Sunday, September 23, 2007

The things they say to bring a smile to my lips....

This weekend we had a wonderful last minute visit from Joseph's Mom. She came to offer support to him for his ordination and setting apart for a new calling. It also happened to be our ward's primary program. It's so nice to be able to kill two birds with one stone. I think we can consider it one of those "tender mercies of the Lord." We all loved having her here. The Primary Program Sunday is my most favorite Sunday of the whole year. Every year my spirit feels so elevated as I watch my children sing about such important principles that it honestly feels as though it may jump right outside of my body. I don't know of any other way to describe it. I feel so blessed to be a wife and mother.

So anyway....Joe's mom was talking to the kids about the Savior and the songs they were singing and about how kind the Savior is and how much he loves little children. I don't really remember exactly how it came about, but I think Shawny may have asked if they knew any one like the Savior. Brynn said, "That sounds like my Grandpa Billy, he LOVES little children and he is so nice and kind....he loves to make little children laugh, little children love him... (and later she added) and he loves to talk like Donald Duck!" Brynn is right, my dad is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet. I couldn't agree with her more. I am so glad my children have such a wonderful relationship with him. It makes my heart happy! I love you dad! We sure miss you! Later in the day we asked her again to see if she would say the same thing, but this time she said, "Grandma Rowene, 'cause she's really nice to us and she REALLY loves us!"

On a funnier note, tonight Joe was singing "Follow the Prophet" with the kids and Abby said, "Dad, I can't believe that my Uncle Adam was the foorst pwophet!" We had to call Adam to let him know....and then we filled her in on the true doctrine. Oh the funny things kids say....

Do you remember any funny innacurate associations you had as a child? Gospel related or otherwise?

19 comments:

Reno 411 said...

That is so cute! My niece would sing "I am a child of god" and sing the part "with parents kind of dear" instead of parents kind and dear. Kids do say some funny things.

So I am intrigued. What IS Joe's new calling? If it's bishopric I can't say I am surprised. You both are great people and we're lucky to have you as our friends.
Good Luck with your new calling Joe whatever it may be.

sugarcoatedcyanide said...

I'm dying to know what Joe's calling is too! We will have to swap bishopric stories if that's what he's doing. I can't wait to see the primary programs too. I'm lucky and get to see 7 every year! each one is so cute and different. I love it.

Our funny church saying is when Tim was a kid and got excited about JS and the paper plates.

paul said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
paul said...

is joe the new primary president? is that why you connected his new calling and the primary program? i too can't wait to hear...

Starnes fam said...

How sweet! We had the children sing "Scripture Power" a few weeks ago in sacrament. The last line goes..."The power that I gain each time I read," and one of the kids shouts from the front row..."But, I don't know how to read yet!" The congregation got a good laugh!

Joe and Amy said...

Here are my funny associations -
My went to the church on main street growing up and so whenever we ran errands my mom would always say, "There's the Lord's house." I had never seen Him there, so I assumed that she must have meant the building next door, well that was the police station and I was sure He didn't live there, so I then I was sure it was the old Thurber school, now the Spanish Fork City offices.

I also always wondered what a "shallmenno" was.

My mom must have talked alot about how we needed to treat Heavenly Father's house with respect, because my brothers got the idea that the old man with white hair that always cleaned the church was Heavenly Father. After all don't people clean their own houses? Anyway, one day while at the store, they saw this man and shouted "Look Mom! There's Heavenly Father!" She was a little taken back and then realized what the connection was.

My brothers used to always seem to see deer while we were driving in the mountains. I could never see any, all I could see were tall aspens so I figured that there were two kinds of "deer" and it was another name for the aspens. So I too spotted alot of "deer" as a youngster.

Joe was called to be the 1st counselor in our ward. We knew about the reorganization, but we thought our appointment with a member of the stake presidency was a result of the shake down that would take place, and that he would be called to be the stake canning specialist or something. I felt a little selfish on Sunday because I was sad to not have him there to visit with all afternoon. I'm sure it will get better. I know he'll support the bishop well, but I'm a little concerned about taking care of my kids by myself during sac. mtg. if you'll remember a few posts ago about my frequent trips out with Aaron...this should be interesting...and he is fascinated with the stand (what do you call that place where the bishopric sits?) even w/o Joe up there. My mother in law and my mom said, it won't hurt to have him sit up there on his lap. That's just it, he doesn't want to sit, he wants to weave inside and out of the seats up on the stand. It's a game for him....I guess I'll just have to become a little more organized with distractions. Thankfully Brynn and Abby are usually pretty good. When I only had Brynn and Abby and my friends commented about their sons behavior in sacrament mtg. I thought, it can't be all that bad. Now that I have a boy...oh, it is! He is so active and such a tease. I'll have to come up with some new secret weapons! I'll let you know how it goes.

Joe and Amy said...

I just read your comment Staci, that is hilarious!

Reno 411 said...

Congrats and my condolences. I like my husband too much for him to be in the bishopric. Joe will be fantastic. He is ALWAYS so happy and it will be refreshing to have him in your wards bishopric. I am sorry Amy, your Sundays will never be the same for awhile at least. But you will be blessed I am certain.

The Reading Armadillo said...

When I was a sunbeam I came home from church and my dad asked me what I had learned. I told him that I learned that Jesus was the king of the punch. He asked, "You mean He was king of the Jews?" I replied, "Yes, He was the king of the juice!"

paul said...

joseph: congratulations. you will be a blessing to the ward members. and high priest's quorum will never again be dull in the wards you join:)

even though you don't comment much on this blog i try to imagine your responses when i try my sarcasm out on you...i was kidding about the primary.

sorry i can't think of any childhood misconceptions. i'll have to ask my mother as she usually keeps those memories tucked away for the telling.

Joe and Amy said...

Paul, keep your sarcasm and comments coming, Joe always has fun with it, and maybe if you do it enough he will partcipate. He says every night, I need to check out your blog...I want him to feel like it is his blog too, because it is. I have to tell you that we actually thought about your comment alot tonight. I had him check out the church handbook to try to find the answer. He has been asked to study it after all. It never did say that a female has to be called, but it always referred to the Primary President as a she, so Joe and I had a pre-FHE on what callings in the church were specifically meant for women and which ones were for men. I know...a very important matter.

Alyson said...

I'm not sure whether to offer congratulations or condolences on the new calling. ;)

I'm joking of course. Joe will be terrific, Amy will be overwhelmed at times, and as in all cases it will be an honor and a blessing to serve in any calling from the Lord. I pray that your burdens will be lightened and that it will be manageable!

I love the story about Heavenly Father grocery shopping. :D

NelsonPeople said...

Joe will make a great counselor! K and I agree that his happy countenance is contagious. This must just be practice for future callings. Good luck during sacrament meeting!

As for funny misconceptions, N always sang "Scripture power, keeps me safe from Sid" (if you have seen Toy Story you'll know who he is). And when she sings the prophet song she sings "David O McKay was swallowed by Joseph Fielding Smith..." We never want to correct the funny things our kids say because it is just so stinkin' cute!

Cheryl said...

All the comments left were as funny as the post. I loved your stories about your misconceptions as a child and to remember the police station right next to the church by the city offices.

Congrats to Joe on his new calling. He will be a blessing to the ward, though it'll be a sacrafice for you. I hope you can get through sacrament meetings with little angels sitting by your side!

And how fun for your mother-in-law to come and be able to see the primary program too. That is a tender mercy!

Allison said...

Congratulations Joe--you'll make a great counselor!

Amy, I feel for your sacrament meeting predicament. Maybe you could ask someone in your ward with no kids to sit by you and help you out? You are already a saint, but somehow going through this will make you even "saintlier".

You guys are great! Keep on keeping on!

Amy F said...

I agree with Allison... and I've learned with my toddler twins that, when Paul is on-call, there are so many sisters and young women who rush to be the extra hands to lighten my load. Never say "no, thanks" to offered help if it will help! They are happy to help you!

And if they don't offer... just ask! They are willing! Don't try to be a hero... you already are!

Joe and Amy said...

Thanks everyone for your funny comments as well as your words of encouragement. Whenever I feel overwhelmed I think I'll imagine Amy F. and Cheryl with all of those twins who are Aaron's age, and their husbands on call and realize it can be done, (especially if you have some help)! Whenever I felt nervous about childbirth I would look around at all of the people around me with children and say, "all of these people did it, and they survived so I should be okay, too!"

Amy F said...

But make sure you tell us about the funny things that will inevitably happen when you won't have enough hands to "help" all the kiddos be reverent all the time...

mindi said...

amy! i also often pondered the meaning of shallmenno! i still remember the day i actually read the words from the hymn book in sacrament meeting and laughed when i realized my mistake.
glad to hear your boy also gives you grief during sacrament meeting... and that girls are easier? i sure hope so because this is crazy!