Tears for the Teacher

My tender-hearted daughter was deeply sorrowful the last two nights. With the school year ending, she would never again see her beloved teacher or one of the retiring staff. She wept and sighed for what was lost.

It occurred to me that, while I'm very glad I teach college students rather than elementary students, I doubt any of my students have ever lain in their beds weeping the last day of school because they will miss me. I know I've witnessed many crocodile tears about how they never *ever* plagiarized before and can't understand *how* this could *possibly* have happened. It's not nearly the same thing.

Then again, the elementary teachers don't get to hear the tears of gratitude and love I get to wipe away from their students' eyes either. So, Mrs. Segura, if you happen to stumble across this post someday - you are deeply loved by one adorable little girl.

Thank you. From both of us.

Someone had a birthday last month - JT

Last month, little JT turned 4!

He's big into teddy bears, so he had a teddy bear cake, decorations, and a teddy or two in his gifts.

We spent a little less on gifts this time around so we could do some more activities. He really wanted to ride the horse at WalMart, play on the Nintendo Switch at GameStop, and do a handful of other, store-related activities. We went to the beach at Granbury where he opened up a few beach presents. And of course, many games were played.

A couple weeks ago we finished the celebration. We drove out to Fort Worth - watching movies in the car all the way - where we went (Mario) Go Karting. (That's one reason this post is so late.) Unfortunately, JT decided it was too fast and was just a little too scary for my adventurous 4-yr old. So the rest of us went around the track enough times for me to feel sick to my stomach and a good time was had by n-1 people.

At Cici's pizza, we played arcade games and I helped him win a few games of air hockey.

He was so eager to play Mario games on the Wii U that it was hard to convince him to go with us to the beach. Joy had to convince him that we could do both.

He got a lot of books, and paused opening presents every time he got a book to read it a bit.

Things my kids say - I don't want to get married

Trying on his daddy's hat

We had a lovely time last night attending the 25th anniversary of some dear friends. There was a slide show of happy memories. When they got to some wedding pictures, little John-Thomas pointed out that "She looks like a princess!"

Joy explained that every bride looks like a princess on her wedding day.

JT didn't have to think about that one much. "Then I don't want to get married."

What? Why?

"I don't like princesses!"

But, JT, it'll be your princess!

"I don't like princess! All girls look like princesses when they get married, so I will never get married!"

File under: things to mention in my wedding toast ~20 years from now.

Some Easter pictures

JT was not much in the mood for an egg hunt - he had just woken up from a Sunday nap - but he did eventually get into the swing of it and find some eggs without help.

Pop and Grandma sent the kids some presents to go with their Easter baskets. JT, who was already into teddy bears, has been mildly obsessed since. He sure loves his little bear!

A Sunday Confession

Sunday morning I was on a roll. Did some prep for seminary, breakfast in bed for Joy, all the kids bathed and dressed for church, and I even had a few minutes left over to do some extra gospel study before we left. I lounged by the front door studying a General Conference address from 1903, where Elder Abraham O. Woodruff (son of Wilford Woodruff) was telling the congregation to be more diligent about the little things.

If I were choosing a body of men who could be depended upon to always do the right thing in this kingdom, I would choose men who ... uphold the lesser as well as the higher Priesthood; and who are good, reliable men in the respective wards, not men who work only on dress parade. Almost any one will do that, but it is not every one who will get down and dig, who will work in the wards, and labor diligently for the upbuilding of the kingdom of God when probably they are seen only by the Lord. … It is in these little affairs of life that we show our love for the work of God. If we really love the work, there is nothing, no matter how small it may be, that we will not be glad to do for the upbuilding of the kingdom, whether it be seen of men or not. God sees and knows our labors, and he will reward us sooner or later, according to the deeds done in the flesh. Therefore, I pray that we may give more attention to the details of life.

Feeling self-satisfied, I agreed thoroughly. We need more reliable people who will do what they say and do the little things, though unnoticed, to serve and make things work. Absolutely.

We left early for church so I could warm up on the organ before the Mother's Day program. As we entered the hallway, I noticed a speck of something on the floor. Then another couple specks. Then a whole crumbled cookie. ...

At first I thought whoever had been in charge of cleaning the church this week had not been terribly attentive to detail. Then it started to look like they hadn't done a thing! I turned to Joy to comment on it when I remembered.

IT WAS OUR TURN!

We had both completely forgotten. We never wrote it on the calendar. I was working all day and night grading papers and had been so feeling rotten at one point I got some substitutes to finish off seminary for me the last week. It was our turn!

Our little family kicked into overdrive, alone there in the church - pick up every speck we can find, put out the rest of the chairs, organize the hymnals, make sure there's toilet paper ... ooo and a couple other things to take care of in there, oh dear.

And this little voice said to me - very smugly - "not every one will get down and dig, who will work in the wards, and labor diligently for the upbuilding [NOTICE THE BUILDING IN THAT PHRASE, DERRILL?] the upBUILDING of the kingdom of God when probably they are seen only by the Lord. … It is in these little affairs of life [I think you missed a little affair over there] that we show our love for the work of God. ..."

Oh dear. I think we got the place mostly-acceptable before church started. If you noticed something amiss, it's my fault. I'm sorry. I'll do better next time.