Nutt House: Non Creative Title for the 2nd week of January 2018

This was a slower week for the Nutt House as we transitioned from break mode back into school, classes, lessons, and responsibility mode. This doesn’t mean the Nutt House didn’t have an enjoyable week, it just means we didn’t have quite as many adventures as we’ve had on past weeks.

I think this is okay though, mostly because of something I’ve been thinking about all week long that I wanted to share. Last Sunday was Fast Sunday, meaning testimony meeting at church. Brent and I are blessed that both of our little Nutts regularly want to get up and share their testimonies. If there is any drawback to this, it comes from the need both little Nutts have for Brent and I to go up with them. Brent went up Sunday with Kaden and directly after they returned to our pew Kara wanted me to go up with her. I felt torn… I didn’t want to go up and didn’t feel prepared to share my testimony, but if I tell her know… what am I teaching her? What kind of example am I being, etc.? So, Kara and I went up and as happens most times I froze up. In the Forgotten Carols, (a favorite of mine I must say) there is a story about how Handel was in heaven trying out for the heavenly choir that would sing and announce the birth of our Savior. When it came time for Handel to audition the song in his heart couldn’t come out and he was about to be dismissed when he turned back to the choir director and asked for another chance. The choir director gives Handel a second chance and the music to “Messiah” comes out. Well, Handel is excited and thinks now he’ll be in the choir, but the choir director tells him his time will come and his song will be heard and will be known throughout the years and by so very many people. Well, I feel that way each time I get up to share my testimony… there is a strong testimony in my heart but the words just don’t come out. From experience, I believe I do much better at preparing a lesson or talk versus winging it, like what happens anytime I get up to share my testimony. So, I really wanted to focus this entry on sharing my testimony if for no one else than for my family – my children and their future selves. I want them to know that…

I know that we are children of Heavenly Parents who love us and that Jesus Christ is not only our Savior, but also our friend, our advocate with our Heavenly Father and the love he feels for us is beyond measure. As a mother, there are times I think I can catch a glimpse into the intense love that Jesus and our Heavenly Father both have for us, but I know even these glimpses are minuscule in comparison. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus is our Redeemer, that he suffered in Gethsemane for each one of us individually. He knows us by name; he understands everything that we go through. He understands our pains, our mistakes, our heartaches, our times of despair and our times of loneliness. When we feel all alone, we are not. He is there for us, He is always there for us and He understands because He has suffered, bled, and died for each one of us. That is not all though. I know that in addition to Christ knowing our hard times He knows the peace hope and love that we can be filled with because these are gifts that He has given us through His atonement. Jesus is our brother and not only did He atone and die for us but He was resurrected three days later allowing us to be resurrected and to have the chance to once again live with Him and our Heavenly Father again someday. I know that when we make mistakes we can repent… I know, I promise I know how hard it can be to repent… it is not easy, but trust me when I say it is worth it! I testify that I have felt the ease of burden when I have truly repented. The story told in primary of carrying around a backpack full of bricks and having them taken out when we repent so our burden is made light… it’s true! The sad thing is, so many times, you may not recognize how heavy the burden is that you are carrying, but our Savior knows and no matter how bad we screw up, he understands and loves us and WILL be there to help us back to him. I testify that the temple is the house of God. I have felt the incredible peace and love that can only be felt within those holy walls. I know that the scriptures are true; I testify that the Book of Mormon is ANOTHER testament of Jesus Christ. The older I get, the more I find myself relying on the words contained within the scriptures to guide my life. As I do, my life seems to make more sense, priorities are made clearer, and I find myself with more patience, filled with more love and a greater desire to serve those around me. I implore you to read the scriptures daily, as they will help to provide purpose and direction in this world that can be so dark and overwhelming at times. I testify that Joseph Smith did restore the Gospel to this earth and did translate the Book of Mormon. I have heard that he has done more for us than anyone save it be Jesus Christ himself and I know this to be true! Life is not always easy and doing the right thing, making the correct choices can seem crazy hard! However, I know that it is worth it to make the right choices. In the words of our beloved Prophet, President Monson, “May we ever choose the harder right than the easier wrong”. Life isn’t always easy, but if we will hold fast to the iron rod we will make it back to our Savior and because of the many precious gifts he has given us… not only will we be with him again someday but through the blessings of the temple and the sacred covenants that we strive to live each and every day we can and will be a family for all of eternity!!! My dearest Kara and Kaden… never forget that you are loved. Loved by your father and myself and as much as we love you, you are loved by Jesus; we are all loved by our Savior more than we can imagine. Never, ever forget how special and loved you are. I testify that we are all children of Heavenly Parents who love us and know each and every one of us by name. The scriptures teach us that the shepherd left the 99 to save the 1. Jesus is our shepherd and He wants and will help to save each of us if we will just ask and do our part to repent and turn back to Him. Kaden and Kara, I pray that you will always hold the gospel, your relationship with our Savior, the scriptures and your family close to your heart. When you need help but ask and Heavenly Father will be there for you. I have said it before and I do not want to repeat myself but always know how loved and special you are! I testify that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the restored Gospel upon the earth today and that if we will do our very best to live the teachings of the Gospel we will be a family not just here on earth but forever, and ever and always. I leave you, my dearest children my testimony and all the love it carries… in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I’m not going to reread that a hundred times like I want to as I’ll edit it so much that I’m afraid the raw emotion I felt while typing will be lost. I just hope (and pray) that the testimony I want to share and want my kiddos to know did come through.

Now, onto the few events of our week that I did want to capture. My favorite is without a photo, but on our menu for the week, I was excited that we were going to eat Ratatouille one night. I excitedly shared with the kiddos that I was looking forward to this dinner and found myself met with hesitance as the kiddos both thought and they both expressed that, “mom, I don’t want to eat a rat for dinner”. Too cute! I hadn’t even thought of that and even after showing them the veggies and going over the recipe with them, I had two unconvinced little Nutts. Brent shared with them that ratatouille is simply vegetable stew in French and that helped a little. I am proud to say that not only did they eat their ratatouille but Kara even went back for seconds and thirds after all fears were squashed about no rats being served up for dinner!

Other than that, as stated above, we spend the week working to get back to normal, with Kara busy at dance and Kaden at Jiu Jitsu. We did squeak in some bike riding and outdoor playing time when schedules allowed and Brent treated the little Nutts to some much needed and thoroughly enjoyed daddy-kiddo time at the shooting range.