Feeling overwhelmed but hopeful

We purchased some videos on line by the Asperger experts.  These are two young men in their early 20s that have Apergers and they know what it is like because they have lived through it.  It is wonderful to see how they think, to get inside their minds.  I have often looked at Conner and think, I wish I could get inside your mind to know what you are thinking.  It is overwhelming to watch the videos and to try to absorb everything they are saying but at the same time it is wonderful because they are completely describing Conner. I am learning the things that I need to do to help him. It is not easy though. It takes a lot of learning, patience, and a change of how I think things should be done.  I pray that I can help him.  He is such a wonderful child. It is scary to think that he will be a teenager in a few years, and those are hard years anyways so I can't imagine for a child with Aspergers what it is like. My Heavenly Father sent Conner to us and I feel humbled that He feels that I can teach him and care for him.

Wreath

The other day the wreath that I had on my front door for a long time broke.  I made a new one and Ashley posted it on her blog. Here is the link WREATH.

Busy weekend

We had a busy weekend. On Friday I went to the salon and had my hair done.  It was about time to color it and do the keratin treatment. I love how soft my hair is after the treatment and how easy it is to blow dry it.

On Saturday we took Conner to the library where the kids can read to Therapy dogs and it was a hit.  After three times going to the library to read to the therapy dogs Conner will get a free book so we have two more times to go.

The book he picked was "I am the dog" , a book about a boy named Jacob and a dog named Max. One of the dogs he read to was named Max so he thought it was the perfect book and also because Conner's middle name is Jacob.

Reading to Max.

Parker had a Youth conference/trek at the church ranch during Saturday.  They pushed handcarts and built a replica of the Nauvoo temple. Today at church brother Peterson said to me that he was very impressed with how hard Parker worked, that he enjoyed being there and was very helpful! My friend texted me these pictures.

Conner had a friend over Saturday afternoon. Daniel is in our Ward and his mom is our piano teacher.

While Conner had a friend over Brent and I worked in the yard. We got a lot done!! I am so thankful for Brent and how helpful he is around the house.

I am grateful for scriptures: Alma chapter 5

I was reading in the Book of Mormon, Alma chapter 5.  In this chapter Alma was speaking to the people in the city of Zarahemla. Alma asked a lot of questions so I took the time to write them down.  Alma wanted to preach the word of God and "stir the people up in remembrance of their duty."  At this time there was pride and contention among the people and he felt the only way that he might reclaim them was by "bearing down in pure testimony against them." (Alma 4:19) I learned that it is important to be shaken up spiritually continually, and that we must often need to be reminded of our duties and responsibilities in the church. We will not grow and learn unless we are shaken up constantly. In a manual that I use to help me with my scripture study, they compare it to a bottle of Italian dressing.  Before you use the dressing you shake it, otherwise it would not taste right because the seasonings are at the bottom, likewise we must be shaken up and reminded of what it is we need to be doing.  This is why we go to church, have family home evening, read scriptures, say our prayers, we have General conference, Stake Conference etc.  This is how we are shaken up.  When we stop doing these things we then stop having the company of the Holy Ghost. Alma saw that his people were not doing what was right.  They had stop doing what was right and so he needed to shake them up.  I was reading an article that talked about the motto for the company Nu Skin. The motto is "Be a source for good".  I was thinking about that and how as members of the church we can be a "source for good".  When we are doing what is right, we are a good example to those around us.  At this time in the Book of Mormon, at the time of Alma, the members of the church were NOT being a source for good.  They were being a bad example and having a negative effect on those who did not belong to the church.  Because of this the church was not progressing. "The wickedness of the church was a great stumbling block.... and the church began to fail in its progress" (Alma 4:10).  I was thinking how important it is to be a good example. Missionaries carry a badge with their names and that means they represent the Lord as they share their testimonies and truths of the gospel.  Those of us who are not missionaries do not carry a badge, but we also represent the Lord. We took upon us His name at baptism and every Sunday we renew our covenants to always remember Him. We must be a "Source for good" in our homes and in our communities.  Alma asked his people these questions because answering these questions can give an accurate measurement of our personal righteousness, just like when we are interviewed for a temple recommend.  In Alison's last email she said "This week has been an amazing week. I probably told you that my companion and I have been working on Christ-like attributes together and this week we have been working on charity. We have had awesome experiences that have been helping us grow.  It is so funny because your capacity to love people in the mission is insane.  The people you serve, your companion, the members, investigators, the Italian people and the list can just go on.  Sometimes you think your heart will stop growing and then it just continues.  My companion and I have just been meeting the most amazing people."  To me this is a wonderful way to be shaken up, to try to be like Jesus, just by taking one attribute at a time will help us grow.

Here are the questions:

1. Have ye been born of God?

2. Have ye received His image in your countenances?

3. Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?

4. Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of Him who created you?

5. Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body?

6. Can you imagine to yourselves that ye hear the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day: Come unto me ye blessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth?

7. Or do ye imagine yourselves that ye can lie unto the Lord in that day, and say-Lord, our works have been righteous works upon the face of the earth-and that he will save you?

8. Can ye imagine yourselves brought before the tribunal of God with your souls filled with guilt and remorse, having a remembrance of all your guilt, yea, a perfect remembrance of all your wickedness, yea, a remembrance that ye have set at defiance the commandments of God?

9. I say unto you, can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands?

10. Can you look up, having the image of God engraven upon your countenances?

11. Can ye think of being saved when ye have yielded yourselves to become subjects to the devil?

12. How will any of you feel, if ye shall stand before the bar of God, having your garments stained with blood and all manner of filthiness?

13. What will these things testify against you?

14. Will they not testify that ye are murderers and also that ye are guilty of all manner of wickedness?

15. Do ye suppose that such an one can have a place to sit down in the kingdom of God with Abraham, with Isaac and Jacob, and also with all the holy prophets, whose garments are cleansed and are spotless, pure and white?

16.If ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?

17. Have ye walked, keeping yourselves blameless before God?  

18. Could ye say, if ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves, that ye have been sufficiently humble?

19. That your garments have been cleansed and made white through the blood of
Christ, who will come to redeem his people from their sins?

20. Behold, are ye stripped of pride?

21. Is there one among you who is not stripped of envy?

22. Is there one among you that doth make a mock of his brother, or that heapeth upon him persecutions?

23.And now, if ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd of what fold are ye?

24. Behold, I say unto you that the devil is your shepherd and ye are of his fold; and now who can deny this?

25.Do ye not supposed that I know of these things by myself?

26. Behold I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true.  And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety?

27.Can ye withstand these things, and trample the Holy One under your feet, yea, can ye be puffed up in the pride of your hearts, yea, will ye still persist in the wearing of costly apparel and setting your hearts upon the vain things of the world, upon your riches?

28. Will ye persist in supposing that ye are better one than another, yea, will ye persist in the persecution of your brethren,who humble themselves and do walk after the holy order of God, wherewith they have been brought into this church,, having been sanctified by the Holy Spirit, and they do bring forth works which are meet for repentance, yea and will you persist in turning your backs upon the poor, and the needy, and in withholding your substance from them?

29. For what shepherd is there among you having many sheep doth not watch over them, that the wolves enter not and devour his flock?

30. And behold, if a wolf enter his flock doth he not drive him out?

Happy Halloween

Conner at school, before the school's Halloween parade

A few of the fourth grade kids

Mr. Shrake a fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Nagle, Conner's fourth grade teacher and Conner

Conner, Lucas, and Jack

The elementary school kids walked around the track while the middle school kids, who were lined up around the track gave them candy.

With mom

With dad

After the parade they sorted their candy

After they sorted their candy the kids went to recess and we decorated the classroom for the Halloween party. Conner's classroom served as the lunch room for all the fourth grade classes.

Another classroom was decorated for a dance and Karaoke

disco ball

Another classroom was a craft room

Anthony, a friend from church and Conner ready to go Trick or treating in our neighborhood

Conner

Our Family Mission Plan

In her email today Alison told us to have a mission plan. " Probably you have heard this a lot from the other missionaries, but I would like to tell you. In consiglio the last time we heard a lot about making a family mission plan. I would like to ask you guys if you have one? If not make one!! We had a Seventy here at our Stake Conference and he talked about his.  In his he said, he wanted his family to give out one book of Mormon every month.  Have the missionaries over for Family Home Evening with his investigator or a friend. They wanted to go out with the missionaries each week.  They wanted to talk to a certain number of people about the gospel. But if you have one already perfect. If not would you be so kind as to make one. It would be very useful for the missionaries. If you have not made one you can even ask the missionaries to help you guys. I know you are busy, but it would be awesome.  I love you all and we have been helping members here make them and they have been giving us so many referrals.  Las Sunday we had a member come with a list of names written for us to contact." We always have the Elders and Sister missionaries for dinner once a month each.  They also told us to have a family mission plan. We love missionary work and we know how important it is for members and missionaries to work together.  Brent knows first hand because he was a missionary and I know because I am a convert. It was because of my aunt and uncle who were awesome member missionaries and because of the Elders who taught us that my family joined the church. 

Our family mission plan:

We are not the kind of people to push the gospel down everyone's throat but we do love talking about the church.  Every time we get the chance we talk about it.  So our plan has been to share the gospel as often as we can.  We have been working with my friend Natty for quite sometime now. We don't push it but we invite her to activities. She loves coming to the activities.  The other day she said that her and her husband were talking to their kids, Valeria and Bryan about what they want to be when they grow up, and Bryan said he wanted to be a missionary!!!! I think we have exposed them to the missionaries a lot hahaha, with Alison being on her mission and also our friend Johanna's son is on a mission.  We have invited them to family home evenings at both Johanna's and our home.  We have shared messages with them. Natty has been Brent's secretary since May and so he shares the gospel with her too. We try to be a good example.

Another way that we are trying to share the gospel is with social media.  I try to post quotes on Facebook all the time. I also post Alison's blog link every week when we get an email.  The other day I went to the temple and posted a picture of the temple on Facebook.  A friend who I have shared the gospel before at the YMCA saw it and liked it. She lives right across the street from the temple and next to Stake Center. The day after I posted the picture, she woke up early and took a picture of the temple steeple all lighted up. It was beautiful and she posted something like "I woke up early. The beautiful Mormon temple"!  I loved that she isn't even a member but was drawn to the beauty and brightness of the temple. 

Another way that I share the gospel is by doing my temple work for my ancestors. I am so busy, I have over 165 names to do!!!  All the baptisms and initiatories have been done for them now I need to do the endowments for all of them!!! I like to think that with all those baptisms done, there is a Ward in heaven full of my family members!!!  My parents are really busy sharing the gospel up there, I just know it!!

Another way that we share the gospel is by getting Parker ready for his mission.  Parker has been going out with the Elders.  Conner also plans on going on his mission.  We have family home evenings, we go to church, and we do all we can to teach them so that they will be ready. I heard someone say once that we should treat our children like they are investigators, and it makes sense. They are learning the gospel, we are teaching them with our lessons and our examples just like we do investigators.

I am also working with the sister missionaries to help me with an inactive sister that I visit teach. 

A family mission plan does not need to be overwhelming.  I think that we do missionary work everyday and we don't even know it.

Trunk or Treat

Last Friday we had our Ward's trunk or treat. In the past we would have a Stake Trunk or treat but our Ward is so big and it's members are almost all active, that it was decided that we would do our own this year. It was a huge success! I wanted to dress up as something but I am not too creative.  When Brinley was visiting this summer she kept saying that I was the queen and Brent was the prince.  So I thought I would dress up as a Queen. Parker had bought a crown for school so I took it to church to see if Brent would wear it.  Brent does not like to dress up at all, so he was lucky and the crown was too small, Parker has a smaller head.  I had a blue sash from Ashley's wedding in my closet and it worked perfectly. I have to say that this is Parker's last Halloween before he leaves on his mission and who knows when we will have another Halloween together, which is weird!! Parker invited his friend who also is neighbor, Matthew, and they both decorated the car and had so much fun and the Trunk or Treat. Parker has always enjoyed dressing up for Halloween and he has never missed one yet!! 

Johanna Lopez and our non-member friend (Brent's secretary) Natty. We keep inviting her to all our activities and she just loves the church.

Conner, Parker and his friend Matthew

Conner, Valeria, Adrian and Bryan

The King and the Queen hahaha

Adrian, Bryan, Conner, Parker and Matthew

Lucy, Parker and me. Lucy is from Puerto Rico and she has this beautiful Indian outfit that someone gave her and when she wears it people think she really is from India.

With Elder Franklin and Dalmas.  Elder Dalmas ancestors are from Northern Italy and he really wanted to serve in the Milan Italy mission.

with Lucy and Yaremy, we are the Puerto Ricans in our Ward.

With the pumpkin