Luma Solem: March 2015

Palm Sunday

I'm not sure my mom is capable of having a small simple gathering at her house. Whenever we go to dinner or family home evening or anything, everything is amazing and thought out and perfect!

Tonight's gathering was no exception. We went for a dinner of homemade waffles to start off the afternoon, then we had a Fireside/FHE style gathering in the living room. We sang some Easter hymns and then mom and dad each gave a small lesson.

Mom talked about Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter, when Jesus entered Jerusalem riding a donkey and all there placed their clothing and palms down to welcome him in:

Mom invited us to think about the cloth laid down for Jesus' donkey to walk over and to imagine our feelings upon seeing the Savior come to our own city. How amazing it would be to see Him!

Mom had prepared a bunch of large ivy leaves and each of the kids got to take a leaf and lay it down to make a path for the Savior. Then we all shouted Hosanna together to express our admiration and joy!

Dad's lesson was similarly memorable. Dad reviewed with us the beginning of the last supper, when Jesus meets with his apostles and washes their feet. He talked about Maundy Thursday being the day before Good Friday and the day Jesus gave us a new commandment: to love one another as He loved us. To demonstrate, Papa got a basin of water and washed Levi's feet. All the kids were intrigued and wanted to have a turn also.

Of course, that was the plan, and one by one, each one of the children got a turn getting their feet washed. As he washed, he spoke of our service-centered gospel. We accept callings and assignments in the church not to get praise or admiration or riches. We fulfill our callings in order to serve all those in our stewardship, to see to their spiritual and physical needs, as Jesus did.

Papa also talked about how teaching others to serve is part of our divine calling. Peter was taught by Jesus to take care of the affairs of the church and serve the believers. He then called Levi to wash the feet of the rest of the children there, as he had seen and been instructed. So Jesus calls to all of us to serve our fellow brothers and sisters on earth!

Christ has shown us how. It is up to us to find joy and fulfillment in following his counsel.

It was such a sweet moment with all the cousins washing each other's feet. I know I haven't done a great job summarizing the story, but I'd invite you to read John 13 to get the full account. What a new and refreshing Easter experience! I feel the start of a new Palm Sunday tradition!

Of course, we had to finish the day with a sillier tradition... the egg hunt. Even though all the eggs were empty, the kids still had fun hunting for them. Jade was helped by big cousin Calder, who was an intense egg hunter! Any kid who found an egg got a little bag of jelly beans and a gold dollar (basically we just skipped the stuffing and emptying the eggs part... it was more efficient that way...)

I hope as I approach Easter Sunday this year, I can remember the joy that Christ brings to me and fulfill all kinds of opportunities to serve! Happy Palm Sunday!

Labels: Easter

Pony rides

Our little twin friends, Grace and Joy, had an amazing 6th birthday party! Mama Angela is an amazing birthday party planner. The girls requested a Pony Party, so boy did they ever get a pony party! Each kid got a sheriff badge, cowboy hat and bandanna, and a stick pony to START the party... activities included pin the tail on the pony, punch and grab pony box (beneath each punch circle was a pony to adopt, complete with name, birthday, and personality traits), a "feeding post" and "watering hole," wanted poster coloring, and....the main attraction of the party...

Pony Rides!!!!!

Dawna, Larry, and Xochitl (poor Jade missed out... she was asleep in the stroller...) were so excited to be able to ride the ponies! The little dark pony was named Tonka, and the taller caramel colored pony was named Samantha.

I was reminded a little bit of the Berenstain Bears and Too Much Birthday (Papa gets ponies for the party...) All the kids were sad when the ponies had to go, but boy oh boy was it a birthday party to remember! We're glad Grace and Joy turned 6!

Lucky Day!

Leprechauns came to visit the Koberstein household on Tuesday! In the morning, we had a traditional breakfast of lucky charms and green milk! Dawna had made mini cupcakes for family home evening treat and left one for the leprechauns. So then the leprechauns left a note back saying to look forward to a "treasure hunt" after school...

Poor kids had to wait until WAY after school because of piano lessons. When we finally got home, the kids could wait no longer and found their clues from the leprechauns! The clues led them to three packs of little dragons and the kids got to choose a dragon from each pack to take care of...

...the dragons were too big for the leprechauns to take care of...

...also, too fiery, too hungry, and too sleepy...

After the hunt, we all enjoyed corned beef, cabbage, green and gold jell-o, home made soda bread (which I made for the first time and it turned out amazing, I might add...). For dessert, pistachio pudding with fresh whipped cream! Papa joined us for dinner and dessert and added a touch of spice with sweet and hot mustard!

All in all, it was a deliciously lucky day for all of us!

Labels: St. Patrick's Day

Things I am Grateful for...

Things I am Grateful for this week:

Great sisters-in-law who buy cars close to my house so they can come visit for a weekend and eat Japanese Ramen and stay up late with me watching Leverage and eating pickles. Unfortunately, all pictures of said fun times are on her camera/blog/instagram... I refer you to her electronic records for your viewing pleasure...

Real displays of confidence from my spunky 4-year-old with her impeccable sense of style: polka-dot satin skirt, striped shirt, princess warm-up jacket... I know I couldn't get away with that...

Aiden's amazing birthday party put on by darling mama Becca! The kids enjoyed games like Thor's hammer throw, Kryptonite collection, pin the star on Captain America, and decorating your own superhero mask and cape. Jade had hers on for a full ten seconds, and luckily, I snatched a picture

Tenacious little boy who relentlessly wiggled and jiggled and pulled until his first front tooth came out on Wednesday!

Evidence that Dawna DOES like some things that I cook! Unfortunately, her tongue could not reach the bottom of the bowl... can't believe we had to waste all that batter down there...

Friday the 13th is over!!! I was stressing/dreading that day because of the enormous amount of preparation that had to be done for my Lincoln Leopard Choir. I know, I know... I completely brought it on myself. I take full responsibility for it... but I will also take full credit when our Operetta in April blows your mind with awesomeness!!! You see, on Friday, all 46 kids were split into 6 feature groups; each group had to learn a solo singing or dancing part with a volunteer parent. I was ready and organized with recordings, YouTube videos, speakers, and portable electronic devices... and it all worked out! WHEW!!!

Unbelievable fun at Bay Aerials gymnastics! Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout March and April, they are promoting with free open gym! So naturally, we're going to go every time. Becca and Henry and Zoey and Conrad joined us on Thursday for a climbing, bouncing, flailing good time :) Later on Thursday, Dawna and Xochitl had their first gymnastics lessons there. They loved it, of course...more lessons to come...