Back to School Feast 2020: Good Timber

Last night, we had our traditional charcuterie Back to School Feast!  I shared the poem Good Timber, and couple of talks including one about care for the trees in the Sacred Grove. (Links below. Wonderful talks!) 

When the underbrush was cleared away, eliminating the competitive struggle for nutrients, space, light, and water, the trees became complacent, and paled in strength in comparison to the trees what were left to fight their own struggles to greater heights and light. Opposition is necessary for us to fill the measure of our creation and all things work together for our good and to give us experience. There was also a talk about tree rings and seasons of growth, rest, and survival and I gave each family member a little wood slice key chain and a laminated bookmark copy of the poem, Good Timber. 

 “Good timber does not grow with ease, the stronger wind the stronger trees. The further sky the greater length, the more the storm the more the strength. By sun and cold, by rain and snow, in trees and men [and women] good timbers grow.”

I decorated with wood slices from Burke Decor that are an absolutely absurd, but I scored them for FREE as a gift from the company because I bought a sofa in February, it arrived almost 4 months later with a hole gouged in it and it’s replacement still has not arrived due to covid shipping delays. They gifted me a store credit...except everything in the store is so expensive I couldn’t actually afford to BUY anything with said store credit. Except these wood slices 🤣 which are something one should be able to go out into nature and procure for free. But hey! They’re perfect and now I have a little set of pretty and over priced wood slices. Lol. I also got some evergreen/fern boughs and bottle brush trees that will make a reappearance at Christmas time. Pretty dishes are from my mom’s kitchen cabinets. 

This year’s charcuterie spread was extra good because we had some dr pickles and some craft fair dips (dill ranch, zesty buffalo, and baked potato). I also had fresh salsa with chips, lil smokies in sweet baby ray sauce, veggies, meats, cheeses, grapes and crackers. And homemade chocolate creme brûlée. 

I made chocolate creme brûlée and then remembered I no longer own a blow torch 🤣 oh well. I topped them with strawberries and dessert was still pretty delish even without the crackly burned sugar top.

Links for talks: 

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2014/12/lessons-from-the-sacred-grove?lang=eng

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2010/10/of-things-that-matter-most?lang=eng

Back to School Feast and Theme

I realized I never posted about our back to school feast/family night. I never seem to be able to get good photos of our dinner or the lesson. We sure missed Sue Moon joining us at our feast, this year. 

I prepared a pot roast, homemade mashed potatoes, rolls with jam, and green beans. The table was set by the girls with fake flowers, yellow plates, and chalkboards at each child's place with their new grade written on them. 

We are adding to our Be a Light family theme and continuing with our latest family scripture and focusing on a Making a Difference With a Soft Answer all school year.  

We read James 3: 2-13 and talked about a horses bit, and how adding a bridle allows for the horse's whole body to be controlled and directed from its mouth.  

We talked about the great ships that sit upon crashing waves, yet move wherever the captain at the helm leads. 

And we talked about how a little kindling can start a great fire. 

Aaron feels inspired that we help our children understand that they can make a difference in the world. They are an example. They can be the one good influence in the life of another. The one person who brings peace to chaos, joy to the sad, and love to the lonely.  It starts with one good choice at a time. One act of obedience, one kind word instead of acting in anger, one courageous stand for righteousness among peers, one prayer of gratitude, or one action to make the day a better one.  "Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth." Is our fire a light for good, providing warmth, comfort, safety and light to others?  Or are we a fire of destruction? A blaze of anger that burns down homes, a wildfire of gossip that hurts peers, a unapproachable heat that burns and leaves scars? 

It's important that we use our fire for good. We must be the captain of our ship, we must have a bridle on our tongue, for our words will direct the outcome of our course. We are the Lord's workhorses, we carry torches of truth and righteousness. We are not fire breathing dragons, scorching one another with yelling or unkind words.  

This verse will stay up for awhile. As long as it takes. 

Kasey came over late Saturday night and we made peach pies. I love hanging out with her. It doesn't matter what we are doing, or if we are doing anything at all. She's just good company.  I delivered one pie to a pregnant sister in our ward, and we invited the Porters over for Sunday night dessert. Reese and Quincy died over having two baby girls to (control) chase around and play with. Corbin and Soren ran wild with the boys. It was fun to host friends. I have gotten out of the habit and need to make an effort to invite people over more often. 

Have a good school year, my little Willies.  I will do my best to give a soft answer and set a fire of comfort and loving words in our home.