Testimonies

In Kelsey's words...today would be an explosion day! It started off early with a 9am Temple Prep class. Then during Sacrament meeting I was sitting in the nursing room and heard what I thought I swore was AJ's voice bearing his testimony. Wow! Then a few minutes later I swore I heard Sam's voice! I expected AJ was getting close to doing it someday, but Sam has been very resistant to everything lately and so I thought it would be years before I heard him bear his testimony in church. Turns out it was all Sam's idea and he challenged AJ to do it too.
Parenting has been a real challenge lately as I watch my children and realize that many of the difficulties I am having are of my own making...they are acting just like me. I can only pray and hope that I can change myself and set a better example before it's too late. I was beginning to doubt and recognizing that it may be many years of me changing before they would change too and then they go and do something like this. I guess they do listen afterall. I was back in sacrament meeting before Matthew made it through the line to bear his testimony so I got to see AJ help Matthew bear his testimony. Then Sam started challenging Richard to go up saying, "Come on Dad, all the Hammond boys." AJ said, "Come on Mom and Dad, all the Hammonds, we set the example for you." There was only about 5 minutes left, so Richard went up, but so did about 5 other people at the same time, so I didn't go. I bore my testimony last month, but AJ said that didn't count. I promised I would bear my testimony in Relief Society. I spent Sunday School and most of Relief Society teaching a make-up class for a couple that missed one week due to sickness, but I slipped into Relief Society the last few minutes and bore my testimony. So all the Hammonds (speaking ones) bore their testimonies at church today and it was the children who instigated it. Wonders never cease, but then again, I always knew I had good kids. We ended the day with having the couple in the class and one of the sisters (with her husband who is recently coming back to church since she started the class) coming over for ice cream and to watch Together Forever. :) Nice day.