random Monday stuff

Just saying hello. We had a fun dinner with some friends in our ward last night, Natalie and Topher, and Jay and Jenna. Neither of them have kids yet but they're planning for within the next year, and they're great with our kids. Topher held Marnie all through dinner so Adam and I could eat, and he didn't even get a plate until everyone else was finished.

If you have a grill, here's our idea for you (and what we did for dessert last night): get fresh peaches (the yellow would be better than white), cut them in half and pull the pit. Then just put them cut side down on the grill for a few minutes and heat them up. Flip them back over when you take them off the grill, and watch the nectar come out in the middle where the pit used to be. Eat with vanilla ice cream - yum yum yum!!! (If there's more to it than this, Adam, please put it in the comments.)

Since starting my politics blog (which I also announced on my personal blog), I pretty much have politics on the brain. I'm taking my time getting those posts up because I'm trying to do a lot of research into what I write. That's the whole point of it - to be INFORMED. And still post at least every couple of days. I just put a post on it while the girls are down for their naps so it's quiet and I can type fast without anyone yanking on my arm or the keyboard.

But I'm still trying to post on all the different blogs at least once a week, so here I am on this one. On Monday. So here's an FHE thought:

A few weeks ago, one of my friends referenced this Ensign article on her blog. It's specifically about raising children, but of course it can be applied to any relationships. The bullet points are:

- Never underestimate the power of love.
- Sensitive discipline promotes responsive obedience.
- Have regard for free will.
- Create a family with vision.

Good luck with your families, whether it's the traditional or you build it yourself with roommates and friends.

blog FHE

Wow, this place is dead! What's the deal? Is no one doing anything interesting? At all? Since everyone seems to have an utterly boring life and nothing to share, here's a conversation starter and a blog FHE all in one! Yay!

A couple of weeks ago, I read an article in the June 2008 Ensign called Making Time to be Holy - here so you can read it without having to find that issue. Last week in sacrament meeting, the special music was an arrangement of the hymn More Holiness Give Me. Yesterday in sacrament meeting, all of the talks were about serving in the temple and attending as frequently as possible. The Ensign article keeps coming to mind.

Here are my thoughts on the points of the article:

The issue of "not enough time" - DC is a work-aholic city. If you don't work 12-hour days on a regular basis (particularly if you're an attorney), you're weird and you must not be doing your job properly. Being a stay-home mom is of course all-consuming. It goes back to the title of the article - you have to make time to read your scriptures, pray, attend the temple, etc. like you make time to eat and brush your teeth.

Distractions - The article mentions things like music or TV. Even if you're not watching bad things, it's still time that could be spent on better and more uplifting things. For me, this one is about computer time. Am I using computer time effectively on journal/personal history projects and communicating with family and friends (via blogs or email), or am I just surfing around reading things that are entertaining but have no real value. That's not to say that I can't ever spend any time on entertainment, but if I reach at least a daily minimum of writing time or reading or whatever, then the entertainment is more easily justified to me.

That paragraph is pretty rambly. I hope you at least get the point, even if I did write it poorly.

Sanctification - Becoming holy is another term for becoming sanctified in the Lord.

• Exercise faith - try to become more like the Savior in thoughts and actions. Do and be what you say you believe.
  
• Scriptures and prayer - pondering is a big factor here, and something I'm trying to do more. It's hard to really clear my mind and think about things with the kids constantly yanking on me. I can't even type this post without Summer literally climbing all over the computer chair and shoving things at me, saying "READ!" or "Look, Mommy!" (I've been working on this post off and on for over 4 hours now.) So anyway, I'm trying to figure out when/how I can ponder better.
  
• Sacrifice - give up worldly things. All that internet entertainment, perhaps?
  
• Obedience - something I'm reminded of on a regular basis is, when the Lord tells you to do something specific, you should just do it so that you can receive more direction and revelation. He's not going to give you more if you haven't done what He already told you.
  
• Apply the Atonement - We are saved by grace after all we can do ... (2Nephi 25) Nobody's perfect no matter how hard we try, and the Atonement makes up the difference. In the end, that's what everything comes down to.
  

These things seem like no-brainers, but the reminder of the article was very good for me at this time in my life. Yes, I still need to do A LOT of work with the basics, and I'm trying to take things up a level and actually advance spiritually instead of sitting stagnant in a rut.

Any thoughts and/or comments?

A couple of things to wrap up -

1 - Who is going to do next week's blog FHE lesson? Scriptures, an Ensign article, something you heard at church recently, a General Conference talk, whatever.
2 - Mom, I will print out this post and mail it to Clarissa. After this, can you please be in charge of making sure it gets sent, either doing it yourself or making sure the lesson person takes care of it? Thanks!