Life according to Angela – Page 99

Family Home Evening

Mark taught our Family Home Evening lesson this week about the Armor of God. He gave each person a piece of armor and asked us to look up the scripture in Ephesians and explain how each piece of armor represented something spiritual we can do to be protected from evil. We placed the armor on a disproportionate picture of a little man. We called him Pippin.

The next morning I found our visual aid thus arrayed:

I’ve had to trust that our armor, however hastily or incompletely placed, will be enough this week because I can’t do any more than I’m doing. I have felt lifted physically and mentally even though I’ve fallen asleep every time I’ve tried to read the scriptures this week. I’ve felt like I’ve been carried. The grace of God is amazing like that. We turn to our Father in Heaven in our weakness, and that act of turning (however incomplete or imperfect) puts us in a position to receive great blessings.

Things I have found during the past few days

There has been an unperceived threat. Lego armies are assembling in many corners of the house.

Here is a small paragraph written by Timothy at school that I discovered this morning. I think it is marvelous.

          Space World
Setting: A black starry planet
   with dark lurking creatures

I have just lamented over the loss
of my space ship to take me home.
I am currently on the dark planet
Catoure. There haven't been any
signs of life forms. Yet. Thank
goodness too, because I don't want
to bump into the star dragon. This
planet conceals many things. One
thing is a sea urchin like creature
who grabs your feet with
tweezer-like pincers. I just hope 
I can repair my ship and sleep in
my hammock.

Preparation

The little boys spent the weekend dressing up in layers of superhero awesomeness and throwing glow sticks in the dark.

Paige worked on a painting and performed her concerto for some judges (amazing!). She and Richard stayed up late working on math, much to Richard’s delight.

Daniel showed off his web design skills for his dad and helped clean out the gutters.

Richard worked on the leaves (a never-ending project) until he stepped on a rusty nail in the garden. Boo!

My dad took us out to dinner for my birthday. I chose Los Hermanos in downtown Provo as the restaurant, of course.

I played the violin in church with Paige as my accompanist. People loved seeing Paige up there with me. A good friend reminded me that we have a year and a half left to play together and that we need to cherish it.

I spent last night preparing mentally for the week ahead. I took Richard to the airport and then drove home without the radio and let the silence seep into my soul. I read to the boys from The Two Towers until Mark fell asleep nestled up beside me. After the bedtime routines, I made lists and menus, looked up maps and recipes, and searched for library books that are due. I made play dough for the second graders. I went to sleep listening to the Mormon Tablernacle Choir and then Alfie Boe.

It was a good weekend. I think I’m ready to face the week.

A day or two

A lot can happen in one day. In our case, one day several weeks ago, Richard’s job responsibilities changed dramatically and he was whisked away to another state for a few months. The change was sudden and the implications of this temporary assignment continue to sink in on different levels of consciousness.

He has been home this weekend. The hours are precious and there are more things we wish we could do together before he goes back. I find myself treasuring our time and even our surroundings as precious gifts.

Simple things

If I could extend these years of piano practice in the living room every afternoon and evening, I would do it.

It’s that time of year when I begin practicing Christmas songs on the violin for church. I’m also playing in a quartet this month at an elementary school assembly to introduce string instruments. I’ve been practicing faithfully and it’s a wonderful outlet for me.

My ideal evenings always involve family and music. Simple.

Juxtaposition

Paige had to take some photos for an art class showing a juxtaposition of a person in an unexpected situation. We’re not sure what the neighbors thought of this late night photo shoot in our garage.

My life is a little like this photo right now. Sure, I’ll take on whatever needs to be done, but I’m fundamentally unsuited for many of the tasks.

If only I looked this poised as I tried to figure out why the outlet in the bathroom blew up today…

It’s my birthday.

Let’s celebrate.

Charity

I am in need of this scripture in my life, so I’m memorizing it using the help of these beautiful images from lds.org.

jesus-comforts-mary-martha-1104492-print — And charity suffereth long

woman-at-the-well-942631-print — and is kind,

jesus-christ-1138494-print — and envieth not,

jesus-christ-last-supper-949772-print — and is not puffed up,

jesus-christ-children-958501-print — seeketh not her own,

jesus-christ-betrayal-999236-print — is not easily provoked,

jesus-teaching-in-synagogue-olsen-82887-print — thinketh no evil,

jesus-cleansing-temple-948976-print — rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth,

christ-in-gethsemane-960127-print — beareth all things

rane-jesus-healing-baby-christ-160161-print — believeth all things,

woman-taken-in-adultery-948852-print — hopeth all things,

resurrected-christ-with-people-1103021-print — endureth all things.

A white morning

We awoke from a long sleep to discover that snow was falling determinedly. We pulled out the winter boots and snow pants and the little boys had a fine time outside. I bundled up and enjoyed the views from inside, thank you very much.

The morning was gray, but once the snow began to stick, the house was illuminated by bright white views from the windows.All that was left of the snow by evening were the remnants of two snowmen that the boys built and the promise of more cold weather and dreams of snowy play days to come.

Mark and Timothy’s cheeks remained a charming rosy shade for hours after they came inside.

I love watching those little boys play together.

Leaves, leaves, leaves

I’m grateful for three big kids to help clear the leaves from our three enormous cottonwood trees. Things are very hectic here, but taking some time to work in the yard is good medicine for my feelings of stress.