Answered Prayers

An email from Mario:

Terri,

Every day I see the hand of the Lord in my life at work. I got a research project I was completely in the dark on yesterday afternoon which was due this morning by 8:30. Well, I ran into a guy that knew exactly what I needed, he sat with me for about 15 minutes, looked over my notes to correct them, and the presentation went without a hitch this morning.

Remember the website project. Guess what. Imagine my surprise when I found out we already have one up… a bit out dated, but up. I was even referred to a comm troop that works for 12 AF that manages it. All I have to do is tell him what I want on it. It’s gone from a huge project to a very simple and fun job.

I think He is answering my prayer asking that I can have more time with my family. "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." I have a story for nearly every day. The Lord takes care of me with small miracles. I’ll be home on time today now that I don’t have the website project to tackle anymore.

Love,

Mario

Daddy Daughter Hoedown

I love these pictures of Erin and Mario from the Activity Day Girls' Hoedown. I wish I could take pictures as well as these. Maybe one day I will make time for that photography class.

Zach's writing

I realized that I haven't written about Zach recently. So here's a blog just for him.

Thank goodness the school didn't call the police since he wrote "Murder" in his paragraph and he has a man laying down dead on the ground. I try to teach my boys that they can't use words or pictures like that in school. Apparently they don't listen. Regardless, we are proud of how well he is doing in school.

Primary

Erin was the Primary spotlight yesterday.

Our Primary Program was also yesterday. I don't know if the policy was changed at the Stake level or the Utah level, but now the kids no longer each get a primary part in the program. I liked it better this year. We are usually in wards with well over 100 kids, so it is always a challenge to give all the kids a part. The focus was more on the songs this year. There were only a few (like 3) talks and Nathan was chosen to given one. We were so proud of him. Erin got to play the prelude music before Sacrament Meeting. She did awesome too. Here is a copy of Nathan's talk.

Principles and Ordinances of the Gospel Lead Me to Jesus Christ

When Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ ask us to do something, it is called a commandment. When we obey, we show Heavenly Father that we trust him and we show our faith.

It makes me happy to know that if I make a mistake, I can repent and Heavenly Father will forgive me.

I am excited to turn 8 next year so that I can get baptized and also get the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

I know that I can live with Heavenly Father, Jesus, and my family again someday in heaven if I obey the commandments and follow Jesus Christ.

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Mrs. Archuleta

I really like the communication at the kids' middle school. We get lots of emails and occasional postcards like this in the mail. What makes this postcard all the more special is that it is from a teacher that a few weeks ago didn't really like Eric. This is the second year that Mario and I attended Parent/Teacher Conferences where all but one of the teachers sing Eric's praises. Last year it was Mrs. Goldwasser. She thought Eric was way too quiet and didn't participate enough in class. That was odd because all the other teachers would tell us that he was the leader in the class and he set the bar high. By the end of the year, Eric really proved himself in Mrs. G's class and she was showing off his work to the principal. This year, that one teacher was Mrs. Archuleta. Eric complained about her from day one. She speaks really loud in class and he didn't find her class interesting. She had the same complaints that Mrs. Goldwasser had...Eric was quiet and didn't participate. Eric apparently doesn't participate in classes that he finds dull. We noticed that a lot of her grading was subjective rather than objective. We came home and told Eric that he was going to get a B in that class if he didn't start acting like Social Studies was his favorite class. He took our advice and started participating in class and showing Mrs. Archuleta his true self. So yesterday, I was excited to get this postcard in the mail. It says, "Eric, I have loved your amazing wittiness lately. I knew it was there, you just needed a reason to show it."

I love it, even if the reason behind it is to ensure an A in the class. I think maybe he needs the book "How to Win Friends and Influence People" for Christmas.

In other Eric news, Eric set down his ipod touch and cellphone yesterday at the skatepark. The ipod somehow disappeared and now Eric is ipod-less. Tough lesson for him. It kills me because I know how much he loved it. I want to rush out and buy him a new one, but I know that would make me a terrible mom.

Chocolate in the Eternities?

I guess I have no idea what Eternity will be like. Will I still have to diet? Will I still have to cook and clean and listen to whiney kids? If I have to do all those things I don't like, then maybe I don't want to live forever. Mario was a little disturbed by my thoughts. So today, he sent me this email:

D&C 130:2 And that same sociality which exists among us here will exist among us there, only it will be coupled with eternal glory, which glory we do not now enjoy.

Do I get to eat all the chocolate I want and not have to worry about a few extra pounds? Or will I not even crave chocolate anymore? Mario says Christ ate after being resurrected, so I guess we will still eat too.

Thank you Mario for sending me that scripture and getting me excited about the future. I hope part of that glory that we do not now enjoy includes eating lots of chocolate but retaining that perfect body.

Skipping Halloween

Our family decided to skip Halloween this year since it was on a Sunday and I really didn't want to go through all the trouble of finding costumes for 4 kids just for the church Trunk or Treat. We told the kids we could find an alternative activity like a nice family dinner out. But then I felt bad and told the twins they could wear old costumes and go to the Trunk or Treat anyway. Erin decided she wanted to go to Trunk or Treat also so she spent all Sunday afternoon designing her own costume that didn't cost me a dime. Turns out that Eric needed to go to Trunk or Treat for YMs to run a booth. So he wanted a gangster hat which cost me $10. So much for skipping Halloween! Mario and I were going to take the kids to The Melting Pot to celebrate Halloween but also to celebrate him keeping his AF job. After a little thought, we decided there was no way our kids would appreciate a meal that expensive. So I was kind of relieved that they were all going to the Trunk or Treat and then I wouldn't feel bad.

But then Zachary and Nathan both got in trouble and weren't allowed to go to the party. So Mario dropped Eric and Erin off at the church, we put the twins to bed, and Mario and I had a few quiet minutes to ourselves. We were really proud of Erin to take the initiative to make her own costume and not ask for help or money. So as a reward, Mario gave her $10 since we had spent $10 on Eric's hat.

Now Mario and I have reservations to go to The Melting Pot with another couple on Saturday night. But I feel guilty because someone from church sent around a mass email asking everyone if they would mind opening their homes for trick-or-treating on Saturday night. So now I feel like maybe I should cancel my plans to go out to dinner, but at the same time, we were supposed to go out last weekend and all the kids' activities ruined our plans. So for now, I am sticking with dinner with Mario and buying the kids lots of junk food and renting them a movie to have their own party at home. Who knows, the guilt may get to me though.