Firstly, I am finding it easier to study and read the scriptures, church magazines and other things like that. I am enjoying the feelings of the Spirit of God that come with that study. It has helped me to resist temptation. Now, if I could get it to help me to be more mindful about prayer. In preparation for Sunday school, I was reading section 20 in the Doctrine and Covenants and found some great nuggets there. One of which is that the entire section seems to be pieced together from different times and contains the premise for how all things are done in the church from baptism to missionary work. I also found this little nugget:
19 And gave unto them commandments that they should love and serve him, the only living and true God, and that he should be the only being whom they should worship. (Doctrine and Covenants, Doctrine and Covenants, D&C 20)
And as I reflected on this scripture, and yes I know that it is something that everyone has read and is familiar with as have I, I was struck by the thought that I have not obeyed this commandment. I have put other things first. This is probably the reason I have had difficulties with keeping other commandments. Embodied in this small, short sentence is the secret to obtaining perfection in this life. If I am following this one single commandment all other commandments will be followed as a by product. This is something that I can definitely strive to live better.
Now for day to day things…
Destiny and Krista have both, FINALLY, learned to ride the bicycles. Now if we can get Liam to actually try to peddle his bike we will be able to live the nightmarish, yet wonderful dream of a family bike ride. Over the last few days I have been out with them trying to get them to learn.
To Krista, who was fearing falling over and so would stop after only going 2 or 3 feet, I gave the advise no sane parent would ever give to a newbie, "Go faster, the faster you go the easier it is to stay up." She of course to that advise to heart and now recklessly rides as fast as she can straight toward objects like parked cars, curbs and intersections. Not having learned how to properly brake and stop she promptly puts both feet on the ground and slows herself down in a similar fashion as a car with ABS when you slam on the brakes and you get that dududud sound, only the sound is coming from her feet hitting the pavement.
Seeing the success of my advice to Krista, I thought I would pass it along to Destiny. She did not take that advice, she hates things that go fast, they make her feel out of control. She instead prefers to go slowly and methodically.
Both continue to fall and crash, occasionally into each other, but are striving to learn the skill.
Yesterday, while the two new bike riders were practicing, I set myself to the task of cleaning up my stuff in the garage. Liam, who is usually wanting to help, gave me what ever help or support he thought I needed. At one point while I was cutting up my toolbox, from the back of my truck I rolled, to make it fit in the garbage can, Liam went to get his tools. He brought his plastic hammer and plastic saw. While I went to work on the broken toolbox he went to work on the crib, currently stored in the garage, both hammering and sawing it.
After the garage was finished we had a picnic in the garage.
