Jayden is texting Skyler (sp) now that he and Kate broke up or rather since Kate broke up with him. Skyler is supposedly “dating” Jayden’s friend Gage. (I still suspicion that Kate will be back though I don’t know if Jayden’s pride will allow it or if he will be strong for someone else or whatever. I also wonder if Kate’s parents insisted she break up with Jayden, though Jayden said it was for another boy.)
Today in sacrament meeting, Jayden was the youth speaker. He did a really good job albeit he read most of it. He said that he wasn’t asked until Friday (in the evening I assume) and we were busy with other family things yesterday including going to Bailey’s swim meet.
Jayden showed no fear. He was calm and collected, smiled and looked at the congregation as much as he could. He was the one who apologized to me about having to read most of it.
I think we have all, including Bailey, decided we don’t like swim meets. It is mostly wait and wait and wait and swim eight laps and then wait and wait and wait then swim another eight laps then go home.
After she finally got to swim the first event; the breast stroke, the one she hates the most unless it is the butterfly; we all went to lunch. We ended up at the Pizza Pie Cafe at the bottom of the hill below the University Mall not far from Lavell Edwards Stadium (BYU Stadium). It has a very good Italian buffet.
Grandpa Wayne (Bingham) was there. He is really good to support his grandchildren and I suppose that since he lost his wife Ginnie to cancer it gives him something to do on Saturdays. I ask him about what he does to occupy his time and he said that he does a lot of yard work.
Bailey decided she didn’t want to swim the last event and we finally went back to the Provo Recreation Center pool and got her stuff.
When she did swim her first event (only event) it turned into a joke. She had broken her good goggles so she put on her other pair. Somehow that pair got lost and she put on a third pair that didn’t fit right. They were too loose. (I think Stacey bought the third pair at the concession stand.) Also Bailey wouldn’t dive off the platform like everyone else; she just dove off the end of the pool.
Almost immediately after she dove in, her goggles fell off of her eyes so she stopped and put them back on. A couple of strokes later they fell off again and again she stopped and put them back on. Also I don’t think she thought of it as a race and swam like she does in practice pacing herself. At one spot she turned her head to the side and was looking at the people standing on the side of the pool.
When she finally got to the end of her second-to-the-last lap and turned around, everyone else was done and hanging onto the end of the pool waiting for her to show up. For me (Fred) at least, it seemed that that last lap would last forever.
Here
is Jayden’s talk:
“Hi. My name is Jayden Jepson and I have been asked to talk about Go Forward with Faith. Like Elder Norman I hope to be a full time Missionary some day, however I can prepare myself until that time comes.
“In
Alma chapter 37, verse 6 it reads (READ THE SCRIPTURE)…
[6 Now ye may
suppose that this is afoolishness in me; but behold I say unto you,
that by bsmall and simple things are great
things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the
wise.]“Hi. My name is Jayden Jepson and I have been asked to talk about Go Forward with Faith. Like Elder Norman I hope to be a full time Missionary some day, however I can prepare myself until that time comes.
“What Alma is teaching us is that no matter how small the things we do to prepare ourselves now, they can prepare us for great things later in life.
“What are some of the things we can do to prepare ourselves for our missions and other callings in life?
“First, we can kneel each morning and night in prayer to our Father in Heaven. Thank him for the blessings we have received and ask him for the things we desire. He is the source of all wisdom. He will hear and answer our prayers.
“Second, we need to study the scriptures each day and apply what we read to our lives. The scriptures are a powerful source of personal revelation and guidance and a constant strength to help us build our testimony.
“Third, we need to try to be obedient. We need to remember and live by the covenants that we made and that we have the opportunity to renew each week when we take the sacrament. Try to keep these covenants. If we make a mistake, don’t give up. Our Heavenly Father loves us and wants us to seek His help and keep trying.
“Fourth, when possible, we need to attend the temple and feel the joy and peace that doing so gives us.
“Fifth, we need to follow the teachings of the prophets, the other authorities of the Church, and our local leaders.
“Sixth, we need to be humble and willing to listen to the Holy Ghost and respond to His promptings. The Lord is wiser than we are and will not lead us in the wrong direction.
“When we do these things, the Lord will make much more out of our lives than we could by ourselves. He will increase our opportunities to grow and strengthen us. He will give us the help we need to handle any trials and challenges we may face in life. We will gain a stronger testimony and find true joy as we come to know our Father in Heaven and His Son, Jesus Christ, and feel Their love for us. I know these things to be true and I share them with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.”
Corey said they got a lot of it
out of one of the church pamphlets. He didn’t say which one.
