Be a light

Our annual Willy Back To School Feast consisted of assorted cheeses and crackers, salami, caprese stacks, a veggie platter, fruit platter, edemame, pickles, hummus, and pretzels. 

This year, I chose a lighthouse theme to go with our family motto: Be a Light. Each child received s tiny lighthouse figurine to remind them to be a beacon of Christlike light and love, a welcoming safe place for friendship, and a shining example of kindness and good character.  

We are a few weeks into the school year and I can already see how they are applying this message. 

Corbin receives green or blue every day at school. Corbin, you are a light! 

Quincy is making a daily conscious effort to be a peacemaker in our home. This is a challenge for her, and I recognize the ways she is changing her attitude for positive, letting little things go, and being more helpful at home and in the car. It has a positive effect on everyone! Quincy, you are a light! 

Reese had someone teasing her relentlessly the first week of school and chose to stand above and return punitive behavior with simple kindness. She also stood up for her beliefs to a friend who told her "all Mormons are going to hell" and daily comments and tries to prove that we "aren't Christian."  Reese has really taken a stand for herself and the right this year in both words and deeds. She has befriended our neighbor's neice with some physical and social delays and sits with her in classes and makes sure she has someone to play with. Reese, you are a light! 

I tripped over a set of scriptures on the stairs this afternoon and fell forward down the stairs and landed flat on my face. Soren ran to me and put his entire body on mine and held me tighter than I knew he could. He had tears of empathy and when I sat up, he kissed my crying face with his crying face and asked if I was better. Yes. Soren, you are a light. 

Sloane let me rock her for almost an hour this morning. I'm slowly weaning her and I know I will probably only nurse her a handful more times. She put one hand on my cheek and together we mourned the beginning of end of this special time together. We rocked and rocked and then read her books and she made me laugh and I felt the Saviors love as I nurtured my baby. Sloane, you are a light.

Aaron put on a white shirt and tie and with the priesthood, gave each family member a father's blessing. This is a sacred and special tradition for our family.  

Fun details: Katie Gulbransen made these amazing lighthouse cookies, and we ordered lighthouse keychains for each of our kids. 

During the lesson, I showed pictures of lighthouses and I talked about their purposes.  Then we had a discussion about what troubled waters and stormy seas feel like for each of us. I passed out gummy sharks and each of us named ways Satan tries to prey on us personally when we already feel like we're drowning.  The ocean will swell, and we often get swept up in rough tides or shark infested waters. 

I promised that if they will remember to look to the light, they will be navigated through difficult times. Heavenly Father will never leave us stranded in the dark. He wants to help us. And he wants us to help each other. He loves us and he wants us to love each other.