jesus, can walk the path of service."
7) "Jesus walked the path of prayer."
8) Jesus was merciful, a peacemaker, & brave. (This idea really stuck out to the kids.  The idea of it taking more courage to be humble and turn the other cheek was a little hard for them to wrap their head around.  But I'm so glad we talked about it!  It was a good lesson and trait of the Savior for me to remember too!)
9) He asks us to let our lights shine.
10) Jesus tells us it is much more important to lay up treasures in heaven than on earth.

Learning from Daddy.

  Such a pretty day!  I told the kids that after the last paper was found we had to search for our hidden treat.  First though, I wanted to try taking a family feet picture.

   These were my first two attempts...I love them though!

 And there we are in our favorite footwear and with my youngest on his toes!

And there's the snack!

 I went with powdered doughnuts for a couple reasons.  I wanted something that was convenient, but I also wanted something with some symbolism.  We have been journeying and progressing as a family, which is what we do everyday, in hopes we can be an eternal family someday in heaven.  The white of the sugar represents heaven and the circle shape is never-ending, just like our forever families can be.  Maybe it sounds like a stretch, but the kids loved it.  It was great to find at the end of our path!  And that's because not only were they delicious, but it meant no one else had snatched our treasure!

 Kids being silly... (redundant, I know)

 And asking for seconds...

 As we headed back I made sure hubby took a picture with me in it to show I really was there too! LOL

 The kids wanted to run up and down the paths at top speed.  I wanted to take pictures of their free spirits!

 These little faces are the reminders I look at each day that help me remember I can be better.  I need to practice what I and the prophets preach.  I want to do a better job of pondering the path of my feet and the words I speak to them.

   As we walked back to the car my daughter put her arm behind me and started trying to walk in sync with me, as though we were in a three-legged race together.  I find it ironic, considering the lesson topic.  Am I walking in sync with my Savior?  Am I going where he would go and doing what he would have me do?  Have I chosen to stay close to him, linked and ready to keep up with his pace? 

I sure hope so.  Love, Eva

This morning I read the sweetest story by President Monson.  It is the message from the First Presidency in this month's issue of the Friend.  Yes, it's the 11th and I'm barely reading it now, but better late than never. :)

It talks about a woman with three canaries...he is such a great story teller and speaker that I am not going to paraphrase it but am just posting it here:

Canaries with Gray on Their Wings

By President Thomas S. Monson

From “Canaries with Gray on Their Wings,” Ensign, June 2010, 4.

 While I was serving as a young bishop, Sister McKee, a widow in my ward, passed away. Among her things were three pet canaries. Two, with perfect yellow coloring, were to be given to her friends. The third, Billie, had yellow coloring marred by gray on his wings. Sister McKee had written in a note to me: “Will you and your family make a home for Billie? He isn’t the prettiest, but his song is the best.”

Sister McKee was much like her yellow canary with gray on its wings. She was not blessed with beauty, gifted with poise, or honored by posterity. Yet her song helped others to more willingly bear their burdens.

We are sons and daughters of a living God in whose image we have been created. Think of that: created in the image of God.

In our world, moral character ofttimes seems secondary to beauty or charm. But from long ago the Lord’s counsel to Samuel the prophet echoes: “The Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

When the Savior sought a man of faith, He did not select him from the throng of the self-righteous who were found regularly in the synagogue. Rather, He called him from among the fishermen of Capernaum. Doubting, unschooled, impetuous Simon became Peter, Apostle of faith. A yellow canary with gray on his wings qualified for the Master’s full confidence and abiding love.

The Redeemer calls you and me to serve Him here below. May a true song come from our hearts as we do so.

(If you click on the article it will take you to the magazine online where there is an activity and coloring page too.)

This week I have felt like a canary with gray all over it's feathered body.  I've felt like I'm too impatient with my children.  I've felt fat while I'm jogging down the road.  I've felt stressed and worn down (probably because I haven't been writing here- this always lifts my mood!)  But as President Monson said, it's our song that matters.  It's our heart that matters.  And I know my heart is in the right place.

So I will be patient with myself, appreciate more that moral character I have within and trust in the Lord's timing for all things.  After all...

 Luke 12:6-7  

Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is ^aforgotten before God?  But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

I hope these thoughts help you realize you "are of more value than many sparrows" and never forgotten before our God.  I love ya!  The Gospel IS true!  Thanks for reading!  Luv, Eva

Can You Believe It's August?!

I can't!  This summer has flown by and the school year is just around the corner.  Having decided to homeschool my daughter I'm planning lessons, buying school supplies and getting ready.  But how often do I intentionally do an activity that teaches a gospel principle?  Once a week at FHE?  Hopefully, it will be a little more often with the help of The Friend.  Here's what we read and did tonight, and ideas for the first half of the week...

SUNDAY: "A Birthday Wish Fulfilled"  pgs. 2-3 of The Friend, August 2011
There's a cute suggestion of making warm fuzzies, which we will probably do for FHE.  The idea is to do an act of service for someone and then leave the warm fuzzy as a reminder you care for them.  My kids love games where they have to find something, so by doing service and then leaving the warm fuzzy they can find it and then try to figure out what service was performed.  If they need help finding it you can always sing a primary song louder as they get closer and quieter as they get farther away as a help.

Today though we decided to make birthday cards for President Monson.  We will be mailing them to Church Headquarters tomorrow at the following address:

LDS Church Headquarters
Attn: President Monson
50 East North Temple
Salt Lake City, UT 84150
Please comment if you know of another address.

This is the cute one my son drew. :)  I wrote a letter to the prophet too, which is something I hadn't done before but really enjoyed.  Knowing who speaks for God is truly incredible!

MONDAY: "Without Purse or Scrip" pgs. 4-5

The Friend actually uses this story as the basis of a suggestion for an FHE activity, which is hearing missionary stories from someone you know (suggestions found on pg.48.)  We went through my husband's mission album once for FHE and had a lot of fun seeing the pictures of him in Holland and learning about the experiences we had while serving.  We were even able to find a video from the library about the country.  I definitely recommend doing something like this for your children.  Another idea could be to write a supportive letter/draw a picture and mail it to a missionary in your ward or your family.

TUESDAY: "Bright Idea" pg.6

Remember, you don't have to do something huge everyday. :) The goal is consistency and having some days where lessons don't require as much time or planning will make that happen.  For this cute Bright Idea I suggest you read the quote and explain how we can and should love everyone, even if they don't believe the same things we do.  Help them tell from the people's clothing that they have different beliefs.  I spotted people of Catholic, Jewish, Hindu, and Muslim faiths.  I chose one that looked Mormon too.  You could even choose one to be Atheist if your kids are old enough to be asking questions about that term.  But explain that even though people look different, and worship in different types of buildings as depicted in the background, they can still share the same play ground, and speak to each other kindly.  If you have friends of other faiths, use their friendships as examples that we can learn and be friends with a variety of people.  It's never too early to teach love for all God's children!

I hope you can incorporate some of these ideas into your busy schedules.  I know things are hectic at my house and I already, on the first day, found myself wondering if doing these activities with my children and The Friend was worth it.  As if an answer to my is-this-really-worth-it-questions I found the pictures on pgs. 24-25 when looking ahead.  What cute pictures of smiling kids all over the country reading The Friend!  It is worth it!  We need our kids to have the best "Friends" they can.  Remember, the Gospel is true and teaching it is a noble, eternally-important goal.  Stick with it!  Luv, Eva