We just finished our come follow me Sunday school lesson as a family and mostly we talked about 2 Ne chapters 2:22-29 and what free agency is and what the fall really means. Aubrie got all feisty about the fact that everyone always makes it sound like adam and eve's choice and the idea of the "fall" is so negative. That they made a bad choice. They chose to do what God asked them NOT to do. And here we are telling her that it was not a sin. Which she knows but she was saying it's not congruent with the information given. Do you know what I mean?
It led to a pretty good discussion about transgression (an act against a rule or law) and a SIN (a transgression against DIVINE law). And that Joseph Smith chose the word transgression for a reason in describing what Adam and Eve did. I told them that to have a choice and use free agency we have to have a choice to make. There has to be opposition. And Aubrie said, "so when God said, this is the fruit of the tree of life and death and if you eat of it you must surely die.. they chose against what he said. And my response was, that I think he was TEACHING them something, not giving them a divine commandment that they would have to sin against. He was teaching them that IF YOU EAT THIS, YOU WILL DIE. So they understood what choices they were making using their free agency.
I really wanted to focus on that for this lesson this week because I came across those types of questions (And why we don't baptize infants, and the sin of Adam, etc) MY WHOLE mission. I am sure you do too. We need to understand those plain and precious truths that were lost in so many translations of the Bible and can understand their truth from reading the Book of Mormon.
It also feels good to remember all the details of truths that I really got into as a missionary and the years after through really studying the scriptures hard. And testifying of them to the kids. It's like they are our current investigators and they ask really really good questions. :)
Life is bueno. Ryan and I are just trying to always decide what is the best way to use our time and resources ($) every day. Sometimes it feels like a lot of pressure that every conversation at night with Aubrie, or a chance to teach in the car, or any time the kids try to get away with doing something--is always a chance that I can't or Ryan can't miss or mess up. Which is ALOT. And today in church during testimony meeting I was thinking of how real the Atonement is and must be as we try to teach and forgive and have "moments" every day with our kids. And as I was fasting today to understand Aubrie better and how I can be a better mother/cheerleader/teacher/influencer to her, I loved a testimony of how HEAVENLY father loves her, knows who she is perfectly and HOW she will be when she's 20, 30, 40 and 50 and what she will need to be doing, knowing and sees the perfect big picture of her life and to trust Him WAY more than I am right now that he is influencing her and her choices and loving her so much RIGHT NOW. And back off and breathe a little. Be still more with her. And it will probably make her feel more loved anyway from us when she doesn't have us being so critical of her all the time wanting her to be perfect. Its hard to be the oldest and its hard to be a parent:)
I had a strong impression last night praying that I should train with her to run a half marathon together (because it is such a confidence booster, and it would give us a lot of talking time). Which I am totally willing to do. But I did tell Heavenly Father that he needs to work on her because I am not willing to have that be a battle. I will do it if SHE wants to. :) We'll see what happens.
The boys skied last night with our two nephews (so three of them were under 10) and took the shuttle and everything together--so they did it all solo. They were giddy--it was perfect night skiing and tried some new crazy stuff (jumping gaps even) and came home on cloud nine. They have a lot of years ahead of skiing together.
Baseball is just about to start this week--and then it gets nuts until July. :) But I love it too. I love watching and being at sports games of our kids. Aubrie is strying our for softball right now (came out of nowehere) and they have her trying pitching. I hope she gets to make the team and can play. Clara is still in love with ballet--our first to love it. Its pretty cute. I told her I'll coach her soccer team in the fall and she can start with "sports" officially.
Ryan is still in the bishopric. And switched jobs in October to a company Jolt that has been a good switch although not paid off financially yet--but were hoping it will come with stocks.
Luke is literally the cutest. I'll add some pictures here. He is just all over the place and exploring everything. He makes such acute faces. His big gappy smile just melts our hearts.
We love you so much Elder Haynie! You are awesome! we love your emails.
Robbie finally has started using his email so you can include him in emails now.
Aubrie: aubrielynnjensen@gmail.com
Robbie:robbieprattjensen@gmail.com
