Weekly Recap: With the birthday and the scout camp

I had an interesting experience this past week. My husband and son were gone all week to scout camp, and I was home alone with our three girls. The first couple of nights I was feeling sorry for myself, thinking how long it would be until they came home, wondering how I could make our youngest's birthday special with 1/3 of our family away, seeing pictures a friend posted of my son the previous week, and dealing with a leaking washer. Because of safety issues, I do not post things publicly until after they are over, so I only had one safe (private) forum where I could express my sadness and ask for support. As I was about to post to that place, the Spirit whispered to me that I would not receive comfort there. Yes, I would receive a virtual pat on the back or hug, but I would not be comforted. I quickly realized how true that is, and got down on my knees, one more time, with tears in my eyes, and gratitude in my heart that I had learned one more way to make full use of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. And I truly felt comforted and supported.

There is nothing wrong with seeking comfort or asking for prayers from others in a time of need, I have often felt comfort and blessings knowing others had prayed for me in some way. Line upon line, I am grateful for the comfort and gentle hugs that were given to me spiritually this past week.


This morning I woke to find my great uncle had posted another link to an online magazine I follow. I love that he is a writer, and he shares life experiences with gospel teachings for the world to read. It's a little more personal for me because they are often about my relatives. Today his message was about something my great grandmother taught him. Even as a young child and then as a rebellious teenager, I knew that it when she spoke, I should listen. I have little bits of memories tucked away of things she taught me, and even after she has long since passed, I have one more to add to my collection now. Here is my great uncle and my great grandmother's teachings about pride. Remembering that We Are Instruments in the Hands of God  Even now, posting my personal experience, I worry that it will be read as prideful but I do not intend it to be that way. I've reworded this in my head all week hoping that my little story will come across as inspiration to someone else, as it was to me.

Our Week:

Last Sunday M spoke in sacrament meeting! (That means she prepared a talk and spoke to the entire congregation.) She did so well, it was a great talk and meeting. After church we had an early birthday party for N. She got to open some presents and had cake and ice cream with family members that we invited over.

We had to do her party early because Monday morning my husband and son left for scout camp! They were gone all week and my son earned five merit badges and plenty of new skills. They camped, swam, shot rifles and bows, got dirty and smelly, and had a great time. The girls made cookies to welcome them home.

While they were gone we had lots of fun girl time. We went shopping, bought dress ups (N, with her birthday money), baked, watched movies, and played a lot. One night we had dinner with the neighbors while the kids swam, M camped in the backyard another night, E had a sleep over in N's room, and we spent one day cleaning the house up. For N's actual birthday we had leftover cake and ice cream for breakfast (with eggs for protein), gave her the rest of her gifts, went to the movie theater, and made THM ice cream. M mowed for J while he was gone and did a great job! M and I watched the Sherlock Holmes movie one night since she's been reading the book. It's been a busy week and I'm so happy to have everyone home again!