Saturday, April 5, 2008
General Conference
General Conference is always a wonderful time to get answers to questions. Day 1 was no exception. Aside from the personal revelation family members received, some particular talks stood out. Elder Scott's discussion on abuse is another masterwork for the ages. Elder Nelson's discussion made quite an impress on Melissa - but she just forgot what she liked about it. Our first liked the ties (that was what she drew as she played conference bingo) and our boy liked jumping on the trampoline... and siblings. Oh wait, she just remembered (checked her notes!) she liked... stuff.
Betty gets dusty
Betty, the illustrious trophy for the Hoffman March madness trophy is not moving from my office, one could say she is getting dusty. Thanks to all those who participated this year, it was the closest of any year yet. Usually only Steve and I have a chance to win it after the first couple rounds, but this year the competition was intense (though Steve and I still ended up in the lead). See you all next year for the same fun and intensity! What think ye of a point redistribution?
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Princess Party
For our first's birthday she had a princess party. One hour of little ladies instructing each other on how to make this party "more fun". We refrained from using Melissa's new Christmas present, much to the appreciation of all involved. The girls made jewelry, danced and played with balloons. The cake was the shape of a crown. Yet another masterpiece of ... well... um... Melissa's mom still "takes the cake" on cakes, but this one stayed standing long enough for a picture! (That's approximately 1/400th of a second for those counting).
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Poetry corner? Having fun in Isaiah
For, me the best part of the entire standard works to teach, hands down without any question, is Isaiah. You can tell my colleagues and I are having to much fun when we have time to do the following...
Do you ever get tired of the poem "footprints"? You know...
"One night a man had a dream.
He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.
For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonging to him, and the other to The Lord.
"When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand.
He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints.
He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.
"This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it,
"Lord you said that once I decided to follow you, you would walk with me all the way.
But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life,
there is only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me."
The Lord replied,
"My son, My precious child, I love you and I would never leave you.
During the times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints,
it was then that I carried you."
________________________
Awwww. Okay, enough of that. Aside from the trinity confusion in the passage some of us felt it could be improved upon. One of my cohorts wrote the following:
"One night I had a wondrous dream,
One set of footprints there was seen,
The footprints of my precious Lord,
But mine were not along the shore.
"But then some stranger prints appeared,
And I asked the Lord, "What have we here?"
Those prints are large and round and neat,
But Lord, they are too big for feet.
"My Child, He said in somber tones,
For miles I carried you alone.
I challenged you to walk in faith,
But you refused and made me wait.
"You disobeyed, struggled, and would not grow,
The walk of faith, you would not know.
So I got tired, I got fed up,
And there I dropped you, on your butt.
"Because in life, there comes a time,
When men must fight and men must climb.
When men must rise and men must stand,
Or leave their butt prints in the sand."
________________________
I personally really liked that one. Yet, still wrote one of my own, based on Isaiah 46:3-4
"One night a man dreamed a dream,
and in that dream there flowed a stream -
Events from his life passing by,
And the whole time he seemed to fly.
"His feet did not even touch the ground,
Yet he heard walking as a sound.
He looked to see his trials and such,
And all along these he learned much.
"But it was not him walking far,
Nor was he riding in a car.
"From birth to death, his life did go,
Across the sands of time, by the ebb and flow.
He smoothly moved along the way,
And felt embraced throughout the day.
"He came to realize, as we should too,
Success in life is not merely because of you.
And when we turn upward, look and see,
We can likewise notice, the Savior,
Carrying you and me."
________________________________________
You might now have a testimony of why I haven't tried my hand at poetry since proposing. (Hey, she still said yes through the laughter - so back off!) Oh well, Thought some of you might like those - particularly the second.
Do you ever get tired of the poem "footprints"? You know...
"One night a man had a dream.
He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.
For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonging to him, and the other to The Lord.
"When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand.
He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints.
He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.
"This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it,
"Lord you said that once I decided to follow you, you would walk with me all the way.
But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life,
there is only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me."
The Lord replied,
"My son, My precious child, I love you and I would never leave you.
During the times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints,
it was then that I carried you."
________________________
Awwww. Okay, enough of that. Aside from the trinity confusion in the passage some of us felt it could be improved upon. One of my cohorts wrote the following:
"One night I had a wondrous dream,
One set of footprints there was seen,
The footprints of my precious Lord,
But mine were not along the shore.
"But then some stranger prints appeared,
And I asked the Lord, "What have we here?"
Those prints are large and round and neat,
But Lord, they are too big for feet.
"My Child, He said in somber tones,
For miles I carried you alone.
I challenged you to walk in faith,
But you refused and made me wait.
"You disobeyed, struggled, and would not grow,
The walk of faith, you would not know.
So I got tired, I got fed up,
And there I dropped you, on your butt.
"Because in life, there comes a time,
When men must fight and men must climb.
When men must rise and men must stand,
Or leave their butt prints in the sand."
________________________
I personally really liked that one. Yet, still wrote one of my own, based on Isaiah 46:3-4
"One night a man dreamed a dream,
and in that dream there flowed a stream -
Events from his life passing by,
And the whole time he seemed to fly.
"His feet did not even touch the ground,
Yet he heard walking as a sound.
He looked to see his trials and such,
And all along these he learned much.
"But it was not him walking far,
Nor was he riding in a car.
"From birth to death, his life did go,
Across the sands of time, by the ebb and flow.
He smoothly moved along the way,
And felt embraced throughout the day.
"He came to realize, as we should too,
Success in life is not merely because of you.
And when we turn upward, look and see,
We can likewise notice, the Savior,
Carrying you and me."
________________________________________
You might now have a testimony of why I haven't tried my hand at poetry since proposing. (Hey, she still said yes through the laughter - so back off!) Oh well, Thought some of you might like those - particularly the second.
