Family Time

Today we decided to break out our little fire pit and have smore in the back yard. The kids absolutely loved it. We took turns going around the campfire telling campfire stories. It was so funny to listen to the boys make up their own little stories. I loved it!!!! in 90% of them mom was the victim of some sort of crazy scheme or dissaster - I wonder what that means :)......

Yummy Smores!!!

WHAT IN THE WORLD

Where is the mother of these wild children?

Congratulations Jenna

My baby sister graduated from High School!!! I cannot believe that she is that old - time goes by so fast. I am so proud of her she is such a good girl. I was so sad I could not be at her graduation. It's hard to live soooooooo far away. I can't wait to be home!!! LOVE YOU JEN JEN!!!!

A Sweet Experience

It seems like lately I have had a lot of spiritual things on my mind. As you know from my previous posts. I use this as my journal and sometimes I'm sure I record things that are not very interesting to anyone but me. But some of these things are things that I want to remember.

Today at church I had a very testimony building experience. Our ward was split today into a Branch and then a Ward. As I sat and listened to both the old the old and new members of the Bishopric and Branch Presidency I was touched by the love they had for each other. One of the Counselors in our previous Bishopric could barely speak. He said that he was overwhelmed with emotion because of the love he felt for those he served with and would greatly miss serving with the men he served with. The spirit was so strong that it moved me to tears. I could feel how much he loved the other members of the Bishopric.

I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude to belong to a church where we serve along side of one another to achieve a common goal. All of us are imperfect people struggling to do the best we can and we are so lucky to have members of our ward who lead us with patience and kindness to where we need to be.

I feel so grateful to have had people in my life that were willing to look past my imperfections and believe in me. I have had many life changing experiences due to people who believed in me and made me feel like I was an important part of a ward. I'm so grateful for those who took on roles to take care of my little family like I was a part of their family. I'm grateful for friends who continue to bless my life with their examples - I sure have great friends.

Its amazing what blessings can come by serving in your wards. I accepted a calling in the Primary in the Morgan fifth ward a few years ago. I have to say I was a little nervous when I accepted the calling because it was a very young class filled with strong little spirits. Because of that call I received such a huge blessing - my sweet, sweet friend who was called to serve right beside me. We did not know each other before that and Heavenly Father knew I needed her. My life would not be the same without her.

I guess today I feel so blessed to have a testimony. I love this gospel - I love the people that I am blessed to come in contact with. Chances are if you are reading this I love you too!!!!

Thanks for listening to me ramble on and on... I'm sure there is more to come.

Thank You!!!!

Thank you so much for all of you who have given me great advice on my previous post. Some of you have posted your ideas and others have called. Either way - thank you for your help! It is so nice to know that as moms we can help each other raise our great kids!!!!

In my quest - I read this wonderful, wonderful talk by Elder Holland. It really touched my heart. When I really think about the awesome responsibility it is to raise these little ones it feels a bit overwhelming but I also look at each one of my kids and realize how lucky I am that they are here with me and that I get the privilege to have them in my home. They teach me more than I could ever teach them. They have sweet, sweet spirits and I could not be more blessed!!!!

I thought I would share a little piece of his talk - I just loved it!!!!

A Prayer For The Children

Elder Holland

In such times as we are in, whether the threats be global or local or in individual lives, I too pray for the children. Some days it seems that a sea of temptation and transgression inundates them, simply washes over them before they can successfully withstand it, before they should have to face it. And often at least some of the forces at work seem beyond our personal control.
Well, some of them may be beyond our control, but I testify with faith in the living God that they are not beyond His. He lives, and priesthood power is at work on both sides of the veil. We are not alone, and we do not tremble as if abandoned. In doing our part, we can live the gospel and defend its principles. We can declare to others the sure Way, the saving Truth, the joyful Life. We can personally repent in any way we need to repent, and when we have done all, we can pray. In all these ways we can bless one another and especially those who need our protection the most—the children. As parents we can hold life together the way it is always held together—with love and faith, passed on to the next generation, one child at a time.

It is definitely clear that we have a major responsibility to our children. But I also think it is clear that we can do it!!! It is clear that being a good parent starts with being a good person. I sure have a way to go on myself but I am trying. :) I am so grateful for the gospel. There is not a better way to raise my kids and I am so grateful that I don't have to do it alone.

Seeking Advice From Smarter Mothers Out There....

I have been thinking a lot the last couple of days about a couple of things. I feel an overwhelming sense of responsibility to teach my children the importance of gratitude. I want so much for my kids to go through out there lives with a grateful heart. I want them to feel grateful for the things that they have been given. I have noticed the comparison of "things" between children and truthfully between adults as well and it makes me sad. I want my kids to grow up feeling thankful for the things that they have and not feeling like they have been given what they are owed or that they don't have enough unless they have everything someone else has. I want them to grow up with "things" in their proper place. Not only do I want them to recognize the things that they have but I want them to be aware of services that have been given to them. There are soooo many people who do things for my kids. How do I teach them to recognize the things that are being done for them? In no way am I expecting to have perfect children or expect them to always have perfect gratitude but I do want to do my best to teach them to do their best.

I was looking up somethings on LDS.ORG and found this little story that touched my heart:

Elder A. Theodore Tuttle told of an experience of expressing gratitude he encountered while he was staying at a home during a stake conference visit:
“There sits a young man here today in whose home I was a guest at a stake conference. Since he had recently left for the Y [Brigham Young University], I was to sleep in his room Saturday night. As his gracious mother showed me the room, she opened his closet where I saw a handwritten letter taped to the rod in the closet. It read:
“Mom,
Thanks for all you’ve done to make this a ‘special summer.’ You are a very ‘special mother’ and I thank the Lord for the blessing of being your son.
I love you and appreciate all you do in my behalf. See you in November.
Paul.
“As she paused while I read it, she said, ‘Hope you don’t mind hanging your clothes out here. This note is still kind of precious. You know, every time I open this closet I read it again, and I would like to leave it there a little longer’ ” (What Kind of Thanks? Brigham Young University Speeches of the Year [26 Nov. 1968], 5).

Another Example:

It is important that we offer prayers of praise and thanksgiving in our families. President N. Eldon Tanner was reminded of this principle by his daughter: “I was deeply touched one day following our family prayer when one of our little daughters said, ‘Daddy, I don’t think we ought to ask for more blessings. The Lord has been very good to us, but I do think we should ask him to help us to be worthy of the blessings we receive.’ Since then we have tried more diligently to express our gratitude to our Father in heaven” (Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God [1973], 159–60).

Obviously these mothers did something right - and I want to be like them. So I'm asking all you mothers out there who are so much smarter than me to help me. I would love your advice! If any of you have read any conference talks that could help me with this I would love to hear about them. Let me know what you think.........