yeah it's warm today!

The weather is warm today. It's so nice. After preschool E stayed to play at K's house. When I got there to pick him up they were outside on the play set. It was lovely out.

This morning my visiting teachers came. We had a fun chat.

Lucy and I took a little walk. Tonight we had the missionaries over for dinner. The evenings get busy around here. When H got off the bus she had to change for dance right away. Then we went to get S. After getting her we took H to dance. I walked in with her to buy new ballet shoes. She's been growing a lot lately and even though we just got some not too long ago we got to get more today. When we got home I started dinner. S got a snack, which she shared with Lucy, and then she left to go pick up J from track practice (thank goodness she is driving now!) and H from dance. I picked up, set the table and got dinner ready. When the three girls got back S left to meet her friends at Ihop for free pancakes in honor of Fat Tuesday. J cleaned the bathroom and took a shower. H helped me. Meanwhile brother was jumping on the couch. Finally we had things cooking and the table set so we went outside to sit on the porch. DH had to stop by and pick up his coaching packet for E's soccer team and was actually the first one to make it home. We sat on the porch for a few minutes more and watched the kids play in the grass. Then the missionaries arrived. I went inside to get food ready to serve and just as everything was ready mom and dad came.

We had cranberry chicken (so yummy), rosemary potatoes, and spinach salad. Mom brought cinnamon rolls for dessert.

We had a fun time visiting over dinner. Afterward we went to the living room and DH got out his trumpet. He played a couple hymns and then the elders shared a thought with us. They talked about the restoration of the priesthood and they did a really great job. Then we sang "the Spirit of God". It was one of those wonderful moments. The spirit was there and the music was powerful. The elders sang the first verse in English, the second in Tongan and English, the third in Tongan and the last in English. Both have wonderful voices. Dad and DH sang along as well. Mom played the piano and H was with her singing. G ran around the room. J listened. I was sitting on the fireplace listening as well. Brother ran over and climbed on my lap wrapped in his star wars blanket. He sang along on the chorus, and watched and listened. He was very still and quiet and watched them with rapt attention. I whispered in his ear "do you feel that?" He nodded yes. "That’s the holy ghost telling you that these missionaries are men of God, and doing His work. When you grow up you can serve the Lord like that too". He nodded and smiled. There were many moist eyes in the room and I was grateful to have the opportunity to share our meal and have them share their awesome spirit. They then sang a Tongan hymn, which was just lovely and just before wrapping up for the evening Elder V said he had a mother's day hymn and would we like to hear it. Yes. Of course we did. He said he and some of the other Tongan Elders wrote it while they were in the MTC. They then sang it. Again the song was so beautiful and heartfelt. I wish his mom could hear him. It was a sacred moment. We asked him what the words meant. I tried to commit them to memory but now it's been several hours and I don't remember all he said. Basically it was about the work and toils of motherhood, the sacrifices she made and the lessons she taught. One line was "your pain brought me life". The last verse was about a son's gratitude and love for his mother. And how they would, thanks to her teachings and love and example, be together in the eternities. I am happy when we have moments that teach. That show the way to eternal life. I hope brother remembers and wants to serve a mission.
Today I was watching a talk on BYU TV about the mission of the Savior. They talked about the 5 "assignments" He had from the Father. The fifth being to judge the world. The lecturer said imagine if you had 5 children and when you die you stand at judgment with your spouse and your children and are told that you decide how they will be judged but you have to follow the guidelines Heavenly Father gave us. 4 of the kids were obedient and really did all they should. The 5th was a good person, but not so faithful. So, with a broken heart you have to tell 4 they can enter the celestial kingdom but the 5th will not go to that same kingdom of glory. How sad and hard that would be. The Savior loves each of us like we love our children and wants the best for us. It will be His hardest assignment to sit in judgment and turn some of us away from eternal life.
During visiting teaching today we talked about the pure love of Christ, and about how charity isn't an action but a feeling, a way of being, who we are.
All these things have been on my mind today. It’s easy for me to fix a meal for someone or to watch their kids or to physically help in some way. It’s harder to have the pure love and concern for all. To be charitable.
Something to work on.

Tonight S and I did Yoga Booty Ballet again. Sweat, sweat, sweat. It’s good for the heart I guess.