Sunday

Today was such a wonderful Sunday. We started out the day by helping Joshua prepare for a talk he was supposed to give in Primary. Mark is such a wonderful speaker/teacher and he helped Josh by giving him some tips and pointers. Our little 9 year old ended up going up to the front of the room without a single look back and giving an incredible talk about the importance of missionary work and what even kids can do to help bring others to the Gospel - he didn't even use his notes! I just missed it and was so disapointed, but Mark was there and he and others told me what a great job he did with tears in their eyes. The amazing thing about it is that with Joshua, something even as simple as a 2 minute primary talk prepared the morning before it is supposed to be given can turn into an incredible spiritual event. I have no doubt in my mind that this boy is meant for great things. Just the fact that he was chosen to be the leader of 3 younger brothers tells me that his work on this earth is just beginning. I am so lucky to be his mom.

Then we had the opportunity to go and listen to Brandon give a talk in Sacrament meeting. He is preparing to go on his mission and his spirit and countenance is visibly changing and getting stronger right before our eyes. I had trouble fighting the tears as I listened to his words and felt the Spirit surrounding me. He is such a wonderful young man and I'm so proud of him. It may or may not have also helped that other than Will sleeping peacefully in my lap I was pretty much childless. My boys were all sitting next to or on the laps of their cousins and Aunt and Mark and I heard every word spoken in Sacrament meeting for quite possibly the first time in 9 years! It was bliss to say the least! :)

During Scripture study tonight we were reading in 1st Nephi chapter 17 about Nephi giving his brothers a speech about listening to our God and following his commandments. One of the examples Nephi gives is of Moses freeing the people from bondage. As soon as Gabe heard the word Moses he piped up "Hey! I know dat! We did yearn (learn) about dat in MY class!" I just said "yeah, you know him huh!" and tried to keep going thinking that he didn't REALLY know what he was talking about until he said "Uh-huh! And him did go in a basket in the water, we did read about him in my class" Mark and I couldn't believe that he really knew the story of baby Moses and could recount it just by hearing his name. Thank you thank you nursery leaders! We LOVE you!

What a wonderful day. We love Sundays. We are so thankful for our family and all of our blessings.