We'll Bring the World the Truth - Porter on Flute

Porter you sound terrific!

After a very long break playing the flute, Porter picks up right where he left off.  He pulls out the Children's Songbook and plays his favorite songs (I twisted his arm a bit and used the whole - "you can play XBox after you practice bribery"!), including this song, We'll Bring the World His Truth.  He last played in the 7th grade band (he is currently in 9th) and then he continued playing at home for a year on his own.  He definitely does not want to be in the high school band (because it's also a marching band and very time consuming).  Do I encourage him to continue playing?  Do I find him a flute teacher?  Or do I have him take his note reading skills to the piano?  I would really like him to learn how to play the piano, also - but he is not too excited about the idea.

Music and Lyrics

Porter Turns 15

I can't believe that Porter is now 15!  He had a fun birthday with a lunch outing to Tucano's with Mom (he was able to skip a couple school classes, too).  We had plenty of good food.  Then later we enjoyed some time at Wahooz, burgers at Wendy's, and then pie and icecream.

Later in the week he had a friend party with at bunch of boys from church and cousin, Braden.  Paul kept them happily entertained with Minute -to-Win-it Games, and a youtube viewing game.  I kept them happily feed with a pizza lunch and ice cream sundaes.  All in all the party was a success and everyone had fun.  We love you, Porter.

40 Day Challenge

Our family attended the stake youth fireside because Porter was assigned a small talk about his family history experiences.  He shared that by accepting the bishop's challenge last year (spring time) that he has since found 1400 names.  I would have to say that most of those names were found within the first couple months.   From this Porter has definitely kept our family (including aunts, uncles, grandparents, friends, and ward members) busy at the temple.

A 40 day challenge was presented to the youth to:

• Search out one name to take to the temple
• Learn a story about an ancestor and share with family or peers
• Learn about an ancestor and find a picture of them
• Pray so you and the rest of the youth can find a name
• Pray that the "name" you find will accept the gospel and ordinances performed
• Lead a FHE lesson to inspire family members to participate in family history and temple work for past family members

Elder Jeff Erikson, an area authority, also came to the conference.  He told us that the number one priority given in his leadership training meetings with the general authorities is that of "hastening the work of salvation".  He told us that the youth ages 12 and up are now invited by the First Presidency to attend the Saturday night meetings of Stake Conference.  And that the youth of today are more ready than ever to be missionaries because they are learning the missionary lessons now in My Gospel.  He asked us to review Elder Bednar's talk, The Hearts of the Children Shall Turn (GC Oct 2011).  In that talk the youth are given comfort that they will be safeguarded from the adversary i f they do this work. 

"As you respond in faith to this invitation, your hearts shall turn to the fathers. The promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will be implanted in your hearts. Your patriarchal blessing, with its declaration of lineage, will link you to these fathers and be more meaningful to you. Your love and gratitude for your ancestors will increase. Your testimony of and conversion to the Savior will become deep and abiding. And I promise you will be protected against the intensifying influence of the adversary. As you participate in and love this holy work, you will be safeguarded in your youth and throughout your lives".

It was a fabulous reminder to me that I am raising children in the generation that is preparing to meet the Savior.  I need to rise up to the occasion and be like the mothers of the sons of Helamen.  "Yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them."

Porter Bakes Chicken

Porter was on dinner duty tonight.  He made a very tasty dinner of Roasted Lemon Herb Chicken, potatoes, and salad.  This morning (because of late start Wednesdays) he had enough time to get the chicken all ready and in the pan to bake later.  It turned out delicious!  He made not only one chicken, but two!  So we have an extra in the fridge.  

We realized my mistake of putting the chickens wrong side up, Paul discovered that as he was carving the meat.  However we discovered that it kept the breast meat really moist!

I Need Help with Temple Work

This is an email I sent to my family on 4/17/13:

In Elder Bednar's Oct 2011 conference talk, he talked about the youth catching the spirit of Elijah.  And I can say that Porter has caught that spirit and is going full steam ahead in finding family names that don't have all their temple work finished.  We are in need of anyone and everyone's help in keeping up with all the people Porter is finding.

Last week before Paul and I did temple sealings, I dropped off a pile of papers at the temple office for them to print into file cards.  They were amazed at the amount of work a 14 year old boy had done.  They suggested that maybe I only have 1/3 of the names printed because it would be a lot of work.  They asked if I had ward members, friends, and family that would help me.  I assured them that I did, and that we would get this done together.  So they printed off the names and now the work begins.

I scheduled for our family to do baptisms for the dead on April 27th at X:XX pm (we need to be there and ready by X:XX).  If any of you in town would like to join us for that time, please let me know (also youth are invited to join us!)  There are approx. 160 names that need baptisms done before we can progress with any of the other temple work.  If we don't get all the names done, would anyone else like to start with baptisms?

Once those names are baptized and confirmed, then the work really begins!  I would love to send you some names.  Please tell me if you want any family file cards and I would be happy to send them to you.  Also,  I have a TON of names that need sealing work done (probably around 100 names)...any takers?

I told Porter that Tonya and Ryan wanted some cards.  He is excited to work on some more names - he truly loves this work.  It is a powerful testimony to me that the hearts of the children areturning to their fathers.  I am a very happy mother and so thankful that he is giving me a good reason to spend a lot of time in the temple.

If you go to the temple with friends, you can also share the cards with them.  The more help the better!

Thank you so much - we love you all,

Tiffani

Here are the emails I received in response.  I hope you don't mind me sharing these with everyone, I just thought they were so touching:

"We would love some names after baptisms are done.  I went to the cannery with my Temple buddies today.  I told them all about Porter and his genealogy work.  They were amazed!  I have a nonmember friend, Susan in her 70's, that loves genealogy work and cannery too - She is in love with LDS church because their love of genealogy.  

Way to go Porter - I would love for him to teach me a refresher course.  

I go with about 4/5 girls a week - please send lots of lady cards".  Thanks for sharing the names Porter - Aunt Tonya

"How awesome! I'll start with the sealing work if that is ok. Let me know how many leftover baptism names you have. Apparently around here High School starts late on Tuesday so kids go to the temple Tuesday morning and do baptisms for the dead. I may be able to go with some youth in the ward... or maybe we can make it a date night with Tami/Jeff or Chay/April".  Tara

"That is so awesome! Way to go Porter. I got goose bumps reading your email. Chay and I can do sealings for you. If you send them this way we will get them done in May- Now that I've been released from Sunday School I am starting to focus more on my Family History consultant calling. Love temple work"!  April 

I am just catching up on emails.  Keith and I would love to do sealings and endowments.  We can enlist friends in the ward, also.  I will check to see if the youth are going soon for baptisms also.  Send us some names!

 

Porter, Grandpa and I are so pleased about your family history work.  You are a valiant young man and a special grandson.  We need you to teach us how to do what you are doing.  This is all so exciting!  Wow!!!!  It will be a sweet time doing the temple work for these family members.  Thanks, Porter!!!

Soccer Season Ends

 Porter enjoyed another season of soccer at M.Pal.  He had a coaches and teammates - he is looking forward to playing again in the spring.  Porter usually played half of each game as the goalie.  He did a great job and got after that ball.  Way to go, Porter!  

He had two sets of grandparents cheering him on this last game along with two cousins, Lacy and Braden.  Thank you for all your support.

  Corbin played JV soccer for KHS.  It was his first year playing school soccer.  He had a good season and got in great shape with their daily practices (M-F).

Way to go, Corbin!

Porter plays soccer this fall

 Porter played a fierce soccer game on only a few hours of sleep after a scout campout!

We invited cousins to come watch the game with us, we also played in the park!

Lacy and Vivian loved me taking these actions shots of them jumping off the rock.

Braden is just hanging out!

 They were good sports about watching Porter's game and then seemed to have a lot of fun together.

 Abby even had fun!

 

 This made me realize that I need to get together more often with family.  The kids had a blast and I love that they are making great memories.

The Gold Tie was Awarded!

 

Corbin and Porter completed the Guardian of Virtue requirements in time to earn a gold tie!  During the three month time frame, they read the Book of Mormon (cover to cover - 531 pgs), bore their testimony, lived the Strength of Youth Standards, and attended the temple (for baptisms).  I was so happy that they worked hard to finish this great goal  (as a young men's leader, Paul also completed the challenge).

P.S. Corbin is standing on one step lower than Porter.  He has grown a ton this year.

Porter Turns 12

Porter loved lighting his 12 candles!  This is a special birthday because he received the Aaronic Priesthood and joined the Deacons Quorum.  Next week he will be passing the sacrament with the other young men.  I can't believe he is 12.   Oh, the years pass to quickly.

Porter celebrates his birthday while being surrounded by cousins (Braden, Lacy and Abby)

 and siblings (Olivia and Vivian - where is Corbin?).

Saturday we played at Wahooz (formerly named Boondocks).  Porter had an unlimited pass because it was his birthday. The rest of us enjoyed riding the go carts and playing games with tokens.  Porter was really hoping to reach the 60" height requirement, but was just a hair to short (even after wearing six pairs of socks).

Olivia braves a ride with Paul.  Vivian rides with me.

Corbin is the driver with Porter.  After this little fun, I told Corbin that his opportunity for drivers education will be postponed.  He was a terrible driver.  I had to drive defensively on the track just to maneuver through all the crazy drivers!

Porter, we love you!  We hope you had a great birthday.

Soccer Season in full Swing

On the weekends (Fridays and Saturdays) you can find us at the soccer fields!  Corbin has been refereeing three games each weekend along with playing one with his team in the U19 league.  Porter also has a weekly game in the U13 League.  Both of them are playing hard and hustling after the ball.    

This weekend Olivia found a worm on her chair.  She played with it the rest of the game - which totally freaked Vivian out!  

It's Time to Harvest

Porter watered the garden boxes all summer. He thought more water was better, but I was thankful because I don't like the daily watering business. As of recently, Porter and Vivian traded chores. So now he unloads her silverware and she waters the garden - it works for me.

She has been hounding me that we need to harvest! So I finally followed her out to the boxes to find these treasures. There are green tomatoes waiting to ripen and a few more zucchini that are growing. We did enjoy peas earlier in the season. I hope that one of these years that I get the gardening bug so that I actually enjoy it.

The Old Mower Dies after a Long Hard Life

A few weeks ago as I was mowing the lawn, one of the front wheels just fell off! I had completed the front yard and had 2/3 of the backyard left. What should I do? The grass was long and overdue so I made the decision to finish mowing. It took all my strength to counter balance the mower as I pushed it back and forth. This mower is extremely laborious when it is working correctly, so just imagine my predicament.

Later Paul repaired the wheel and the body several times before we finally broke down and bought a brand-new mower. The old mower was a purchase from a garage sale 10 years ago.


Here is a picture of happy Porter and the new mower. He has mowed the lawn several times this summer with our terrible non-propelled workout mower. This new self propelled mower makes mowing enjoyable and a breeze. I just have to be sure to hang on tight because it wants to take me for a ride. It is almost zero effort compared to the beast before. This morning I almost mowed the whole front yard in 15 minutes without one bead of sweat - truly miraculous! We should have bought a mower like this years ago.

Porter Attends a Baseball Game

Just a week ago, we were notified that Porter was one of three students from his school that won the opportunity (by his scores on a computer math game that he played this summer - apangea) to attend a local minor league baseball game. Come to find out, Allie was also one of the three students. So Paul/Porter and Craig/Allie attended the game together. They all four received free game tickets. And on top of that, the kids were given a free hot dog & soda, along with the chance to meet the team before the game and receive a free t-shirt. From that Porter came home with signatures on his Boy Scout baseball cap!

Also that night they had a few contest that the kids could play to win prizes. Porter won the hula hoop contest by wiggling his little hips. Paul said the whole crowd was chanting his name. For being the Hula Hoop winner he was given two more free tickets to a another game.

First Day of School

Porter is now a 6th grader! He wakes up bright and early at 5:30 am and scrambles to get off to the bus stop before 6:42 am. He is excited for school this year and will do great!

The girls are also excited about school this year. Olivia is a third grader and Vivian is a first grader. Can you believe it? Time sure flies.

I am happy to have three children back in school (as of Monday)! Now I am just waiting for Corbin, his school begins in two weeks. We just got back from the High School after paying registration fees, practicing opening a locker, getting an activity card with picture, and lots of waiting in line. When they are all in school, I can then establish a daily routine for myself. Lately it has been crazy!

Our Morning Schedule (so far)

5:30 am- Porter wakes up at and gets showered and ready (Corbin will be joining him shortly)
6:00 am - Wake up the girls (get dressed, make bed, hair)
6:15 am - Family Scripture study
6:30 am - Porter has 5 minutes to get out the door
Girls get chore done, backpacks ready by door, eat breakfast, brush teeth
7:00 am - Girls read
7:20 am - If they are all ready, they are free to play until the bus.
8:05 am - Leave for Bus (if we have time let the girls ride bikes around park before bus).

Porter Chooses an Instrument

Yesterday Porter and I went a music store to find an instrument, for his first year in band. After trying the saxophone, the clarinet, the flute, the trumpet and the trombone, he chose the flute! I know that is probably not a popular male choice, but I let him decide. We bought his first music book and signed a rental agreement for the flute. We are now ready for band!

Get Out of the Rat Race

This is Porter's new favorite game. Paul has finally pulled this out of the closet (he has had it for years) and has taught both Corbin and Porter how to play this game sold by Robert Kiyosaki, who is known by his products of Rich Dad Poor Dad.

This game teaches you how to utilize your resources wisely to get out of the rat race of life and to pursue your bigger dreams. It's a great lesson on investing wisely, of not wasting money on unnecessary items (known as doo-dads), and of creating a residual income for the future.

Porter is now teaching the game to Olivia! Hopefully they will grow up and use the knowledge they are learning in this game. This is also Paul's favorite game - wanna play?

I just learned that this game is offered as a free e-game here! It is also sold as a board game here (don't croak - Paul considered this game an investment).

Gators Take Second

We had a fun and busy soccer season with both Corbin and Porter playing soccer and then Corbin also reffing several games. Soccer is finally over and we are enjoying our free nights and weekends again!

Porter waiting his turn.

Way to go, Porter! Porter loves soccer. He had a great year playing with this new league. It was much more aggressive than Y-ball. He had fantastic coaches that really went the extra mile. And they had a fun end of the year team party!

Porter's team the "Gators" came in second play during the tournament play-offs.

Here is the team after they received their medals!

Awards Ceremony and Pizza Party with Team

We had fun, too!

Vivian!

Me, bouldering on the wall through the hoops.

Smokey & the Ferris Wheel

Porter made this really cool Ferris Wheel - it even has a little motor to keep it moving. So it was my idea to strap on the stuffed toy mouse and to get Smokey involved. Smokey had fun with this for a few mornings. We have fun watching him. Yes, Smokey is still a part of our lives. He comes and goes daily.

Lunch at School

Last Friday I caught the tale end of lunch with Olivia and then she scurried off to recess, one of her favorite times of the day. So then I waited another 15 minutes for Porter's class to come to the lunchroom (I surprised him). We enjoyed delicious homemade pizza, salad, and my favorite, chocolate milk. I have been trying to spend more time with my children to show them I love being their mom. Every moment counts!

Porter's Friend Party

Porter had a great time having nine other friends over for his party. Oh, they had a great time playing air hockey - they had their own little tournament. How can you go wrong with pizza, dessert and a movie? Happy Birthday Porter!