Family togetherness

For our family home evening last week we talked about salvation and exaltation. Elder Nelson spoke about how salvation is a matter for each individual, but that exaltation is a family affair. For our activity we had the children work together in a three-legged race.

Luke and Leah did very well cooperating. They were slow moving, but very effective considering their ages.

Eliza and Sarah also worked well together, but they tried to go too fast and kept falling down.

Award ceremonies

We had the pleasure of attending, not one, but two award ceremonies this year. Eliza and Sarah worked very hard and were nagged by us quite a bit, but they did very well as a result. Paul commented that we will have to endure at least eight more years of these. Although the ceremonies could be considered a form of torture (considering their length, lack of airflow, the effort required to keep Luke and Leah under control, cramps from clapping, etc.), they are a small price to pay considering the alternative. 

Eliza received a trophy for the all A's honor roll and a certificate for reading above her grade level throughout the year. Next to her is her friend Taylor.

My Sarah with her beautiful, long hair. I chopped it off this week. I was tired of the hair wars we were having several times a day. We haven't gotten those pictures developed yet, sorry.

This is outside the school after Eliza's ceremony. Luke was fairly well behaved but very tired. He finally crashed as she received her final trophy. So much for a family picture. 

After Sarah received her awards, we HAD to go to the library, so she could buy some books from the book fair. Mike and Sully are permanent residents in our school library. She received a trophy for the all A's honor roll and a certificate for having a yearly average of 95 or higher in English.

Put your trust in God

It isn't as bad as you sometimes think it is.

It all works out. Don't worry.

I say that to myself every morning.

It will all work out.

Put your trust in God,

and move forward with faith

and confidence in the future.

The Lord will not forsake us.

He will not forsake us.

If we will put our trust in Him,

if we will pray to Him,

if we will live worthy of His blessings,

He will hear our prayers.

Pres. Hinckley, Ensign, Feb. 2006

From the funeral services of Marjorie Pay Hinckley, April 10, 2004

Thank God for "luck"

This morning I dropped Eliza and Sarah off at school and went to drop Leah off at preschool. I let her out of the van and then remembered that I needed to pay for the week. I grabbed my checkbook and headed toward the door. Leah's friend, Leigha B., was standing outside the door. I said hi to her and then opened the door to the classroom to find the lights off and no one there. I turned to Leigha B. and asked, "Honey, are you here all alone?" She then began to whimper and tell me that her dad had dropped her off, but that there was no school today. I hadn't heard anything of the sort, so I went inside to investigate. The preschool is attached to their teacher's home, and this being little town USA, it isn't uncommon to find a house unlocked. Inside the room, I looked at their class calendar and saw that it did indeed say that there was no school today.

As "luck" would have it, Leigha's older brother is in the same class as Sarah at the elementary school. I loaded up the kids and went to Sarah's teacher for help. She gave me Leigha's mother's name and telephone number. Please don't judge her parent's too harshly. Leigha had been out of school for over a week because of an operation, and they didn't have a May calendar to go by. There were also 3 vehicles in the driveway at the preschool, it was the first time dad ever dropped her off, and she is a very independent little girl who insists that no one walks her in. He told me that he watched her walk inside, and then he left. 

I feel so blessed that the Lord gave me the chance to comfort and help this little girl. I am so grateful that I hadn't noticed the "No School" post on Leah's calendar, and that her teacher didn't remind me (as she always does) that there wasn't any school today. Lots of people call this luck, but I know that it was a blessing from the Lord. How grateful I am for His tender mercies and His watchful eye over us.

Would you like free Tupperware?

Who wouldn't like free Tupperware? All you need to do is host a party. I have been busy trying to learn this new business of mine. There is a lot to learn behind the scenes I have come to find out. My brain is on fire! It hasn't been this active learning in 10 plus years. I recently setup my Tupperware website. You can find me at

 http:/my.tupperware.com/jessicawilliams0

Feel free to checkout all that it has to offer. Apparently there are special online prices. I can also do online parties for those of you across the nation.  I am still excited although I am already getting nervous about my Grand Opening party next week. I feel sick at my stomach. I guess I better get used to it, huh? 

Thanks to those of you already helping me. I look forward to giving you free Tupperware!