Chicken Wing

This week was extremely eventful, which was kind of a nice change after being bored for so many months on end before the semester started again. Busy isn't always bad!


On Wednesday, I got to participate in a day at Shumway Academy here in the Rexburg area for my ED361 class. At the very beginning of the semester each of us signed up for a day, and my day was this past Wednesday. Shumway Academy is a school that teaches a lot of lessons outdoors, and the kids learn about things in nature. The lesson I was assigned was about bears and hibernation, and I was REALLY nervous to teach! Long story short things didn't go as I expected they would--I taught 5-14 year olds instead of just the 1st-3rd graders like I'd been expecting, and I honestly hardly taught at all. My partner and I were paired with one of the lead teachers, and he took over almost everything. So while it wasn't much teaching experience, it was still neat to see how the school worked and be outside for a change.

Then, on Friday, my partner Haden and I taught our first lesson in our classrooms at the middle school here in Rexburg. At the beginning of the semester we were told that we probably wouldn't be working in a classroom that taught the same subject as our major, which freaked me out. I was so worried I'd have to teach about math or science! However, I lucked out and all the teachers we work with teach 5th grade Social Studies. So while it's definitely not the age group or subject I'm planning on teaching, at least I'm not having to teach a subject that I hate!

The lesson Haden and I were assigned for Friday was about Fort Sumter, and we had lots of activities and discussions planned for the kids to help make things less boring. We taught our lesson twice: once being observed by one of the teacher assistants in our ED361 class, and then we received feedback. Then we would teach again, hopefully implementing the tips we'd received. Our first time through the lesson was a bit rough, and it was especially hard trying to get the attention of all the kids. There were about 25 of them, and when there are 10-15 kids all yelling and talking and jumping around at once, it can get pretty...exciting haha. So one of the things both my partner and I wanted to work on for our second time around was being more authoritative, and trying things out with the kids in terms of getting them to listen better or more quickly.

When we taught a second time, our class was slightly smaller and they had just had a talk the day before about respecting others with their "main" teacher, Mrs. Pixton, so they were a bit more well-behaved. However, they still got a bit out of hand a few times. Near the beginning of that period I decided to try something really random to get the kids' attention and see if it worked. When they started getting restless and acting out, I'd say "Alright, guys! Are we ready? Show me your chicken wing if you're ready! Chicken wing if you're ready, guys!" Along with yelling this, I took one of my arms and made a chicken wing against my body. And you know what? IT TOTALLY WORKED! It worked BEAUTIFULLY! First of all, they thought it was hysterical. Secondly this was an awesome way to get their attention because if they weren't looking at me, hearing the words "show me your chicken wing" would be a really confusing statement, and hard to copy. So they had to look at me to mimic the action I was making! I'm brilliant! I used it the rest of the class period and it still worked really well, so I'm definitely going to be adding it to my list of things to use. I'm not sure how well it would work on high school kids...but hey, you never know!

Today, Sunday, Jake and I gave talks in sacrament meeting about motherhood, and Heavenly Father's definition of motherhood. People seemed to like what we had to say, and it went pretty well overall!

I'll add our talks below, if you'd like to read them.

Jessica's Talk:

I've been asked to speak about Heavenly Father’s definition of motherhood. I think it’s important to focus on the fact that this is Heavenly Father’s definition of motherhood, not the world’s. The world’s definition of motherhood is very black and white—you're either a mother with biological or legally adopted children, or you're not a mother. Heavenly Father doesn't see motherhood that way.

In the talk “Are We Not All Mothers?” given by Sister Sheri Dew, she says: “in the Lord’s language the word mother has layers of meaning. Of all the words or titles they could have chosen to define her role and her essence, both God the Father and Adam called Eve ‘the mother of all living.’ And they did so before she even bore a child. The Lord does nothing with a short-range view. Everything He does is for forever. Thus, like Eve, our motherhood began before we were born.”

Every time I have heard this concept, I think of my best friend. Over the years of our friendship, she started jokingly calling me “Momma” because of the way I treated her: I was constantly reminding her to bring a jacket when we’d go out, to eat a snack before leaving the house, or to do her homework. I remember the summer before I left for my first semester here at BYU-Idaho as a 21-year-old transfer student, I taught my best friend how to do laundry and how to cook for herself. She is currently finishing up the last month of her mission in San Antonio, Texas, and every letter I have received from her over the past 18 months has started with “Dear Momma.” What started out as a joke between two friends was quickly realized as the truth.

In her talk, Sister Dew continues: “Motherhood is more than bearing children…it is the essence of who we are as women. Motherhood defines our very identity, our divine status and nature, and the unique traits, talents, and tendencies with which our Father endowed us…Motherhood is not what was left over after our Father blessed His sons with the privilege of priesthood ordination. It was the most ennobling endowment He could give His daughters, a sacred trust that gave woman an unparalleled role in helping His children keep their second estate.”

When reading that last portion, one of the words that really stuck out to me was “unparalleled.” Being an English major and lover of words, I decided to look up the complete definition. Unparalleled means “having no parallel or equal; exceptional.” Going back to the quote from Sister Dew, this means that we as women have an exceptional role in helping God’s children keep their second estate, or to succeed during our mortal lives here on earth.

Sheri Dew continues: “As daughters of our Heavenly Father, and as daughters of Eve…we each have the responsibility and the privilege to love and to help lead the rising generation…one of the single most significant responsibilities for a latter-day woman of God—regardless of her personal circumstances—is to help love and lead the younger generation.”

The phrase “regardless of her personal circumstances” here was kind of a wake-up call, in my opinion, for all those like me who don’t have children yet, or even for those who have raised their children already and are enjoying a home that’s probably a lot quieter than what it used to be. Regardless of our personal circumstances; whether or not we have children in the home currently, don't have any yet, or have raised some already, it is our duty to help the next generation be successful. We don't get to kick back and say “well, it’s not my turn yet” or “I've already done my fair share of mothering, now I get to relax!”.

Our time to be mothers is never on pause or over. We are called to be mothers our entire lives, whether that’s through raising our own children, or helping the youth of our ward. Motherhood even applies to the women who haven’t married yet, let alone had their own children—it’s also their duty to help the youth around them, or to reach out to those older than them who need support.

Motherhood is not just sitting up late at night with a fussy baby, or changing diapers, or reading “Goodnight, Moon” over and over and over and over, although those are extremely important parts of being a mother. Motherhood is reaching out to those in need, sometimes before they even have a chance to ask for help. Motherhood is working to be the answer to someone else’s prayer for assistance, encouragement, or comfort.

One of the closing remarks from Sister Dew’s talk is: “As mothers in Israel, we are the Lord’s secret weapon.” I testify that this is true; that we as mothers are a vital part of God’s plan for us to all return to Him one day. CLOSE

Jake's Talk:

What is a mother?

A mother is someone who loves you
Who cares for you in every way
She sits down and listens
To what you have to say

She always thinks you’re beautiful
Never puts you down
She always has a smile
To wipe away your frown

A mother is someone who believes in you
Always pushes you to go far
Tells you to believe in yourself
No matter who you are

A mother is like an angel
Although without the wings
She tells you to enjoy
Life's smallest and simplest things

I really love my mother
She means so much to me
Mommy I really love you
And that's how it will always be.

According to urban dictionary, mother is defined as “the woman who loves you unconditionally from birth, the one who puts her kids before herself and the one who you can always count on above everyone else. A mother is someone you tell your problems to and it makes you feel better because moms always know how to make it all go away.

Rachel Wheatley – “A mother is a loving, caring woman who is more than willing to give up her dreams to have a family. Someone who puts her children and husband first and never looks back with regret.”

Savanna Butler – “A mother to me is someone who gives everything to receive nothing and yet is infinitely blessed because of it.”

Kiana DeBerry – “I believe a mother is someone who gives up everything she has to support and make others happy. Someone who is willing to sacrifice anything to help keep a family together and strong. They are all full of love and patience. They are the peacemakers to life.”

Rebecca Miller – “A mother is someone who is nurturing and caring, selfless, sacrifices a lot, takes care of others needs before her own.”

A mother is selfless!

Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living (Moses 4:26)

1^st Commandment given to Adam and Eve = multiply and replenish the earth. (Pertained to their potential for parenthood)

The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners.

Faith – Alma 56:47-48

Work – (including obedience) Alma 57:19-21 (Stripling Warriors)

Prayer – Elder Quentin L. Cook said, “When I was nearly five years old, my mother received word that her younger brother had been killed when the battleship on which he was serving was bombed off the coast of Japan near the end of World War II. This news was devastating to her. She was very emotional and went into the bedroom. After a while I peeked into the room to see if she was OK. She was kneeling by the bed in prayer. A great peace came over me because she had taught me to pray and love the Savior. This was typical of the example she always set for me.”

-         Abraham Lincoln once said, “I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.”

-         Robert Brault said, “If you have a mom, there is nowhere you are likely to go where a prayer has not already been.”

Repentance – To prepare us for baptism. When we learn repentance, we are moving away from sin and turning toward our Heavenly Father more fully.

Forgiveness – Taught by mothers. Forgiveness helps us to gain a new faith. It helps us to learn and grow. When we forgive others we feel peace and the work of God in our life.

Respect – Honor thy father and mother (Mosiah 13:20)

Love – Elder Robert D. Hales said, “I remember as a young man asking permission to play baseball through dinnertime. ‘Just put my meal in the oven,’ I said to my mother. She responded, ‘Robert, I really want you to take a break, come home, be with your family for dinner, and then you can go out and play baseball until dark.’ She taught all of us that where family meals are concerned, it’s not the food but the family interaction that nourishes the soul. My mother taught that the greatest love we give is within our homes.”

-         Karl Lagerfeld also said, “The only love that I really believe in is a mother’s love for her children.”

Compassion – is the response to the suffering of others that motivates a desire to help. It comes from Latin and means “to suffer with”. Mothers can have the ability to feel what their children are feeling.

Mothers teach us wrong from right. Truth from lies. Left from right. Baking soda from baking powder. She slept little and worried much. Taught us to love God. To love others. To love ourselves. Taught how to help others. Prayed with us and prayed for us. Read to us and taught us what the scriptures meant. Was the cheerleader and our biggest fan. The queen of all.

A poem by Katherine Nelson Davis reads:

"What is a Mother?"

A mother is someone to shelter and guide us,
To love us, whatever we do,
With a warm understanding and infinite patience,
And wonderful gentleness, too.

How often a mother means swift reassurance
In soothing our small, childish fears,
How tenderly mothers watch over their children
And treasure them all through the years.

The hearth of a mother is full of forgiveness
For any mistake, big or small,
And generous always in helping her family
Whose needs she has placed above all.

A mother can utter a word of compassion
And make all our cares fall away,
She can brighten a home with the sound of her laughter
And make life delightful and gay.

A mother possesses incredible wisdom
And wonderful insight and skill-
In each human heart is that one special corner
which only a mother can fill!

“No man is poor who has a Godly mother.” – Abraham Lincoln

I often go walking in meadows of clover

And I gather armfuls of blossoms of blue.

I gather the blossoms the whole meadow over;

Dear mother, all flowers remind me of you.

O mother, I give you my love with each flower

To give forth sweet fragrance a whole lifetime through;

For if I love blossoms and meadows and walking,

I learn how to love them, dear mother, from you.

Happy Mother's Day to our amazing moms!