Feel free to skim.
Lesson #1 General Conference List
If you make a list of your concerns and questions BEFORE General Conference and pray about them, expect to (because you probably will) get the answers and comfort needed BEFORE General Conference.
Lesson #2 Food Storage Parables
Christ spoke in parables using everyday subjects like sowing seeds, tending livestock, and other activities that are sometimes lost on our modern “instant” world.
I’ve learned a lot while working with pinto beans this month. A lot more than I could learn from cranking a can opener on a can of refried beans.
Anyone who has made beans knows you need to pick through them first. This can be tedious work, especially if you have to make a rather large portion of beans for a ward function or a double portion to eat and freeze. You may want to quickly look over the beans, a large hand-full at a time, examine them by rocking your hand back and forth. Sorting beans this slothful way is bound to get you a few bad beans or worse, rocks. I was very tempted to do a “quick” sorting, after the first minute of “careful” sorting. As I scooped up the first handful a thought came to me- What if Heavenly Father sorted this way? I dwelt on that thought for awhile.
This was one of the food storage parables I pondered. And to think of how many lessons I’m missing from not growing the beans. : )
Don’t get me wrong, the time we live in is wonderful. When one of his children asked how all the temple work could be done for all the children of men in a timely matter, Brigham Young replied saying there will be inventions and other advancements made that will allow the Saints more time and ability to work on Family History. I know that this is that time, and I have a theory that the dishwasher’s sole purpose is to allow me time to research my ancestors.
But I can’t help but wonder what lessons we often miss out on in this “instant” world. What about patience, tenderness, accountability, stewardship, and hard work?
Other Notes on Food Storage:
If you want to start building your food storage, make a record of what you eat for a few weeks or even a month, this will give you a scope of what you’ll actually need. If you already make a monthly menu, PERFECT, examine it. Then each month as you go to the store to replenish your ingredients, pick up an extra item on your menu list and store it away.
Take time each month (or each week if you are willing) to use a food storage item. Practice makes perfect.
This month we are using QUICK OATS from our start kit. So far, all I got for a recipe is instant oatmeal. I’ll keep searching.
I’m trying to organize my cheap rotation recipe/sideas together and post them on another blog (see our profile). All that is up so far is the beef rotation menu.
Lesson #3 Topical Guide: Families; Motherhood
On Caleb’s first night home, during an early morning feeding, I decided to change-up my scripture studying routine. I started to study by topic, the first being Families; Motherhood, reading one reference a night during a feeding and writing down my thoughts on the scripture in a journal (appropriately designed with lemons on the cover with words “Fresh Squeezed”).
Although I finished the topic of Motherhood months ago, I find my mind returning to a scripture study often: 1 Sam 1:27-28 and 1 Sam 2:19.
I wrote in my journal:
How is Motherhood defined?
Hannah only had Samuel for a short while, but was content to know she was only ‘lending’ him to the Lord. Motherhood is of an eternal nature that cannot be defined by a mere birth or duration of rearing- then how can it be defined?
Answer: 1 Sam 2:20
As mothers we have the duty to make coats for others: coats that cover spirits, coats that shield souls from affliction. The key to the answer is in the last portion of the verse: “she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.”
Motherhood is sacrifice. The closest concept/experience we endure as women to Heavenly Father’s and Christ’s sacrifices.
How many women do I know that have sacrificed so much for the welfare of soul(s)?
Below is a picture scrap of Mike’s adventures as mentioned in a previous post.
