Our Life Right Now

I can't believe it has been a year since I have posted to this blog. Life is happening at lightning speed. And while I have still been documenting our family's life in other ways, the Spirit has been whispering quite often that I need to write. Instagram and chatbooks and taking pictures ... they just aren't enough of a platform for me to dig deep enough into my thoughts and feelings. I've changed the privacy settings of this blog. It is not the public sharing arena that it used to be.

It's hard to just pick up where I left off. Where did I leave off? How do I catch up? Alas, I don't know and I can't. I'm just going to jump right into life right now. A wonderful sister in our ward has taught me that our family stories are anything we can manage to record. Anything we record is better than recording nothing. It doesn't need to be chronological. It doesn't need to be without gaps or without pockets of time elapsing. It just needs to be written.

So here we are in April of 2017. Brandon is working at Hill Air Force Base still. It has been a wonderful job for him. We love the job security and consistency. The promotions and raises he has received have been well deserved and results of his hard work. He has a couple of friends that he likes to play tennis with during fitness leave. And not during fitness leave the like to pull pranks and make each other laugh. He is the Gospel Doctrine teacher in our ward now. That was a shocking calling. He has taught twice now. He has approached it with an amazing attitude, as teaching in that setting is actually quite scary for him. But he says it's only 30 minutes. He can't let himself be consumed with anxiety for days leading up to a short 30 minute lesson. I married an amazing person, for sure.

I am Relief Society president still, which is a very direct reason for the silence on this blog. But there are many things I manage to find time that aren't nearly as important as writing. So, I am back to writing. Being Relief Society president has been amazing. I have learned so much about myself, about how the Lord works, about His Gospel. I have learned of my many weaknesses and get the help to strengthen them. I have seen my strengths and hope that I am using them to the best of my ability. I try to help others. I want to help others. I hope I am helping others. Lately, I can't help but think so much of the purpose of this calling was for my own growth. I do absolutely love to be able to visit with the sisters one-on-one. It is my absolute favorite part of the calling. What amazing daughters of God I get to brush shoulders with!

On the homefront I am in a place of limbo right now, with Sam in his final year before he starts public school. He and I are buddies as I take him to the gym, run errands, do laundry, clean house ... I have to remind myself to take him to the park and do things just for him more often. It is hard to remember when he's the only one home with me. He'll go play in his room or get on the computer and I just see it as a chance to get some things done. It is definitely a much different struggle than what I faced when William was 5 and he had 2 younger sisters.

I am teaching piano lessons, as well. I'll to write separately about that. It could be a long one.

William is having a fabulous year at school. A perfect year? No. But he is learning some important skills with a teacher that cares about his needs and sees his talents and abilities. It has been absolutely refreshing to get to April and not be totally and completely burnt out from school. He has found his people in scouting. He loves to learn new things and scouting an incredible outlet for that. He has been blessed with some dedicated leaders, which I am so grateful for. Some members of the church can be so wishy-washy about scouting. I have a hard time with that, as it is a church sponsored program. I guess my perspective is different as I have watched boys lives changed and improved as my dad has lead them through the scouting program. So, I'm all in. And William is definitely all in. William is also playing violin and he's doing well with it. I can't get him to feel passionate about it yet, but when that passion hits he'll be unstoppable. I can see the talent in him. Whenever he asks why he has to play I tell him that if I didn't see any potential I wouldn't make him play. I would just give him piano lessons. That seems to appease him so far. I think he'll really enjoy being in orchestra when he gets to junior high school.

Marie is doing well in school, as usual. School is definitely not one of her challenges, at least not at this point. She is playing piano, taking lessons from me. I so enjoy teaching my kids music. Helping William practice violin and teaching the girls piano. Singing together as a family. Marie really enjoys the piano. She also loves to teach and help younger kids. She just glows at the thought of babysitting and can't wait until she is old enough to earn money doing it. I am so grateful that she is eager and willing to help Anne with her homework and reading, as it is not always easy for me to carve out time to do it. She is also dancing and is really blossoming in that. Brandon and I have debated entering into the "competition realm" just to help her to progress more, but we just can't stomach the cost or the time commitment. Right now, Marie isn't pushing for it, so we let it be. I see her more into student council and such as she gets older.

Anne is our creative little dreamer. Which translates to some struggles at school, but boy does she have us laughing and smiling often. My favorite moment this week was answering a knock at the door only to find her, home from school, with a huge bouquet of purple wildflowers (aka weeds) for me. She finds beauty in the ashes. She had some testing done and we were able to rule out any learning disability, she just doesn't like to focus on often VERY boring work placed in front of her by her teacher. It really is tediously boring. I started teaching her piano at the beginning of the year, but put it on pause when school started to stress her out more. It's calming down again for her, so I think we'll start up again soon. She also decided to try out tumbling and tap dance this year. She is a cute little tap dancer. She wishes she could just improvise though. She doesn't want to be limited to the small little steps she's been taught so far. So funny.

And Sam. My little sidekick. He's a fireball. He is independent and stubborn and curious and as loving as they come. He's in preschool this year and has quickly caught on to learning his alphabet and numbers. He'll be reading before we know it. He wants to play the violin like William. I don't think we'll start him at age 5, like we did William. We haven't found a Suzuki teacher up here and William's current teacher is geared up more for older students. Sam is trying out soccer and he's very, very slowly getting the hang of it. He didn't take to it as quickly as we had hoped he would, but I think he's done well enough we might consider having him play next year. We'll see.

Phew. Hardly complete, but an update nonetheless. And it felt so good to get that out and written down! Until next time.

Sam-ish

He's not cute yet. I'm brushing him hair to make him cute. Like I brush my hair when I'm gonna be cute. 

A Little Story

Our Family History consultant in our Ward has been encouraging us to write our own stories. She has emphasized that something is better than nothing and I couldn't agree more! 

She has offered to come to our home and hold a Family History themed FHE. As our pre-homework for this, we have been asked to write a story from our life. 

I thought it would be fitting to write my memories of Easter Sunday as a child, with Easter having just passed. 

Easter was often spent at grandma and grandpa's farm in Idaho. If we weren't in Idaho we were at home in Cheyenne. I anticipated with pure excitement the new Easter outfit I would receive each year. Mom would sew our dresses and finish the outfit off with new socks or hats or gloves or little purses. Oh! How I loved waking up in the morning to see a new dress hanging up for me. It felt like magic the way my mom could do that. The girls would go to bed the Saturday night before Easter with pink curlers in our hair, ready for picture perfect perfection on Sunday morning. 

When Easter morning came, church came first and then the festivities of Easter baskets and an egg hunt. The eggs were hard boiled and dyed beautiful colors by the family a day or two previous. There was also at least one egg  that had been dipped in every color, making it an ugly brown color that we affectionately called the "camo egg".  I loved to snack on the hard boiled eggs after they had all been found. Our baskets were filled with little treats and, what I remember the most was getting kites. Those silly kites. I don't remeber ever successfully flying them, although we probably did. If not, it was surely due to the strong Wyoming winds that plagued many a childhood day for me. I sure did love receiving those kites though!

Surprisingly, (because I love the meals that come with holidays) I don't recall what we would eat for Easter dinner, but assume it was ham. I do remeber that grandma would make delicious angel food cake. That is a particular memory because we were not allowed in the kitchen when it was baking. On penalty of death! Or, at least a lickin'. 

Easter was always so wonderful. 

Leap Day!!

Little Sammy turned 4 today. His excitement for his birthday has been filling the house this past week. Bouncing off the walls doesn't quite describe him. Exploding off the walls is better. 

I'm thrilled that he is 4. His terrible 2s and 3s were long and drawn out, probably because he gave up napping way too early in life, in my humble opinion. Of course, these years have been terrific, as well. I have learned the deeper meaning of opposition in all things when it comes to raising a toddler. (Any age child, really, but right now that lesson is specifically regarding a toddler.) With the greatest joys come the greatest struggles. Sam is curious, excited, determined, and stubborn. He knows what he wants and not much will stop him from getting it. He is strong-willed and thank heaven for that. His enthusiasm for life just radiates off of him. He is so happy to be alive. I am not naive. I know 4 isn't magically going to turn him into a robot that always does my bidding. I am grateful, that he isn't there anymore though. 😀😀😀 

Now he is 4 and we have exited the toddler era of our lives. I love to look back on pictures of these past 10 years and see how many memories we have planted as a family. I am so grateful for my babies and my toddlers and all that I learned about myself during these beautifully challenging years. It was so much harder than I ever could have planned on and more glorious than I ever could have hoped for. I cherish the growth that Brandon and I have made as husband and wife. With each baby came a necessity to navigate new waters and rework our relationship to fit into the new course ahead of us. We have done it. And we are happier and more in love today because of it.

So, to Sam turning 4, I say, "Hooray!" I will miss his little toddler ways. His chubby arms wrapped around my neck, squeezing love into me. His chubby feet as they run, never walk, everywhere he goes. His independence that led him to climbing in the pantry many times a day. His ability to find mischief (usually involving toilet paper or spilled food) around every corner. It won't all go away overnight, so I will cherish it while it lasts. And be ever grateful for the memories that I can hold onto forever. And as far as the next stage of parenting, well, ready or not here it comes.

Milestones

This evening I needed to do the last (I hope!) of our Christmas shopping and Brandon was dealing with issue of a broken heater and a flat tire. Fun times here at the Stro residence. Life is nothing, if not interesting, no?

Anyway, I wrote it some instructions for William to make cheese bread and ramme noodles. He accepted the challenge and I am told that he executed brilliantly. I'm so proud of my boy for preparing dinner for his family all by himself. 

Sacrament Meeting Talk

The Relief Society Presidency spoke in church today. We were asked to speak on the purposes of Relief Society. Carrie Fowers (secretary) spoke about increasing faith and personal righteousness. Jelaire Smedley (Second Counselor) spoke about serving others in unity. Becky Mikkelsen spoke about strengthening homes and families. I told them I would "wrap it up" at the end.

You guys. Wrapping up three other talks that I'd never heard before proved to be a very difficult feat. I knew what I wanted to say and what I thought maybe the sisters needed to hear. I struggled putting my thoughts into words. I couldn't get a clear vision on what my message was and how to share it. It wasn't until Saturday morning that I finally received clarity on what Heavenly Father wanted me to say. I had been thinking and planning my talk all week. Saturday morning I scrapped a lot of it and wrote the words that came to me.

One of the greatest lessons I am learning through my calling is how to receive personal revelation more regularly. I have realized that I am a NOVICE at this business. In learning the language of the spirit, I would say I am in kindergarten. This calling has forced me to step up to the plate. I am grateful for that. And writing this talk was no exception.

So, here is my talk. For the record, the missing link in my talk, that finally brought me clarity was the Relief Society motto, "Charity Never Faileth". Somehow I thought I could give a talk to wrap up the purposes of Relief Society without discussing charity. Silly me.

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We read in Daughters in My Kingdom, “In the time of Christ, the Savior taught women in multitudes and as individuals, on the street and by the seashore, at the well and in their homes. He showed loving-kindness toward them and healed them and their family members. In many parables, He told stories of women engaged in ordinary activities. He demonstrated deep familiarity with women’s lives and drew timeless gospel lessons from their everyday experiences. He forgave them. He wept with them. He had compassion on them in their specific circumstances as daughters, wives, homemakers, mothers, and widows. He appreciated them and ennobled them.

Even in excruciating pain on the cross, the Savior expressed concern for His mother, who by then was very likely a widow in need of watchcare, And the first person to whom He appeared after His Resurrection was a woman.”

It was in this same pattern that in 1842, in the upper room of the “red brick store” a small group of women met with Joseph Smith, John Taylor, and Willard Richards. The Prophet Joseph organized them in a divinely inspired and authorized manner, with Emma Smith at the helm. 

Joseph Smith continued to give guidance and counsel to these women and these teachings became the foundation with which Relief Society was built. The purposes of Relief Society, which we have learned about today, have existed since this humble beginning of this grand organization.

What does that mean for us today? We know the purposes. Now, what?

The answer to this is the Relief Society motto. Charity never faileth. What is charity? According to Mormon, “Charity is the pure love of Christ.” President Monson explains further, “ I do not at this moment have in mind the relief of the suffering through the giving of our substance. That, of course, is necessary and proper. Tonight, however, I have in mind the charity that manifests itself when we are tolerant of others and lenient toward their actions, the kind of charity that forgives, the kind of charity that is patient.

There is a serious need for the charity that gives attention to those who are unnoticed, hope to those who are discouraged, aid to those who are afflicted. True charity is love in action. The need for charity is everywhere."

I reflect on the story of Ruth and Naomi in the Old Testament. Naomi lives with her husband and two sons in Moab. Her husband dies and only a few short years later both her sons die. Naomi and her daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth, all find themselves widowed. They are destitute. Naomi decides they must return to Bethlehem, where they had come from about a decade before. She tells her daughters-in-law to return home to their families. They wept together and Orpah returned to Moab, but “Ruth clave unto her” and gave her quite a speech convincing Naomi that she was not going to change her mind, “when  [Naomi] saw that she was steadfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.”

They return to Bethlehem together and Ruth finds work gleaning the fields of Boaz. Gleaning means that she follows behind the workers as they harvest, picking up the corn that they had dropped. This is something only the extremely poor would do. Ruth knew that Naomi needed someone else to help her and was not going to leave her alone. Do you suppose that Ruth needed Naomi just as much. These women saw each other through a dark and difficult time because of charity.

Today, charity can be found when a sister is invited to sit with a group, instead of alone, at church. Charity can be found in a friendly smile, a “thinking about you” text message, or a plate of cookies on a doorstep. Charity can be found in extended a welcoming hand and heart to a new sister. Charity can be found as we allow each other into our homes, perfect or not, clean or not, and have unpressured space in which we can talk and be together. Charity is found as we discover that “we” is more powerful than “me”. Charity is also found as we increase our own personal righteousness and seek and act on personal revelation. Sister Julie B. Beck said,

It was prophesied that in the latter days the Lord would pour out His Spirit upon His handmaids.  This will happen as we allow ourselves to be still enough and quiet enough to listen to the voice of the Spirit. Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught us that receiving revelation for our calling and in our personal lives “requires serious mental effort on our part. … Revelation is not a matter of pushing buttons, but of pushing ourselves, often aided by fasting, scripture study, and personal pondering.

We might see ourselves as weak, but the power of this great organization lies in each of us because it is the power of God. It can and it has changed lives.

Another example, in 1846 Eliza Partridge Lyman gave birth to a son. He was born in a wagon. She struggled through a few short months with him and by December he was sick and passed away. She wrote in her journal, “The baby is dead and I mourn his loss. We have done the best we knew how for him, but nothing has done any good; he continued to fail from the time he was taken sick. My sister Caroline and I sat up every night with him and tried to save him from death, for we could not bear to part with him, but we were powerless… I still have friends who are dear to me. If I had not I should wish to bid this world farewell, for it is full of disappointments and sorrow. But I believe there is a power that watches over us and does all things right.” Later she provided that same friendship and compassion, helping other women who were dealing with similar grief. Her life found meaning again because of the charity extended to her from other women and the opportunity she was given to pay it forward.

President Monson in the same talk I quoted previously continued, “In a hundred small ways, all of you wear the mantle of charity. Life is perfect for none of us. Rather than being judgmental and critical of each other, may we have the pure love of Christ for our fellow travelers in this journey through life. May we recognize that each one is doing her best to deal with the challenges which come her way, and may we strive to do our best to help out.”

I can testify before you today that I have seen the work of Relief Society bless and change lives.  Women need women and together we can do incredible things. In the words of John A. Widstoe, “Relief of poverty, relief of illness; relief of doubt, relief of ignorance; relief of all that hinders the joy and progress of woman. What a magnificent commission!”

In closing I would like to share one more story. That of the mothers of the Stripling Warriors. We learn about them as a collective group of mothers who had raised their children in faith. Alma 27:28 explains the foundation of these women's faith.

"And they did look upon shedding the blood of their brethren with greatest abhorrence; and they never could be prevailed upon to take up arms against their brethren; and they never did look upon death with an degree of terror, for their hope and views of Christ and the resurrection; therefore, death was swallowed up to them by the victory of Christ over it."

They kept their faith even as they watched their brothers and sisters be slaughtered and as they left their homeland. These women did not do this alone. Together these women taught these things to their own children. Together they faced death, rather than the prospect of breaking their covenants. Together they sent their young sons into battle. They knew that because of the atonement of Jesus Christ death had no power. They had no fear of physical death because Jesus would conquer it, and therefore it had "no sting".

These young men went forth with the same bravery that the women displayed. “We do not doubt our mothers knew it.” And when that battle was raged and the dust had settled, Helaman numbered these young men. Knowing, I’m sure, that he would reporting to their mothers of the casualties. “But behold, to [his] great joy, there had not one soul of them fallen to the earth; yea, and they had fought as if with the strength of God; yea, never were men known to have fought with such miraculous strength.”

One can only assume that those women were praying for those boys on the battlefield. And through their faith, their collective faith, not one soul was lost.

We have been made a similar promise, as we join this collective group of  women across the globe, in purpose and direction, under the name of Relief Society. President Packer said, “The great circle of sisters will be a protection for each of you and for your families. The Relief Society will be likened to a refuge – the place of safety and protection – the sanctuary of ancient times. You will be safe within it. It encircles each sister like a protecting wall.”

I can’t think of anything more reassuring to me than the promise of refuge and sanctuary, safety and protection. This kind of promise does not happen magically. It will not happen without the work of many diligent and loving hands.

I testify that as we embrace the purposes of Relief Society and embrace them through charity and personal revelation, we will find the refuge and sanctuary we need in the world today and be able to bring ourselves and our loved ones unto Christ. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

William-ese

Today was rough after school. School is rough. Class work is rough. Learning new routines and schedules and teacher expectations and juggling it all in a brain that fires differently than most, it's rough. If he could only learn and study what he is interested in, he'd be a great student. But tonight, he had to do multiplication tables and story problems. These are not what interests him, just in case you are wondering.

I write tonight because I want both William and me to remember what I told him in my little pep talk. I told him I know this is hard. I know it doesn't come easy for him like it does for others. But I also know that it's okay. It's okay for something to be hard for us. It's okay to have to work hard for something that others can just breeze through. Heavenly Father did not send us here to find the easiest route and he does not show us love by taking away what's hard. He sent us here so that we can learn to lean on Him when it gets hard. 

I'm so grateful for that knowledge. I don't know how I'd see my precious boy through these rough days without it.