Should I or shouldn't I?

Remember this post?  http://cacushing.blogspot.com/2011/03/turn-off-that-spotlight-please.html

The other half of that story was that the Red Sox coach noticed me in the first place because I was standing right next to a player on our team who happened to shout out some very un-sportsman-like words to their team.  I was oblivious, doing my own fair amount of shouting.

This Monday night Wade had a baseball practice.  The Red Sox were practicing after us, and as we were leaving, I saw the coach from their team.  My heart started thumping, and I asked myself, "Should I, or shouldn't I?"  I bit the bullet and walked right up to him.

Me:  Are you the Red Sox coach?

Coach:  (smiles a little) Depends on who's asking!

Me:  (gulp)  Well, I have been meaning to apologize to you for a very long time.  I've had a weight on  my shoulders from the way I acted at the last game we played against your team.  I was really into the game and not paying any attention to what our boys were doing in the dugout.  I'm very sorry--I've been meaning to tell you that for a while.

Coach:  Hey, it's like it never happened.  Don't worry about it!

Me:  Thanks!  I've learned my lesson!

Have you ever been carrying a heavy load, physically or figuratively, and had it lifted off of you?  That's how I felt.  I felt unbelievably light.  It had been this little itch in the back of my mind that I just could not get rid of.  My plan was to just hide the next time we played the Red Sox, but after coming clean and fully repenting, I felt whole again.  I hope I don't forget this experience!

Conference talk recap

I took some random pictures of the kids this morning.  Rhiannon was in a goofy mood--just before I'd go "click" she'd stick her tongue out or jump down or do a crazy face.  She was definitely having a good time.  Wade did the same--he loved posing with the Nerf gun.

Easter Sunday came and went--it was a perfect day.  We spent most of it with the Samuels family--Katie and her kids came to stake conference with us, we joined their family for an Easter egg hunt in their backyard, and then their whole family joined us for dinner.  We had fun!

I wanted to say a little bit about Rhiannon's talk that day, too, for posterity's sake.  Rhiannon stunned our stake with a perfect execution of her talk.  She has been walking on air the last few days--I'm grateful now for the huge confidence boost this has given her.   The background behind her being asked to speak in Stake Conference went like this:  our stake Primary president called me one day and said she needed to give some Primary children names to the stake presidency for a speaker at conference.  She said Rhiannon had come to her mind first.  I immediately hemmed and hawed, didn't think she'd want to do it, and gave my friend several other possible children's names.  Two days went by and the stake executive secretary called to ask Rhiannon anyways. :)  I just wanted to get the record straight that I wasn't the one who put her up to it!  She studied for the talk, I typed out her notes for her, and then she practiced, practiced, practiced.  Poor thing was getting tips and advice from both Jason and me for several days. 

The day of her talk she looked beautiful.  We got to the stake center too late to sit in the chapel section, so we were on the first row starting in the cultural hall.  Brother Byerly, the executive secretary, came to Rhiannon and whisked her away to the stand.  He and President Hedman had her sit on the front row of the stands, in between two of our favorite people from 3rd ward who were also speaking that day, Diana Platts and Judy Pommerenke.  I felt right away that Rhiannon was surrounded by angels.  Rhiannon said that both ladies gave her a pat on the back when she got up to give her talk.  She also said she thought she saw a lot of mouths drop when they saw her walk up to the microphone!  Her heart was pumping fast, she said, but you never would have guessed she was nervous.  It was amazing--she delivered the talk perfectly--it was easy to forget she was 10 years old!    When our stake president stood up to speak, he complimented the speakers.  About Rhiannon he said, "I am so proud of Rhiannon.  I gave a talk in stake conference when I was about her age,but I certainly didn't have the poise she did!"  Rhiannon sat on the stand the entire two hours, and she was so surprised and happy to receive so many hugs and compliments from "strangers".  Wade was the first one in our family to give Rhiannon a hug afterwards--he squeezed her tight right around the middle--you could tell he was happy for her, too!

Later that day I sent a message to the stake Primary president:  "You were right, and I was wrong.  Thanks so much for thinking of Rhiannon--it has been a good experience for her."

We are so proud of her!  The sky's the limit now!



Rhiannon's Stake Conference talk

This is the talk Rhiannon will be giving in about 2 hours.  She put together most of the talk herself--I added the "helpful"notes and added a few extra quotes from talks she'd studied to fill up the 5 minutes.  I am so excited for her--she will do great!  Happy Easter!

What Easter Means to Me                                                    

Stake Conference talk, 4/24/11

Remember that we are SO PROUD of you, and that this whole building is full of people who want to hear what you have to say because they care about you!  You'll do great!  Love, Mom & Dad

Speak s-l-o-w-l-y and clearly.  Look up after every sentence if you can! 

            Good morning!  My name is Rhiannon Cushing.  My topic today is "What Easter Means to Me."  I'll be honest, the first things that come to my mind are candy...and a good dinner!   (pause, SMILE!)

I'm just kidding.  What it really means to me is Jesus Christ's Resurrection.  (look up and pause)

Jesus Christ made it all possible by coming down to earth and teaching us, but most of all, by fulfilling the Atonement for us.   Because of  this gift, we can repent and return to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ some day.  Jesus made it possible for us to see our deceased family members and friends, and be with our families in heaven. 

(breathe, SMILE!)

The  Primary song "Did Jesus Really Live Again?" tells us more about this. 

Share this part S-L-O-W-L-Y.  Stop and slow down if you feel yourself speeding up.

 Did Jesus really live again?
Yes, when the third day came,
He wakened and he left the tomb;
He called Mary’s name.

Did Jesus come to those he loved?
Yes, people touched his feet,
And of the fish and honeycomb
He did truly eat.

And there were nail-prints in his hands
And a spear wound in his side.
Did Jesus really live again
After he had died? Oh yes! And so shall I!

(pause, SMILE!)

I'd like to share with you a personal story about my great-grandpa Ed.  He died 2 years ago on an October General Conference weekend, when we were living in Virginia.  Well, when my dad came home with the news, we were all pretty sad.  The things that I liked best about Grandpa Ed were:

--He was really nice, generous, and friendly.

--He gave us a great bear hug every time he saw us.

--He loved us. 

(pause, SMILE!)

We were all very upset, but I remember that we said many prayers, and my brother Wade and I kept saying "We'll see Great -Grandpa Ed again when we're in heaven."  I know this is true.  I'm thankful for Jesus Christ's resurrection that makes this possible!

I like the latter-day testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith and his friend Sidney Rigdon, in the Doctrine and Covenants, section 76, verses 22-23: 

And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!

For we saw‍ him, even on the right‍ hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten‍ of the Father.

(Look up!  Smile!)

Our prophet today, President Thomas S. Monson, talked about the meaning of Easter last year in General Conference.   I'd like to share a story he told about a 15-year-old boy named Jason. 

Jason was very sick and had to stay in the hospital.  His father came to visit him and saw that his eyes were closed.  He didn't know if Jason was awake or asleep, and he started talking to him.  He said, "Jason, I know you have been through a lot in your short life and that your current situation is difficult.  Even though you have a giant battle ahead, I don't ever want you to lose your faith in Jesus Christ."  Jason immediately opened his eyes and said in a firm voice,

"NEVER!" 

(pause, look up)

Jason died 2 weeks later.  Two of his siblings were serving missions and sent letters home to be shared at Jason's funeral.  His sister wrote, "I know that Jesus Christ lives, and because He lives, all of us, including Jason, will live again, too.  We can take comfort in the sure knowledge  that we have been sealed together as an eternal family...If we do our very best to obey and do better in this life, we will see him again."  The sister also shared a scripture that meant a lot to her, in Revelations, chapter 21, verse 4:  "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."

(pause, look up, Smile!)

President Monson closed his talk with this:  "My beloved brothers and sisters, in our hour of deepest sorrow, we can receive profound peace from the words of the angel that first Easter morning:  "He is not here: for he is risen." 

(breathe!  Smile!  Look up!  You're almost done!)

I'm thankful for the chance I had to speak about Easter today.  I'd like to bear my testimony that  because of Him, I know that we will be able to return to heaven someday and be with our families, if we follow the Savior and try our best to choose the right.  I'm thankful for my family, my friends, the Church, and for Jesus Christ. 

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

(YOU DID IT!!! WAY TO GO, RHIANNON!!!!)