September 2013

September 2013

We are trying to get back in the rut of school, but this Mom hates the routine and so I resist every year!  However, we are trying to compromise somewhat.  I would be a terrible home school teacher.  We would never do any classwork that wasn't fun, and never science and math!

I started off the month with going to lunch with Patti Wienken.  She's a friend from church and has been a real blessing the last few years while I have really struggled with some family issues that were totally devastating to me, and with Cymbre's headaches and everything involved there.

Fall dance classes have started once again for Cymbre, and since she's doing off campus PE for dance, she will be living at the studio, and we will be driving by to drop off meals again this year.  We are really hoping that her headaches don't interfere with what she needs to do both at school and at the studio.  She spends lots of time in class herself, but she also helps with some classes with Ms. Andee and Ms. Amy so everyone say your prayers.

We have continued finishing up with doctor appointments and Cooper went back to Dr. Bacon on her foot and was cleared to dance on it again.  Thank goodness no cast this time.  This is a good thing because she is teaching both at APAC and Dance Central for teachers who have to be gone.  Her and Cymbre will be helping Ms. Andee with a tap trio for competition also this year.

Nate Ellis left on his mission to Brazil.  He's been in my Sunday School class for the past two years, and will be a tremendous missionary.  Spencer Wood also leaves for Brazil in a few days too.  Jordan Jones is in France, and Rachel Taylor is in Tahiti, Austin Metcalf in Spain.  It's so wonderful to see these kids who have testimonies go out to serve The Lord.  They will all be successful missionaries.  I look forward to following them through their moms to keep up on their missionary adventures.

Cooper is continuing with as much dance and voice lessons as she can fit into her schedule so she is prepared for school in October.

Cymbre is continuing with the physical therapy for her migraines.  Some days I think it is helping, and others to me it feels like a wash.  Nothing seems to help permanently.  She has been given so many priesthood blessings that she will recover, and still we wait.  That's the hardest part for her.  Living in pain constantly is terrible....I know, I do it with my back.

Dad and Cymbre went to the Moroni's Quest meeting.  That's going to be the Youth Conference this year for our Stake.  It sounds fun if they can pull it off.  The kids will need two costumes each. They will be camping like Nephites and Lamanites, learning songs, acting out the Book of Mormon stories and wars.  Sounds like a ton of work for leaders, but hopefully it will make an impression on the kids.  Don't know if Cymbre will go because of the camping issues and her allergies.

Cymbre ended up teaching turns and leaps on her own on the 23rd.  It's a good experience for her, but Ms. Traci really needs to pay her if she is going to be the only teacher in the room.  Doesn't seem fair to expect her to step in and get nothing for her time.

Cooper has been giving Tater private tap lessons in the home studio during the summer.  She is Bella's little sister, and wanted to try to get ahead a bit for fall classes.

I went to the cannery for our ward peanut butter assignment.  It began at midnight, and since I'm a night person it wasn't a big deal to stay awake until 4am.  I was the quality control person which met that I opened every so many jars to test the seal.  Then I kept the jars running through the labeler.  Charlie Pennington was my partner, and we had the best time.  He was a tremendous help when we had to pull all the jars off the conveyor and hold them because the labeler was out of order.

Cymbre got to babysit Ms. Andee's baby, Carver.  He is just new, and she LOVES to snuggle him.  She doesn't put him down the entire time she has him.

Tawna Wagley and I have set up a carpool for seminary.  We have split the days driving, and then we just take the girls on to school after seminary.  I'm not sure how this is going to work with Cymbre's headaches, but at least for now we are managing.

I went back to the Allergist, Dr. Schreiber, and he has totally changed my medications.  Maybe the new ones will work better.  I've been miserable, and my chest is hurting...he says I'm a mess.  Thanks Doc!

As for my Sunday School lessons....

The 1st was:  How Do The Commandments Help Me learn To Be More Like Heavenly Father?

In  the hymn book, find me a hymn related to a commandment, or keeping the commandments.  You cannot use Keep the Commandments.

They came up with Choose the Right, O My Father, How Gentle God's Commands, I Am A Child Of God, etc.

Then I had them tell me how these songs help them understand and live the commandments.  They told me some personal experiences, and also some ways  they have shared these hymns with friends.

Since the lesson is built around when we keep the commandments we become closer to our Heavenly and more like Him, I used this object lesson:

I had a paper clip to which I attached 18" of thread.  Then I had a big magnet and some tape.

I taped the end of the thread to the podium.  Then I told the class that the paper clip represents us...you know spiritual beings having our earthly experience!  The magnet represents the gospel...you know the framework for helping us to be our very best selves!

I took the magnet and caught the paperclip and raised it to the full length of the thread.

Then I explained to the class that when we live close to the gospel by obedience to the commandments of God, we are supported by the gospel principles which we are living.  We are supported in our efforts to become like our Heavenly Father.

Then I pulled the magnet a little higher, and the paper clip fell to the podium.

I told the class that when we stray too far we fall.  We are warned in Proverbs 11:14 that "where no counsel is, the people fall."  We also learn in 1 Corrinthians 10:12 that no matter who a man is, or what level in the gospel he is at, he should "take heed lest he fall."  It is critical that we stay close to the gospel teachings so that we can be supported and strengthened in our journey to exaltation.

We talked about some of the consequences of not staying close to the gospel principles, and how hard it is to regain our progress if we let it slip.  We decided that it is probably best to not slip in the first place.  Hence, here's where to reiterate that we are spiritual beings having an earthly experience.

I finished with we must stay close to the Savior to be able to walk along the straight and narrow path in the world today.  There are so many things that try to pull us away from our eternal goals.  It is essential that we are worthy to listen to the Holy Ghost speak to us in order to keep us where we are wanting to go.

the 8th was:  How Can I Help Others Understand My Standards?

I turned the lights off for this lesson.  That get's their attention!

We started by talking about how we talk to our friends about our standards, and why we do certain things and don't do other things.  We discussed how hard it is sometimes to stand up for what we know is right:  Modesty, clean language, word of wisdom issues. Then I guided the conversation to we need to not be ashamed of the gospel and to be able to speak up with confidence.

Remember some of the prophets who were persecuted for speaking up?  Well, chances are that you won't get stoned in today's society....maybe ridiculed a bit, but not tarred and feathered!

I brought out that in D&C 11:21 we learn that The Lord will help us know what to say if we listen.

I brought in the missionaries to help answer some questions the class had in dealing with questions their friends have asked them.

Then I finished up with the purpose of turning off the lights in the first place....the object lesson.

YEs, some of them asked why no lights, and that too plays into the object lesson.

I used a glow stick, first an unlit one.  I asked the class who much light the unlit stick was providing.  Was it something we wanted to gravitate towards?  To seek out?

It was unanimous that it wasn't.

So I lit it up.  The room suddenly had light, and we could see much better...a major point that I made clear!

Then I told them they were the glow stick in the lives of their friends.  AMAZING!!  Some of them had never thought of themselves as a light to their friends of the way the gospel influences our lives.

I told them that just like this glow stick in a dark room, you can stand out to your friends and strangers as someone unique.  Someone who has light!  You can bring a source of light to others, cause them to take notice, and maybe even seek out and join the church because of your influence.

There were looks of amazement around the room on some faces...they FINALLY GOT IT!!  They need to be out there setting the example, spreading around the light of Christ....you know, being the good people!!

SO for the handout I gave them each a glow stick with this tag:  You can be a source of light to others as you maintain your standards, keep the commandments, and set a good example.  The Savior desires nothing less!

And then my email burst with comments from moms who had learned of what we did in class, and then had family home evening lessons around the glow stick I sent home.  OOOKKK!  Well, I guess the Spirit was at work today!

the 15th was:  How Does Keeping The Commandments Affect My Ability To Learn The Gospel?

The point of the lesson was:  Learning the gospel requires the inspiration of the Holy Ghost.

I told the story of Abraham and Isaac.  How hard it must have been for Abraham as a parent to obey, and prepare to sacrifice his son.  Even without telling Isaac, and dealing with the boys questions during all the preparations.

We discussed that we are always blessed for our obedience.  Thank goodness, because sometime obedience comes at a real price!

I asked the class for some experiences they have had in receiving inspiration because of their obedience.  They had a hard time correlating the two.

So, I talked about blessings in general, and how usually they come after we have done something right...kept a commandment, lived the word of wisdom, didn't cheat on a test, etc.  Then they saw the correlation.

I told them that if we live worthy, we can receive "flashes of light, or inspiration" straight from our Heavenly Father in our everyday lives.

For the object lesson this time I used a broken flashlight.

I had Slade bring a broken flashlight with him.  Then I had him stand up and tell us about his flashlight.  It looked great, but didn't work.  So, it was prepared to give us light, but didn't have all it's working parts.

Then I showed them my flashlight, and told them it was a brand new flashlight with fresh batteries and bulb. I tried to turn it on...nothing!

The class said, yeah right Sister Flanagan, it doesn't have batteries!  So I opened the flashlight and took out the top battery...sure enough it has batteries!

I tried the light again...nope

This time they said that maybe the bulb wasn't screwed all the way in.  I called up someone and had them make sure the bulb was tight.  Sure enough.

Again I tried to turn it on....NOTHING AGAIN!

By now the class is laughing at me and saying that I don't know how to work a flashlight.  (Remember that I have a class FULL of priests)

I asked them if that meant they thought I didn't know how to receive inspiration?  They wouldn't answer that one?  Guess we'll move on...

Then I tried one more time shaking the light...nothing.

I talked to them about how when we want to receive inspiration, if there is just one tiny thing that's out of place or wrong, it doesn't come.  Talking to our Heavenly Father is a privilege, and receiving inspiration back from Him an even bigger one.  We have to be worthy in EVERY way to receive it!

Then I opened the battery compartment, and showed them that one of the batteries had a piece of tape over the connecting end...thereby breaking the connection.  So NO LIGHT!

We then talked about how we cannot receive the "flashes of light" or inspiration if we don't have every working part in order.  Are we in tune?  Have we read our scriptures?  Are we listening?  Did we ask in faith, nothing wavering?

I took the tape off, put the flashlight back together, and WHA LA!!! It worked.

Totally effective in illustrating my point!   Score one for the teacher!!  Well, actually score one for the Spirit that woke me up in the middle of Saturday night and TOTALLY CHANGED my lesson!

The handout was a small flashlight with this tag:  Just like a working flashlight shines a beam of light, when we are keeping all the commandments, living worthily, and asking in faith, we can receive "flashes of light" directly from our Heavenly Father!"

I  am living proof of that statement this week!

the 22nd was:  How Can I Inspire Others To Obey The Commandments?

How have you been influenced by the example of others who were obedient to the commandments?

We learn the importance of being a good example and the power of pure testimony from the scriptures.

As teachers, we need to fast, pray, keep the commandments, and listen to the Holy Ghost in order to teach with the Spirit.

It isn't me being the teacher, it's the Spirit.  I am just the vehicle the Savior uses, and the Spirit causes the testifying of truth that happens.

and finally the 29th was:  What Blessings Does Heavenly Father Promise If I Obey The Commandments?

What do we get if we keep the commandments?

Tithing - windows of heaven open
  Word of Wisdom - greater health
Family Home Evening - kids won't go astray
Morally clean - eternal marriage
Food storage - physical prepardness, no need to worry

I told them the story of Moses telling the people to look on the brass serpent on a stick and they would live.  Many didn' t do it because they had been bitten by the serpent before.  So it was a hard commandment to obey..

I also had Frank  and Jacob share with the class a sections out of the For Strength Of YOuth  pamphlet and share the blessing they saw in their lives from obedience to that section.

The handout was a small rubber snack glued on a stick with a tag saying: Look on the serpent and live.

Adam came up after the lesson and wanted to take home my visual aide serpent on a stick.  I gave it to him.

August 2013

August 2013

This month was a very busy month!  It seems like our summers come and go and it's just been a day or two, and in reality it's been three months!

Both the girls are involved in the summer dance classes at APAC.  Cooper is just filling her time with as much dance and voice lessons as possible because she leaves for AMDA in October.

We got tickets to go to the Broadway show Wicked again.  Cooper LOVES that show, and it's in Houston again.  We always go to the Saturday matinee as a family.  It's a fun afternoon.

Cooper is also doing lots of substitute teaching for different dance teachers at different studios.  She's early a good chunk of cash for school.

We went to lunch with friends a couple of time, which is always fun for us.

Cymbre's physical therapy is continuing, and some days we make some degree of progress.  It's a slow process, and Cymbre is always hoping that it will work and relieve her pain.

Cooper went to Austin with Bella for just a quick trip.  They had a ball.

Cymbre is continuing to work on her solos.  Her Senior Dance Intensive was the 12th-16th.  Cooper is going too.

Cooper is also continuing her voice lessons, and doing some private dance lessons for ballet and tap.

My Dad has been developing a lung fibroid disease that is terminal.  They have him on oxygen, and he isn't a happy camper. It is caused because he had rheumatic fever twice as a child.  It's progressing, and the doctors are saying we probably won't have him at the end of the year.  Guess we'll see.  At any rate, I took the girls to Denver on the 23rd - 25th to visit their Grandparents.  It was a fun trip, although hard to watch my Dad suffer with his chest burning and panting for breath.

Cooper hurt her foot, so I took her to Dr. Bacon yet again.  Just a bad sprain, and she has to rest and ice.  Thank goodness no cast this time.  Cooper was really upset!  This made it necessary for Cymbre to step in at Dance Central and help Andee with some dance classes.

School started on the 26th, so that meant we had to get Cymbre to seminary and then to school, and pick her up at 1:30 each day.  Can I just say I hate the school routine?  Seems like I just get something going and I have to switch gears, or I get somewhere and have to hurry home to pick her up.  Love that kid, but I will be very happy when she has her driver's license and can take herself all the places she needs to go!

We finished up more doctor appointments so we don't have to miss school for them.  Seems like all I do is take the girls to doctors.  Just had to finish up the allergist and dermatologist and dentist.

We fed the missionaries on the 31st, and that's always a fun and laughter filled evening.

I took my Sunday School class to the temple a couple of times to do baptisms.  We were learning about temple ordinances, and it was summer, so why not go.  Not very many kids ended up going, because their parents had other plans, but those that did had a great time.

As for Sunday School lessons:

The 4th was:  How Will Keeping A Personal Journal Bless Me And My Family?

I used 1 Nephi 1:1-3, Mosiah 6:5

What are some people in the scriptures who have been bledded by keeping records?

Obviously the Nephites, King Benjamin's people, 2000 Stripling Warrior parents...

Then we talked about some of the blessing these people received.

I took the lesson over to writing our personal journals gives us an opportunity to reflect on our lives and recognize the blessings God had given us in our daily lives.

The 11th was:  Why Is It Important To Learn About My Family History?

Object lesson was Starburst candy.  I called Cooper up and asked her to unwrap and eat the candy without using her body in any way.  Of course she couldn't do it.  Then I had Slade come up and help her.  He unwrapped the one she wanted and put it in her mouth.  Therefore, she was able to obtain the candy.

I likened it to there are temple ordinances that our deceased ancestors want, and need, but they cannot do them on their own.  We are the ones that have to help them here on earth to receive those temple ordinances, so that they can have the satisfaction of partaking of the eternal ordinances they need.

So, obviously the candy represented the temple ordinances.

It went over big time!

Then I spent time having them fill out family group sheets and pedigree charts.

The 18th  was:  How Can I Explain The Importance Of Marriage And Family To Others?

I took these sources:  Preach My Gospel, For the Strength of Youth Pamphlet, Family Proclamation, True To The Faith Book, Scriptures, Missionaries, Personal Testimonies, Church Websites.  

I told the class they could use any of these sources during the lesson time.

The object lesson I used was:

I posed as a non-member who had questions about why I needed to have a "forever family".  The missionaries came in and tried to help the kids with scriptures and doctrine, but what the kids learned is that they didn't really know how to answer the questions people commonly ask.  Then the missionaries took over the rest of the time, and helped us sort out scriptures, and teaching techniques we could use in teaching our friends.

It was a GREAT lesson!!

The 25th I did not teach a lesson as we just had Sacrament meeting because the Spanish Stake that meets in our building was holding their Stake Conference, so they needed the entire building with no overlapping.

Guess that's it for August 2013!

July 2013

July 2013

This month started off with a bang as the girls went to EFY in San Antonio like the first day of the month for a week.  That left Dad and I here on our own for a whole week!  We managed to fill it with Doctor appointments, haircuts, and working on dance costumes.  We also fit some date nights in there too!



Our BIGGEST News is that Cymbre got her driver's permit, and so Guy is in the process of teaching our LAST one how to drive.  He is going to make her learn to drive the mini too since it is a standard transmission.  She has to learn how to drive it before we sell it and get Cooper an automatic car to take to school in Hollywood in October.

As soon as the girls got home from EFY, Cooper and I had to leave for Tap Kids in Burlington, Vermont.  Cymbre stayed home with Dad, but then they later joined us for Cooper's Tap kids show.  They had a Daddy Daughter road trip, and seemed to have a good time doing things on their way.  It was a surprise for Cooper as this may be her last show.  Then we turned it into a family vacation to drive home.

However, on the way to Vermont Cymbre and Dad both got sick and made stops at Urgent Care Centers.  So they ended up showing up early and sick.  Dad sounded like he was dying with his cough!  They slept while Cooper danced...I just did my Mom thing.  They both made it to the show, although Dad still wasn't feeling very good



On the way to Vermont, Dad and Cymbre saw these things:   Shenandoah National Park, Smoky Mountains National Park, Battlefields, Knoxville and Philadelphia Zoos, For McHenry, Appomatax, Edison National Historical Site, Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, Cloud Canyon State Park, Flanagan homes from when Guy was growing up.



Once we met up, as a family we saw these things:   Teddy Bear Museum, Covered Bridges, Joseph Smith's birth place, Mystic, Plimoth Plantation/Plymouth Rock, Rock of Ages Quarry, Sugar Mill, Salem Mass., Sargus Iron Works, Topiary Gardens, USS Constitution, Segway Tour of Guildford, Conn., Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream factory.  We had a tremendous time.

Cooper LOVES coming to Tap Kids.  It's one of the only places she gets really challenged in her tap dancing, and she enjoys the chance to dance with other kids who can keep up with her.  Andee does a great job in teaching her and staying ahead of her, but it's nice to have a whole room full of kids to dance with sometimes.

While we were gone on the trip Terri White stayed in our home in Houston.  The first night after I gave her explicit instructions in a message, she managed to not use the instructions and set off the burglar alarm, waking the entire neighborhood and calling the police in the middle of the night when she arrived home from the dog show!  Good thing our neighbor knew she was supposed to be there, or she would have been arrested.  She was embarrassed to call and tell us, but we just laughed!  It gave her a place to stay instead of a hotel while she was in town.  And she's family, so it wasn't a big deal.

Cymbre is continuing her physical therapy for her migraines.  Some days it gets rid of the headache, and some days it just lessens it.  I sure wish we could find the solution for her.

I came home from the trip and managed to have strep...probably got it from Dad and Cymbre.  So I spent a few miserable days....not a good thing right after a trip!

Cooper and Cymbre attended a Matt Shields Master Tap Class at Dance Central.  They loved the class, and now they have yet another contact in the tap dance world.  That's a good thing for Cooper especially.  Cymbre loved the fact that he wore a fedora, and she wears them too.



Cooper and I went to Austin for a few days to attend a Dance Intensive that Cooper had been invited to come too.  It was held at the Dance Spot Studio, and she ended up getting a gift card to spend at the Capezio store they had on location.  She bought a fancy tank top.  The director of the workshop, Quinton, invited her to come when he saw her at competition, so we went.  He wants her on his company, as usual.



Cooper also attended the MET Summer Dance Intensive in Houston.  A couple of weeks of going downtown to the studio for all day classes.  The teachers are more challenging, and they too want her on their company.

Cooper is again doing her voice lessons getting ready to go to school in October.  Sister Pennington is working with her.

We are working in all the doctor appointments for the girls in addition to the headache doctor appointments for Cymbre.  Seems like all we do is go to some doctor!

Got a new dryer...the transmission wore out on the old one.  Seems like every time the appliance dies, it's a major issue and we end up having to replace the thing.  Now the dryer matches the washer again.  We bought the Whirlpool Duet dryer.

The girls are attending summer dance classes at APAC when they are around for them.  It's always a good thing to keep dancing during the summer, and they are working on solos with Andee too.  Cooper is doing a new solo to take with her to school in case she need one, and Cymbre is doing her two for competition next season.

I've started dance costumes for competition next season....seems like a never-ending necessity.  I bought all the parts, now just the altering, Rhine stoning, and hat making to do.  I have to make a hat with netting for Cymbre's dress dance this year....but I can't find millinery netting in the right color.  Guess I will try to paint the stuff.  It's plastic, so spray paint ought to work I hope!!

As for Sunday School lessons:

July 1st was:

The 7th was:  How Can I Deepen My Understanding Of Covenants?

Always remember to honor the covenants you make with The Lord.

Ordinances and covenants go together.  You can't have one without the other.  They cannot be separated.

Ordinances and covenants help us remember who we are.  They remind us of our duty to God.  The Lord has provided them to help us come unto Him and receive eternal life.  When we honor them, He strengthens us.

Elder John A. Widtsoe:  "An ordinance is an earthly symbol of a spiritual reality.  It is usually also an act of symbolizing a covenant or agreement with The Lord."

I used a coin as an object lesson:

Which side of a coin is more important?  Neither one

Can you separate the sides of the coin?  No

Covenants and ordinances are inseparable, just like the two sides of a coin are inseparable.

Ordinances and Covenants are necessary for admission into God's presence, just as coins are sometimes needed for admission to events.

I gave them a handout with a coin attached, and the quote:  "Ordinances and covenants are necessary for admission into God's presence, just as coins are sometimes needed for admission to events."

I had a substitute for the 14th and 21st because of going to Tap Kids with Cooper.

The 28th was:  How Can I Prepare To Receive Temple Ordinances?

We went over the First Presidency Message in the front of the For Strength Of Youth Booklet.

Before we go to the temple we need to prepare:

Live worthy of a temple recommend

Listen and follow the prophet - general conference is an excellent source of instructions from the living prophets

Be spiritually clean

Doctrine and Covenants 97:15-17

Object lesson using a water filter:

If our water supply is dirty (show dirty water in a water bottle) we filter it.

We have to filter out earthly things in order to be worthy to receive spiritual things.

(Show clean water in water bottle)

Brother O'Neal came in and answered the classes' questions regarding temple recommends.

Handout:  Big #2 with this quote:

"Those who understand the eternal blessing which come from the temple know that no sacrifice is too great, no price to heavy, no struggle too difficult in order to receive these blessings.  There are never too many miles to travel, too many obstacles to overcome, or too much discomfort to endure.  They understand that the saving ordinances received in the temple that permit us to someday return to our HEavenly Father in an eternal family relationship and to be endowed with blessings and power from on high are worth every sacrifice and every effort."

Guess that about wraps up July 2013!