Guess who cut his first tooth? Such big boy! I have a feeling many more are not far behind.
I got a call yesterday from a friend asking if it was ok to pass my info along to make a cake for her coworkers daughter. I of course was flattered. The only downfall was that it was a One Direction cake. Who? Ok so I know who they are but thats about it. The girls favorite guy is Harry. Ok now I can really ask... Who? Thank heavens for pinterest. I did some research and for out who this Harry kid was. Cute kid. I searched walmart for anything One Direction. Nada. All I could find was a poster. Then it hit me. Cut out his face and laminate it. Then, I did a 2 toned rosette edge around the cake with pretty edible pearls. It turned out so cute! The mom liked it and said her daughter will love it. The only thing that would have made it better is to have his picture done with edible ink. Oh well. Now she can keep it on her wall for a keepsake.
While the mom was here, she said that my friend mentioned cooking classes as well. She is interested in taking some cooking classes. I have had a few people ask me if I was going to do that again. I think I might start doing them again when things settle down with the temple open house. It is so flattering that people enjoyed the classes and are still talking about them.
Last nights Temple shift was awesome as usual. I was able to do 3 tours. Each had sweet little moments in them. I met some really sweet individuals. The neatest thing for me, has been experiencing those that are going through the first time. Especially those that have never been inside a temple at all. It is sweet to see them as they feel the beautiful spirit there. They are so grateful and honored to have been invited. It warms my heart to see their neighbors who brought them, quietly and reverently explain each room and what it is for. I was also amazed at the organization of the tours. I didnt realize how efficient it was until my last tour of the night. I was walking back from the temple to the stake center (the church building) to grab my next tour. It was ten till 8 and there were a couple hundred people still outside. I went in and had a couple minute break until they were ready for me. I went to one of the rooms and waited for the video portion to happen so we could head to the temple. Before the film was over, i heard them on the radio saying the sidewalks were clear. They had already moved those couple hundred people inside the building and had them seated, ready to watch the film. Amazing.
At first I was sad that they were only able to do "silent tours". Because of the volume of people, there was just no way they could stop in each room and explain it. The neat thing for me, has been to see the individual explanations going on, with members not of our faith. I learned on one tour last night that it is ok to be silent. The spirit can confirm truth when we are silent. Each tour I find someone to say hi to and see what they think. Usually the last person in line, because my job is to bring up the rear and make sure no one in our group gets lost. I was about to talk to one couple when I felt like I should just stay quiet and keep to myself on this tour. Sometimes I feel like I need to open my mouth to be a missionary. In reality, sometimes all they need at that moment, is to let the spirit speak to their hearts and that is it.
I had an experience yesterday that really helped me see just how blessed I am. As a mom, the rewards don't immediately present themselves very often. We often try to do big things outside the home, that bring that acknowledgement that we desire. We can easily fill our time with "good things" that will bring that more immediate gratification. As I was driving yesterday I started thinking about the phrase "no other success can compensate, for failure in the home." Those good things, those successes,can easily compromise the unity of my home if Im not careful. I need to make sure that I am focused on serving my family before serving others. Helping to build up my children before building up a friend. Teaching my children the love of baking and cooking instead of just running a meal to someone or teaching a class and leaving them out of it. These good things could become great things, if I put my children first while doing them. I need to teach them by example by treating them with compassion, service and love and not just other people. If they see me shove them aside so that I can take this meal or cheer up this friend, make this cake, How will they view service or hobbies in the future? How will they view themselves compared to those other things. I don't want them to feel like they come 2nd to a customer, a friend or a hobby. Again, not bad things but can easily take priority in our lives and keep us from the greatest privilege of all. Being a mother. We need to treat or children the same way, or better really, than we treat our friends and neighbors. We need not shove them aside so that we fan focus on someone else.
If my children can't trust me to tenderly care for their broken hearts, celebrate their accomplishments, and encourage them to be better people, because I have shoved them aside or judged them improperly, then there is failure in my home. If they don't feel safe physically, emotionally or spirituallyin our home, then we have failed. If my husband feels that I would rather be with friends, or baking etc. than be with him... I have failed. If there isnt unity, forgiveness, and unconditional love for one another, then I have failed. Somewhere along the line, I allowed those other successes to get it the way. I have allowed them to give me the gratification I desire. In reality, all of the gratification I need is right here. If I would just listen. After realizing this concept, all of a sudden the burdens of motherhood turned into privileges of motherhood. Today I am seeing things in a different light. My kids need to know that Heavenly Father comes first, then Daddy, then them. That is where their security will be the strongest. They need to know that no matter how big someone else's need (outside our home), that their needs will always come first.
Happiness and motivation is a choice. I am choosing to be a different person today. I am choosing to be better than I was yesterday. I can do this. I can change. I can be a better person. I can be happy. You can too. Make it a great day!
No comments:
Post a Comment