Singing Primary Songs

 I read an article to Avram and Briggs today called "Why an NFL offensive tackle sang Primary songs on the football field."  

In this article it references the quote by Parley P. Pratt, "The gift of the Holy Ghost...quickens all the intellectual faculties, increases, enlarges, expands and purifies all the natural passions and affections...It inspires, develops, cultivates and matures all the fine- toned sympathies, joys, tastes, kindred feelings, and affections of our nature.  It inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness, and charity.  It develops beauty of person, form and features.  It tends to health, vigor, animation, and social feeling.  It invigorates all the faculties of the physical and intellectual man.  It stregthens, and gives tone to the nerves.  In short, it is, as it were, marrow to the bone, joy to the heart, light to the eyes, music to the ears, and life to the whole being." 

The article goes on to talk about Garett Bolles of the Denver Broncos.  It talks about how he didn't start football until he was a freshman in college.  He had always struggled with academics and learning.  He naturally was a very gifted athlete but he couldn't learn the plays.  He tried praying and having the spirit be part of his life in football.  It talks about him singing primary songs on the sidelines, his favorite song is I am a child of God, just before he ran into the game for a play.  He also writes his favorite scriptures and quotes on his shoes.  The article says that the other team probably looks at his shoes and thinks he is a big softy, just before they get plowed over by him.  

I have been thinking about the Gift of the Holy Ghost all day and the blessing it has been in my life.  This afternoon I received an email from a sister in my ward:

Hi Lisa, Just wanted to tell you thanks for all the time and preparation you put into the lesson last Sunday, and for sharing those inspiring stories with us. It was so touching to hear you talk about going to the temple as a gift to your son.

After attending the Stake Family History Fair several years ago I was so inspired by what you and Annette were doing that it lit a fire in me to start searching out my ancestors and ever since that time I have been doing lots of searching and have found many, many names to take to the temple. Sorry this is so long... but just wanted to say thank you! It has been wonderful and such a Godsend, especially during these past few months when we haven't been able to attend the temple. 

It was humbling to me to receive this email for many reasons.  

1.  I taught the RS lesson last Sunday over zoom.  Even though I have taught a little bit with family over zoom it isn't the same as teaching a class (family has to be nice).  I have been so worried about how the lesson came across to the sisters.  I did a power point and shared my screen which made it so that I could only see 2-3 faces on my computer.   A couple of times I would be looking at someone walking around the room, eating, or looking extremely bored.  Obviously you can't reach every person every time because it takes preparation on both sides but typically you can see when your teaching if you are connecting with the majority of the class.  

I did ask a few questions but not many people were participating, which again is harder over zoom.  When I finished the lesson I knew that I had been blessed and I had felt the spirit in preparing and teaching the lesson but I wasn't sure if I had given the message to the sisters that the Lord wanted shared.  

2. When I was asked to teach by the RS president she told me I could choose any talk from conference that I wanted to share.  This was hard because there were so many great talks but I wanted to share the message the Lord wanted given.  I called Crystal and Mom to get their feed back on which talks had stuck out to them. In doing so Mom reminded me of the talk by Elder Rasband called "Recommended to the Lord."  I knew immediately without question that was the talk I needed to share.  This was confirmed to me by the spirit and then the confirmation was solidified Friday when the RS president texted to tell me that the Elders Qurom had also chosen the same talk for their lesson.  Neither of us knowing that was the talk we were using.  

3. Last night in my RS meeting the president told me she had been visiting with a sister in our ward, she has been homebound even before Covid, she told the president that since hearing the lesson she felt she needed to make an appointment to get her temple recommend renewed. 

The President was telling me to let me know my lesson had reached this particular women.  In the back of my mind I was thinking I hope I didn't give this woman a gilt trip because she is at the point in her life where she will probably never be able to do another temple session.  I guess there is nothing quite as comforting to as knowing you a worthy to hold a current temple recommend when you pass away.  

4.  Its humbling to me that the Lord would prompt this sister to send me an email.  Not that it is a big deal but It is amazing to see something like this important enough both in my life and in the Lords eyes that he would bless me by bringing me comfort that I accomplished the task I had been asked to do.  

Football 2020

    

Well Football season is over for this year.  I think it is a miracle that the team was able to play this fall and they weren't shut down due to covid.  

Last week Woods Cross played against Mountain View.  It was so strange to be back at Mountain View.  As I walked around in the stadium countless memories returned.  

I was really excited that WXHS beat MVHS.  Avram had great game.  

Friday night WXHS played against Box Elder.  This is the 2nd time they have played each other this season.  It was interesting watching the game.  Avram has been wanting to play defensive line for so many weeks. As I mention previously he has been skipped over in playing.  They have been playing a boy that is a senior but he is no where near as good of a player as Avram.  Box Elder took the ball down the field.  They ran the ball to the same spot every single play!  It was at this senior because he couldn't stop them.  They subbed Avram in the game for one play.  For that play Box Elder changed up their game plan and too the ball a different direction.  It was obvious they didn't want anything to do with Avram.  Well WXHS took Avram back out of the game after the one play and Box Elder went back to their previous play and scored a touch down.  While Adam and I are sitting in the stand we hear people talking about the game and commenting about the "hole" in the line.  Everyone can see the problem, yet the coaches refused to change things up.  There was a boy hurt last game on the offensive line so Avram played the entire game on the offensive line.  It was again frustrating to watch Avram, as the offensive lineman dominate the game.  The reason it was frustrating was because the boy that got hurt was also a great player.  Why had they made the two best offensive linemen sub in for each other instead of using them at the same time and strengthening the line.  

I personally believe that in High school they have gotten to the level where it is about winning the game not about making sure the seniors get playing time above and beyond the under class men. 

Anyway, this shouldn't be a problem next year.  Avram will be a senior and they are going to really need him.  

Dating 101

So Avram doesn't really know Malia.  He knew who she was but he hadn't really talked to her before.  He ran into her at a volleyball game and they decided they would go out to lunch the following week and take about their plans for homecoming.  

I was so impressed that Avram had asked her to lunch but after talking about it I realized he was planning to go alone with her.  I told Avram when you go out with a girl for the first time you really need to go in a group so you can keep the conversation flowing and there is less pressure.  Avram thought I was crazy but finally agreed to take Briggs along and another cheerleader that is in our ward and friends with Melia.  

Since Briggs was doing Avram a favor I figured I would give him $20 to go toward the lunch.  

When Briggs and Avram left for the lunch date I was so amazed my boys were going out with girls, they were growing up!

About an hour later the boys came home.  Neither boy was very happy.  

Well here is the story:

Neither Avram nor Briggs took the their wallet.  I thought the boys were planning to buy lunch for the girls, but my boys assumed everyone was buying their own lunch.  When the boys got to the restaurant they found out that the restaurant only accepts card, no cash.  Since neither boy took their wallet they couldn't buy any lunch.  The girls bought their own lunch and ate and the boys sat and watched the girls eat.  The girls had a blast laughing and talking to each other and I think my boys just sat there.  Briggs said, "Im so mad, I had to sit and watch Kara each a toasted cheese sandwich."  

Well I sat down with Avram and Briggs and explained to them that 

1. They should have probably paid for lunch

2. They have to take their wallets every time.

3. $20 would never cover 4 meals.  

For Sadies Melia took Avram to a corn maze on Thursday evening and then they went to a house and played Just Dance.  

Now in preparing for the date I told Avram he had to wear jeans.  Avram never wears jeans.  He goes to school in basketball shorts or sweats.  Avram was so mad! I had to argue with him until finally he realized I wasn't going to give up.  We made sure he was dressed up looking good and smelling good.  He thought I was crazy making him get ready and he wasn't happy but luckily he gave in and did what I told him.  

Avram had a blast!  When I wasn't in the room he confessed to Adam that he was really thankful he had worn jeans.  He said everyone was dressed up and wearing jeans.  

Friday night Avram had a football game.  

Saturday Avrams Sadies group went and got pictures at the corn maze and then they went swimming.  They finished off the night with some more Just Dance.  

This was Avrams first date.  He had a ton of fun and even hinted he might be willing to take Melia to a boys choice dance later this year.  (Which is a huge step because before this he wouldn't even consider going on a date and spending his hard earned money on a girl)

So close and yet so far away

For fall break we headed up to island park.  It was great taking the boys up there again.  It had been a couple months since they were able to go to Idaho with us so they were really surprised to see how much it had changed.  

We winterized the camping trailer, moved tons of material to a storage unit and did a bunch of work on the cabin.  The boys got to help Adam install the electrical in the garage.  Avram was so amazed and impressed when he saw the work he had done was successful.  

The boys have also got a lot of practice this summer with backing up trailers.  They are getting good at it.  




So we have had an out house at the cabin all summer.  By law you have to keep an outhouse on site when you are doing construction. Well Idaho is a lot more lax with their building than Utah.  As other cabins were being built this summer we noticed our outhouse was getting more and more use.  Since this was our only bathroom it wasn't too fun sharing it with strangers so eventually we bought a lock to put on our outhouse.  I just can't help but laugh when I think we had to lock our out house to keep people out.  

Oh, to be young

I think it is more fun to enjoy the teenage life from the outside then it is to be in the middle of it.  It is so fun seeing the boys try to conform to social norms, school life and peer pressure.  

But then you see moments like this a it really fills my heart to see these two best friends still hanging out together.  

I think Briggs was only interested in going to Sadies because Avram had been asked.  Briggs and Avram have been raised like twins.  Avram was a little late with things and Briggs was a little early so they were at the same age mentally.  

Briggs was asked to Sadies a week before the dance, phew.  He accidentally left his skate board at a friends house she painted the bottom of it and asked him to Sadies at the same time.  He loved it.  

Sadly she was with family a few days before Sadies and was exposed to Covid so she was in quarentine and couldn't go to Sadies.  


That didn't stop Briggs.  This wasn't about going on a date with a girl.  This is about hanging out with friends.  So when they did their "activity" of bowling, dinner and swimming Briggs went stag and he had a blast.  

Sadies already

Homecoming wasn’t even over a week before Avram got asked to go to Sadies.  I don’t know what they are actually doing for the dance because I doubt the school is having it but as I said before these kids are creative.

A few nights ago about 9:00 at night a couple of girls came to my door.  I said hello and they just stood there smiling.  I wasn’t sure what to say but I stepped outside and the girls asked me if there was anyway I could get Avram away from his room so they could decorate it.  Luckily we hadn’t had scriptures yet so it was easy to make him come up stairs so they could sneak in down stairs.   

Of course his room was a disaster! So I ran in and picked up everything and threw it in his closet.  I didn’t make his bed but apparently she eneded up doing that for him.   

We told Briggs in Spanish what was happening and his face lit up and he said but mom our room is not clean!  He didn’t know I had quickly picked up everything.   We actually teased avram that she must have cleaned his room, and his dirty underwear.  He just put his head down in embarrassment. It was hilarious.  I eventually confessed that I had picked up his clothes for him. 

I never thought about these creative and cute things when I was a teenager. Very few guys actually do this stuff so guess what that means... their mom does it?  

Well from what I know about this girl is that she is a cheer leader.  She was in Avrams math class last year but Avrams says he didn’t really ever talk to her.  And I guess she really likes Avram, according to some of her cheer leader friends. I made avram show me a picture of her. 

HOCO 2020

Who knew these days would ever come.  What days? The days when my boys were interested in girls and when GIRLS WERE INTERESTED IN MY BOYS!

Homecoming didn’t really happen for the kids this year but that didn’t stop them from going out and celebrating anyway.  I know someone threw a big party in their back yard and invited the whole school.  Luckily Briggs has a friend that is really up tight about Covid so he planned with a couple of friends to do dinner and then a pool party in a boys back yard.  

Briggs’ friend kept bugging him to ask someone, although I don’t know that Briggs really wanted to go, he finally caved to the peer pressure and asked one of his good friends to go with him.  Yammi and Briggs did theater together and ballroom for several years.  Yammi adores Briggs and Briggs thinks Yammi is an awesome FRIEND, nothing more.  

Since Briggs didn’t ask Yammi until last minute, and didn’t ask in a fancy way other then just straight out, I pulled out my crafting skills and made a corsage for her. 

Briggs said he had a blast.  When I asked how Yammi liked it he said, “I don’t know, she was in the hot tub with the girls most of the time and I was In the pool.”

That is the kind of hanging out I like to hear about.  

The kids had me take some pictures before they went to dinner.  Briggs was so uncomfortable that it was like torture for him when I told him he had to put his arm around her for the picture.  








It is interesting seeing the traditional high school experiences that is being shaken up by Covid.  I’m impressed the kids have been able to adjust and adapted as well as they have.  I think overall Davis county has done really well at trying to follow Covid protocol while still trying to live life.  A friend of adams came up to bountiful yesterday and watched a little of Avrams football game.  When he got to the game he was told he couldn’t go in without a mask.  Luckily I keep extra with me all the time.  After I gave it to him he said,  nobody in Utah county wears these.  

Homecoming Game

This weekend was the Homecoming Football game.  

Sadly Avram is still struggling to get any playing time.  I got so mad that I pulled aside one of the coaches as half time and reminded him that he hadn't played Avram once since the News report came out.  

Saturday I was in contact with the head coach.  He denied that playing this boy this boy had any impact on Avrams playing time.

He and I didn't have a very pleasant conversation after that.  I let him know we wanted Avram moved to JV so that he can get some playing time and experience instead of standing on the sideline the entire game.  

To be totally honest with myself and you.  Yes, Avram has suffered from 1. this News report (racial injustice),  2. There are coaches that favor seniors and that has affected Avram playing time and 3. There are some communication issues between the coaches and Avram.  With his problems in Autism it does take some different teaching methods to help Avram understand what he needs to do.  I don't think the coaches have any clue how to communicate with Avram.  I don't think they care enough to take the time to work with him.  

This is a travesty and a failure on their part. I understand the predicament the coaches are in BUT when you have a boy like Avram with the physical abilities and talent that he has it is much more valuable than a boy that understands all the plays but doesn't have the ability to execute the play.  

It is interesting because whenever a college recruiter visits the team they reach out to Avram because they see the talent that he posses and they know they can mold him into a great player.  

Update since I wrote this:

I was very stressed on Monday when Avram went to practice. I was afraid that my disagreement with the coaches would be taken out on Avram.  To my surprise the opposite happened. The head line coach came to Avram and apologized for not getting Avram more playing time.  He talked to Avram about his plan moving forward and how he was going to work Avram into the offensive line each game.  The head defensive coach also came to Avram during practice and told Avram that he has not received the playing time that he deserved.  He explained the defense they had been running and let Avram know which defensive plays he would be playing in.  

Avram came home super excited and happy.

Wednesday Avram came home and told me he would be playing the first half of the JV game on Thursday.  His pride had been tested because he just couldn’t face the fact that he was being put on the JV team.  I tried to give him a pep talk and tell How much fun he was going to have.  

(Side note, WXHS was suppose to have one of the top football teams in the state this year.  The coach ended up leaving the team which shocked everyone.  WX has some great athletes and they have a JV and Sophomore team that throughout the years has been exceptional.  That being said the varsity has yet to win a game this year, yet the JV and sophomore teams have won every game except one.)

Avram tried to put on his best face but I could see he was more then disappointed. 

Apparently, when some JV players saw Avram in the locker room getting ready for the game they got super excited and said, “you are playing with us? We are going to kill this team now!”  

I think that helped Avrams attitude a little.  Then avram realized all the juniors that had been moved up this year to play varsity, like him, were also going to be playing the first half of the JV game with him.  The head line coach is a guy that has worked with avram for a couple of years and they have a great relationship.  Avram got to play both defense and offense the first half and it was more than obvious that Avram was in heaven.  He was battling through the opposing line, getting sacks and having a blast.  Both Avram and his Tongan friend that plays varsity with him were able to play the first half of the game together.  When these two boys are standing next to each other you can help but laugh because they are both huge! I have to admit, I felt bad for the other team.  Their biggest guy was shorter and wider then then Avram.  They were trying to double team Avram but when they did that then they left his Tongan friend Vita with one guy and that wasn’t going to work.  

When half time came WV JV was winning 21 to 0.  At that point the 4 players that get in some varsity time were pulled from the game.  Avram had found his love for football again.  It is hard to work as hard as he does each week during practice only to end up standing on the side lines for the games. The boys went to the locker room and changed and then came out to cheer for their team the rest of the game.  JV ended up winning 27 to 7.  

Avram had so much fun playing that he can’t wait to play again next week.  Sadly, JVs last game is next week but I’m so happy Avram got to play these couple of games.

I can’t help but laugh a little because one of the things I said to the coach when I got mad at him was, “From what I see you are going to be depending on Avram a lot next year but he is not getting in enough playing time.  He needs to be moved down to JV so that he can get experience so he can be ready to take on the role you will need him for next year.”  I guess the coach realized none of these juniors were getting the playing time they needed.  

Anyway, Avram is happy so I am happy.  We will see if Avram gets into the varsity game a little bit tonight but either way it is all good.