Lady Cady

Faith * Family * Life

Drawn In – Our favorite Come Follow Me Resource!

It’s time to jump into a new year of Come Follow Me scripture study. Can you believe it? Where did 2021 go?! As a mom of four and former Primary President, I know this is an area that can bring many blessings but can also be a big struggle to implement. Especially with kids! (Trust me, with my four kids, I’m right there with you). As a family, we have tried several different approaches to our family study through the last several years. Between my husband and I, we’ve been through many callings that have kept us crazy busy too – Bishopric 1st councilor, early morning Seminary teacher, and now Bishop for my husband and Primary 1st Councilor, Primary President and now Nursery Leader for me. (Okay nursery leader isn’t so busy but every Sunday I kind of become Single Mom by default. 🙂 ) After much trial and error, we discovered that Sunday evenings is Our Time. This is the one day we’re home and it just works best for us. I know that it’s different for everyone and that’s okay!! What matters is that we’re studying the scriptures as a family, right?

The second half of successful Come Follow Me study we’ve discovered is finding something that works, that keeps all the kids engaged, that teaches us, and is easy for us parents! I hear stories about amazing but elaborate things families do for their family Come Follow Me and at first, I felt a bit of Failure Syndrome creeping in to eat me up, but eventually I got over it. I love to keep things simple, it works, end of story.

I was called to be the Primary President in 2019, that first year of Come Follow Me, when we studied the New Testament. I began looking for different resources out there that families were using and passing them on to the Parents in our ward in an email each week. At the end of 2019, one of our favorite authors, David Bowman, announced he was going to start doing videos for Come Follow Me starting in 2020 too. We were excited! We signed up right away and have loved every single one! They have been a huge blessing to our family. David does an amazing job of teaching the concepts for each lesson and making them fun and engaging for all ages. He does it in a way that helps my kids get what the lesson is trying to teach them, often better than my husband and I teaching the lesson from the manual. There have been so many episodes my kids have asked to watch over and over on their own. When my daughter is asked to give a talk for Primary, she now will watch the video for the week and is able to write much of her talk on her own. My husband has even admitted to looking up a video or two for ideas on how to teach a particular concept/story to the youth. We usually go through the lesson in the manual as a family and then watch the video when we’re done. Sometimes though we do have those weeks where we just watch the videos and call it good… Life is real Ya’ll. I am especially grateful for this option as we plunge into the Old Testament!

David has a lot of great books for kids and teens as well as beautiful artwork. He did a thing for a while called “Teancum’s Warriors”. He stopped doing this for now to focus on his Drawn In videos so somehow, I need to figure out how to get my youngest two kids included in the group someday. 🙂 The package included a cute picture he drew of each kid and an assigned number of which one of Teancum’s Warriors they were. They also got a beautiful picture of Christ of their choosing and a fun headband. My kids are #26 and #27. My daughter has her picture hanging on the wall surrounded by some of her favorite scriptures.

We have loved David’s books as well. (Not pictured below – Dude, Don’t be Lemuel simply because it’s lost somewhere in a teenage bedroom….) We read the Who’s Your Hero series over and over when my oldest two were younger. We still occasionally say “Natural man – scram” when someone is needing a reminder to behave better.

If you are interested in finding out more, (which I recommend!) you can go here. You will find samples of videos, what’s included in your subscription, pricing options, etc. This is one Come Follow Me resource you won’t regret adding in each week!

Always Be Loved

We recently celebrated the two youngest Cady Kids birthdays. (They share a birthday which is so fun!) It’s hard to believe how fast the time is going and how big they are already! Of course, my babies growing up caused me to reflect on life, where they’re all going, and who they’re becoming. Each of my kids is so unique in their personalities. I know each will go different places in life and do great things but for now, I’m going to love as many moments as I can – even through all the crazy, blue paint episodes. 🙂

One by one my babies grow.
Where they’ll go – I don’t yet know.
But this I guarantee to you
Each will be loved through and through.
Through each broken picture frame.
Through each family night board game.
Through each forgotten set of chores.
Through each trip to the grocery store.
Through each night while sick in bed.
Through each silly thing they’ve said.
Through each crazy sibling fight.
Through each crazy Halloween night.
Through each homecooked meal uneaten.
Through each card game that I’m beaten.
Through Sunday evening scripture study.
Through wet gloves and shoes all muddy.
Through lots and lots of piano practice.
Through all the little things that distract us.
And yes, perhaps even through
The times my walls are drawn on in blue.
And through it all as they grow
I’m grateful for one thing I know –
No matter what may come to be,
Our family is Eternally.
What a blessing, what a gift.
How much the knowledge gives a lift.
For this little clan of mine
Is a part of God’s design.
And though one by one my babies grow,
They’ll always be loved – this I know.

In Faith I Serve

Are you ever weighed down by your trials in life? Do you ever find it hard to serve others? Been there done that right there with you friend. It’s not always easy. I think it was meant to be that way. Anyone who has ever been served during their own hard times (hopefully) can understand the value and appreciation of service to others. Never fear what you may be sacrificing when you serve others, for when you serve you share the Savior’s light and that is always worth it.

Sometimes I wonder just “Why me?”
And if someday I’ll ever be
More than lost within the fray,
More than what I am today.
Will I have more strength to bear?
Will I have more love to share?
Then someone kindly reaches out,
And stays with me all throughout,
And again, I feel the Savior’s love
That strengthens me to let go of
The hurt, the pain that weighs me down.
The feel of being complete broke down.
And in the place where pain once filled
I feel strength and love have been refilled.
Gratitude, humility,
And faith with a bit more unbreakability.
My eyes then open – see the worth
Of these hard times I’ve had while here on Earth.
Of the person that I am
Of the strength of that lowly Lamb.
And I realize what he needs of me –
To strengthen others on bended knee,
What his followers try to convey,
What we each should try to portray –
Kindness, love, humility,
And a great willingness just to be
His hands to those who feel run down,
His hands to those who feel weighed down.
To serve with great tenacity.
To love with great capacity.
When we understand these things
We’re lifted up on angel’s wings.
So, with this faith I go to serve –
Maybe more than some deserve –
But in the end, it’s all alright
Because I shared the Savior’s Light.

Take Heart

Ever have one of Those Days? Or maybe a whole week or month or year – it’s one thing after another? It’s so easy to get discouraged, isn’t it! (Please tell me it’s not just me!) Sometimes when we are deep in the struggle, we just need a little reminder to hold on tight, to keep fighting and not give up. Because in the end, it will all be worth it.

When life doesn’t go your way
How do you smile, what do you say?
Is there sun to dry the rain?
Is there hope to heal the pain?
Where do you turn to heal your burns?
Will life always seem so stern?
What will you do if “today”
Will always be a “different way”?
Through the fog, do you see the light?
Do you need to borrow, to use His Sight?
This life is trying to build your soul,
Enhance your beauty, your self control.
So don’t let despair fill your heart
For God’s just given you a big head start.
He wants you back within arms reach
And Hard Times are the best way to teach.
Take a breath and get back in the fight.
Hold your head up, shine your light.
For today will soon be a moment past.
So cling to the important things that last.
And though today didn’t go your way,
Take heart – you’re the Master Potter’s clay.

The Power of a Book

I have confession to make: I love books. I don’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t love books actually, so I guess I’m a bit biased! This humble confession sums up quite nicely my own attitude. 🙂 With that being said, I do think that knowledge and study of the best books out there really does bless our lives.

When I open up a book –
Turn the page and have a look –
I soon forget about my cares,
The laundry sitting on the stairs,
The dishes in the kitchen sink,
What my nosy neighbors think.
And I’m whisked to some new place
And learning how to act with grace.
Or fight with the courage of
Heroes and the Lord above.
Learning how to be more kind.
Help others who are in a bind.
All about the deep blue sea
And creatures on the earth with me.
How to make a lovely meal
Or how to teach a dog to heel.
And when it’s time to close that book –
Lift my eyes and take a look –
Before I go back to my day
I take a moment just to pray,
And thank the Lord for knowledge more
Then I had just before.
That blesses me in many ways
And helps me out on all my days.
That helps me be much more like Him
Who lived his life without a sin.
Have you learned the value of
Knowledge from the Lord above?
Or how much exactly you are blessed
When you take the time to learn the best
From a simple book each day –
Take the time to study and pray.
Before you know it, Life’s complete
And then in Heaven you take your seat.
Won’t you be surprised to see
How much like God you’ve come to be,
In your knowledge and in your heart
And so much of it in part
Because you opened up a book –
Turned the page and had a look.

Perspective

It’s another Fall day around these parts. How do you feel about this time of year? It can be wonderful. It can be hard! (Like when you live in the Pacific Northwest like we do and it is day after day of dark and grey…) Thankfully it’s not forever! On the rough days, sometimes it’s hard to not let the Hard get you down though, right? I’ve learned that pausing and taking a few moments of gratitude for what I do have definitely helps. And sometimes taking it a little further and having a change in perspective goes a long way too. Like thinking “Where would I be if my life was different?”
Then maybe sneaking to the pantry for a quick bite of chocolate. 😉

Where would I be right now
If all my blessings disappeared somehow?
Would my heart be soft as stone?
Would my body be old cold bones?
Would this child upon my knee
Disappear and cease to be?
Would my pantry be filled with dust?
While suddenly I ceased to trust?
Would friends I’ve made along the way
Disappear just like the day?
Would the sky be always grey?
Or would all the rain just go away?
Would sweet music that fills my ears
Become unbearable or hard to hear?
Would that car parked in the drive
Turn to rust – no longer drive?
Would this peace and safety that I feel
Turn to turmoil and missed meals?
Would the warmth of this soft bed
Turn to ice and cold instead?
Would the peace and safety all around
Turn to something that can’t be found?
Would all the knowledge that I’ve gained
Disappear without a stain?
Would the clothes that warm my back
Turn to rough and worn out sacks?
Would all the beauty on this Earth
Disappear, replaced by dearth?
Would the smiles on children’s faces
Only be found in a few rare cases?
Oh, when I think upon these things
I see God’s love and my heart sings!
Then I humbly bow my head
And offer thanks for the aforesaid.
For no matter how hard the day,
When I choose to follow in his way,
The only place to find relief –
I am blessed beyond belief.
I also know without a doubt
If I walk away there may come drought.
For all these blessings come from God
And not some fancy, fake façade.
So next time that you’re feeling down
Halt those thoughts and turn around.
For God’s love is all year round
And our blessings so profound
That if we only choose to see
We’ll know exactly How to Be.
And if in the Light, we walk His way
We’ll be more than merely blessed each day.