I know it's been a while since I blogged. We sure have been learning a lot here, and I've launched myself into a whole new set of creative activities since Christmas, including Yamato-e Japanese Painting and continuing with piano lessons. I've already started to play simplified hymns, and I'm very excited. Shortly I'll start to hand-sew a Yukata (summer kimono), and I'll hope to blog more about these experiences soon.
What brought me to blog again was just another old Wednesday night, home with the girls in the evening because Scott had a dinner meeting (this happens quite a bit lately). Bridget was wanting to watch "Barbie and the 4 Musketeers" for the 3rd day in a row, and after accomplishing the necessary room-cleaning and toy-picking-up, and after moving the kids table in front of the T.V. to eat dinner to (this is a rarity) we couldn't find the Apple T.V. remote. (Does anyone else have one of these? Whoever designed them didn't have kids, they're impossibly small!)
Bridget was on the verge of breaking down into tears for the ump-teenth time that evening, when she got that flash of recognition in her eyes and went running into her room. I of course thought she had remembered where she had seen the remote last, but she came out seconds later, saying, "I've said a prayer, so now we will find it." After a quiet laugh, we kept looking, but no luck (or, apparently, revelation). And this is why.
Bridget did cry some more, and we reluctantly moved dinner back into the dining room, and sat down to say a dinner prayer and eat (by now it was already 7pm or so). But Colleen had brought the "Friend" magazine and had asked if she could read a story during dinner (I find meals are the best time to read scriptures, too, because everyone is eating and doesn't wander off). Colleen opened up this months' Friend and began to read, with great expression, the story of "Losing Apollo" (http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=8057b3d7e4b66210VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=21bc9fbee98db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD)
*I noticed that I can "share" the article on blogger, but I've never done this before: hopefully this link works.
The story summarizes a boy feeling confident that his dog would live after being hit by a car because he felt comforted after his prayer, but his dog didn't live. He was confused as to why he felt better, but the answer he received wasn't what he was hoping for.
Colleen stopped at this point in the story and asked very sensitively, "Bridget, do you see a connection with this story and anything in your life right now?"
I had been watching and munching from my chair, and it was a very growing few moments for me indeed. I was watching Colleen be a teacher, a reflection of the things I had taught her, but on the level of having her own testimony, and being able to fluently read a magazine article, and wanting to comfort and teach her sister in a way to create a life-lesson such as this one.
Bridget was able to make the "connection", and we had the sweetest dinner we had had in a long, long time (sorry Scott).
In order to keep the blog a little on the light side, I'll tell you the conclusion of the remote story. The next morning I found it in the pocket of my robe, and Bridget said, "Mom, Jesus put the remote in your robe pocket last night!" I think all of our prayers were answered, but my daily prayers that "I'll be able to help my children reach their divine potential and find joy in watching them grow each day" were probably answered the most.
Since I just wanted to get this posted, I'll caption the pictures down here. The first is the Apple TV remote, in comparison with two of our others. I told you. The second is Colleen's room wall, inspired and created by just her. She adds uplifting messages to it almost daily.
