Simple Faith

Lexie, Andrew, and Anna March 2, 2010

It is funny the little teaching moments that will come to you throughout the normal doings of day to day life. Today the weather is good. We picked Andrew up from school and the kids went straight outside to play, as I prepared lunch and chatted on the phone with my sister. I love days like this; moments where in this instant life is perfect, and you are doing exactly what it is you want. For me this was one of those moments, and I was being a mom. As the afternoon unfolded it proved to be a magical one, where I got a moment to myself as the kids explored the wonders of the outdoors. As I fixed lunch, Lexie came walking up the deck stairs carrying, to my dismay, a dead bird. We first had a teaching moment about not touching dead animals with bare hands, germs and the likes, and then later as the fascination with the bird continued one about the resurrection. We ate our lunch outside and the bird talk continued. Lexie said it would be dead forever, and I told her one day when Jesus came again it would be resurrected. They then asked about Grandma Truman, my grandmother. Would she be resurrected? What about Grandpa, and so forth. Later my Dad came out to see what they were doing. They were covering the bird with dried leaves to protect it. Grandpa told them to put the bird in the garbage can, it was dead and Lexie replied with simple faith, and utter belief in her words, "the bird would be resurrected." I think she thought maybe tomorrow this would happen, I don't know. Is this what it means to become as little children? My guess is yes. They don't spend time analyzing everything. They take it on faith and know things to be true. They are happy in the moment, burying a bird and would do it all afternoon. I am so grateful for these children in my life. They are so lucky to have each other, and I'm so lucky to have them. Even though life is not perfect, things more often than not do not go as planned, life is good and full of many blessings. The trick is recognizing them, appreciating them, and letting the rest of the crap go. So that will be my goal and don't you think they are darling?

P.S Ward's don't worry we covered the topic of germs and made sure everyone washed there hands very well.

Randomness

My sister Nicole made a comment awhile ago on my blog how I needed to do a post a day, so I challenged her through the blog world. I could do a post a day if she could. I thought the competition would end this week because she is out of town. Good old Lake Powell, the yearly Larsen family vacation. Wish I was there. Andrew also wishes he was there. He has talked about Lake Powell and getting a ski boat quite a lot. She wrote and scheduled all her blogs to post and so the competition is still on. I thought I would have an easy win. Jess is out though (my other sister). So here I am in the ninth hour writing my blog cause I'm not going to lose to a girl who isn't in town. I'm so glad I have sisters to do silly things like this with me. I hope we will always be close, and I can't imagine we won't.
My mom's sister died this past week. As she has been out of town I haven't been able to talk with her and ask her how she is feeling. Her passing has made me think more of my own sisters and family and how quickly time passes and how we never really know when our time will be up. I am so grateful for sisters, the gospel,and and the knowledge of forever families.
I start a new job tomorrow. A new hospital, a new department, all new. I never have liked being the new guy at work. Oh well. I am long since past having butterflies and being way nervous for a new job. I just don't love being the new guy. Wish me luck.

Faith

I have been thinking a lot lately about faith. In the snippets of conference I heard ( I was working) I feel they touched on this and confirmed the thoughts I had been having.

I have a friend who lost her baby mid way through her 2nd trimester. She recently mentioned feeling forgotten by the Lord, struggling with her faith and then guilty for having these feelings in the first place. I think at one time or another most, have had feelings such as these. She made a comment, that maybe in the grand scheme of things when atrocities are occurring in Africa, genocide, child soldiers, hunger, maybe her pain was trifle, didn't quite make the cut for the Lord to consider, or have time for. While understanding her reasoning, I know the Lord is intimately aware of all of us. I can't explain the apparent injustice's in the world, other than we all have different lessons to learn and different circumstances which will aid us in learning what it is we need on an individual basis. I don't understand his omnipotence, but I know it is real, I can feel it in the details of my own life.

I think it is interesting I am in primary. I have on more than one occasion, been comforted, inspired, or had confirmation while in the primary. I think the Lord knows my mind is simple and this is where he can best reach me.

Since deciding to move I have had fearful thoughts, doubts only to have something little remind me this is the right thing for our family now. Two Sundays ago I was having these thoughts race through my mind, when I thought I need to pray for reassurance, and not a minute after I had this thought I got my reassurance through a story my team teacher in primary, shared with the class. Call it coincidence or whatever you will, but this is the way the Lord works, through those around us.

Working as a nurse, on occasion I have had the opportunity to observe those of different faiths than my own. I am always impressed with the Muslim culture. They are a culture of faith and dedication, and observing one women in particular, I felt inspired to be more dedicated in my own faith and beliefs; in an ever changing, tumultuous world Faith can be our constant.