Lost Puppy Shirt

As the boys got older and entered middle school, the stakes felt higher in our home for teaching our children.  We knew they would hear and see things contrary to the morals and standards we were trying to teach them at home. It was time for our children to decide whether they were going to find out for themselves the truthfulness of the things that they were learning of Christ, or choose another path . We often taught the power of prayer in our home. We wanted our children to know that they have a Father in Heaven who knows them perfectly and would listen and answer as they chose to speak to Him in faith.

It was a time in my life where I questioned my ability to really convey to my children my own testimony. I knew and believed the words of Christ, but I worried I would fail to completely convey the miracles possible if they turned to Him in faith.

Jessie was in Kindergarten when one morning she came up and said she wanted to wear her favorite puppy shirt to school but couldn’t find it. I went down to her room with her to look for it. Her room was fairly tidy and the shirt was simply not there. I went upstairs to check the laundry, both the clean and dirty piles, but to no avail. There was no puppy shirt to be found that morning. She came upstairs and I explained to her that I could not find the shirt and she would simply need to choose another one to wear to school that day. I urged her to do so quickly and as the time for the bus to arrive was nearing.

Jessie told me she was going to go down to her room to say a prayer and ask Heavenly Father to help her find her puppy shirt because that was the one she wanted to wear to school. I felt super nervous. I had already looked for the shirt. It’s hiding spot was not a simple one. My heart raced and thoughts of doubt came quick. What if she prayed and never found her shirt? Would her faith be shaken forever?

A few minutes later she came upstairs wearing her puppy shirt. I actually froze in amazement. Her report was simple.
“Heavenly Father told me where to look.”
She recounted the experience to her dad and brothers that evening over dinner. We all grew a bit taller in faith that day as the youngest among us had shown great courage in testimony and acted upon it.

Truly that day, Jessie was the master teacher. She testified of the exact principles I wanted my boys to understand. Christ taught us to pray to the Father in faith. I had learned by experience myself that it was true. Yet as a mother I worried I hadn’t done enough in teaching my children how real their relationship with God can be. That particular day, I was grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who was generous in answering a child’s plea for help and reassuring me He would bless my children as they turned to Him.

-JC

As I reflect on this experience today, I ask myself:
Do I ask? Do I stand at the door and knock? Do I truly seek him?
Can my conversion to Christ truly strengthen my family? Friends? Associates?
Do I bear witness of Christ?

Monster Cookies

½ cup soft butter
1 ½ cups peanut butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 ½ cups packed brown sugar
3 XL eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon molasses
¾ cup all-purpose flour
3 cups quick oats
2 teaspoons baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
2 3/4 cups any combination of chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, vanilla chips, peanut butter chips and mini M&M’s.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Cream butter, peanut butter, and sugars with an electric mixer on medium-high for 1 minute or until fluffy.

Hand stir in eggs and vanilla; don’t overmix.

Add dry ingredients all at once and mix until fully incorporated. Add 2-3 Tablespoons more flour for high elevation.

Stir in a combination of chips and mini M&Ms.

Scoop out approximately 28-30 2” balls of dough.  Gently roll. For a richer flavor and smoother texture, form cookie dough balls, flatten slightly, and refrigerate or freeze until ready to bake. Place on greased or parchment paper on an aluminum cookie sheet.  

Bake at 375 degrees for 12-14 min. Share!