Alma and Amulek

The last few lessons over last week and this week, we are studying Alma and Amulek's mission to Ammonihah.  I have found some interesting things through my study.  First of all, I love these two guys because they weren't like Nephi who was obedient from the womb.  These two had their own issues.  Alma was a real stinker in his younger years.  It took an angel to help him see the light.  Amulek lived in a city where Christ was really not taught although he had knowledge of the truth. I assume he was less-active.

In reading Alma 10:11, Amulek lists the people with which the Lord has blessed him.  He lists:

My women and my children,

my father and my kinsfolk.

I assume he has many friends as well because he tells us he is a man of no small reputation.  That tells me he is well known and respected in his community.

After telling the people to repent, they are bound and thrown into prison.  Then a horrible thing happens.  The men who believe in the words of Alma and Amulek are cast of out of the city and stones are thrown at them.  Then the wives and children of the believers are brought together and thrown into a fire along with their scriptures. (Alma 14:8)  It occurs to me that there must have been some sort of sorting process to determine who were the believers and who were not.  Were they questioned?  Was there a house to house search?  That is unclear but there had to be an opportunity for the people to accept or deny their belief in Christ.

Then someone had a great idea.  Alma and Amulek are brought forth from the prison to witness the burning of the women and children. Amulek begs Alma in 14:10 to stretch forth their hands and use their authority to save the victims from the flames.  Alma tells us in verse 11 that the Spirit constrainth him.

Forward to Alma 15:16.  Amulek is again talking about all he gave up and those who rejected him.  He says "being rejected by those who were once his friends and also by his father and his kindred."  Where are his women and children????  The only thing I can summize is that they too were believers and were killed.

Here is where my mind began to work.  It is very possible that Alma and Amulek were brought out of prison to watch this holocaust because Amulek's women and children were going to be thrown into the fire and he was going to be forced to watch.  Now think of Amulek's words to Alma and imagine his pleading in 14:10.  I read it feeling Amulek's very sorrowful heart.

Here are some other thoughts.  What mother wouldn't do anything to save her children?  Yet, these women knowing that their children would be killed would not deny the Christ.  How easy would it be to say the words, "I am not a believer" to save the lives of your children?  Interestingly though, after Alma and Amulek left the city following an incredible "prison break", the Lamanites surprise attacked the city of Ammonihah and killed everyone left there.  Even if you saved your children by denying the Christ you would have been killed anyway. 

What would I have done?  Would I have saved my children and myself only to fall victim to the Lamanite army or would I have stood firm in my conviction that Jesus is the Christ?  I like to think I would have done the right thing but since I have never had to face my children's mortality and my own I cannot say that I would have remained true.  I have my own trials in life but none so difficult as those mothers faced.

31 and Counting

 Saturday marks 31 years since I married the love of my life.  How can that be when I still feel like I'm 30?  Well, maybe not, but it is incredible to me that we are celebrating so many wonderful years together.  We've had some trials and miscommunications but mostly it has been an incredible journey.  I look forward to many more years together and then eternity. 
I remember when Elvis died, I made the statement that he was old.  Of course just being a young teenager anyone who was over 40 was ancient.  I had no concept of time.  I believe I insulted my parents that day when I made that comment as they were just 3 years younger than he.  Through the years I have come to understand more about the concept of time.  I wouldn't trade my wisdom for all the youth in the world.  With the age comes blessings.  Four of them are included in these photos. 
My mom used to say, "If I could do it over I would skip having children and go straight to being a grandmother."  Of course that isn't possible and without her experience I had no idea what kind of feelings she was talking about.  Wasn't being a mom the most amazing part of being a woman?  I get it now.

Of course none of these beautiful babies would have been possible if I weren't first a mother.  AND, before that I needed to be a wife.  I have spent so much energy raising children and seeing to their physical, emotional and spiritual needs that I forget that there is this amazing man in my life who loves me more than life.  As our children have grown up and need us less I have the opportunity to spend more time with this man I call my husband.  I cannot even begin to express the love I feel for him and how appreciative I am to have him care for my needs physical, spiritual and emotional.  It is a journey that we've been on for many years and yet I feel like we have so much ahead of us.
So, I look forward to vacations, missions, family time, motorcycle riding, walking, snuggling and attending the temple often with my handsome husband.  We are off to the temple today.  What better way to celebrate our anniversary than go to the Lord's house where it all began.  I love you Patrick!

The Deep Freeze

How does cold look?  No different than any other day.  I got up this morning and my weather bug said it was -31.  Feel like temperature was -54.  As a result there was no school.  I spent my morning in the basement by the wood furnace.  I did the laundry while I was down there.  Warmest part of the house.  Actually the sun shone for a while this afternoon while I was in the livingroom doing Just Dance on the Wii.  I even worked up a sweat. Good thing that room was cooler than the others.

Tonight I made chicken gnocci soup for supper.  Tonight I have the oven going making mint chocolate chip cookies.

Tomorrow's school is already canceled.  Around noon tomorrow we should get some relief from this POLAR VORTEX.  There's a term I never knew existed.  Oh well, life in Wisconsin.  I still love it here with all our crazy weather.  Not a fan of the super hot or super cold.  Just saying.

Christmas 2013

 Christmas 2013 was full of activity and full of love as well.  Just the way it should be.  We started out our Christmas celebrations by having a Pleshek family get together on Clare's birthday.  Adam got a "swig-a-joe" dino aka switch and go dino.  He climbed up on his great-grandpa's lap to tell him all about it.

Last year all of our children were in our home for Christmas morning and it was wonderful.  This year it was just Pat and I with our boys.  Just as wonderful.  We were able to watch Sammi, Jeff, Evelyn and Erin open their gifts from us via FaceTime.  Isn't technology wonderful?

 Andrew opened new Nike socks as well as two new t-shirts.

 You may think I posted the same photo twice but he is actually holding up his two different shirts.

 Tom loves Home Alone 2.  He watches it on youtube and loves the part where Marv gets fried.

 I found the triology of Home Alone and he was pretty excited. 

 Andrew asked for a new jacket just before hunting season.  He wanted a Carhart.  I couldn't find one on sale, but Fleet Farm carries an identical jacket for about $20 less.  The sizing on those was a little better as well.  I would have had to buy a Carhart that he would've drown in just to get long enough sleeves.

 He LOVES it!

 I asked Tom what he wanted for Christmas and he finally came up with something.

 A Packers Sweatshirt!  He loves it as well.

 I never know what to get for Pat but I do know that if it is something I make he's always appreciative.

 This year it was a scrapbook chronicling his first 6.5 years of being the stake president.  It has official communications as well as photos and letters from others.  He always puts the book in front of his face to hide his tears.

After Christmas we had the Holiday basketball Tournament which is basically our big fundraiser for the Booster Club.  Andrew's team won for the second consecutive year.  That's never happened before in all the years this tournament has been going on.  

On Saturday afternoon, we got together with Pat's Mom and siblings.  We had a good time being with them.  I have the best mother-in-law.  I love her immensely.  She doesn't give these grand gifts, but she loves us all and I appreciate that so much.  It is true that a mother is the glue that holds a family together.

Another Christmas in the books.  I love Christmas!

Today I am taking down my tree.  It's only been up for more than two months.  I'm ready to get my livingroom clean from top to bottom.

Here We Go Again

 I really love watching high school basketball.  I love it even more when one of my children is playing.  For years I watched girl's basketball but for the past four years it has been boy's basketball.  Andrew totally got the tip on this jump ball even though the other guy was taller.  Of course, the other guy jumped before the ball even started coming back down.

 I love the attempt to block the inbounds pass.  The kid has long really long arms when he stretches out.

 Andrew thinks in defense.  He's always been a better defender than ball handler or shooter.  I really enjoy watching him get set and take a charge or better yet swatting someone else's shot.

 You can see the job he had last evening against Rosholt.  See the guy behind Andrew?  He was about 3 inches taller and twice as wide.  Not too hard to be wider than Andrew, but this guy was huge! 

 One of the few times I've been able to get a photo of him actually taking a shot.

 It was a fun game to watch last night.  Of course, whenever our guys win, makes it more fun to watch. 

Our guys are 3-0 overall and 2-0 in the conference.  They have their toughest opponents coming up in the next week.  So far, they've played alright ball but they are capable of playing better.  Here's hoping we have a very successful year!

Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with these people plus a few more not in this photo.  Clare asked me if I wanted to do the "Turkey Trot" in Green Bay.  My husband said there was no reason to go all the way to Green Bay to walk so we created our own.  Clare created the shirts and after our meal we went out for a walk.  It was a bit nippy, but still a lot of fun. 
On another note, I have to say that I absolutely love these two missionaries.  They are awesome!  They work and teach so well together.  They're both just young guys but we have had some amazing teaching experiences in our home with them and a myriad of non-members.  What a privilege it is to have the missionaries teach in our home.  So, this Thanksgiving with all the usual things I have to be thankful for I am also thankful for these two young guys who put their lives on hold for two years to come to Wisconsin and teach the gospel.

My Birthday Boy

 Today is my sweetheart's birthday.  He doesn't want anyone to make a big deal out of his birthday.  I guess I feel the same way about mine.  Still, he makes a big deal out of mine so how is that fair?
This is a man of many talents who wears many hats.  Here are just a few of those hats he wears.

He is a basketball official.  Unfortunately, Erin isn't doing the same this year.  Andrew, however, is doing a few games with his dad.  One being tonight.

 Here's that 19 year old face that I fell in love with.  This was taken just prior to his leaving for the MTC.  My parents drove him to Provo.

 How on earth did we ever find a photo of him on a Sunday afternoon/evening?  He's often gone until then serving the saints of the stake.

 He's a hard worker who gives service so willingly.  He uses the tractor now rather than the snow blower but still plows everyone out who need it.

 He's a very affectionate man who completely adores me.  I can't complain.

 He loves to serve the Lord.  He loves it even more when I travel with him.

 He is a Papa to our wonderful grandchildren.  The kids adore him.

 He arranges for us to go to General Conference once a year.  I do love that.

 He loves his sons.  Yes, even though his face doesn't show it.  They went to a movie together and bonded.

He is a true friend.  He loves his friends unconditionally.  He is compassionate and unshakable in his devotion to those whom he loves.  I love that quality in him.

I am blessed beyond measure to have married this wonderful guy.  I think he is a great man with much to give and much to do.  He puts the Lord first and I admire that.  I wouldn't want it any other way.  Happy birthday sweetheart!