Preparing For School To Start Tomorrow

I got to teach in Laurel’s today & the lesson was on “How can I prepare now to become a righteous wife and mother?”  I had so many things prepared, but ended up having the girls each pick a scripture or something from the Young Women’s theme or FTSOY booklet and pick an attribute they read about that would help them become a better woman.  Then they had to come and write it on the board and we would discuss it as a class.  Well, they must have been stressed w/ thinking about school starting tomorrow b/c I felt like the lesson just bombed.  I was trying to help them be more active & involved in the lessons instead of me just talking, but they were so quiet.  I refused to talk a few times and thought I could hear crickets chirping in the background.  Oh, well.  I guess not every lesson can be stellar.

The Young Women’s secretary gave out these ADORABLE handouts about “7*UP-lifting ways to start your 1st week of school” tied to a little bottle of 7-Up for each of the Young Women.  She had a few extras and said I could take one home to give it to Autumn.  That was so thoughtful of her!

After church we went over to Mom & Dad’s for lunch.  They had just gotten back from the Hotter ‘N Hell Hundred and had eaten sandwiches for lunch.  I made a chicken taco salad for Autumn & I and then we watched the 1st & 2nd Sherlock Holmes movies.  I had to sneak this cute picture of Nate & Riannon both conked out & snuggled up together in the recliner.

Autumn wanted to write out everyone’s names in the family and would ask me how to spell names.  I love it that she even included Emma (the dog).  I had to leave and go visiting teaching at 6:00.  It was a good visit and I shared some of the “heavenly chocolate mint cookies” I made last night w/ the ladies we visit teach.  We even made plans to go to the temple together sometime this coming week.

When I got back to Mom & Dad’s house, I had Dad give Autumn a Father’s Blessing, which is something he always did for us kids at the start of a new school year.  I’ve been talking to Autumn about it for a few weeks and she kept saying she didn’t want one.  But when it came down to it, she actually did.  It was a beautiful blessing and after he was done she said, “I’m not scared to start 1st grade anymore.”

I’m so thankful that we have access to the power of the priesthood for blessings of comfort & peace.  Look how little she was last year when she got a blessing.  I know she’ll do great this coming year.