My Heart Squared

Sunday Thoughts

2012-02-05T20:15:00.000-08:00

Here is something I learned while studying these verses of scripture from this week's Sunday School lesson (1 Nephi 22:16-17). Take note of how the Lord will destroy the wicked and preserve the righteous.

For the time soon cometh that the fulness of the wrath of God shall be poured out upon all the children of men; for He will not suffer that the wicked shall destroy the righteous.

Wherefore, He will preserve the righteous by His power, even if it so be that the fulness of His wrath must come, and the righteous be preserved, even unto the destruction of their enemies by fire. Wherefore, the righteous need not fear; . . . they shall be saved, even if it so be as by fire.

So what I did know is that before the Lord comes a second time, those that believe not in the Lord Jesus Christ will be destroyed by fire (2 Nephi 6:15).

But what caught my attention is that it is also by fire that the Lord will preserve the righteous. And few fire-saving images illustrated in the scriptures came to my mind:

1. Baptism by fire/receiving the Holy Ghost (Doctrine and Covenants 20:41)
2. Tithing a.k.a. Fire Insurance (Doctrine and Covenants 64:23)
3. Guidance in a world of darkness (Exodus 13:21)
4. Purification - to receive His image in our countenances (Malachi 3:2)

Which made me take a personal inventory of where I stand and where my heart is.

Because righteousness binds Satan.

When Satan is bound he has no power.

And what I learned this week is that I don't have to wait until the Millennium to shake the very powers of @#!*% (see 1 Nephi 22:26 and Alma 48:17)!

Facing the Giants

2012-02-03T08:33:00.000-08:00

You'd think that in a house full of seven boys and a husband who enjoys playing sports with his sons, Super Bowl Sunday would be the most anticipated Sunday of the year.

But not at our house.

We chose long ago that for our family Sundays would be dedicated to the Lord, not to sports.

But just this last week we discovered this amazing, uplifting movie. . . just in time for the Super Bowl Weekend.

What NOT to Do With A Flour Baby

2012-02-01T18:36:00.000-08:00

So several weeks ago my 8th grade son had a Flour Baby project.

10 pound bag of flour + duct tape + 24/7 flour-sitting for a week (which included 3 a.m. calls to the school to verify baby had been fed and changed) = an ever so small glimpse of what it takes to care for a baby.

It was an interesting week to say the least.

But what I was really looking forward to at the end of this week long flour baby project, was what I could do with that 10 extra pounds of flour!!

Copy Cat Krispy Kreme Doughnuts OR Homemade Cinnamon Burst Bread?

So after sitting on the kitchen counter for a few days, I took that flour baby and cut into that bad boy through all the layers of gray, duct tape.

And to my absolute devastation that flour was completely unusable. Unless you like clumpy and gritty and crave the taste of what duct tape smells like.

So I threw it all away.

All of it.

Ten pounds of once beautiful flour.

No doughnuts. No bread. But I am happy to report that my son treats his baby sister much better than his flour baby.

Tidbit Tuesday - We Are A Happy Family (really!)

2012-01-31T13:11:00.000-08:00

"You call this a happy family? Why did we have to have all these kids?"

-George Bailey
It's a Wonderful Life

Uh, I Didn't Know

2012-01-21T17:46:00.000-08:00

Many years ago, and I mean many years ago when I had only five boys who still thought hot cereal for breakfast was all that . . . a woman, who had six grown, married sons of her own told me that when her boys were teenagers she would fix 10 pounds of potatoes for dinner along with the rest of the meal. Not minutes after putting the last, clean dish away, her sons would ask what else there was to eat.

"Yeah, I'll bet," I remember giggling, thinking I knew what this experienced mom meant. . .

Well uh, I'm there. And believe me, I didn't know.

What I learned about the Spirit World

2012-01-21T09:49:00.000-08:00

Clarify: \ˈkler-ə-ˌfī, ˈkla-rə-\ 1: to make (as a liquid) clear or pure usually by freeing from suspended matter 2: to free of confusion 3: to make understandable

So last night I was studying along about what to expect in the Spirit World.

I have studied and pondered these verses in Alma and this section of the Doctrine and Covenants many, many times. But last night I came across this teaching from Brigham Young.

And I say "Hello" to clarification to some of the thoughts I've had about the Spirit World.

"Is the spirit world here? It is not beyond the sun, but is on the earth that was organized for the people that have lived and do and will live upon it. No other people can have it, and we can have no other kingdom until we are prepared to inhabit this eternally.

"When you lay down this tabernacle, where are you going? Into the spiritual world. Are you going to Abraham's bosom? No, not anywhere nigh there but into the spirit world. Where is the spirit world? It is right here. Do the good and evil spirits go together? Yes, they do. Do they both inhabit one kingdom? Yes, they do. Do they go to the sun? No. Do they go beyond the boundaries of the organized earth? No, they do not. They are brought forth upon the earth, for the express purpose of inhabiting it to all eternity. Where else are you going? Nowhere else, only as you may be permitted.

". . .If the Lord would permit it, and it was His will that it should be done, you could see the spirits have have departed from this world, as plainly as you now see bodies with your natural eyes. . .

"The Spirits that dwell in these tabernacles on this earth, when they leave them go directly into this world of spirits. What! A congregated mass of inhabitants there in spirit, mingling with each other, as they do here? Yes, brethren, they are there together, and if they are associate together, and collect together in clans and in societies as they do here, it is there privilege. No doubt they yet, more of less, see, hear, converse and have to do with each other, both good or bad. . .

"If we are faithful to our religion, when we go into the spirit work, the fallen spirits - Lucifer and the third part of the heavenly hosts that came with him, and the spirits of wicked men (and women) who have dwelt upon this earth, the whole of them combined will have no influence over our spirits. Is not that an advantage? Yes. All the rest of the children of men are more or less subject to them, and they are subject to them as there were here in the flesh. . .

"When the breath leaves the body, your life has not become extinct; your life is still in existence. And when you are in the spirit world, everything will appear as natural as things now do. Spirits will be familiar with spirits in the spirit world - will converse, behold, and exercise a variety of communication with another as familiarity and naturally as while here in tabernacles. There, as here, all things will be natural, and you will understand them as you now understand natural things" (Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. Joyhn A. Widstoe [1941], 376-80).

Liken the Scriptures - David and Goliath

2012-01-19T11:37:00.000-08:00

Many years ago, when our oldest was about seven, I wanted to find something that could keep my boys' attention between General Conference sessions. Someone suggested a "Liken" video about David and Goliath.

I was a bit apprehensive, but I decided I would give it a try. Come to find out, this has become my FAVORITE telling of David and Goliath!

For a limited time you can watch it on LIKEN TV for free!

Tidbit Tuesday - Hearing the Voice of the Lord

2012-01-17T13:29:00.000-08:00

"It is vital that we, the sisters of Relief Society, learn to hear the voice of the Lord. Yet I worry that too often we fail to seek the guidance of the Spirit. Perhaps we don’t know how and haven’t made it a priority to learn. Or we’re so aware of our personal failings that we don’t feel worthy, don’t really believe the Lord will talk to us, and therefore don’t seek revelation. Or we’ve allowed the distractions and pace of our lives to crowd out the Spirit. What a tragedy! For the Holy Ghost blesses us with optimism and wisdom at times of challenge that we simply cannot muster on our own. No wonder that one of the adversary’s favorite tactics among righteous LDS women is busyness—getting us so preoccupied with the flurry of daily life that we fail to immerse ourselves in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Sisters, we can’t afford not to seek the things of the Spirit! There is too much at stake. Too many people are depending on us as mothers, as sisters, leaders, and friends. A woman led by the Lord knows where to turn for answers and for peace. She can make difficult decisions and face problems with confidence because she takes her counsel from the Spirit, and from her leaders who are also guided by the Spirit. Our responsibility, therefore, is to learn to hear the voice of the Lord. "

-Sheri L. Dew
General Conference October 1998

Family Home Evening - Jesus Christ, Our Chosen Leader and Savior

2012-01-16T20:39:00.000-08:00

Tonight our lesson came from HERE.

Here is what we did:

We asked the following questions for everyone to think about:
Question #1: Why did we need to leave Heavenly Father's presence?
Question #2: Why do we need a Savior?

Then my six year old daughter and I stood to lead this persuasive argument:

Mom: Okay, as you all know, Father has presented to us His plan.

Daughter: We have been assigned to come and ask for your votes.

Mom: Before you make your choice, we want you to hear both sides of what is being offered so that you can best decide what is right for you.

Daughter: As you know, two of our spirit brothers are willing to go to earth for us.

Mom: I believe both want what is best for us. Both have reasonably good offers. But I want you to think how you would feel if we never could see each other again. Think of all the time we have spent together. Think of all the good times we've already have had. I don't think I could bear it if one of us never comes back to Father. That is why I think Lucifer's plan will be the best for us. Think about it, we will go to earth together and then come back and live with Father again.

Daughter: Only one of our brothers is following Father's plan. Jesus is the only one who is giving you a choice. Following Father's true plan means you will choose Jesus over Lucifer.

Mom: But making choices on earth will only hurt you. Thank about it. What if you make a wrong choice? What if you make a choice that makes you sad or poor or ugly or fat? What happens if you make a choice that brings harm or evil to one of us? It will destroy us. We could never come back as a family. I know none of us would want that.

Daughter: But Jesus promises us that He will be our Savior. He will save us from all of our bad mistakes if we follow Him. He promises that if we make covenants with Father and keep His commandments, we can repent and return together as a family forever and ever.

Mom: Don’t you see how hard it's going to be? Those are all hypothetical ideas because we will make mistakes with Jesus. Lucifer is going to take Father's plan and make it easier for us to do the same thing. Lucifer will make sure that we will follow the commandments, that we will ALL make covenants, that we will do EVERYTHING that we should do. None of us will do anything different. None of us will stray from the path. NONE OF US! We will ALL come home. It's the easy way.

Daughter: But remember what Lucifer said? After everything is all done, he wants to take away all of Father's glory for himself. Father is the greatest, most wonderful being I have ever known. Everything He does is for our eternal happiness. Lucifer is trying to take over our family.

Mom: He is not trying to take over our family. If Lucifer does win, he will make sure that we will all come back, just as Father wants. And if he does that, wouldn't he deserve all of the glory anyway for working so hard for us?

Daughter: No! Jesus is Father's First Born Son. He will go to earth just like us. He will know all that we go through. He promises us that we can make choices and learn for ourselves - not be told what to do. He will sacrifice Himself to show us that He loves us and that we can repent and be forgiven. And in the end, Jesus will give Father ALL the glory. And He promises us that we can share all the blessings of eternal life with them.

Mom: Whatever. We don't have much time left. You need to decide which side you'll choose. Please promise me that we will always, always, always stay together. Please choose the easy way!

Daughter: I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior. He is the way, the truth and the life. It is time to make your choice.

What ensued was amazing. Of course, to make things at least somewhat real (a third of the hosts of heaven rejected Father's plan), I enlisted the help of my husband and our twelve-year old twins to choose to go with me.

But everyone else clearly and easily moved over to the side their sister was on.

Except our youngest son.

To begin with, he found himself on his sister's side. But oh, how he LOVES his twin brothers. And oh how his twin brothers love him.

And they began coaxing him to come over.

Come over to our side.

And that is when the "battle" ensued!

Noise. Commotion. A whole lot of yelling.

Sister's team grabbed hold of him, not wanting to let him go. And the twins, well, they are all about agency!!

"Hey!" they yelled. "You can't hold him back. You can't take away his agency. If he wants to come with us, he can."

So sister's team let him go. And he came to our side just beaming.

And after, when we "revealed" what sides were and how many of our spirit sibs chose to follow Lucifer, our youngest little boy fell down and sobbed. He sobbed and sobbed and sobbed.

He didn't want to choose the wrong side. But he did. Because he loves his brothers.

Which gave me a whole lot to think about.

About my choices before I came to earth - and my choices now.

About who I influenced in the Spirit World.

And whom I'm influencing now.

Am I using my agency to get back to Him and helping others to so the same?

It was a great family home evening!

Forgot to post last week's FHE. But It came from HERE. And we all ended up drawing pictures of families in clouds.

Tidbit Tuesday - Self-Discipline and Internal Control

2012-01-10T15:50:00.000-08:00

"Self-discipline has eroded and societies are left to try to maintain order and civility by compulsion. The lack of internal control by individuals breeds external control by governments."

D. Todd Christofferson
General Conference October 2009

Murmuring, Obedience and Me

2012-01-08T19:21:00.000-08:00

Here's what I learned in Sunday School today about murmuring.

The information today was shared by an incredibly talented, yet profoundly humble pediatric cardiologist and his most remarkable wife, who also happens to be a cardiac nurse for adult patients!!

So when a baby is born with a heart murmur, it is called an innocent murmur.

A normal heart beat sounds something like lub-dub, lub-dub.

An innocent murmur in an infant sounds something more like lub-dub, then a blowing noise (emphasis on the noise), then a lub-dub.

There are about six different types of innocent murmurs.

These murmurs are common enough among young children that if you listen to the hearts of 20 pre-schoolers, one-fourth of them will have a heart murmur!

Most innocent heart murmurs in children go away naturally somewhere between the ages of 8 and 10.

Interesting, isn't it, that that age coincides somewhat with the age of accountability?

However, when an adult has a heart murmur it is usually caused by another, underlying problem.

If not treated properly and promptly the effects can be severe enough to cause death.

So there in Sunday School my mind and heart was processing as quickly as it could before someone moved to the next topic, the connection murmuring has with obedience.

Obedience to the Lord.

Obedience to the living prophets.

Obedience to the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

And how disobedience is usually the underlying problem I have when it comes to my murmuring.

Disobedience meaning a negative attitude or laziness or being too comfortable or not acting quickly enough or just being plain rebellious.

And how if the underlying cause of my murmuring (aka disobedience) isn't corrected properly and promptly, the effects can be severe enough to cause me death.

Spiritual death. Or in other words, losing my place in the land of promise.

No wonder obedience IS the First Law of Heaven.

Because obedience will do wonders on fixing the murmurs of my heart.

Giving without Expecting ANYTHING in Return

2012-01-06T15:26:00.000-08:00

Okay, okay, I've learned my lesson.

It is so MUCH better to give without expecting ANYTHING in return.

And let me just tell you why.

I had this HUGE bag of baby clothes that were being added upon weekly.

Only six months worth of baby clothes, thank heavens, because I donated the first three months of clothes to a high school fundraising yard sale a few months ago.

Anywho, I had this HUGE bag of baby clothes(did I say that already?) and most of the clothes, okay, at least half of the clothes were NEW. The rest were very gently used.

So I decided I would try my luck and take this HUGE bag to a store that promises CASH for new and gently used baby things.

"Goody!" I thought, "Maybe I'll have enough dough for a small down payment on a gently used high chair to add to our dining area."

So I dropped this HUGE goody bag off at the store that promises CASH for baby things and I anxiously awaited their call.

I wait overnight, into the next morning and into that afternoon.

Well, by that afternoon I was experiencing such an EXTREME case of head pain that I had to take 800 mg of ibuprofen and lay down my head to see if that would do anything to take the pounding, throbbing, intense pain away.

And it was sometime during that dazey-doze of mine that the phone rings.

And I answer.

And it is a woman from the store who promises CASH for baby things. (Did I happen to mention that the HUGE bag I dropped off was filled with had new and very, gently used baby clothing???)

And here's how the conversation went down:

"Hello."

"Hello, this is the store that promises CASH for baby things."

"Oh yes," I muster, because my head is simply p-o-u-n-d-i-n-g out of my skull and my eyelids are the only things that are protecting my eyeballs from exploding, it hurts THAT bad.

"Um, your total CASH back is $3.38."

"Uh, . . . kay."

"Bye."

THREE DOLLARS AND THIRTY-EIGHT CENTS? Was she serious?

It cost me more in gas to drive that darn HUGE bag of new and gently used clothes to the store that offers CASH for baby things.

And I thought my head couldn't throb anymore than it already did!

And that is where I've learned my lesson to give without expecting anything in return.

Which means from here on out I drop off any and all HUGE bags of new and gently used baby clothes at the local thrift store.

Because it's a heck of a lot more satisfying than $3.38!

My Definition of Polyticks

2012-01-05T16:00:00.000-08:00

With Iowa behind us, New Hampshire just ahead and a whole heck of a lot more to come - and that doesn't even include the General Election - here's my humble definition of polyticks.

poly-: many, several, much

ticks: any of a superfamily of bloodsuckers that attach themselves to warm-blooded vertebrates to feed, and include important vectors of infectious diseases

But seriously folks, I feel so incredibly blessed to live in a country where we have our agency to vote.

To vote for a man or a mouse.

To vote for someone we passionately believe in, or for the person we think will win.

To vote for future promises or ideals and principles and hope for a better, stronger tomorrow.

Isn't it empowering to know that WE, THE PEOPLE, have the ability in 2012 to make the difference!

Tidbit Tuesday - HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2012-01-03T10:54:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I shared this last year.
But at the beginning of another year it's worth the reminder . . .
AND THE LAUGH!

Happy 2012.

Family Home Evening - Our Heavenly Father

2012-01-02T19:53:00.000-08:00

Tonight's family lesson came from HERE.

Here is what we did:

Everyone was given a piece of paper and crayons and asked to draw something they see or hear or feel or smell each day that reminds them that they have a Father in Heaven.

After each family member shared what they drew, we were asked some to think and share of some of Heavenly Father's character traits.

Then we discussed different ways on how each of us can better develop a relationship with our Father in Heaven. Prayer and studying the scriptures topped our list.

And here is just one of the things I learned tonight during family home evening:

After I drew my very colorful picture of a sunset, making sure I put in plenty of reds, oranges, and pinks in my Crayola the sky, I realized that I hadn't yet colored my sky blue.

YIKES!

So I dug around in the crayon box - that has at least 682 small, broken pieces - and finally found myself a sky blue crayon.

And guess what happened as I began to color over my already colorful sunset?

The light azure began to pick up the yellows and oranges and turn them into . . .

GREENS!

Which taught me another something so absoutely AMAZING about Heavenly Father.

In all my meager years of earthly existence, I have n.e.v.e.r. ever seen a green sky.

Never.

Blue + Yellow = Green.

But never during a sunset.

Because during the sunset, the yellows of the sun and the blues of the sky defy the color wheel.

And instead of greens, these two colors: blue and yellow, create deep reds, soothing oranges, calming pinks and absolutely stunning purples fit for a king.

And that, I think, makes Father in Heaven even MORE amazing!!!!

P.S. I also think Heavenly Father laughs a whole lot more that I think He does.

The Epiphany of 2011

2011-12-31T16:16:00.000-08:00

So I had an epiphany last year . . . about three months into the new year.

So it was too late for me to start for 2011.

And much, much too late for me to start at the beginning of our family because our oldest is currently teen-age and all.

BUT, the most fabulous thing is that even after I aged almost 12 months
since the epiphany, I still remembered!

And so I'll share!

This year I've made up a two-sided form for each person to fill out.

So it's more than just a resolution list or a prediction list.

So after it's all filled out by everyone, I will tuck them away until next year . . .

And save them from here on out.

Then, in five or ten or fifteen years (when our youngest becomes teen-age and all), all the things we wrote down will be a treasure!!!

Think important Family History Information!

On one side the form has the following things to fill out:
Name and AgeHeight and Weight (not so important to adults, but very important for my children)
Ecclesiastical Leaders/Church responsibilities
Grade and teacher(s)
Favorite/Least School Subjects
Favorite Food
Favorite Color
Favorite Movie
Favorite Day of the Week
Talents
Pet Peeves
Fears
Things that bring sadness/happiness
What I want to be when I grow up
A place I'd like to visit
Some things about me
Next year on New Year's Eve 2012, I want to say that I accomplished . . .
In five years, I will be _______ years old and here's what I will be doing . . .
The best things that happened to me in 2011 . . .
Some memories I have of this year . . .

The other side it is divided into two columns.

One column had general information like the President of the United States, the President of the Church, Governor of the State. It also has information about current events and also a small list of what things cost. Things like a gallon of gas, a loaf of bread, a postal stamp (because they are going up next month!!!) and a gallon of milk. And finally, some fun facts about what each family member is into these days: music, basketball, eating chocolate bon-bons (oops, did I totally give mine away??)

The other column is titled "2012 Predictions" for each member of the family to fill out. And the sky's the limit on that! That should be fun and interesting to go over come next New Year's Eve 2012!

And there it is - my epiphany which I happily share with you on this, the very last day of 2011.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

New Year's Adam

2011-12-30T19:21:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking about Adam and Eve.

Because if tomorrow's New Year's Eve, tonight is New Year's Adam . . .

But seriously folks, I really have been thinking about Adam and Eve

And their relationship.

One of the things I have pondered is Adam's willingness to eat of the fruit only after knowing Eve had partaken of it.

He didn't have to eat it.

He could have easily said, "Eve, how much I loved you and how much you've disappointed me! I didn't come into this covenant marriage to marry myself a sinner. But it looks like I have!! And frankly, honey, I can't go on like this with you blatantly disobeying and breaking Father's commandments. You know, the important one where we couldn't eat from the fruit of that tree. So, Eve, you go on your merry little way, off into the wild blue yonder where I hear it is terrible and lonely, and I'll stay put. Right here. Right here in this beautiful garden where sinners aren't permitted."

But that is not what Adam did.

And I don't believe it was even close to what he thought, either.

For because of the covenant marriage he and Eve shared, that Adam chose to partake of the fruit to accompany his wife into that wild blue yonder we affectionately call mortality.

And while I am not saying that every husband or wife should stick with their spouse under every, single circumstance of disobedience, I'm under the strong impression that Adam and Eve serve as an example of how a husband and wife can successfully and happily work things out in a covenant marriage.

Together.

In this wild blue yonder we affectionately call mortality.

On Giving and Receiving

2011-12-29T21:51:00.000-08:00

This Christmas season taught me about giving . .

And it also taught me a lot about receiving.

For because I come from a looooong ol' line of pure, unadulterated, die-hard givers.

On both sides of my family.

So it wasn't like I was given a dominant render-service-without-expecting-anything-in-return-exclamation-point gene coupled with a hidden recessive it's-important-to-receive-as-well-as-to-give-so-that-the-person-rendering-service-to-you-can-be-blessed-like-you-are-blessed-when-you-render-service-to-others gene.

Nope.

I got the double whammy of the dominant-dominant "Service to Others Only" gene.

"Take Nada in Return."

And I've been so good at it. . . about taking nada in return, that is.

Because that's wis the legacy of my parents, and my parents' parents, and my parents' parents' parents'.

Givers and Servers they all were.

Not Takers and Receivers.

And here is where this year's Christmas lesson came in for me.

Drum Roll please . . . pah-rum-pah-pum-pum)

There is a reason God wants us to serve others.

He does it because if we didn't think outside of ourselves, we would all be selfish, narcissistic little brats - always thinking of ourselves, constantly feeling sorry for ourselves, finding ways to puff ourselves up yadda, yadda, yadda.

So God, knowing full-well what happens to us in our carnal, natural state, commands us to serve others.

To get out minds off ourselves and our problems and our things.

And place our minds and our hearts in His, by loving and serving His children.

And while we're off doing all we can to obey the commandment to "Do Unto Others," a magnificent transformation occurs.

We start to look outside of ourselves, and feel less sorry for ourselves and more observant of those who are less fortunate than we, and somehow, our nature slowly changes and becomes more like His.

More kind.

More tenderhearted.

More charitable.

And that is where I learned of another commandment.

The one that exhorts us to "Come Unto Him."

Coming unto Christ means, in essence, that we must RECEIVE Him.

And that requires a great deal of humility, especially when "Give" is your mantra and "Receive" is four letter word plus three.

But I'm learning that in how I receive is how I can become even a better giver.

It is first by giving.

And giving some more.

And at times, giving when it seems like there is nothing left to give.

And then, when my heart is sufficiently humble, He then asks others to give unto me.

Which means I can either refuse.

And refusing means I choose not to accept Him.

Or I can receive with a profoundly, broken heart.

Which means I let Him in.

It means I accept Him!

And in this humble receiving I am offered the opportunity to become more like Him.

More kind.

More tenderhearted.

More charitable.

Indeed, I am learning that Christmas is about the giving and about the receiving.

And it lasts all lifetime long.

Tidbit Tuesday - Joy

2011-12-06T09:12:00.000-08:00

"Joy is the flag you fly when the Prince of Peace is in residence within your heart."

-Wilfred Peterson

Absolute Security or Freedom?

2011-11-29T07:39:00.000-08:00

In the war in heaven the devil advocated absolute eternal security at the sacrifice of our freedom. Although there is nothing more desirable to a Latter-day Saint than eternal security in God's presence, and although God knew, as did we, that some of us would not achieve this security if we were allowed our freedom - yet the very God of heaven, who has more mercy than us all, still decreed no guaranteed security except by man's own freedom of choice and individual initiative.

Today the devil as a wolf in a supposedly new suit of sheep's clothing is enticing some men, both in and out of the Church, to parrot his line by advocating planned government guaranteed security programs at the expense of our liberties. Latter-day Saints should be reminded how and why they voted as they did in heaven. If some have decided to change their vote they should repent - throw the support on the side of freedom - and cease promoting this subversion.

Ezra Taft Benson
General Conference, October 1961 (italics added)

The Friction Factor

2011-11-27T09:59:00.000-08:00

The other day my six year old was very angry.

Temper Tantrum Angry.

And when she gets that way there is A LOT of friction that goes on.

So she and I sat down to talk about the "heat" that rises to the surface when we are angry.

And after a meaningful discussion, enough to calm her down, we ended up rubbing our hands together - as fast as we could - to be able to feel and understand the heat that comes when two opposing forces are up against each other.

And that's when I learned something about anger.

It comes when I pit my divine nature against my natural, carnal (wo)man.

And always - not sometimes or even most of the time - when I submit to that friction, I come up empty.

And very, very warm!

Occupy Kitchen

2011-11-24T19:47:00.000-08:00

Today is Thanksgiving.

I spent 99% of my time occupying the kitchen.

Cooking.

Baking.

Cleaning.

From start to finish.

And I find it interesting how excited everyone was to join me in the kitchen to help me create.

Squeezing the juice.

Mashing the potatoes.

Sprinkling the cinnamon.

Rolling out the pastry.

Tasting the cranberry salsa.

But how tired everyone was to help clean up when the feasting was all over.

Clearing the table.

Putting the food away.

Doing the dishes.

Wiping down the counters.

The creating part - fun.

The cleaning part - not so fun, but oh, so very necessary.

Which got me thinking about how grateful I am for a Savior, even Jesus Christ.

He who is Author and Finisher.

He who was there at the Creation.

And He who will be there for the Cleanup.

Our Friend to the end.

My Maidservant

2011-11-20T19:02:00.000-08:00

Because of goodly parents, I grew up observing the Sabbath as a holy day.

No work.

No shopping.

No television.

No playing outside.

And the wearing of appropriate Sunday attire - all day long.

I have always been grateful for my parents who expected us to live the fourth commandment.

And I do all that I can to teach and live the same for my children.

So today, I received an additional Sabbath tidbit - from above, mind you - when I realized that a load of washing hadn't made it into the dryer before the Sabbath came.

Boy, was I t.e.m.p.t.e.d. to place that one load into the dryer, casually throw in a dryer sheet, walk away and let it tumble dry.

So. little. work. for. me.

And then, almost immediately as the thought of temptation turned nigh into action, this part of the fourth commandment caught my heart:

But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates.

That's when I asked myself this curious question, "Could my dryer be considered a manservant or a maidservant?"

Okay, definitely NOT a manservant. . .

But I put down the lid to the washer anyway. I was being taught what I needed to know.

And I'll wait until Monday to get that maidservant to work for me.

The Widow, the Jar of Oil and Me

2011-11-19T10:10:00.000-08:00

I have always loved the story of the widow of Zarephath.

She who obeyed - trustingly and faithfully - as she made her last meal, not for herself and her son, but for a weakened, famished prophet of God.

And in all my pondering in this story of pure faith and faithful obedience, it is the ending of that story I have pondered the very most.

How did that flour barrel never empty?

How did that cruse of oil never dry?

When the widow removed a cup or poured a portion, did it refill when she wasn't looking?

Or were the measurements always constant, defying the very laws of nature, because of the promise from the Lord?

Until today I had no answer.

Mind you, I am not a widow.

And I have much more than a cup of flour and a few drops of oil in my pantry.

But today, because of the compassion of others, my family and I were the recipients of mercy beyond my understanding.

And my heart filled with such a deep, profound perspective on this widow of Zarephath which I had never before taken into consideration.

Perhaps the widow's flour barrel never emptied and her cruse of oil never dried because of the selfless service of others.

Anything other than NO is Y.E.S.

2011-11-16T21:09:00.000-08:00

Today my husband and I discussed a little teeny, tiny problem we are having at our house.

According to our otherwise adorable, lively, energetic children, any response to their Yes/No question other than a N.O. - and I mean anything - means YES.

Today for example.

Our five year old asked if he could play a game on the computer.

"I don't think so," I replied, rather firmly.

"Woo Hoo," he skipped off, dancing a little jig and waving his little fingers in the air as a sign of victory. "Mom said I could play the computer."

"Get over here young man!" I ordered. "I did not say 'yes.' I said 'I don't think so.'"

"I know." he smiled. "And that means YES."

Then tonight.

My husband and I were in the kitchen when our teenage son asked if he could download an original YouTube video his friend's Deacon's Quorum made about being a deacon.

"Can I download it tonight?"

"No. It's already past your bedtime," I answered.

"Okay then, how about tomorrow after school?"

"Perhaps tomorrow . . . 'er ," I slowed my pace, got my brain into focus, remembering that anything other than NO is a YES and responded, "No. No you can't download it tomorrow afterschool! But you can do it on Friday or Saturday when your homework is finished."

"What?!" he stuttered incredulously. "But you just said YES!"

That's when my husband and I broke into harmonious laughter.

We now are looking for someone to teach English to our children.

Anyone?

The Modest, Monotonous and Mundane

2011-11-16T06:37:00.000-08:00

I haven’t fallen off the face of the earth.

Because if I did, I certainly would have blogged about it.

But fortunately, it has been the modest, the monotonous, and the mundane that has completely overtaken my time to blog.

It has made me feel extremely blessed that life can be filled with just that – modesty, monotony, and mundane-ness – and the Lord is able to fill me with understanding and joy.

I suppose that is why it is the “small and simple things” that bring great things to pass. . .

Including dishes, dinners, diapers, dirty laundry and science fair projects.

Tidbit Tuesday - Adversity

2011-11-15T09:09:00.000-08:00

"If you haven't been through adversity, where have you been?"

-Mary Ellen Edmunds

Remember the Receiving

2011-11-01T11:46:00.000-07:00

I will not lie when I say there have been dark times in my life when I was certain I couldn't go on.

Certain that no one really could know the depth my pain or the height my despair except God Himself.

And He did.

He always sent help.

His help has come to me in the kind, thoughtful service of others.

Those divine acts of love and mercy have made deep, everlasting impressions upon my heart. Impressions that can't be erased, but can only be remembered as I give in return.

That's why I've joined with so many others in supporting this month's cause to raise money for single moms. (See my sidbar widget!!!)

While there are lots of statistics out there about single moms (CLICK HERE),the bottom line is I want to show the Lord, in my small way, that I do remember His kindnesses towards me.

And this month this is how I'm choosing to do it.

Will you remember a time when the Lord has been kind to you. Perhaps even overly kind and downright merciful?

Will you remember how you felt?

How humble and how joyful?

In that same spirit of receiving, will you give?

Maybe today you can only afford to give a dollar.

Then just give a dollar.

Perhaps today you can give a little more.

Then give a little more.

Whether giving big or small, if we remember how our hearts felt in our times of humble receiving, I am certain that we will be filled with His love, even charity, as we bless the lives of single mothers who will be able to do incredible things for themselves and the ones they love!

One Answer at a Time

2011-10-28T22:47:00.000-07:00

I've thought of many different ways I can share my testimony.

While reading Mosiah 7, Ammon taught me something very important.

After being tied up, escorted to King Limhi and finally given permission to plead his cause, here is what Ammon did, "he went forth and bowed himself before the king; and rising again he said: O king, I am very thankful before God this day that I am yet alive, and am permitted to speak."

Did you get that?

Did you see how Ammon bore his testimony of God to the king right from the very beginning?

Which makes me think about questions that I get from time to time and if my answers are bearing testimony of Him.

Question: Why did you move here?
Answer 1: Well, we sold our home and found that this area was most suitable to my husband's work.
Answer 2: The Lord was looking out for us and brought us to this area.

Question: Did you always plan on having nine children?
Answer 1: No way! If you would have told me that 14 years ago I would have laughed in your face or more seriously, had a mental break down.
Answer 2: No. But I have always willing to have as many children as God would want me to have.

Question: How do you manage having your husband self-employed?
Answer 1: I've learned to deal with it. At least he's happier working for himself than for someone else.
Answer 2: I'm learning that being self-employed gives our family sweet, learning opportunities to have faith in the Lord and recognize His marvelous blessings in our life.

Question: Do you do all of your own cooking and baking?
Answer 1: We certainly can't afford to go out to dinner as a family very often, if at all, so I've been consigned to be as frugal as possible.
Answer 2: The Lord has opened up the possibilities for me to learn new talents and skills. Those talents have also allowed my family to eat some very delicious meals!

The other day my sister was in a car accident. It wasn't her fault. She was broadsided in a middle of an intersection. After the initial shock of what had happened and the assessment of the extensive damage done to her vehicle, the Spirit reminded her of was said during their family prayer that morning. That every member of their family would be safe and protected.

Okay, so there was major, collateral damage to the car. But she, and two of her children who were in the car, were unharmed. Unhurt. Protected.

So when my sister approached the driver, who was sobbing hysterically and saying the words "I'm so sorry" over and over again, do you know what my sister did? She bore her testimony. She simply said, "It's okay! My family and I are okay because this morning during family prayer we prayed to the Lord that we would be safe. It is His miracle this afternoon that none of us are hurt!"

She bore her witness.

Just. Like. That.

And so like Ammon and my sister, I'm going to do better at sharing my testimony that God does live and that He does have a hand in my life.

One answer at a time.

There's a WHOLE LOT MORE to "Love At Home!"

2011-10-28T11:02:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, I am the last to know.

Thank you to my sister who made me aware that John Hugh McNaughton penned more words than just the ones we sing to the beloved hymn "Love At Home."

There is beauty all around,
When there’s love at home;
There is joy in every sound,
When there’s love at home;
Peace and plenty here abide,
Smiling sweet on every side,
Time doth softly, sweetly glide,
When there’s love at home.
Love at home, love at home;
Time doth softly, sweetly glide,
When there’s love at home.

In the cottage there is joy,
When there’s love at home;
Hate and envy ne’er annoy,
When there’s love at home;
Roses bloom beneath our feet,
All the earth’s a garden sweet,
Making life a bliss complete,
When there’s love at home.
Love at home, love at home;
Making life a bliss complete,
When there’s love at home.

Love becomes a way of life,
When there’s love at home;
Sweet, insistent end to strife,
When there’s love at home;
Glad submission each one’s gift,
Willing pledge to love and lift,
Healing balm for every rift,
When there’s love at home.
Love at home, love at home;
Healing balm for every rift,
When there’s love at home.

Anger cools and pressures cease,
When there’s love at home;
Children learn to live in peace,
When there’s love at home;
Courage to reach out in grace,
Meet a stranger face to face,
Find a reconciling place,
When there’s love at home.
Love at home, love at home;
Find a reconciling place,
When there’s love at home.

There’s no question you can’t ask,
When there’s love at home;
There is strength for any task,
When there’s love at home;
Sharing joy in work or play,
Confidence to face the day,
Knowing love will find a way,
When there’s love at home.
Love at home, love at home;
Knowing love will find a way,
When there’s love at home.

Kindly heaven smiles above,
When there’s love at home;
All the world is filled with love,
When there’s love at home;
Sweeter sings the brooklet by,
Brighter beams the azure sky;
Oh, there’s One who smiles on high
When there’s love at home.
Love at home, love at home;
Oh, there’s One who smiles on high
When there’s love at home.

Creeping Me Out!

2011-10-21T21:03:00.000-07:00

So the other day a news story caught my attention.

And of course I had to wait until the very end of the news to hear what I wanted to hear.

The story was how to keep spiders out of your home because arachnids want to find a warm place to live during the cold, winter months. (Imagine that)!

And one of the ways to keep spiders from hanging around your home (punny, 'eh?) is simply, to destroy their webs.

Because webs are a food source.

And while I don’t know how others think about the whole webbed matter, SPIDER WEBS CREEP ME OUT!

And to think that allowing webs in my house enables these eight-legged, multi-eyed, carnivorous trappers to live c.o.m.f.o.r.t.a.b.l.y. in MY environment creeps me out even more.

Which made me think of the webs I have hanging around inside of me.

Webs I have craftily spun within my heart.

And in my mind.

Webs that are a food source for things that, quite frankly, should be creeping me out.

But more seriously, they keep me from feeling His light.

And receiving His love.

One way to destroy these webs is to sweep them away.

And as Enos teaches, having faith in the Savior and relying upon His atonement, allows those webs to be swept permanently away!

No more food source for the adversary as I rely upon the enabliing power of the Savior, the Ultimate Exterminator!

Rated PG

2011-10-17T11:45:00.000-07:00

This weekend we bought 17 Miracles.

Which is a BIG, HUGE deal because we very rarely, if ever, purchase DVD's.

But this movie is top on our "exceptional" list.

During the very end of the credits, the rating of the movie is posted.

PG: Parental Guidance Suggested

For thematic material involving hardships and suffering.

Whoa!

Because I'm thinking, who doesn't go through life with at least that type of PG rating?

Laundry 101

2011-10-05T20:55:00.000-07:00

I do a LOT of laundry!!

Five, six, seven loads on most days.

Except Sundays, of course, when I rest from all my labors (including laundry). But believe me, I pay for it BIG TIME come Monday morning.

So, as you can imagine, I do my fair share of thinking about laundry while sorting, soaking, washing, drying, sorting, folding and putting away . . .

And even MUCH more time thinking about laundry when I have to match socks (times eleven) and, without fail, always come up matchless in the end.

Of all the batches I wash, The Whites are the ones on which I spend the most time.

There's the careful sorting, of course.

And a spot wash here and there.

Then the soaking and scrubbing.

Then there is the cold rinse/wash followed by the hot wash, which is occasionally enriched with a bleaching process.

And that doesn't include the time I spend ironing.

So after all these years of laundry, laundry, laundry, last week I got to thinking about laundry on a bigger scale.

Like the eternal picture of laundry.

And I have decided that I am part of God's Big White Laundry Project.

Because I'm not so white and clean and stain-free as He would like me to be.

And He would like me to be.

And I want to be. Because if I'm not, I don't get to live with Him someday.

And while I am slow to learn, I am beginning to figure out that the soaking and the scrubbing and the cold and hot washes and the whole bleaching process are not only very good things for me, they are vital for me in coming clean and pure before Him.

But there is one thing that surpasses all of my meager understanding.

It is the way (the only way) that I can become the clean.

Clean without spot.

For while a blood stain on white fabric is difficult or impossible to remove (although hydrogen peroxide does a great job), it is the very blood of the Son of God that cleanses me from all stain, from all blemish, from all sin.

It is His blood that can make me, as Isaiah says, "white. as. snow." (Isaiah 1:18).

I don’t pretend to understand how God does His laundry. . .

But boy, am I grateful and indebted to be a part of it.

Tidbit Tuesday - The Grass is Greener

2011-10-04T21:06:00.000-07:00

"The grass that looks greener on the other side may be artificial turf."

-Mary Ellen Edmunds

Tipping Points and Miracles

2011-10-03T10:45:00.000-07:00

I just got through reading two remarkable books, both by authors Chris Stewart and Ted Stewart. The books are entitled: "The Miracle of Freedom: 7 Tipping Points that Saved the World" and "Seven Miracles that Saved America: Why They Matter and Why We Should Have Hope."

These books gave me reason to ponder more deeply the vibrant, undeniable assertion that God does live and that He does care about nations, kindreds, tongues and people.

God cares about the earth that He formed and created and placed man thereon to till and sweat and multiply and replenish.

God cares about agency, liberty, and freedom.

God cares about you and He cares about me.

It has been during these pondering sessions that I realized that even in my small and rather simple life, there have been tipping points and significant miracles in my life.

I guess I never thought them as so until reading these books.

So I made two lists.

One list is contains the "Tipping Points" of my life.

The other list is entitled "Miracles" and contains, for now, just a brief summary of events, of which I have personal knowledge of the hand of the Lord protecting and preserving my life.

By all means these two lists are not long.

But every, single thing on both lists are real happenings in my life that adds to my certainty that God lives.

It also adds to my conviction that not only does God watch over and care for the great and marvelous (such as ancient prophets and the restoration of His true and everlasting gospel), but He is ever aware of the seemingly small and simple who are largely unknown by the 99.9% of all mankind (like the lilies of the field).

In my paltry attempt to remember God's direct hand in the tipping points and miracles of my life, I am filled with the absolute witness, confirmed by the Holy Spirit, of His interest in my mission on earth.

Indeed, it is humbling and marvelous for someone as nothing as me to think that His hand has been a part of my existence, even before I could ever remember. How grateful I am for recognizing the "Tipping Points" and "Miracles" that have happened in my life this far!

October 2011 General Conference Meme

2011-10-02T20:33:00.000-07:00

This is what's going on at Diapers and Divinity, so I decided to join in. You can, too!!

First of all, I wanted to know, what in tarnation is a meme? Now that I've got the idea of what a meme is, here are my thoughts on this weekend's General Conference!

1. Who were your three favorite speakers?

Do I really have to pick only three? I think I'll go with four :)

President Boyd K. Packer - I remember a talk he gave along these lines in October 1989. It was a great reminder and comfort to me.

Neil L. Anderson - With a family of nine children we frequently get the question "Are these all yours?" We had a good laugh together when we heard Elder Anderson say that. And believe me, in a family of 11, life's no picnic!

Carl B. Cook - Not only did his message go straight to my heart, I was so awed by his humility.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland - I admit, I watched the priesthood session Saturday night after my priesthood holders came home! This was an INCREDIBLE talk!

2. Which talk spoke to you the most?

The talk by Elder V. Devn Cornish on prayer. Oh how I needed that this weekend!

3. What was your favorite Hymn and why did it move you?

I Am A Child of God!
First, because who can hear that hymn without being moved to emotion because of the doctrine taught and secondly, because every single one of my children sang along with the choir. It was a heavenly few moments in our General Conference Weekend home. (Not that we have a "weekend" home, just that our home was a place for General Conference this weekend.)

4. Which speaker was the best dressed? (Come on, we can have a little fun.)

WOW! What incredible display of colorful ties! Red, being the most dominant color, with blue ties in second and black in third. Elder Randall K. Bennett wore a sweet gold and brown tie. and President Uchtdorf's yellow tie on Sunday was pretty styling as well.

5. Were there any topics that you felt like were repeated often? Any conference “themes”?

My children took note that 2 Nephi 32:3 and 2 Timothy 4:12 were scriptures that were repeated over and over again - even in priesthood session!

6. Share a few of your favorite quotes from any of the talks (paraphrasing is fine).

Be Loyal to the Royal Within You
Don't just say and pray

The Savior has lifeboats for everyone!

7. Name something(s) that made you smile or laugh during conference.

President Monson's happy, surprising "Hello!"

8. Was there any evidence that your children paid attention?

Ha Ha. I hope my oldest was listening as he was drawing intently on a piece of paper. The funny thing was between the Saturday morning and afternoon sessions of Conference one of my boys had a friend from our ward over to play. Upon entering oue home, our boys asked him, "Hey, did you like Conference?" "Umm, I didn't listen," he replied. Ten minutes before the afternoon session began I said him, "You are more than welcome to stay and watch Conference with us." He looked at me and said, "Uh, could I go home now?" While our family room wasn't the most reverent place to listen to General Conference, I was pleased that my children opted to do so!

9. What doctrine did you learn as you listened to the choir(s) sing?

God lives! Jesus is the Christ! I am happy and grateful to be alive!

10. Did the music enhance your General Conference experience? How?

I loved having our whole family sing along with the congregation even if we were a ~~little bit~~ lot off key.

11. What are some of your post-conference goals?

     1) Dedicate more family scripture time and personal time to scripture memorization!
     2) Open my mouth and share my love of the gospel.
     3) Enjoy a juicy piece of fried chicken!

Sunday Afternoon Session of General Conference in Six Words

2011-10-02T14:54:00.000-07:00

Truth seeker. Gospel teacher. Covenant keeper.

What six words describe what you learned during the Sunday afternoon session of General Conference??

Sunday Morning Session of General Conference in Six Words

2011-10-02T11:52:00.000-07:00

Conversion = Death of all things unrighteous

What six words describe what you learned during the Sunday morning session of General Conference??

Priesthood Session of General Conference in Six Words (times four)

2011-10-01T20:49:00.000-07:00

Because I didn't personally attend the priesthood session, here are four insights from the priesthood holders in our family who did:

Husband:
Worthy males needed for priesthood service!

14 year old:
Esteem yourself highly as an LDS!

12 year old:
You CAN repent of your sins.

12 year old:
Put the priesthood power to work!

What six words describe what you (or your husband) learned during the priesthood session of general conference??

Saturday Afternoon Session of General Conference in Six Words

2011-10-01T16:37:00.000-07:00

Hint: It's Better to Look Up!

What six words describe what you learned during the Saturday Afternoon Session of General Conference??

Saturday Morning Session of General Conference in Six Words

2011-10-01T11:47:00.001-07:00

"Hello!" Memorize scriptures. God hearts me.

What six words describe what you learned during the Saturday morning session of General Conference??

Tidbit Tuesday - Miracles

2011-09-27T20:41:00.000-07:00

"Dew settles without the fanfare of thunder or the patter of falling rain yet our wet feet in the morning still tell us there is something there. Sometimes miracles are like that. There is no overwhelming proof, but deep inside we know."

-Chris and Ted Stewart
from Seven Miracles that Saved America

Fathers Are Responsible to Provide the Necessities of Life

2011-09-23T11:16:00.000-07:00

For the longest time, I had this very twisted notion stuck in my skull (you know, like David's rock planted dead center in Goliath's forehead) that in order for my husband to obey The Proclamation, he would need to provide our family with $$$,$$$ (although a very high $$,$$$ with 9's would also be acceptable) which, in turn, would allow me to most successfully fulfill my part of The Proclamation, which is to nourish our children.

Um, hasn't happened yet.

Not the $$$,$$$ or the $$,$$$$ with just one nine in the very front.

So, since my head wasn't making money sense of what "By divine design, fathers are . . . responsible to provide the necessities of life" meant, I decided to look in a book - The Dictionario.

And what did I learn?

The word provide comes from the Latin word: providere (pro, - before + videre -to see). It means:

1: to take precautionary measures

2: to make preparation to meet a need

And here's what else I learned!

There is NOTHING (nada, zippo, zilch) in the definition that says provide= $$$,$$$ or $$,$$$ with a fat, juicy nine leading the way. (If you see it, point it out to me, because that is how thick my skull is sometimes).

Which means after years of looking all around me and thinking I knew what "provide" meant, I've learned two things.

1) As my husband (wonderful, kind, sweet husband) continues to do his best in righteously providing for our family financially and physically and spiritually and emotionally, then HE IS obeying his end of the deal as taking responsibilty as a father

and 2) I am SO not excused from doing my part to nurture our children just because we do not have the $$$,$$$ (a.k.a. luxuries of life).

Because (ahem), n.e.c.e.s.s.i.t.i.e.s. are things that are required to live. You know, stuff like food, clothing, shelter, fuel.

And last I checked, I'm living.

And so are my husband and our nine kids.

And we've got food in our pantry and milk in the fridge.

And we've never, ever walked out of our house naked.

And this morning I got all all our kidlings to school - on time!!
Boy, am I ever thankful for spiritual brain surgery!!

Heed and Counsel

2011-09-22T16:27:00.000-07:00

An ancient prophet has given us prophetic insight as to why a people -his "family" - were completely destroyed.

Though I could be wrong - because I am not versed in history orhumanities or psychology - I believe the rise and fall of a society may, ingreat part, depends on the treatment and regard given to women and children.

And, atleast for me, prophets trump university classes, professors, research stats andPhd's.

One of the atrocious scenes described by Mormon, is his observance ofthe Lamanites in their degenerate and depraved (remember that they wereconsidered "the enemy"), taking Nephite families as prisoners and then slaying the "husbands and fathersof those women and children," and then feeding "the women upon theflesh of their husbands and the children upon the flesh of their fathers"(Moroni 9:8).

I don't even want to imagine . . .

Because I have thought nothing could be worse than that.

But Mormon goes further, telling his son Moroni, "Andnotwithstanding this great abomination of the Lamanites, it doth not exceedthat of our people . . . For behold, many of the daughters of the Lamaniteshave they taken prisoner; and after depriving them of that which was most dearand precious above all things, which is chastity and virtue - . . . they didmurder them in the most cruel manner, torturing their bodies even unto death .. . and they do it for a token of bravery" (Moroni 9:9-10).

And boy, I've been thinking about the symbolism of how our society"slays" the husbands and fathers of so many women and children andhow women and children find reason to feed upon their flesh.

And how daughters of Heavenly Father are taken (or give themselves) "prisoner" and aredeprived of "that which is most dear and precious above all things, whichis chastity and virtue."

And how bodies are "self-tortured" and minipulated, becoming symbols of artor lifestyle or rebellion.

Oh, how the God of Heaven and Earth must weep.

Gratefully, the prophet Mormon (unlike news stories that fail to givehope at the scene of the horrific and appalling), does provide the comfort andthe guidance of how to stand above such a wicked generation.

"Be faithful in Christ," he says.

"And may not the things which I have written grieve thee, toweigh thee down to death; but may Christ lift thee up, . . . and the hope ofHis glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind forever.

"And may the grace of God the Father, whose throne is high in theheavens, and our Lord Jesus Christ, who sitteth on the right hand of His power,until all things shall become subject unto Him, be and abide with youforever" (Moroni 10:25-26).

Guest Post

2011-09-21T15:52:00.000-07:00

Today I am a guest blogger over at Chocolate On My Cranium for the this year's Celebrate Family.

Truth be told, I was very surprised to be asked to guest blog.

Me?!?!

But I'm always grateful to share my feelings about The Family: A Proclamation to the World.

And who doesn't like chocolate or Chocolate. . . . :)

Tidbit Tuesday - Self-Identity

2011-09-20T12:22:00.000-07:00

"Neither professions nor possessions should define identity or self-worth. The Savior, for example, was a humble carpenter, but that hardly defined His life."

-Lynn G. Robbins

Feeling A Little Abish

2011-09-19T17:58:00.000-07:00

I identify with Abish.

Of course, my interpretation of her story may be all wrong, but let me tell you: there have been many times I have found myself in a situation thinking, "I'm sure this is exactly how Abish felt!!"

You remember Abish, a "Lamanitish woman."

Servant to the Lamanite Queen who was the wife of King Lamoni.

And you remember what happened when "all the servant of King Lamoni had fallen to the earth, and also her mistress, the queen and the king." Abish thought that it would be the perfect opportunity to make it "known unto the people what had happened to them" (Alma 19:17).

A missionary effort.

A testimony builder.

Why not? It was the power of God that had come over this people. And Abish knew of His power (Alma 19:16).

So off she went, "making it known unto the people what had happened among them, that by beholding this scene it would cause them to believe in the power of God."

Her desire was to gather together the people and have a spiritual, fireside-like experience.

But kumbaya it was not.

Instead, the multitudes gathered and contention - "exceedingly sharp contention" - ensued.

So much so that when Abish saw and heard the clamor and the din she was "exceedingly sorrowful, even unto tears" (Alma 19:28).

To tears!

And that is were I identify with Abish.

For because there have been many times I have felt like my righteous desires had became the cause for mild debate, or warm conflict, or brooding contention.

Really.

And when those moments occur I am grateful that I am not alone.

Because there is Abish, the Lamanitish woman, who's been there. Done that.

Not that it make me feel any better, but it gets me through another righteous desire gone south.

Please tell me I'm not alone.

Come Into My Parlor . . .

2011-09-19T12:18:00.000-07:00

My son found THIS in our dining area last night.

Yes, I know it's blurry.

BUT WOULD YOU GET ANY CLOSER??????

From a Cheer to a Mission Statement

2011-09-12T13:15:00.000-07:00

My Family History claim to fame is that we keep a Family Home Evening Journal.

I'm not only not crafty, but I don't even frequent craft stores or boutiques enough to know how to find myself a cutesy Family Home Evening hangy-uppy-thingy to remind us who's got what and what's got who each Monday Night.

But we keep a journal.

We started the FHE Journal on August 4, 2002. But before we even started a journal we had a family cheer.

Mind you, our children in 2002 numbered only five sons. Our oldest was five and our youngest was nine months.

One Family Home Evening we were talking about the Stripling Warriors. And let me tell you, my boys were eating it up! Man, they loved listening about those Lamanite sons. So that night my husband decided to tank up the testosterone levels and make up a cheer to remind our boys of those Stripling Sons. The cheer went like this: "Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah! We are the Stripling Warrior Joneses!"

It was an instant hit. And from that Monday on, that cheer became part of our weekly Family Home Evenings.

Fast Forward to January 2010.

My husband and I decided that our family was now a little bigger (seven sons and one daughter) and a little bit older (our oldest was now 12 and our youngest 4), we needed to "move up" and create a family mission statement.

We asked each of our children what they thought would be important to remember as a family. We incorporated each idea and created our Family Mission Statement, which we repeat each Monday evening for Family Home Evening, after a rousing Family Cheer (the children made sure we didn't get rid of that)!

Our Mission Statement is:
* I am a child of God.
* I am true to God at all times, and in all things, and in all places.
* I keep the commandments.
* When I make a mistake, I repent.
* As family members, we love one another and serve one another.
* We will live with Him someday.

I am sure as our children continue to grow and mature (because now we have nine!), that Mission Statement will see some more changes and adjustments. For now, though, it is a reminder to each member of our family what is expected of us individually and collectively.

For ultimately, each one of us want to live with Him someday!

Why I Scrape Burnt Toast and Other Things I Thought I'd Never Do

2011-09-09T20:55:00.000-07:00

I admit, I scrape my burnt toast. But I didn't always.

Like when I was a teenager.

I was a bit of a toast snob back then.

Okay, a BIG toast snob.

For because I would shake my head and chuckle when I would watch my mother scrape, scrape, scrape that black crust off her toasted bread.

Because when I burned toast back then, I simply tossed it in the garbage. And started toasting all over.

Now, I'm a mom of NINE kids (Eight who currently eat toast. The ninth is trying to work her way up to rice cereal). And I don't know if anyone has visited the grocery store lately, but the price of food is interfering with saving for college.

And now, I TOTALLY understand why my mom still scrapes her burnt toast.

* * *

My favorite breakfast in high school was cold, day old pizza with an icy, cold glass of milk.

Talk about refreshing. And a breakfast meal with all the necessary food groups: grains, dairy, vegetable, meat.

And the foods I had a hard time eating? Watermelon, strawberries, tomatoes, and cooked onions.

Blech.

"You may not always like pizza for breakfast. And you may start liking everything you hate," my dad would tease.

Bah-ha-ha. Not my terrific, teenage tastebuds.

Umm, guess who was right?!

* * *
Growing up, our family didn't have a lot of money.

My dad worked really hard providing for our family. My mom stayed home and did everything she could to extend his meager earnings the best she could by bottling fruits, making bread, sewing clothes.

While I didn't go without, my obvious "lack" was juxtaposed with friends who lived in homes with walk-in fridges, saunas, game and theatre rooms and swimming pools in their houses. (And that was over 30 years ago!)

So being young and naive (and obviously not in my parent's situation), I didn't quite understand why my mom and dad would have to say repitious, irksome phrases like,

"We can't afford to get you those jeans (those jeans happened to be 501's)" or "You don't need a Sony Walkman. You have a clock radio (a CLOCK radio?!?!)" or "We sure wish we had enough money to put you into gymnastics . . . but sorry, we don't."

And more often than I wanted to admit, my mother would always put on a sweet, humble smile and reply to my complaints, "We may be poor in money, but we are rich in spirit. We have the gospel of Jesus Christ."

I got SO irked when I heard those words because what they meant to a teenager was "WE ARE POOR!"

And I vowed a vow that I would never ever, not in a million, billion, trillion years say those irritating words of obvious financial poverty to my children.

Let me just say right here, right now, just for the record, I've put on A LOT of poundage over the years for eating. my. words.

And the phrase that has made me the most fat - the one I have used more often when my children ask me why we don't have this or why we don't have that- is "Children, we may be poor in money, but we are rich in spirit. We have the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! Woo Hoo."

(Hopefully you noted that I've added a little to my mother's phrase. So you can see why I've gained all that "never-say-never" weight).

I admit that it's funny how I use those words my mother used with me. The only difference is, now I know exactly how she felt when she did.

Beginning With Obedience

2011-09-07T21:56:00.000-07:00

I think is is ABSOLUTELY amazing that First Nephi is right where it is!

I think about how many times I have started and restarted, and read and reread the Book of Mormon. And being a sequential studier that I am, I always start at. the. beginning.

Which would mean, technically, the book I have read most often in the Book of Mormon is, First Nephi.

And what would be the message of First (and Second) Nephi? Here is what Nephi teach by example:

Go and do the things the Lord commands, for He will provide the way (1 Nephi 3:7).

As they Lord lives and as we live, we will accomplish the Lord's commands (1 Nephi 3:15-16)

Be faithful in keeping in keeping the commandments of the Lord (1 Nephi 4:1-3)

Obey the voice of the Spirit (1 Nephi 4:17-18)

Be diligent in keeping the Lord's commandments (1 Nephi 4:34)

The Lord is able to do all things so let us be faithful to Him (1 Nephi 7:12-13)

The Lord know all things and has all power, and He will prepare a way for us to accomplish the fulfilling of His words (1 Nephi 9:6)

If we keep the commandments, God will nourish us, strengthen us and provide us with the means to obey His commandments (1 Nephi 17:3)

When we keep God's commandments, our obedience is an example to others. (1 Nephi 17:15)

If God commands us to do all things, we could do them (1 Nephi 17:50)

Being saved at the last day = being obedient + enduring to the end (1 Nephi 22:31)

Sometimes obedience requires doing things we do not completely understand (2 Nephi 5:30-31)

Being obedient doesn't necessarily mean it is easy (2 Nephi 33:11)
And the final words recorded by Nephi: "For thus hath the Lord commanded me, and I must obey." (2 Nephi 33:15)

Which brings me back to my first thought of why First and Second Nephi are where they are.

Think if the Book of Mormon began chronologically. That would put the Book of Ether at the very beginning of the Book of Mormon.

Which would mean the story I would read and reread, start and restart the most would be the one of the Jaredite people whom, because of wickedness and abomination and the refusal to repent, became destroyed and extinct.

But the Book of Ether is not what the Lord wants to be our beginning (over and over) lessons as we open "another testament of Jesus Christ."

He wants us to learn, through Nephi, that obedience is the first law of heaven.

And it is something I am learning and relearning everytime I begin at the very beginning of the Book of Mormon.

Tidbit Tuesday - Our Family is His Family

2011-09-06T21:18:00.000-07:00

For behold,

this is my work

And

My glory

to brIng

to pass the immortaL-

itY

and eternal life of man.

(Moses 1:39)

Family Home Evening - Obedience

2011-09-05T20:42:00.001-07:00

I don't know about anyone else's family, but we have our fair share of disobedience in this growing family of ours. So, to help us out, we dedicated the month of August to memorize, from Preach My Gospel, the following Christlike attribute on obedience - tweaked just a little to "liken it" unto our family.

As a member of my family, I am expected to keep the commandments willingly, to obey family rules, and to follow the counsel of my parents. Obedience is the first law of heaven. It is an act of faith. I may sometimes be required to do things I do not completely understand. As I obey, I increase in faith, knowlege, wisdom, testimony, protection and freedom. I will strive to be obedient to the Lord, the living prophet and my parents.

So tonight for Family Home Evening, after reciting it together as a family, we read the story of Naaman found in 2 Kings 5:1-14 and discussed how that applies to obedience. And how that typs of obedience applies to our family.

And then we watched this wonderful video (twice!!) because it not only pulled all of our hard memorization efforts together, but it really captured the attention of our younger children as we wrapped up our month long learning on obedience.

What My 11 Year Old Taught Me Today

2011-09-04T09:45:00.000-07:00

So as we were preparing our Sunday dinner my eleven year old made a dinner request.

Son: "Mom, can we have potatoes today?"

Me: "I think so. I just need to see how many potatoes we have."

Son: "I really want mashed potatoes, with gravy."

Me (after checking on the potatoes): "Oh honey, we don't have enough potatoes to make mashed potatoes."

Son: "Okay. I'm going to go look in the basement pantry to see if there is another bag."

Me: "Nope. We don't have any potatoes in the pantry."

Son: "Mom! Why did you say that? What you needed to say was, 'Why don't you go check to see if there are potatoes in the pantry' even if you know there are no potatoes in the pantry. At least that will give me hope . . ."

And then he added with a big, HUGE smile, "and maybe then, potatoes will appear in the pantry because of my faith."

Sweet boy.

Wonderful lesson for me.

The Sixth Day of First Grade

2011-08-31T11:29:00.000-07:00

Today is my daughter's sixth day of first grade.

I know, because she reminds me each and every morning how many days of first grade she has already attended.

Mostly because, this last week has been the sum of all her six year old fears: A brand new school. New faces. And a full day (seven full hours) without her Mom.

We've said countless, quiet prayers on the way to school, while waiting at school, and even at her desk.

We've prayed as a family.

And her sweet older brothers have done everything to cheer her up and cheer her on.

But even still, I have literally left her sobbing at her desk, in her chair, in that happy little first grade classroom.

Which has made me think that maybe, just maybe, those newborn babies who can't stop all their crying even after they're fed, even after they're changed, and even when they're being loved, maybe they're crying because of how long they've been away from Father and Mother in Heaven.

Tidbit Tuesday - Prayer

2011-08-30T21:05:00.000-07:00

"People pray for you whom you don't even know."

-Mary Ellen Edmunds

Especially for Big Families

2011-08-28T21:07:00.000-07:00

Today in my grateful heart I thanked the Lord for watermelons. Because I think the Lord made watermelons especially for large numbered families!!

What other fruit can feed the masses?

(Umm, Zucchinis are vegetables . . .)

GCBC - Tithing

2011-08-27T08:07:00.000-07:00

I am part of a very inclusive GeneralConference Book Club (GCBC) that meets online weekly to discuss a General Conference talk from the most recent Conference. Come along and join us! We would love it!

This week we were to study Elder Carl B. Pratt's talk from April Conference. Let me share what I learned.

1) I have never, ever heard anyone share disappointment when they have chosen to obey the Law of Tithing. Whenever I have been in a lesson or discussion when tithing has been the subject, story after miracle story is told of how faith in paying 10% opened the windows of heaven. And it is within those stories of faith and miracles that families share their experiences and ultimately strengthening their testimonies of paying a full and honest tithe.

2) Elder Pratt testifies, "Paying tithing is NOT a matter of money, really; it is a matter of faith." In Preach My Gospel, it states, in part, about the Christlike attribute of obedience, "Obedience is the first law of heaven. It is an act of faith." When I put these two statements together, my heart is able to understand that paying tithing is another way for me to show the Lord my obedience a.k.a. my desire to live with Him again.

3) I would never want to be accused of being a robber. A robber is a thief, a liar, and a cheat. Would I want the Savior to judge me as a robber? He will if I do not keep the Law of Tithing. And thanks to Jacob, we all know where liars go!!

4) AMAZING things happen when I am being taught "under the influence of the Spirit." This time it occurred while I listened to Elder Pratt's talk. As I felt of his deep testimony of tithing, these words resonated within me and the Spirit began to teach: "[God] fulfills His promises, and if we faithfully pay our tithing, we will not lack for the necessities of life, but He does not promise us wealth. Money and bank accounts are not His richest blessings." It was in that moment that the Spirit began to expound the many different blessings - spiritual blessings, mostly - I have received because of my faithful payment of tithes and offerings. Really? All those gifts have come because of paying tithing? Honestly, I would have never drawn that connection! But today while listening, the Spirit drew those lines for me!

5) Finally, I cannot end this post without sharing a personal story that I have told and retold my the children whenever we have opportunity to speak about the Law of Tithing.

It was a several months or so after my husband and I were married and, being the poor, newly-married couple that we were, we faced one of our first financial decisions. We could either pay our tithing and fast offerings OR go buy groceries. We chose to pay our tithes and offerings and figured we could eat the unlabeled cans from the wedding shower until the next pay day. The very next day, a Monday, a gentleman came into my work and handed me an envelope. He apologized that he had not been able to attend our wedding reception months earlier. He wished me well and left the office. I opened the envelope. Tucked neatly inside was a gift card to a GROCERY STORE for the exact. same. amount. we had paid in tithing. From that moment on, my husband and I have never doubted the Lord's ability to keep His promise if we obey His commands. I can humbly and gratefully say, tithing is one and only area in which we are perfect.

Seeing What Nephi Saw

2011-08-25T21:36:00.000-07:00

So I have made another personal commitment to read the Book of Mormon in Spanish. I know, I know, I started before and actually had the Spirit teach me some incredible things, but I ended up going back to my English scriptures because I just did.

And my husband didn't even say a word about it as he just keeps studying his Spanish scriptures as he has been doing for the last 20 years!!!

So last night, as I was going along reading 1 Nephi 11 - 14 (in Spanish, mind you), I was reminded of something I was taught many years ago about these chapters and how to understand them a little more (at least it helped for me). So I thought I would share.

When I read 1 Nephi 11, I remind myself that this is what the "fruit" or Jesus Christ looks like to the Jews. 1 Nephi 12 is what the fruit looks like to the Nephites. And 1 Nephi 13 and 1 Nephi 14 is what the fruit looks like to us.

* * *

Here is something that I learned while studying in Spanish. 1 Nephi 11:22-23 in Spanish, in part, reads like this:

El amor de Dios . . . se derrama ampliamente en el corazón . . . Sí, y el de mayor gozo para el alma.

Literally translated it would read something like this:

The love of God pours out extensively in the heart . . . yes, and it is the greatest joy for the soul.

Which made me think about God's love in my life.

Of all the places that He could reach my reaching it is through my heart.

When I allow His love to fill my heart it is then that my soul becomes a generator of joy, of peace, and other Christlike attributes.

Because of the price the Savior has already paid for my soul, I wonder why I don't open my heart even wider to be filled with His love.

Family of Eleven

2011-08-24T21:31:00.000-07:00

Okey dokey, so I decided to start another blog that includes (drum roll, please) - - -

Every. member. of. our. family.

It's a long stretch, I know. And it will probably fizzle right out before it even gains any speed, but hey, anything is worth a try, a cry and a good hardy har har.

The blog is still under heavy-duty construction, but you can certainly check us out HERE and let us know what you think. . .

Or maybe not.

Things You Know . . .

2011-08-24T21:26:00.000-07:00

You know your daughter is growing up when she doesn't want to sit in her car seat anymore. . .

When she recognizes that when you set foot with her in her room that it is time for bed . . .

When she gets around the family roon faster than you can . . .

When she gets all giddy when Daddy comes home . . .

You know your daughter is growing up when all she wants is a social life.

AGH! She's only four months old!!!

Tidbit Tuesday - Beware!

2011-08-23T12:49:00.000-07:00

"We should look upon this body as something that shall endure in the resurrected state . . . Be not afraid of soiling its hands; be not afraid of scars that may come to it won in earnest effort, or in earnest fight, but be aware of scars that disfigure, that have come to you in places where you ought not have gone, that have befallen you in unworthy undertakings; beware of the wounds of battles in which you have been fighting on the wrong side."

-James E. Talmage
Conference Report, Oct 1913, 117

Father's Blessings

2011-08-22T21:11:00.000-07:00

For Family Home Evening we had the opportunity to have father's blessings pronounced upon our children as a new school year begins this week.

I am just beginning to understand that this is a BIG, HUGE deal!

For because where I grew up in a home where we just knew that a priesthood blessing from my Dad was always in order at the beginning of every school year. But my husband did not.

In fact, he did not receive one father's blessing for school - ever.

He had never heard of that until we got married, began our little quiver of children and it was time for our oldest to head off to the scary world of kindergarten.

And it was a very new thing for my husband to even think about.

And it was a very good thing for my husband to do.

But tonight, as my husband shared with out children that he never ever had a father's blessing given to him and my sweet children, feeling so sympathetic toward him, I began to think of all the wonderful families I know that for one reason or another don't have that same opportunity.

And while my heart swelled with immense gratitude for priesthood blessings, it was also filled with a deep sense of longing to fill the void in all those mothers who hope for a blessing for their children, and for all those children who don't even know what they are missing.

But I am sure God is mindful, for He is the Father of all Blessings.

Family Home Evening - Anger

2011-08-22T20:54:00.000-07:00

This is a Family Home Evening lesson we had quite a while ago . . . thought I'd share.

General Conference Talk: President Monson’s October 2009 General Priesthood Talk: School Thy Feelings, O My Brother.

Find and listen HERE to the story President Monson told about the husband who became so angry and caused brain damage to his young son.

We talked how anger affects our family.

We used baking soda as a representation of our anger used negatively. We went around the table and each member of the family spooned some soda into a small bowl, telling everyone when he/she feels angry and what they normally do to vent their anger.

We then used flour as a representation of our anger when disciplined with the Spirit. We went around again and as we placed a spoonful of flour in the bowl talked of alternative actions we could take when we become angry.

Then, we took vinegar, representing us, and poured it into the bowls. We learned that when anger is subsided by decisions made under the influence of the Spirit, it is kept safely within.

However, when anger is used without control, it flows out, effecting all within its power . . . and it stinks!!

Finally, we read Moroni 7:33: "And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me."

We took the challenge to use our faith in Christ to do what He asked asked us NOT to do - to have contention among us (see 3 Nephi 11:29-31).

Very Random Sunday Thoughts

2011-08-21T21:34:00.000-07:00

You know the scripture, "If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear." I'm seriously thinking it was referring specifically to bedtime and school.

Lack of a bedtime schedule, that is, and the beginning of school.

AGH!

School starts this week and all of my parental attempts at trying to get my children to go to s.l.e.e.p on time has been absolutely, positively fruitless.

So come Wednesday morning, when day dawn is breaking, that will be the sum of all my fears.

* * *

There's something to be said about remembering.

For because I find that I am more inclined to hang on remembering the bad and easily forget to remember the good.

I'm figuring it has to do with the "natural [wo]man" in me.

And in order to put off that natural woman I must find ways to remember the good.

For me, writing down the good is how I preserve what I need to remember.

The other part is reading (and rereading) what I have written so I will remember.

* * *

Because I just want to mention: Bed time at our home is like herding cats!

And those darn cats of mine have not gone to sleep yet.

Boy, I wish they were dogs.

Because you can at least send dogs to obedience school. . .

Aww, that's what we're doing this week, aren't we?

Yup, back to my fears . . .

* * *

Happy Birthday, dear President Monson!!

Time Management Part II

2011-08-17T14:41:00.000-07:00

So I'm learning more about Time Managment.

This time my learning took place in the temple.

Now I can't say this of all temples, but I will say it of the temple I attend: There are NO clocks in any of the ordinances room!

Not one.

I know.

Because when I looked all around to find the time, I came up short . . .

Which immediately filled my brain with this counsel given by Elder Richard G. Scott:

"Remove your watch when you enter a house of the Lord."

Whoa, Nelly! Watch = Clock

For because watching the clock means a whole lot of rush, rush, rush, go, go, go, do, do, do, gone, gone, gone, and not enough listening and learning and worshipping.

Which listening and learning and worshipping is what I am supposed to be doing in the temple - the whole "staying still" so I can see the salvation of the Lord.

Because watching a clock means being on my schedule, not His!

And there I was, in the temple, feeling so pleased I had learned something more about God's time.

But later on that very evening - that! very! evening! - I found this (even better) explanation in the Doctrine and Covenants as to why I have been asked to remove my watch when I enter a house of the Lord . . .

"Satan is bound and time is no longer."

(Doctrine and Covenants 84:100)

Hello bright lightbulb above my head!

Satan. is .BOUND. to. TIME.

And because he is bound to time, his time is running out. And he knows it.

And in order for his influence NOT to be felt in the one place on earth that is God's House, I have been asked to remove one of Satan's influences - my watch.

And this time, instead of feeling so pleased for learning, I was humbly grateful for God's tender love in teaching me more about His time and His ways.

Tidbit Tuesday - Light and Darkness

2011-08-16T14:39:00.000-07:00

Darkness is not the absence of light.

It is a source of light.
* * *
"Light and Truth forsake the evil one"
Doctrine and Covenants 93:37

Family Home Evening - Our Family is Like a Rope

2011-08-15T22:30:00.000-07:00

Tonight was a "hands-on" FHE using the April 2011 General Conference Talk from Elder Richard J. Maynes.

Supplies: Yarn, Scissors, Empty toilet paper roll or paper towel roll, Wooden spoon

To begin, we took the time to have each child choose and measure out one piece of yarn. Each measured about 15-20 feet. We took time to have each child measure their piece with the child that went before.

Then, we asked them (okay, pleaded with them and begged them) to hold their piece of yarn and NOT tangle it up while we listened to part of Elder Maynes's talk. While listening to the talk, we asked our children to ask themselves "Why would Mom and Dad give me a piece of yarn to hold while listening to a Conference Talk?"

The part we focused on begins at the 8:00 minute mark.

After Elder Maynes's story, we had a short discussion about a rope and the strength of our family.

Then we went outside. Took everyone's piece of yard and tied on end of it all together and then tied it around the basketball hoop.

Holding the yarn taut, we slipped the yarn through the empty toilet paper roll and tied the other end to the middle of the handle of the wooden spoon.

Pulling the yarns, we each took turns twisting the yarn in the SAME direction while another person held the toilet paper roll (it made the twisting easier).

After twisting the yarns very, very tight, one person found the middle and held it taut while another person took the wooden spoon end to the other end that was tied to the basketball pole.

Still holding the yarn taut, the person in the "middle" is now on the other end. As he slowly let go, the yarn began to twist together, forming a rope.

Here is our end result:

So, if by chance you have less than 11 people in your family (ha ha), you may want to try two or more strings of yarn per person to make a rope with sizeable thickness.

After our closing prayer, we decided to hang our Family Rope in our Family Room as a reminder that each of us matters in our family and that all of us need to do our part.

My Children Are Like . . .

2011-08-12T21:48:00.000-07:00

My children are like a band.
A rock band.
An extremely loud, heavy metal rock band, where everyone wants to be the lead singer at. the. same. time.
And everyday is a world(wind) tour.
And bedtime is a nightmare.
Honestly.
Have you ever tried putting a rock band to bed??

My parents are like water and oil.
My mom is the water. My dad is the oil.
Seldom are those two suspended together at the same.
And if they are, it lasts for about ummmm, this ----------- long.
But it works for them.
It will be 44 years (forty-four years!!!!) this year!

My husband is like an Uno wildcard.
He's all colors for me.
And there are times he makes me Draw Four. FOUR!
Truth be told, I am not. very. happy. about it when he does.
No, not happy at all.
And I put up one big, stinky fight.
But in the end, both of us come out Numero Uno.

Our landlady is ~~like~~ an angel.
I know heaven is watching over us because of her!

Kid History - Episode 1

2011-08-11T21:21:00.000-07:00

Because all of us have or know kids who tell the story from their own eyes . . .

This is my children's FAVORITE Episode.

Getting a Tattoo

2011-08-10T21:35:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, while at the pool, my 11 year-old son and I were quite aware of the bevy of tattoos that were parading around. So I decided to try on the next question just for size:

"So," I baited nonchalantly, "what would you think if I got myself a tattoo?"

He turned his head funny at me, scrunched up his extremely tanned nose, looked down at me through his spectacles and with only one, swift sweep of his head, gestured in the negative.

"Dude," I justified. "It will be super cool. Trust me! My tattoo will say 'Follow the Prophet.'"

That eked a smile out of him for just a second. Then he casually turned his head and demurely replied "Good one Mom, but that wouldn't be following the prophet now, would it?"

Boo-Yah.

Tidbit Tuesday - Petitioning in Prayer

2011-08-09T10:37:00.000-07:00

"Petitioning in prayer has taught me, again and again, that the vault of heaven with all its blessings is to be opened only by a combination lock. One tumbler falls when there is faith, a second when there is personal righteousness; the third and final tumbler falls only when what is sought is, in God’s judgment—not ours—right for us. Sometimes we pound on the vault door for something we want very much and wonder why the door does not open. We would be very spoiled children if that vault door opened any more easily than it does. I can tell, looking back, that God truly loves me by inventorying the petitions He has refused to grant me. Our rejected petitions tell us much about ourselves but also much about our flawless Father."

-Neal A. Maxwell
New Era, Apr 1978

Time Management

2011-08-08T12:37:00.000-07:00

So I've been home from Trek for a week now.

And I miss it.

Is that peculiar or what?!

Okay, so I'm not necessarily missing all the walking or the hot days or cold nights (we woke up one morning with frost on our bags) or the stinky porta-potties . . .

But there is something incredibly peaceful about not being slave to a clock.

Because, as we all know, most Treks and the like are very rarely, if ever, on schedule.

And I've been thinking that maybe that is one of the keys to happiness.

One of the mysteries of heaven, even.

One of the reasons that time is not numbered by God.

One of the many, infinite reasons why He is so happy.

Because going by man's clock is rush, rush, rush, go, go, go, do, do, do, gone, gone, gone.

But God's timing - His eternal clock - takes into consideration -

every wrong turn;

the hole in the middle . . and the ones on the right and the ones on the left;

the aching, blistered feet that slow, and stop, and rest;

being overloaded and overwhelmed;

food overdone or undercooked;

the majesty of a sunrise;

the grandeur of a sunset;

the waiting,

the sorrow,

going another extra mile, when you thought you just did;

and pulling up the hardest hill without the men.

And miraculously, instead of being drained with rush, rush, rush, go, go, go, do, do, do, gone, gone, gone,

We "stand still, with the utmost assurance, [seeing] the salvation of God."

Drinking and Swallowing

2011-08-03T21:38:00.000-07:00

Here is what I discovered while studying our Gospel Doctrine lesson a few weeks ago.

Matthew 26:39
And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and ^aprayed, saying, O my ^bFather, if it be possible, let this ^ccup pass from me: nevertheless not as I ^dwill, but as ^ethou ^fwilt.

Mosiah 15:7
Yea, even so he shall be led, ^acrucified, and slain, the ^bflesh becoming subject even unto death, the ^cwill of the Son being swallowed up in the will of the Father.

I wanted to connect the phrases "let this cup pass from me" and "the will of the Son being swallowed up in the will of the Father."

Emphasis on CUP and SWALLOWED.

Here is what I found when I went to this link here: Blue Letter Bible
First of all, here is the word swallow in Greek: καταπίνω

It comes from the root words: kata and pino.

Kata means down from or through out.

Pino meaning to drink.

katapino, in effect, means to drink or swallow down, to devour or destroy

Swallowing is what I should do with my pride.

It is what Christ did in order to submit to God's will.

When I do the same I destroy that which hinders me from partaking of the divine nature.

His divine nature.

And ultimately His divine love.

Tidbit Tuesday - Forgiveness Flour

2011-08-02T21:03:00.000-07:00

When I went to the door, at the whisper of knocking,
I saw Simeon Gantner's daughter, Kathleen, standing
There, in her shawl and her shame, sent to ask
"Forgiveness Flour" for her bread. "Forgiveness Flour,"
We call it in our corner. If one has erred, one
Is sent to ask for flour of his neighbors. If they loan it
To him, that means he can stay, but if they refuse, he had
Best take himself off. I looked at Kathleen . . .
What a jewel of a daughter, though not much like her
Father, more's the pity. "I'll give you flour," I
Said, and went to measure it. Measuring was the rub.
If I gave too much, neighbors would think I made sin
Easy, but if I gave too little, they would label me
"Close." While I stood measuring, Joel, my husband
Came in from the mill, a great bag of flour on his
Shoulder, and seeing her there, shrinking in the
Doorway, he tossed the bag at her feet. "Here, take
All of it." And so she had flour for many loaves,
While I stood measuring.

- Marguerite Stewart

And It Came to Pass . . .

2011-08-01T20:56:00.000-07:00

For the last eleven months my husband and I have been part of a Stake Committee to help plan and carry out a pioneer Trek. Our responsibilityhas been to train the couples who were called to be the Ma's and Pa's.

During the past four weeks we have had to rearrange our priorty list to get everything squared away for 16 Ma's and Pa's who were absolutely amazing in leading their families.

And the beginning of last week was filled with enough run-around details that thankfully, were finished before I ran out of time, to get Trek things together for my husband and me - and three of our boys who were also able to attend.

All I can say is - Trek was one. incredible. experience.

It was e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. I had expected it to be - and much, much more.

And like everything good (and everything bad) - it came to pass.

I'll be forever grateful for the awesome journey.

I TOTALLY Crossed the Line

2011-07-16T15:08:00.000-07:00

I really couldn't help it when it was pointed out to me that on occasion it is okay to cross the line . . .

Of course I don't recommend this as a regular practice . . .

And it really depends on what line . . .

But here is the line that I crossed . . .

And I share with you what I discovered . . .

1) A surety that God's words do come to pass.

2 Nephi 25:4 and 7

2) Que sera, sera. Whatever will be, will be. The future's not mine you see. But I resolve to endure it well.

2 Nephi 28:2 and 7

3) Not only did God create ALL things, He created me.

Mosiah 4: 9 and 12

4) Charity = Christ = Charity

Moroni 7:38 and 44

5) He can show me all things, including those things that hurt me the most. But when those things are let go, I can become like Him.

Moroni 10:29 and 32

6) And for my very favorite. These ten words are why I began blogging in the first place.

Moroni 7:26 and 31

Tidbit Tuesday - What He Allows

2011-07-12T19:40:00.001-07:00

God allows U-turns!

Tidbit Tuesday - There Are Many Gifts

2011-07-05T18:40:00.000-07:00

"Let me mention a few gifts that are not always evident or noteworthy but that are very important.
Among these may be your gifts—gifts not so evident but nevertheless real and valuable.

"Let us review some of these less-conspicuous gifts:

the gift of asking

the gift of listening

the gift of hearing and using a still, small voice

the gift of being able to weep

the gift of avoiding contention

the gift of being agreeable

the gift of avoiding vain repetition

the gift of seeking that which is righteous

the gift of not passing judgment

the gift of looking to God for guidance

the gift of being a disciple

the gift of caring for others

the gift of being able to ponder

the gift of offering prayer

the gift of bearing a mighty testimony

and the gift of receiving the Holy Ghost.

"We must remember that to every man is given a gift by the Spirit of God. It is our right and responsibility to accept our gifts and to share them."

-Marvin J. Ashton
Ensign, November 1987, 20

Four Weeks = An Eternity

2011-07-02T09:40:00.000-07:00

For me, the Temple is one of the B.E.S.T. places to see people I haven't see in years.

And last night was no exception as I, quite literally, ran into my first missionary companion (a.k.a. Trainer) in the temple.

And as we had time to only visit for just a few minutes, I was amazed that one person could have had so much influence in my life in such a short amount of time.

For because we were only companions for four weeks!

Four weeks!

Because when I got to the mission field, she had 28 days or so before she went home from her mission!!

She being a seasoned 20 month missionary (yes, you read right, TWENTY MONTHS) and I, being the incoming eight-weeks-of-MTC greenie.
And yet, in that short period of time, her testimony of the gospel and her zeal for building the kingdom of God left an indelible impression upon my heart.

Just for the record, as soon as we left the apartment to work, my trainer spoke nothing but Spanish to me as we were walking and talking and teaching and knocking!! Spanish. And it wasn't the Spanish I heard in the MTC! No, this one actually had a real accent and persons who talked back an wanted you to respond!!!

I laugh now because I did not understood a word. Not one single word! And yet, in those sweet moments of listening to her Spanish, the Lord was trying to teach me that if I worked as hard as my trainer, I would come to love the people and love the work as much as she did!

And do you know what else I discovered? I discovered that sometimes, four weeks is long enough to be blessed for an eternity!

Chocolate Cake - IN A MUG!!!

2011-06-28T08:35:00.000-07:00

I wanted to "bake" something in the microwave because I've NEVER done it before. So we tried out this recipe and each child baked their own.

First, the DRY INGREDIENTS!
In large microwaveable mug, combine 1/4 cup sugar and . . .

A 1/4 cup flour and . . .

And an 1/8 cup cocoa powder and . . .

And a 1/4 teaspoon baking powder.

Mix dry ingredients together. Now add 1 egg.

And start a-stirring!

And Stir, Stir, STIR! There will be dry ingrdients at the bottom, so keep on stirring. And the batter will be THICK.

Now for the wet ingredients. Start by adding 3 Tablespoons milk and . . .

And 3 Tablespoons oil.

Stir in slowly and mix well! The batter should be smooth and silky.

Now add 1/8-1/4 cup chocolate chips and 1/8 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract.

Mix well and place in microwave. Set cook time to 2 minutes 30 seconds at 100% power.

Here is a sneak peek at what the cake looked like with 1 minute and 3 seconds to go. See how the cake is peeking out of the mug? It never bubbled over into the microwave, but we put paper plates under all the other ones we baked.

Ta-dah! Here is the happy boy with his mug of Chocolate Cake and a glass of milk on the side! Mmmmm.

Here's another one we made. It really was over the top!

And my favorite pic of the night -

While the cake looks like a small portion, it is very rich and could be shared. However, who wants to SHARE chocolate cake??

You could serve with whipping cream, chocolate sauce, bananas and/or vanilla ice cream.

Parable of the Talents

2011-06-26T17:45:00.000-07:00

Switch on the Lightbulb.

For because I just figured it out mathmatically.

5 x 2 = 10

2 x 2 = 4

1 x 0 = 0

For because any number magnified by zero, is Z.E.R.O.

It's NOT about the amount. It's about what we do with the amount that matters.

Because in the end, a zero return to the Lord is precisely our reward too.

"Someday when we get to the other side of the veil, we want more than for someone just to tell us, 'Well, you’re done.' Instead, we want the Lord to say, 'Well done, thou good and faithful servant.'" (Paul V. Johnson, Ensign, May 2011).

Taking Upon Us the Name of Christ

2011-06-24T07:59:00.000-07:00

The prophet Alma, in Alma 7:11-13, teaches that the Savior,

"shall go forth, suffering pains and ^aafflictions and ^btemptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will ^ctake upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him ^adeath, that he may ^bloose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to ^csuccor his people according to their infirmities. Now the Spirit ^aknoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the ^bflesh that he might ^ctake upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me."

And what does Father ask us in return? He asks us to covenant "to take upon [us] the name of [His] Son and always remember Him and keep His commandments that [we] may ALWAYS have His Spirit to be with Him" (Moroni 4:3).

Wow!

Christ took upon Him:

* the pains and the sicknesses of His people

* death

* our infirmities

* our sins

We covenant to:

* take upon us His name

I don't know about you, but it looks like we got the better end of the deal - no matter how terrible our end of the deal may seem.

We believe in being . . . Modest

2011-06-23T18:12:00.000-07:00

We live walking distance from a city rec center. For our family our yearly membership is well, SOOOO worth it! Especially in the summer when a short walk to the outdoor pool means and hours and hours of cool, splashing fun.

But it doesn't come without its price. And that price is immodesty!

So today, I decided that I would speak out FOR modesty, when the only two young women I saw with a modest swimsuits stood nearby.

I simply went up to these girls and said, "I love that you chose to wear beautiful, modest swimsuits!" They beamed as they giggled.

And my heart felt good that today I chose to do something with the 13th Article of Faith!

Smart Phones

2011-06-15T16:17:00.000-07:00

So I got a smart phone six months ago and I’m finally to the point that I enjoy it. (Yes, it’s taken me this long. And believe it or not, I have only downloaded nine apps. N-i-n-e. One of which is the LDS Citation Index. OH MY HEAVENS it is a fabulous apps). . .

But this post isn’t about apps, it’s about the smartness of the smart phone that is making me look terribly stupid.

So one of the “smart” features on the phone is that while texting or emailing, it tries to take the guesswork out of your thought process and come up with the word you are typing. Which is great until after it has been sent . . . And believe me, this is not just a one time deal with me. This is just a preview of my smarts with my Smart Phone.

So the other day I felt so very pleased with my “professional, educated” efforts to send off an email that was worded so carefully. You see, my husband and I have the wonderful calling to train the Ma’s and Pa’s for this year’s Stake Pioneer Trek. And with Trek just weeks away, many Ma’s and Pa’s email questions and concerns that need to be addressed immediately or sooner.

So, while waiting for two of my sons at the Orthodontist, I was putting good use to my waiting time by using my Smart Phone to respond to some emails. One of which was to a Pa who is a highly skilled Scoutmaster! Um, did I happen to mention how very pleased I was with myself for being so good with words and such?

Well, after emailing off an essay worthy of publication, I receive his grateful response. And in being so happy with myself, I decided to reread my email because I didn’t want to forget how wonderful I am with words when it comes to using a Smart Phone at the doctor’s office.

And to my absolute horror, instead of calling him a great Scouter, the Smart Phone had outsmarted me and referred to this future Pa of Trek as a great Scooter. A Scooter? A SCOOTER!

Goodbye pride. Hello ~~humility~~ humiliation.

Blog Cliques

2011-06-12T18:21:00.000-07:00

I suppose that if there are cliques at school, in the neighborhood, even in some wards, why would I think cliques would not exist in the blog-world?

But they do! And I find it fascinating!

Fascinating because, during my freshman year in high school, I became very acutely aware of all the clickety-click-click cliques around me. So much so that it could have "crushed me into silent weakness." Instead, it was the turning point of my social life.

At age 14, I made a commitment that I would never belong to any exclusive group. Instead, I would do everything I could to have as many different groups "belong" to me.

What resulted has been:
1. a wonderful adventure of not worrying about a BFF (besides my husband)
2. a stronger resilience of not being offended when not included (either intentional or unintentional)
3. an ability to give attention to those who do feel left out or uncomfortable in a group setting
4. a better understanding of what the Savior expects of me

Let me be clear, my decision not to be be part of clique has not always yielded happy circumstances. It has not always been bliss. I have had my share (and will continue to, I am sure) of being left out, being ignored, being ill-received, and feeling lonely, isolated and forgotten.

But I will say, from conviction, that not being exclusive to any one group has allowed an inclusiveness to so many more.

So when I recently discovered that cliques also exist cyberspace and in taking a looksey over the blogs I visit on a regular basis, I was amazed that the commitment I made at 14 continues with me today - even in the blogosphere!!

So just for fun, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE is just a sample of some of the incredible blog links I visit on a regular basis.

Family Home Evening - Serving in the Home

2011-06-12T18:17:00.000-07:00

Objective: Helping family members feel the joy of serving in the home.

Ages: 4-12

Scripture Reference: The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats - Matthew 25:31-46

Lesson: We took turns reading the verses, stoping and asking questions to assess understanding and also to help the children understand.

Here are some example questions you can ask:
v. 31: Who is this verse referring? What are the circumstances surrounding what will happen?

v.32: Who will be in attendance when the Savior comes again? What will He do with those who are gathered? What are the two animals he mentions? (The younger children can draw/color pictures of sheeps and goats). Why does He mention these two animals specifically?

v. 33: On what hand do the sheep go? the goats? why?

v.34: Who is the King in this verse? What does the King say to the sheep?

THOUGHT QUESTION: What do you think the sheep have done in order to inherit God's kingdom?

v. 35-40: So what is it that we have to do, after keeping His commandments, going to Church on Sunday, paying our tithing, etc. etc.?

Scavenger Hunt Activity:
Divide your family into two groups. Give them the following lists and 15-20 minutes to complete it. Gather together to discuss your feelings and experience.

1. _____ Make someone's bed
2. _____ Take out kitchen garbage to an outside garbage can
3. _____ Clear and wash kitchen counters thoroughly
4. _____ Wash a different bathroom mirror than the other group
5. _____ Write a letter, as a team, to the other team and tell them why you love them.
6. _____ Wash a large window
7. _____ Vacuum a sibling's bedroom
8. _____ Dust the TV and all around the TV

1. _____ Make someone's bed
2. _____ Take out bathroom garbages to an outside garbage can
3. _____ Clear and wash kitchen table thoroughly
4. _____ Wash a different bathroom mirror than the other group
5. _____ Write a letter, as a team, to the other team and tell them why you love them.
6. _____ Wash a large window
7. _____ Vacuum a sibling's bedroom
8. _____ Dust a large piece of furniture

When your time is up, gather together and dicuss how each family felt about serving each other. Read your letter and challenge each family member to make a special effort this week to love and to serve one another.

Family Fun Alliteration

2011-06-09T20:29:00.000-07:00

Alliteration: A sentence that's all littered with the same sound. (Another fun challenge from Cocoa . . .)

See how my seven, silly sons sit in succession on the see-saw? They are psyched that school has stopped and summer has started!

And their sibling sisters smiling so sweetly while supper is being served (sans spoon).

The Toothless Twosome takes time out from troublesome teasing and taunting to tout: Touché

Finally, don't let these faces, fraught with frolicking fun, fool you. For their future is as bright as their faith!

You are SO Good!

2011-06-08T18:31:00.000-07:00

So today, my nine year old son thought it would be funny (ha ha) to take a black sharpie and turn a perfectly good T-shirt into a basketball jersey. He put his last name on the back along with a BIG number 18.

Well, my five year old son was in awe when he saw this homemade creation.

Five year old to nine year old: Did you draw that shirt all by yourself?

Nine year old (so proudly): Yup!

Five year old: Man, you are SO good to be able to put your hand back there and write your name and a number without looking!

Incorporating General Conference into Family Home Evening

2011-06-08T18:11:00.000-07:00

Incorporating recent General Conference talks into our FHE lessons isn’t easy. It takes quite a bit of thought and inspired guidance from the Holy Ghost. Sometimes a talk provides most of the material but most of the time we may use a paragraph from a talk and build a lesson around that to suit the needs of our growing family.

I believe my children need to know WHY it is important to know what the prophets teach us. As I child I was somewhat familiar with what the prophets taught because my mother would tell us those things that were important. She also recorded every conference session on VHS. However, I don’t ever remember going over the words of the prophets once the Ensign came out and we didn’t pull out the popcorn to screen the recorded sessions of Conference.

Nevertheless, that did not diminish the responsibility my parents had to teach me the words of living prophets - because they did

But today, as a parent, I have too many tools available NOT to use them to teach my children. I believe I will be accountable for everything I did not teach them because those teachings are literally One. Click. Away.

Just FYI - I don’t post details of everything that happened in our FHE.

First, because what happens week after week is, at times, so unscripted, so NOT made-for-TV that one may read about it and never want to hold FHE again!!

Secondly - and perhaps most importantly - when those unexpected, wonderful moments DO happen to occur, the questions and the answers and the discussions you will have offer a way for the Holy Ghost to enter into your home and teach your family – individually and collectively.

So here is an example of a Family Home Evening lesson we have had recently:
We took the introduction of our lesson from Lesson 24 entitled I Will Follow the Prophet from the Nursery Manual “Behold, Your Little Ones.”

First: We played "follow the leader." We had the younger children be the leaders. (We jumped around, acted like monkeys and sang a song).

Second: We asked our younger children to identify these prophets (this one and this one and this one and this one) using Gospel Art Pictures. We were able to talk about what the Lord told them to tell the people. This brought us to our living, latter-day prophet, Thomas S. Monson, and what the Lord has told him to tell us.

Third: We made up a fun “stomp-clap” to the words of the chorus “Follow the Prophet.” It got pretty loud as we got going!

Fourth: For the younger children we gave them time to color a picture about prophets.

The older children were asked to read President Monson’s priesthood session talk and write down some of the things they felt the Lord wanted them to know through His prophet.

(In retrospect, I would have given each older child a specific paragraph to read and present, rather than having them read the whole talk right there. We did, however, invite them to read this talk sometime tonight or this week).

End: We ended with this question, “When have you been blessed by following the prophet?”

Two shared their thoughts, but I noticed everyone – even the younger children – taking a moment to think about the question, allowing the Holy Ghost to bring to remembrance something that maybe they experienced or remembering hearing from someone else.

We tried to end with the “stomp-clap” we had enjoyed earlier, but our younger three children had checked out and started throwing crayons and acting like monkeys again. So we ended with a song and prayer and and had ice cream cones for our treat!

Tidbit Tuesday - Heavenly Father

2011-06-07T21:14:00.000-07:00

"Imagine the Father amidst the worlds without number, plans for redemption, the work of the Atonement, and His eternal ministry, which we know so little about. And yet in all His majesty, He hears the tiniest whisper of a prayer from the least of all His creations and cares and responds with an Answer."

-Vaughn J. Featherstone

Questions

2011-06-03T21:42:00.000-07:00

I did it! I really, really did it!! I got my hair c-h-o-p-p-e-d off. It’s the shortest I’ve ever had it and well, I LOVE IT! I wonder why in the world I’ve waited this long . . . I’ll tell you why. Since childhood, I have had embedded in my brain (kind of like the stone in Goliath’s forehead) that long hair was the correct way for a girl to wear her hair. . . And while that was very nice for the pioneers, I’ve decided that I am very happy with this new look that only needs a blow dryer and some pomade! Which brings me to the first question of this post: What keeps women from getting the hair style they really, really love???

* * *

Thank heavens the weather here has favored the cooler temps because the A/C in our van isn’t working. And I have been putting off the expensive fix for a while now. But with no A/C in a 15 passenger van, the summer will be a Death Valley vacation on wheels. Sad thing is, I remember when A/C was a l-u-x-u-r-y. It wasn't until I was in Junior High that our family vehicle had the exhilaration of cold air blowing through our hair when the window was closed. Do luxuries always have to become necessities?

* * *

So I'm reading through my three junior high-ers' yearbooks and I see HAGS scrawled throughout the pages. "HAGS?" I thought. "My boys are NOT hags (and neither is their mother)." Then I calmed down and thought, "Think code word. Maybe HAGS is a code word for a Happy Associated Girls' Society?" That didn't seem right either. And then it clicked in my brain that if I had known 20+ years ago when I graduated from high school that Have A Great Summer could have been condensed in just four easy letters, I could have saved myself A LOT of time and started summer vacation a whole lot earlier. BTW, what acronyms have you come across that took you while to figure out?

* * *

We have a white board in our kitchen area. Up until this week it has been largely ignored. But this week my boys have decided it is now a forum to write messages. Here are some of the messages that have been written:

"If you don't have time to do it right, you must find time to do it over."

"All men are created equal."

"With God nothing is impossible."

"Life is not a game. Life is work."

"When something is hard it doesn't mean you shouldn't try. It just means you should try harder"

"Rum Punch, quite satisfactory." - Mary Poppins

To tell you the truth I was surprised my boys had it in them to generate such enjoyable, thought-provoking messages. And it's been such the craze that each boy has an assigned day when he can put his message on the board. In what ways have your children surprised you?

* * *

I love the scriptures. I mean, I LOVE the scriptures. On Memorial Day we focused our family scripture study on those who men and women who fought and died for our liberties and freedom. We learned that the fight for freedom for this Land of Liberty - even this land of America - extended far beyond the Revolutionary War. That fight, and specifically the right to worship God, makes this land the greatest on earth!

We took our discussion from Alma 43:9-21. And this time around I equated the armies of the Lamanites to the 1/3 of the hosts of heaven who were cast out of Father's presence and the Nephites to be all those spirits who chose Father's plan to come to earth.

And when the ~~armies of the Lamanites~~ [1/3 of the hosts of heaven] saw that the ~~people of Nephi~~ [spirits who chose to follow Father's plan], or that ~~Moroni~~ [Jesus Christ], had prepared his people with breastplates and with arm-shields, yea, and also shields to defend their heads, and also they were dressed with thick clothing [think a physical body WITH the Armor of God] —

Now the army of ~~Zerahemnah~~ [Lucifer] was not prepared with any such thing; they had only their swords and their cimeters, their bows and their arrows, their stones and their slings [aka temptations of EVERY kind] ; and they were naked [they had no physical body], save it were a skin which was girded about their loins; yea, all were naked, save it were the ~~Zoramites and the Amalekites~~ [sons of perdition];

But they were not armed with breastplates, nor shields [they ~~did not,~~ no, they could not have the Armor of God]—therefore, they were exceedingly afraid of the ~~armies of the Nephites~~ [children of Christ] because of their armor, notwithstanding their number being so much greater than ~~the Nephites~~ [those of the Church of God].

What have the scriptures taught you this week?

Tidbit Tuesday - Tragedy

2011-05-31T21:31:00.000-07:00

The only real tragedy in life is sin.

The Lost Coin

2011-05-29T21:20:00.000-07:00

Today in Sunday School our discussion favored the three parables found in Luke 15: The Parable of the Lost Sheep, The Parable of the Lost Coin and the Parable of the Prodigal Son.

As I studied the Parable of the Lost Coin I was able to see a call for us to be better examples, to open our mouths and be better missionaries, and to ultimately share the blessings of the temple - the crowning blessing of the restored gospel - with all who are found worthy! I share with you what I learned.

First of all here is the scripture: Luke 15:8-10.

Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?

And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.

Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

Ten pieces of silver = One-tenth; Tithing; one of the commandments we must obey in order to enter into the temple Doctrine and Covenants 119:4

Lose one piece = With faith and diligence, we can safely find those who have been taken captive so that not one soul will be lost Alma 16:8

Light a Candle = Be an example to others Matthew 5:16

Sweep the House = Gathering the Lord's Elect Moses 7:62

Seek Diligently = Pray for missionary experiences, for confidence to share the gospel with others Luke 11:9

She found it = Everyone that seeketh, findeth Luke 11:10

Calleth her friends = Christ will call the obedient His friends John 15:14-15

Rejoice with Me = Recognize the Lord's hand in His ultimate work of bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man Alma 26:16

Joy/angels = Missionary Work/Gathering Israel Alma 13:22-24

Sinner that Repents = The Lord desires His people to be worthy to enter the temple Doctrine and Covenants 109:21

Love to See the Temple

2011-05-29T18:52:00.000-07:00

CHECK THIS OUT!!! Turned sideways, a pedigree chart is a sketch drawing of a temple!

Tidbit Tuesday - Real History

2011-05-24T11:18:00.000-07:00

"When the real history of mankind is fully disclosed, will it feature the echoes of gunfire or the shaping sound of lullabies? The great armistices made by military men or the peacemaking of women in homes and in neighborhoods? Will what happened in cradles and kitchens prove to be more controlling than what happened in congresses? When the surf of the centuries has made the great pyramids so much sand, the everlasting family will still be standing, because it is a celestial institution, formed outside telestial time."

-Neal A. Maxwell

Family Home Evening - Family Prayer

2011-05-23T21:14:00.000-07:00

Objective: The Importance of Family Prayer

General Conference Talk: Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone, “One Link Still Holds,” October 1999

I don’t know how family prayer happens in other families, but in our family it seems to be the perfect time for Satan to do his work.

Because it starts the very moment my husband or I say, “It’s time for family prayer.”

And that’s when it begins:

One son winds up quarantined in the bathroom . . .

Another son decides to wield the broken light saber over the heads of his younger brother and sister – because he thought he saw a fly right over their heads . . .

Two more sons start giving each other noogies, rolling over each other to avoid being the last one touched . . .

Which results in knocking over an innocent sibling who was somewhat trying to get ready for prayer, who instinctively has to hit back because, after all, he wasn’t the one who started it . . .

And then there is the one son who is in the corner, oblivious to everything because he is so busy fitting together a 12,341 piece Star Wars Lego fighter of some kind.

And to top it off, the baby is crying . . .

Needless to say, it is by this time that our children are severely reproved with sharpness, but I can tell you - it definitely is not moved upon by the Holy Ghost.

And you’d think we’d learn . . .Oh, no.

So this evening, our lesson was not on the importance of family prayer, but more on how we come ready for family prayer.

And this incredible, heart-rending story told by Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone made tonight’s discussion on family prayer one thay hopefully we can remember during family prayer tomorrow night as well!

"It was the Sunday before Thanksgiving, about 1943—I went to priesthood meeting. There was a large framed board. It had the pictures of all the young men serving in the military. Priests who had been at the sacrament table a few months earlier were now in the war. Each week it would be updated. Those who were killed in action had a gold star by their picture; those who had been wounded, a red star; and those missing in action, a white star. Every week, as a 12-year-old deacon, I checked to see who had been killed or wounded.

"In quorum meeting that morning, the member of the bishopric said: “This Thursday is Thanksgiving. We ought to all have family prayer in our homes.” Then he said, “Let’s put on the blackboard the things we are grateful for.” We did, and he said, “Include these things in your Thanksgiving prayer.” I got sick to my stomach, as we never had a prayer or blessing.

"That night at 6:30 we went to sacrament meeting. At the end of the meeting, the bishop stood up and was very tender. He told about the young men from our ward who had been killed and wounded. He talked about our liberty, our freedom, our flag, and this great country, and our blessings. Then he said, “I’d hope every single family would kneel and have family prayer on Thanksgiving Day and thank God for His blessings.”

"My heart ached. I thought, How can we have family prayer? I wanted to be obedient. I hardly slept all Sunday night. I wanted to have a prayer for Thanksgiving. I even thought I would say it if someone asked me, but I was too shy to volunteer. I worried all day Monday, and all day Tuesday, and Wednesday at school.

"Dad did not come home on Wednesday until early in the morning. Thursday we all got up. There were five boys and two sisters. We skipped breakfast so we would have a real appetite for Thanksgiving dinner. To work up an appetite, we went to a nearby field and dug a hole six feet deep and six feet wide. We made a trench to it as a hideout. I remember with every shovelful of dirt, I thought, Please, Heavenly Father, let us have a prayer.

"Finally at 2:30, my mother called us to come and eat. We cleaned up and sat at the table. Somehow Mom had managed to have a turkey with all the trimmings. She put all the food on the table, including the turkey. I thought my heart would burst. Time was running out. I looked at my father, then my mother. I thought, Please, now, someone, anyone, please can’t we have a prayer. I was almost panicky; then all of a sudden everyone started to eat. I had worked hard all morning and afternoon to work up an appetite, but I wasn’t hungry. I didn’t want to eat. I wanted to pray more than anything else in this world, and it was too late.

"Beloved youth, be grateful for parents who have prayer and read the scriptures. Prize family home evening. Be grateful for those who teach and train you."

Talents Shared

2011-05-22T20:36:00.000-07:00

This scrumptiously delicious cupcake arrangement, along with the homemade cupcake stand, was hand-delivered to me this afternoon by my dear friend Blue. (You just have to click RIGHT HERE to see a gallery of pictures showing off the pure talent this woman possesses.)

I have a pretty short list of things I can do. Just FYI: Decorating Cakes and Crafts is on the very top of my five-mile long list of things I cannot do. Nope. I wasn't given the talent nor the patience for doing either.

So before we happily ~~consumed~~ DEVOURED those Oreo-cream filled chocolate cupcakes topped with mint frosting and bits of mint Oreo cookies, I took this photo to remind me of a few important things:

1. How grateful I am for dear friends and lasting friendships!
2. Enjoying the talents I do not posses comes when others share their incredible talents with me.
3. And boy, am I happy that chocolate was not one of the avoidable items in the Word of Wisdom!

Thank you Blue and Bunch and Gator!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

2011-05-21T21:56:00.000-07:00

To the woman who taught me that praying with faith can find lost contact lenses, misplaced keys, open locked doors, soften bully boys' hearts, help three year olds park over-sized wagons and prevent rain from falling until the last bit of tarp has covered the roof of a house under construction.

To the woman who sees the very best in the most cantankerous member of her ward, gives Books of Mormon to perfect strangers, totally rocks at making the very best chocolate cake this side of the Mississippi and who kicked Stage 3 Breast Cancer in the butt!

To the woman who has loved and protected her four children more devotedly than a Mama Cub (sorry, Sarah Palin), is a living legacy to 20 adorable grandchildren, and, after all these years still puts up with my Dad (hee hee).

My mom instilled in me a desire to follow the Savior, a love for dark chocolate, the familiarity of the faith-filled stories of the Book of Mormon, the ability to accompany vocalists, and the expectation to let my "light so shine."

Happy Birthday to my amazing Mom!

Limerick on Motherhood

2011-05-18T21:03:00.000-07:00

Cocoa from Chocolate on my Cranium gave an assignment to write a limerick on Motherhood. Here is my feeble attempt.

Please don't accuse me of being a sinner.

When my children feel certain they're thinner.

"We're STARVING!" they claim.

I say, "What a shame!

"But we just barely cleaned up from dinner!"