I thought Covid Home Church would only last a few weeks. And then it was looking like end of May. Then end of June. We are now looking at Home Church right up until September. So crazy. I have missed gathering as a community, but if I am being honest, I think this has been so good for our family. The boys have taken their priesthood duties very seriously at home because we really rely on them to. Sacrament meeting has never been more spiritual or sacred. I mean, Jane is still four so let's not pretend there isn't a little bit of distraction, but all in all, it's been quite lovely. I have really appreciated having sacrament meeting in our home. It creates such a beautiful Spirit.
Also, everyone has been taking their Sunday assignments very seriously. Every Sunday each child is given an assignment. Ellie and Zoe have been alternating weeks on giving a talk from the Friend, and Noah and Jackson have been alternating giving a talk or lesson from the Come Follow Me manual. We also always have a special musical number in between. At first, I kept giving that assignment to the girls because they seem to have a better attitude about wanting to do it. But I think I was sorely wrong in that assumption. Jackson and Noah equally love music. So today I assigned Jackson the musical number and together he and Noah performed, "Count Your Many Blessings." Noah played it on the piano and Jackson strummed it on the guitar. BOTH sang. So, I've been totally underestimating them. I love how they rose to the occasion. Home church has also given us all the opportunity to gather around the piano every week and sing. Jackson and Noah have been learning to sing the tenor line. At first we started with, "Nearer My God To Thee" and now we have started to branch out to other songs. Today we did, "For The Beauty of The Earth." If we didn't have to have home church, we would not be taking the time to gather around the piano like this and learn parts. It has been a Mother's dream! Well. My dream. And I have also had to rise to the occasion. I've been learning Hymns and practicing them so that I can play them come Sunday. It has been a good experience for me. I am not quite yet my Mom, but in a very simple way, one of my life-long dreams is coming to fruition. I've always wanted to be that Mom that can sit down at the piano with my kids surrounding me and play a song while they sing. I have a long ways to go, but like I said, in a simple way (Hymns) we are getting there!
Today is fast Sunday, so today we took a moment to bear our testimonies. Noah talked a bit about faith and how Peter had faith to walk on the water and then when he lost his faith, he started to sink. What a great thought. I can't tell you how many times I have said out loud, "I feel like I'm drowning!" But that is fear talking. Faith and fear cannot exist in the same space. When I have faith and just give it all to my Heavenly Father, I can see my blessings more clearly. For example, I have really seen our family come together through this difficult time. I just heard Jane scream one second ago, and then Jackson respond, "Sorry Jane! I can help you." This has been how our family is functioning. We are all in this together and each member has been rising to the occasion to help or be more kind, etc. I mean, it's not always rainbows and butterflies, but there are definitely a lot more of them, because we are together more often for there to be opportunities to see the rainbows and butterflies, or BE the rainbows and butterflies. Our family prayers have been more fervent and more purposeful. Our family scripture time is more focused instead of rushed. Though there is turmoil and uncertainty all around us, I feel a stillness knowing that God is over all.
