August 28, 2011
Today I stunned my sunday school class....remember that I teach the 16-18 year olds. They aren't easily stunned!
We were talking about the Holy Ghost, and that you have to develop the ability to listen to him...kind of like you develop a talent. So I asked them if they had a talent, or something that they used to do well that they no longer really do. So of course, they all sit there with blank looks on their faces, so I have to come up with something....so I brought out the fact that I play the accordian and the organ. Total and shocked AMAZEMENT ensued....shock and disbelief...they even thought I was lying. Now why would I make up a lie about playing the accordian? So after I promised them that they could see my accordian when Cooper and Cymbre have another party....we managed to get on with the lesson. The point being, that just like you have to develop a talent with practice, you also have to develop the ability to listen and follow the Holy Ghost and his promptings with practice. And once you develop that ability, there are numerous blessings that will come your way as you just heed the promptings as soon as you receive them. We also talked about lost opportunities when you put off that impression for even just a few minutes....case in point.....there is a homeless man that lives under the bridge on one corner that I frequently drive past. Most days when I see him, he knows that I will drive around the corner and bring him something to eat....but the last time I saw him this week....I neglected to follow my impression to feed him, and then when I went back after I was finished shopping, he was no longer standing on the corner. I could just kick myself. It only takes just a few minutes to drive thru some place and get a meal and drive back around the corner and hand it to him. Now I wonder just how many blessings I don't get because of my own laziness....and if he went to bed hungry....and if he saw me drive past.....and more important, what the Savior thinks of my actions. So in my guilt-ridden state of mind, I have decided that I will go look for him everyday this week, and feed him every time I find him. We'll see what happens.....
At any rate, we managed to bring the lesson around to the point that with practice you can readily listen and heed the promptings of the Holy Ghost, thereby, influencing peoples lives for good. You also have to keep the commandments, read your scriptures, stay close to the Savior, and prepare yourself to be able to receive those promptings. Then we put it back in biblical times when Paul was teaching the saints of the early church about the Savior, His crucifixion, resurrection, and the need for baptism and the Holy Ghost. And how he taught that just being baptized was not everything that a person needs to inherit the kingdom of heaven...that's just half the plan. The more important part is actually the spiritual part...the gift of the Holy Ghost.
And now, those teenagers probably went home and told their parents that Sister Flanagan plays the accordian and the organ.....and can you imagine that? Hidden talents.....and no, not the chocolate coin kind! And just for the record, I am NOT playing the accordian for the ward talent show...they cannot bribe me enough. I just don't think "Beer Barrel Polka" is appropriate for a church setting.
Although, recently I had the opportunity to play every song that I know on the organ, and after an hour and a half.....I must admit, I felt pretty good about myself and that ability....and NO, I don't want to be the ward organist again.
Cymbre is having a lot of problems retaining her vision again....it seems that it just likes to fade away.....sort of go on vacation for several hours at a time, and then decide to function again when it feels like it. She is just sitting in her desk at school....not being bumped around or anything. SO, we are back at the eye specialists yet again this next week. Who knows what they will come up with this time. At least she isn't like the boy she knows at school this week who is getting a glass eye because he has cancer. He offered to trade her eye problems. She chose to keep the one she has....which seems like a real trial at times to us. At least she can see sometimes though. The boy getting the glass eye will only have one eye to see with permanently.
Just came home from putting Guy on an airplane to Halifax, Canada. Hold your breath.....who knows what will happen this week while he is gone. Something ALWAYS does! He will be back the end of the week, hopefully, we will survive that long without him. It's always so difficult...especially with the general lack of sleep that ensues because he is gone.
The girls have dance tonight, and I have to take them dinner at some point. Now if I just had a good idea what to make to take, it would be good. Last week I made pasta salad, but since Guy is gone, we don't want that again. Maybe Subway sandwiches tonight.
Cymbre just called, her eye has faded out again....let's hope the specialist has some ideas on Wednesday....say your prayers that it will stop. At least we know that the priesthood says that she will be ok in several blessings that she has had, so at least we have that to hang on too. However, this mom could sure use this situation to stop....it's very nerve-racking, to say the least!
The girls are both busy beginning to organize things for YW. They are both in presidencies, so we are busy at times. Cymbre has a pajama party with Mrs. Texas coming to share hair and make-up tips for the beehives, and Cooper is working on some Armour of God activity for all the kids. Sounds fun to me, and it keeps them out of trouble. Our new YW president seems to be getting her ducks in a row, so the girls are excited.
Costume designing and sewing time has arrived yet again....I know what I'm doing for some of them, but the others we are still looking for ideas. They also are in the tap group and Cooper is in the contemporary group, so there are more costumes this year. Cooper is also doing a tap solo to get ready for college auditions taught to her by a master tap teacher we are flying in, and she wants to compete it also. So everything counted, it is 7 costumes. I dread gluing down all those rhinestones!
Well, I am going to finish the row of crocheting on the baby blanket, change the laundry, and go get the errands done before I have to pick up Cymbre from school, and the homework, dinner, dance routine starts.
And I have to go look for the homeless man to see if he is hungry today too.
Get out and do something for someone you don't know....it's fun.
Love you bunches and bunches. Say your prayers for Cymbre and her doctors.
Mom
Just came home from putting Guy on an airplane to Halifax, Canada. Hold your breath.....who knows what will happen this week while he is gone. Something ALWAYS does! He will be back the end of the week, hopefully, we will survive that long without him. It's always so difficult...especially with the general lack of sleep that ensues because he is gone.
The girls have dance tonight, and I have to take them dinner at some point. Now if I just had a good idea what to make to take, it would be good. Last week I made pasta salad, but since Guy is gone, we don't want that again. Maybe Subway sandwiches tonight.
Cymbre just called, her eye has faded out again....let's hope the specialist has some ideas on Wednesday....say your prayers that it will stop. At least we know that the priesthood says that she will be ok in several blessings that she has had, so at least we have that to hang on too. However, this mom could sure use this situation to stop....it's very nerve-racking, to say the least!
The girls are both busy beginning to organize things for YW. They are both in presidencies, so we are busy at times. Cymbre has a pajama party with Mrs. Texas coming to share hair and make-up tips for the beehives, and Cooper is working on some Armour of God activity for all the kids. Sounds fun to me, and it keeps them out of trouble. Our new YW president seems to be getting her ducks in a row, so the girls are excited.
Costume designing and sewing time has arrived yet again....I know what I'm doing for some of them, but the others we are still looking for ideas. They also are in the tap group and Cooper is in the contemporary group, so there are more costumes this year. Cooper is also doing a tap solo to get ready for college auditions taught to her by a master tap teacher we are flying in, and she wants to compete it also. So everything counted, it is 7 costumes. I dread gluing down all those rhinestones!
Well, I am going to finish the row of crocheting on the baby blanket, change the laundry, and go get the errands done before I have to pick up Cymbre from school, and the homework, dinner, dance routine starts.
And I have to go look for the homeless man to see if he is hungry today too.
Get out and do something for someone you don't know....it's fun.
Love you bunches and bunches. Say your prayers for Cymbre and her doctors.
Mom
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