Week in Review 10/16/16

Monday we had a great play day!  Tammy, Ash, Robin and I drove down to Ogden to do some shopping and girl bonding!  We had a ton of fun and found lots of great buys at Gordmans.  We stopped at Arby's for lunch, but I was disappointed to find that they no longer have their chicken salad sandwiches so I just got a regular Arby's sandwich.  My taste buds were very disappointed.

 Later that evening Tammy, her daughter Kinsey, Ash and I headed to "The Old Barn" to see a play.  We stopped at JC's Country Diner and had dinner.  It was fabulous!  All but Kinsey got omelettes that were so tasty that we ate until our tummies felt like they would burst!

I had never been to the Old Barn theater before but had heard good things about it.  The show we saw was "You Can't Take it With You".  It must have been an off night because there was only about 20 people in the audience.  The play was okay, but I'm not used to staying up very late and it was a little slow-moving so I was fighting to stay awake.  I would like to go back when there is a musical playing.

Tuesday Shandra got some GREAT NEWS!  While she was in class her program director asked Shandra to go into her office and to shut the door.  Needless to say, Shandra was pretty nervous and wondered why she might be in trouble,  Pam then surprised her by telling her that she was nominating Shandra as "Student of the Year" for her school!  What fantastic honor for Shandra!  I'm so proud of her.  She had to write a two-page essay about herself and send in a picture along with the nomination. She will be up against several other candidates from her school.  There are great prizes:

• First place winner: $1,000 cash prize, a $2,000 DATC Scholarship, and candidacy in the UCAT Student of the Year contest for a chance to win a 2-year lease on a new car!
• Second place winner: $500 DATC Bookstore gift card
• Third place winner: $250 DATC Bookstore gift card
• Fourth place winner: $100 DATC Bookstore gift card

It would be nice to win, but no matter what happens it is a great honor to be nominated!

While Shandra had some good news, Tasha was getting some not-so-good news.  Tasha and Zane were planning to move into their new house this week but unfortunately the renovation work will not be completed for about 10 more days.  She is quite stressed and anxious to get moving.  It will be so fun when she finally gets into her house.

Friday was Raelynn's birthday.  She is so darn cute!  I told her happy birthday and asked her how old she was, she answered that she is 3.  I reminded her that because it was her birthday she now was 4 years old.  She said, "okay" and didn't say anything else for awhile.  About 10 minutes later she said to me, "I can't be 4 yet because I'm not grown up!"  I explained that she doesn't have to be all grown up to be four.  She accepted that but about 15 minutes later she told me, "I'm 3 because I'm not big yet".  She was really confused about the fact that she hadn't grown bigger now that it was her birthday.  It took most of the day, but she finally accepted the fact that she is now 4 years old.

While we were waiting for Shandra and Kim to come home from work Rae helped me set out some Halloween decorations.

Rae's dad had to work on her birthday, so he celebrated with her on the day before.  When Kim and Shandra got home from work we picked up Kalel from his dad's house and we headed to Burger King for the birthday dinner.

Rae was too short to climb up the 2nd level so Kim sat inside the play area and acted as a step for her.  Kalel is a really good big brother.  He is very kind and helpful to Rae and plays with her most of the time.  It has been good to have her as his "step-sister".  I'm very proud of him.

Today in church the choir sang my very favorite hymn.  I love the words:

I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me,

Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me.

I tremble to know that for me he was crucified,

That for me, a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died.

(Chorus)

Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me

Enough to die for me!

Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

I marvel that he would descend from his throne divine

To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine,

That he should extend his great love unto such as I,

Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify.

I think of his hands pierced and bleeding to pay the debt!

Such mercy, such love and devotion can I forget?

No, no, I will praise and adore at the mercy seat,

Until at the glorified throne I kneel at his feet.

Text and music: Charles H. Gabriel, 1856-1932 

I truly am amazed that Jesus would suffer and die - for me, a very imperfect being who quite often is "rebellious and proud".  He loves me!  He knows me! He is advocating for me to return to live eternally with Him and His Father.  I feel so humbled to think of His atoning sacrifice.  

In Sunday School we talked about Christ teaching the people in the Americas after His resurrection.  In 3 Nephi 12:48 He says:  "Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect."

That scripture has always bugged me because we are all human and we are far from perfect.  No one has ever been perfect except Christ.  As we discussed it several points were made that helped this scripture make more sense to me.  

1-  Because of Christ's atonement we all have the ability to be perfect if we use the atonement to repent properly.  Each time we repent, the Lord wipes away the sin and at that moment we are perfect.  

2-  It is possible to be perfect in certain specific things.  For instance, if we pay tithing exactly as we should, we are perfect in paying tithing.  As we are obedient to each commandment we can become perfect in keeping that commandment.

3-  Each of us have the ability to be perfect in Christ as we grow to be what we are destined to become.  For example an acorn can be perfect in it's growth to become a mighty oak tree.  As we trust in Christ and obey His commandments, prayerfully listening to our inspirations and revelations, we can become the person who is perfectly the person we should become.  

 THIS WEEK I AM GRATEFUL FOR;

Having Raelynn in our lives.