Random Spiritual Thoughts

I feel like my blogging life has been slowing down and I'm not really going to change that. I've been getting into routines at my house and I just don't have time to sit at the computer as much as I used to.

I'd like to take this opportunity to say some random spiritual thoughts. I often get things in my head and don't really do much with them, so here goes...

1. Heavenly Father answered my prayer and guided me - We, as a primary presidency, have been trying to think of some sort of reverence game for sharing time & singing time. We have a small primary (about 16 kids on a good day and that's 50% attendance) but we still have reverence concerns. We saw some cute ideas on various websites but it just wasn't really clicking for me. I went to the temple to do an endowment session and happened to say a prayer to help me know what to do for primary. By the end of the 3 hours, I had received ideas to figure it all out. I was really excited that I got a "double whammie" I went to the temple plus did my primary homework. (I often spend 1-2 hours searching online for sharing times ideas when it's my turn, then end up doing something that I found within 10 minutes of my search! I was glad that I didn't even have to go online about this, I liked what I had.)

The idea for the reverence chart:
"Reach for the stars" and "Be a STAR in Primary!"
STAR
S = Sitting
T = Thinking
A = Attentive
R = Reverent

I made a poster with a boy & girl on it with stars at the top of the poster. The boy & girl are on some fishing line (thanks Candace) and whenever the children are reverent the boy & girl reach higher for the stars. If they reach all the way to the top and "reach the stars" then two children get to pick stars from a bag and put them into a jar. Once the jar is full of the stars we will have a "star party." Star party could be flashlights with papers with holes in them, with star shaped food, and maybe a few other star-themed games. (I'll have the Faith in God boys & girls help me plan it.)

Not only did Heavenly Father help me with the idea, but he helped me with the material too. I found some perfect glittery star ornaments at Michael's to use that were $1.99 for 12, and I even found a star shaped jar at the DI for $.50!

I presented the idea on Sunday with a fun sharing time using the teachers in a "star fashion show." We had Wiggly Wanda, Sleepy Sarah, Reverent Rosie, Distracted Darcy, and Talkative Tiffany. They all entered the room walking down the "red carpet" and I talked about each character. Afterward, the children lined up in front of Reverent Rosie and I gave them a star sticker.

(If any of you want more info about this, just email me or comment.)

2. Institute Class - Darrell and I are taking a married institute class. It's only twice and month so it's a doable date night for us. There is a different keynote speaker each time. So far we've only been to one and it was a great class. It was taught by Scott Anderson who has done many EFY conferences and is a marriage counselor. Things I learned:

• Pre-existence - We obviously had choices since we chose to follow Jesus Christ. That also meant that we were tempted too. Brother Anderson called the pre-existence the "Great Singles Conference" since we were all single and were so excited when Heavenly Father presented the plan for us to come to this life for an opportunity to become like him...married for eternity.
• Harmony - What exactly is the definition of harmony? According to Merriam Webster definition #4 it's "an interweaving of different accounts into a single narrative." That means that if you want to have harmony in your marriage, you need realize that there are two different accounts that are trying to become one. Husband and wife are different and in order to have harmony you need to recognize those differences to make it beautiful.
  
• Beam in your own eye - Whenever there is an argument, instead of trying to change the other person, think about changing yourself. When Brother Anderson and his wife have a disagreement he says "You know honey, we're having a difficulty with [this situation], I'm frustrated because I do [this], I will try better to do [this instead.]" Then his wife says the same thing about herself. Later they compliment the spouse the great job that he/she is doing.
  

3. Pray for something better - I just got done listening to the audiobook by Sheri Dew entitled If Life Were Easy It Wouldn't Be Hard. The book is a collections of different thoughts. One of the chapters talks about prayer. Have you ever been praying and asking Heavenly Father for either this or that? Never thinking about another option? She brought up the point that maybe God has something better in store for you. She told the story about Joseph Smith asking for something better.

After he had looked over the table he said, "Lord, we thank Thee for this Johnny cake, and ask Thee to send us something better. Amen." The corn bread was cut and I received a piece from his hand.

Before the bread was all eaten, a man came to the door and asked if the Prophet Joseph was at home. Joseph replied he was, whereupon the visitor said, "I have brought you some flour and a ham."

Joseph arose and took the gift, and blessed the man in the name of the Lord. Turning to his wife, Emma, he said, "I knew the Lord would answer my prayer."

This thought of praying for something better has never occurred to me, so now I'm going to start doing that. It has been such a struggle for me to make Salem's "life decision" regarding which school to attend and every decision I've made has not made me feel 100% excited. I couldn't figure out if Heavenly Father had answered my prayer or not. I felt a "stupor of thought" so I figured that my answer was no or to keep searching. Now I have learned a little more how to pray and hopefully this will help me in the future.