I have many friends who aren't Mormon like me. It seems that more and more often I am being asked questions related to my faith. A very dear friend of mine said to me last night, "I often wonder how it is that my friend who I consider so smart and respect so much can believe these outrageous things that I hear about the Mormon church?" My response to her was simple, "then just ask me." At work every time a student, or family, or community member turns out to be Mormon I am looked to as the expert. Everything I do and the other Mormons around are doing is being watched very closely and often being seen as the Mormon way.
So, while I never take offense to being asked questions about my faith, I am very concerned that as the token Mormon person in so many people's lives- am I being a good representative of my faith? Would Heavenly Father choose me as His representative?
It is very similar to the conversation I had with my often all too single minded husband earlier this week. I was sharing that as American's we have a tendency to over generalize our thoughts of a whole group of people based on a small singular experience with only one or two people who can be connected with that group. I try very hard to understand that while collectively people may share a basic set of beliefs, each person is still very much an individual and shouldn't be judged based upon the actions of others. For example, let's look at me as a Mormon. I believe very strongly in the existence of my Heavenly Father and in the teachings of my church, but I also can appear very contrary to the teachings of my church. For one, I have six tattoo's. While I don't actively encourage anyone to get tattoo's, I also don't mind them. I am a convert and would not have gotten a tattoo after joining the church, but I also don't mind that I have them.
So my thoughts are these:
1. I will do my best to represent my Heavenly Father in the best way I can and hope that I make Him proud.
2. I will do my best to remember that everyone is an individual and will try to restrict judgement
3. I will encourage others to try to remember that same idea.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Life Is Worth Living!
I often ponder my life and choices as I travel alone in my car. It is interesting how a simple task such as traveling to and from work can lead me to ponder deep thoughts. I usually begin by trying to set my mood for the day by listening to church music. There is one particular piece that is performed with bag pipes that is especially inspirational. Even if the song isn't over when I arrive at my destination I sit in my car and just take in every note. It is guaranteed to put me in a good mood for the day. While I am listening I start thinking about my Heavenly Father and all of the many decisions I have made recently and those that are weighing heavy on my heart because I am not sure what to do. Almost always I find myself sitting in my car in the driveway deep in prayer, seeking guidance. I feel the comfort of my savior and know that God is listening to me and ready to support me in any way He can.
Recently, I was just in that same situation, sitting in my car in the driveway wondering how I am going to make it through the day. I am just feeling exhausted and overwhelmed with all of the things I must complete. I start feeling like a terrible mother because my boys aren't doing great in school and they always seem to be fighting with each other. My daughter is angry and wants nothing to do with church or anything to do with faith for that matter. I feel like a terrible wife because I can't seem to make my husband happy, and the list can go on and on. I know that when I walk through that door I can't show any of this weakness because I have to be happy and be strong no matter what. I share love with everyone I meet and on this day I was feeling so alone and like I had nothing left to give. I began to wonder if it was all worth it, how easy it would be to just walk away and not deal with anything, but immediately I had this warm feeling come over me and I began to cry. I knew that I want nothing more than to be with my family and that I have a promise from my Heavenly Father that though I will have trials and tribulations in my life, that If I pray and reflect on them I will learn from each trial and will never be given more than I can handle.
At that very moment my son happened to walk outside and gave me a giant smile. He came to the car and offered to carry my bags for me, saying " do you need help mom?" I know that it isn't a coincidence that he happened outside right at my moment of weakness, I know that the feeling of comfort that came over me was my Heavenly Father sending the Holy Spirit to comfort me and to remind me that I am not alone. I don't have to do it all by myself and though I do have obligations to my family and need to care for them, that they also care for me. Then to top it all off, I received a letter in the mail from my relief society president and dear friend that absolutely brightened my day. I don't know how she knew that I would need that pick me up, and she may never know just how much her kind words mean in my life, but they really did remind me that i am loved by my Father in heaven, family and my ward family. I know that life is great, even when it seems to suck. I know that my Heavenly Father will always care for me and provide me with a way to make it through those tough days.life is worth living because it is all part of the plan of happiness and I am on the path to my heavenly home.
Recently, I was just in that same situation, sitting in my car in the driveway wondering how I am going to make it through the day. I am just feeling exhausted and overwhelmed with all of the things I must complete. I start feeling like a terrible mother because my boys aren't doing great in school and they always seem to be fighting with each other. My daughter is angry and wants nothing to do with church or anything to do with faith for that matter. I feel like a terrible wife because I can't seem to make my husband happy, and the list can go on and on. I know that when I walk through that door I can't show any of this weakness because I have to be happy and be strong no matter what. I share love with everyone I meet and on this day I was feeling so alone and like I had nothing left to give. I began to wonder if it was all worth it, how easy it would be to just walk away and not deal with anything, but immediately I had this warm feeling come over me and I began to cry. I knew that I want nothing more than to be with my family and that I have a promise from my Heavenly Father that though I will have trials and tribulations in my life, that If I pray and reflect on them I will learn from each trial and will never be given more than I can handle.
At that very moment my son happened to walk outside and gave me a giant smile. He came to the car and offered to carry my bags for me, saying " do you need help mom?" I know that it isn't a coincidence that he happened outside right at my moment of weakness, I know that the feeling of comfort that came over me was my Heavenly Father sending the Holy Spirit to comfort me and to remind me that I am not alone. I don't have to do it all by myself and though I do have obligations to my family and need to care for them, that they also care for me. Then to top it all off, I received a letter in the mail from my relief society president and dear friend that absolutely brightened my day. I don't know how she knew that I would need that pick me up, and she may never know just how much her kind words mean in my life, but they really did remind me that i am loved by my Father in heaven, family and my ward family. I know that life is great, even when it seems to suck. I know that my Heavenly Father will always care for me and provide me with a way to make it through those tough days.life is worth living because it is all part of the plan of happiness and I am on the path to my heavenly home.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Lesson Just For Me
Today I gave my first ever lesson in relief society. While I don't mind at all teaching a lesson, this was a nerve racking experience for me. Every Sunday I sit in relief society in awe of the amazing women that share. I feel as though I have so very much to learn from them, so the idea that I can or should teach in relief society just seems so wrong to me. I mean who am I, what could I possibly have to offer?
Regardless of what I feel are my personal shortcomings, I was asked to teach the lesson for today. I spent all week reading and re-reading the conference talk, and reviewing the scriptures that would serve as the basis for my message. Not surprisingly, I immediately realized that the message could have been written just for me. It might as well have said in big bold letters, "Jennifer, this message is for you."
The title of lesson is, " the greatest commandment" and is centered around Jesus' response to the question from the holy men asking which is the most important commandment. Jesus answered them saying,
"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets" (Matthew 22:36-40).
I love my Heavenly Father and do live my life in a way that I hope shows my love. One of my favorite things about the church is that we believe very strongly that it is by our own actions and good deeds that we earn our way into the celestial kingdom. I have spoken many times about how important it is to me that my family is together forever, and I know that if I want to be with my family forever, I have to use my time here on earth to make that possible. I need to lead by example, share my faith, and live my life by the commandments and plan of happiness.
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
(John 14: 21)
But it is much more than simply being obedient, the remainder of the talk focused on the following scripture:
So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
(John 21:15-17)
I am a terrible member missionary, I am a coward and afraid to share my beliefs because I don't want to offend anyone, or come up short. But as has been shared in this lesson, I can't just say that it makes me uncomfortable and be done, I have to push beyond my fear and do what is right. So, my answer is this blog. I am sharing my life experiences and how my faith is a key component of every aspect of my life. My hope is that in some small way my sharing will help others find their faith and their voice, but most of all I hope that I can feed the spirits of my own children and help them to learn and grow in the gospel.
Just in case you would like more here is the video of the talk that led to my lesson:
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=P7HcuoTTPIs
Regardless of what I feel are my personal shortcomings, I was asked to teach the lesson for today. I spent all week reading and re-reading the conference talk, and reviewing the scriptures that would serve as the basis for my message. Not surprisingly, I immediately realized that the message could have been written just for me. It might as well have said in big bold letters, "Jennifer, this message is for you."
The title of lesson is, " the greatest commandment" and is centered around Jesus' response to the question from the holy men asking which is the most important commandment. Jesus answered them saying,
"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets" (Matthew 22:36-40).
I love my Heavenly Father and do live my life in a way that I hope shows my love. One of my favorite things about the church is that we believe very strongly that it is by our own actions and good deeds that we earn our way into the celestial kingdom. I have spoken many times about how important it is to me that my family is together forever, and I know that if I want to be with my family forever, I have to use my time here on earth to make that possible. I need to lead by example, share my faith, and live my life by the commandments and plan of happiness.
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
(John 14: 21)
But it is much more than simply being obedient, the remainder of the talk focused on the following scripture:
So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
(John 21:15-17)
I am a terrible member missionary, I am a coward and afraid to share my beliefs because I don't want to offend anyone, or come up short. But as has been shared in this lesson, I can't just say that it makes me uncomfortable and be done, I have to push beyond my fear and do what is right. So, my answer is this blog. I am sharing my life experiences and how my faith is a key component of every aspect of my life. My hope is that in some small way my sharing will help others find their faith and their voice, but most of all I hope that I can feed the spirits of my own children and help them to learn and grow in the gospel.
Just in case you would like more here is the video of the talk that led to my lesson:
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=P7HcuoTTPIs
Friday, October 12, 2012
Change is Good- Service is Great!
So it has been quite some time since I have blogged, but there is good reason. I had several rounds of interviews with the district and I got the job! I am so excited and overwhelmed all at the same time. I began working immediately after my interviews and haven't stopped since. It has been quite a whirlwind of events. I have a steep learning curve, but I believe that I can do this because I firmly believe this was meant to be. It is just one of those things where you pray and get an answer. I prayed and prayed about this career move because I just wasn't sure if it was the right time and right path. I prayed that Heavenly Father would guide me down the right path and that no matter what I would make my family proud. Recently when I had a moment to look back and reflect on the changes in my life, I was reassured that I am on the right path and my Heavenly Father has helped me get here.
To be honest, life hasn't been easy. My new job is quite difficult and requires much of my time. At the same time, my boys are both at new schools in 7th and 9th grade. It has just been non-stop changes around this house. My brother-in-law and his three kids are still living with us and that is always difficult. My hubby struggles with the many challenges that come with sharing our home with another family.The kids struggle with sharing and getting used to the many nuances and idiosyncrasies of the many people living under one roof. I seem to be the only one really enjoying this, but because I hear from everyone about the many complaints and concerns, it really takes away my joy. In a rather heated discussion my husband and I were arguing about money (a constant battle), and how we are not on the path that we were on before his brother and children moved in. I agree we are not on the path of our plan and we have all but depleted our savings taking on the care of so many people, but when I really look at it, we are not struggling. No we are just making it. While I do wish we were more than just making it, I am also amazed at how we have just managed to get by every month with everything that we need.
I know that this is truly due to two things- first I pay tithing faithfully every month and believe that Heavenly Father blesses me for that. I have a strong testimony of tithing and know that more than a few times I paid my tithing knowing that I didn't have enough money to cover the bills and every time, somehow things work out. The second reason I think things work out is because we are doing what Jesus would do. He taught us to love our neighbors and take care of those in need, and that is exactly what we are doing by having family live with us. Despite that difficulties of merging two families together, it is a great experience to be a family together. It gives us all opportunities to serve each other and to grow in that service. We offer each other stability and help each other develop our patience and compromise skills. Instead of everything being all about us, we must think of others and consider them before we act. It is a great lesson.
So how does this relate to me being on the right path in my career? I think that Heavenly Father is blessing my family with good health and fortune for our choosing to take care of others. So I am not worried about money, I know that Heavenly Father will provide a way for us to get back on track with our savings and protect us from any emergencies while we work to get to where we need to be. He takes care of His children and blesses those who take care of His children as well. So to sum up, I have a new job, my family is much larger now, I am broke and I have never felt so blessed. I only hope that I can be an example for my family so that we can all be as Christ-like as possible.
Here is a great video about serving others as Christ has demonstrated for us:
To be honest, life hasn't been easy. My new job is quite difficult and requires much of my time. At the same time, my boys are both at new schools in 7th and 9th grade. It has just been non-stop changes around this house. My brother-in-law and his three kids are still living with us and that is always difficult. My hubby struggles with the many challenges that come with sharing our home with another family.The kids struggle with sharing and getting used to the many nuances and idiosyncrasies of the many people living under one roof. I seem to be the only one really enjoying this, but because I hear from everyone about the many complaints and concerns, it really takes away my joy. In a rather heated discussion my husband and I were arguing about money (a constant battle), and how we are not on the path that we were on before his brother and children moved in. I agree we are not on the path of our plan and we have all but depleted our savings taking on the care of so many people, but when I really look at it, we are not struggling. No we are just making it. While I do wish we were more than just making it, I am also amazed at how we have just managed to get by every month with everything that we need.
I know that this is truly due to two things- first I pay tithing faithfully every month and believe that Heavenly Father blesses me for that. I have a strong testimony of tithing and know that more than a few times I paid my tithing knowing that I didn't have enough money to cover the bills and every time, somehow things work out. The second reason I think things work out is because we are doing what Jesus would do. He taught us to love our neighbors and take care of those in need, and that is exactly what we are doing by having family live with us. Despite that difficulties of merging two families together, it is a great experience to be a family together. It gives us all opportunities to serve each other and to grow in that service. We offer each other stability and help each other develop our patience and compromise skills. Instead of everything being all about us, we must think of others and consider them before we act. It is a great lesson.
So how does this relate to me being on the right path in my career? I think that Heavenly Father is blessing my family with good health and fortune for our choosing to take care of others. So I am not worried about money, I know that Heavenly Father will provide a way for us to get back on track with our savings and protect us from any emergencies while we work to get to where we need to be. He takes care of His children and blesses those who take care of His children as well. So to sum up, I have a new job, my family is much larger now, I am broke and I have never felt so blessed. I only hope that I can be an example for my family so that we can all be as Christ-like as possible.
Here is a great video about serving others as Christ has demonstrated for us:
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Fun Visit
My husband's friend from, "back in the day" and her sons have been visiting this week. It really has been a great experience, not only is she super nice, but her three boys and my two boys are getting along perfectly. It is working out so well. Just being around her makes me really admire the military wives all around the world. She is a great mother and has to care for her children, run her household, and devote her spare time to church, Relief Society and the scouting organization all while her husband travels bravely into combat. Everytime I hear someone complain about life here in the US of A, I want them to live just a few days in the lives of the brave families making sacrifices everyday so the rest of us can enjoy our freedom. We all need to remember that freedom isn't free!
I love this country and the freedoms we have been afforded by our precious Constitution. When it comes time for us to vote in November we all need to take that opportunity very seriously and research the measures and candidates carefully. We need to think beyond our own needs and cosider the needs of the many citizens of this country. By this I mean that we need to do what is best for the long term, not just what is easiest. It is very admirable to want to take care of everyone and I understand the desire because I am a natural caretaker, but we also need to give people the opportunity to take care of themselves. I don't know about you, but I would much rather have the ability to care for my family than for someone to hand me something. It goes back to the old addage of if you give a man a fish you feed him for one day, but if you teach him to fish, you feed him for life. Let's give everyone their pride and autonomy back by allowing them to care for themselves. We can feed them their fish and then teach them to fish so they don't need our fish anymore, but can gather their own. I trust people to make their own choices and determine their own wants and needs, and it would be great if our government would do the same. It is like I teach the kids in Sunday School- it is only through their own works and deeds that they can achieve celestial glory. Same goes for anything in life, it is only through work that goals can bs achieved.
Thank you again to the military families that sacrifice everyday for my freedom to say these things!
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Job Interview- Oh My!
Yesterday I got the call I have been waiting for... an opportunity to interview for the position of Assistant Principal. It is interesting to think about how I made the transition from teaching to wanting to do more. I always thought I might enjoy being an administrator, but because I absolutely love teaching it is hard to imagine really doing anything else, but I think there was a different plan in place for me. Over the last few years, I have naturally been taking on more and more leadership roles and in turn actually teaching less and less. So now that the opportunity has arisen I prayed and decided that it is definitely time to take action. Choosing to take this risk of putting myself out there and possibly being rejected is very scary, but I know that it is the right thing to do. I know because I have been praying and praying for guidance and I have received my answer in no uncertain terms that this is something I should do. It has made me feel even better that so many people around me are praying for the best outcome. Even my mom said to me, I will say a prayer for you. So, if you pray, then please include me in your prayers that I may make my family proud and represent myself well. I know that I may not be chosen and it may not be my time, but I feel good about taking the chance. If you don't pray, well then you should... no I would never tell you what to do, but hey I need all the prayers I can get. :)
Check out this video to learn more about the power of prayer...
Check out this video to learn more about the power of prayer...
Theme Park Mania
My cousins have been visiting from Oregon and it has been crazzyy! I love when they visit but it is definitely like a whirlwind of activity. I admire their ability to just go, go, go- non-stop. I am sure that when they get home, they need a vacation from their vacation. This time we spent two days in the Magic Kingdom, you know the, "happiest place on earth." One day from 7am to midnight at Disneyland and the next from 7am to 11pm at California Adventure. I must say that the my cousins definitely have a system down-from fast passes and strategic line choices to where they want to eat and how to maneuver around the crowds. Having a plan does make the day much more memorable. I can't say that I blame them because the cost of a ticket is outrageous and the lines are soooooo long. If I had to pay that price, I would definitely want to get every penny's worth of rides in. My family and I are season ticket holders so we generally go for short visits and gravitate to our favorite rides or shows. My hubby and I use it for date night because we just enjoy the ambiance especially around the holidays. We can enjoy dinner together and people watch. Sometimes we splurge on an ice-cream or churro even though they aren't on our diet plan. I've convinced myself that all of the walking zero's out my giant calorie splurge. I know that it would take many trips at a high rate of speed around the park to actually make a difference, but I have chosen to live in ignorant bliss. . .
So this time it was even more crazy because Cars Land has only been open for a month or so and the people are just pouring in. I must congratulate Disney on creating such buzz about California Adventure. I have always enjoyed walking around the CA park because they so cleverly created themed streets like old Hollywood and wine country. It is nice to soar over California every once in a while and see just how majestic this state really is, but it has been a bit of a ghost town and not the real draw Disney had hoped for. Now that Cars Land has been added I was truly impressed, it is just like you walk into the movie and down the main street of Radiator Springs. I didn't take the time to wait in the lines for the rides, but simply enjoyed sauntering down the street through the crowds. Yes crowds, there were crowds everywhere in California Adventure, my quiet hangout has become one giant mob of people. Unfortunately, my hubby who loves to go on every ride, had to hang back with me this time because of his back. He is still suffering from back pain and simply can't do the things he loves. I wish the doctors could fix him!
We finished off our family visit at Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour in Brea. Talk about an experience!! I have one suggestion for anyone planning their visit- EAR PLUGS. Farrell's was louder than Disneyland and California Adventure and just as crowded, but who can pass up an opportunity to make a pig out of themselves by eating a dessert called the pig troth, or Mount Saint Helen's. Though no one was hungry after Farrell's we returned home to enjoy a classic Disney movie- Mary Poppins in our outdoor theater complete with popcorn machine and all. All in all their visit was super fun and exciting, we are sad to see them go but we know that families are forever so our time together doesn't have to end. Thanks to Heavenly Father's plan families can be sealed together for all time and eternity and not just till death do us part. Check out this video to see more...
Increase your understanding of the Lord's purpose for families and of the blessings He makes available to them. Visit http://mormon.org/family/ to learn more.
So this time it was even more crazy because Cars Land has only been open for a month or so and the people are just pouring in. I must congratulate Disney on creating such buzz about California Adventure. I have always enjoyed walking around the CA park because they so cleverly created themed streets like old Hollywood and wine country. It is nice to soar over California every once in a while and see just how majestic this state really is, but it has been a bit of a ghost town and not the real draw Disney had hoped for. Now that Cars Land has been added I was truly impressed, it is just like you walk into the movie and down the main street of Radiator Springs. I didn't take the time to wait in the lines for the rides, but simply enjoyed sauntering down the street through the crowds. Yes crowds, there were crowds everywhere in California Adventure, my quiet hangout has become one giant mob of people. Unfortunately, my hubby who loves to go on every ride, had to hang back with me this time because of his back. He is still suffering from back pain and simply can't do the things he loves. I wish the doctors could fix him!
We finished off our family visit at Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour in Brea. Talk about an experience!! I have one suggestion for anyone planning their visit- EAR PLUGS. Farrell's was louder than Disneyland and California Adventure and just as crowded, but who can pass up an opportunity to make a pig out of themselves by eating a dessert called the pig troth, or Mount Saint Helen's. Though no one was hungry after Farrell's we returned home to enjoy a classic Disney movie- Mary Poppins in our outdoor theater complete with popcorn machine and all. All in all their visit was super fun and exciting, we are sad to see them go but we know that families are forever so our time together doesn't have to end. Thanks to Heavenly Father's plan families can be sealed together for all time and eternity and not just till death do us part. Check out this video to see more...
Increase your understanding of the Lord's purpose for families and of the blessings He makes available to them. Visit http://mormon.org/family/ to learn more.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
So Proud- But Humble!
So today was awesome! My twelve year old son gave his first talk in sacrament meeting. The fact that we don't have a paid ministry is something I really love about our church. Everyone in our church has the opportunity to bare their testimony and share the blessings they have received from our Heavenly Father. We all have unique experiences and we all study the scriptures as part of our daily routine, so we all receive revelations from the spirit that help guide us in oue lives, so why shouldn't we all share with eachother those experiences.
This Sunday it was my sons turn to testify about his faith. As a youth speaker he was given a topic to prayerfully study and his topic was humility or being humble. The teacher in me insisted that he write his talk all on his own and the mommy in me wanted to hold his hand and do it for him. But my son surprised the mommy in me and took his responsibility to heart. We discussed the steps he should take to prepare- beginning with a prayer for guidance, then researching the scriptures for references to humility, then seeking revelations and talks from prophets and apostles, and finally any personal experiences or stories.
He did just that and spent his week preparing. On Friday night we reviewed his research and he spent some time organizing his thoughts on the topic. The teacher in me gave him instructions on how to structure a talk and the mommy in me bit her fingernails while he wrote. My apprehension was unneccessary because never once did he complain or say that it was too difficult, quite the opposite actually. He dilligently went to work and then humbly presented his talk to me to review. I read it and was so proud. Sure there were a few grammatical errors and a few sentences that I suggested be rearranged, but overall it really was great.
The most difficult part was the actual reading of the talk because my son has a few issues with speech. It can be very difficult to understand what he is saying, but he practiced multiple times and even practiced looking at the audience. When it came time for him to actually speak he did so like a champ. Sure there were still parts where he mumbled a bit, but overall he was awesome and even remembered to make eye contact. I am so very proud of my son and will post his talk later for you to read. He really is a shining example of one of our Heavenly Fathers' greatest creations and I humbly accept the opportunity to be his mother.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Spring Cleaning?
So is it still called spring cleaning when it isn't spring? I dont't know the answer, but I love knowing that everything in my house has been deep cleaned. We spent all day yesterday scrubbing walls and shampooing carpets.
Right now I am renting a house and it has white walls and white cabinents and light carpets and I will NEVER ever have white walls again. I feel like the cleaning nazi all the time. It seems as though all I do all day is chase down children reminding them to pick up their stuff.
My house is always full of kids. Whether it's the neighborhood hang out or one of the six kids that live in my home (Laura is 21 so I guess she is not officially a kid anymore, but since she is absolutely no help on the cleaning front she is one of the kids in my book) Don't get me wrong,I love having the kids around-I've always wanted a big family and I even enjoy teenagers most of the time- but it is difficult when they aren't actually your kids.
I tried to start off with a plan when my brother-in-law and his three kids moved in. I created a chore chart and a system for laundry, etc. For the most part it works except teenagers never do their chores or actually finish their laundry on their own. I need an app that shuts off all electronic devices when it's time to switch the laundry, another one that forces them to actually put the laundry away and don't get me started on bathrooms.
So my real dilemma is how much do I enforce things and how much do I let slide? How much do I say something to the kids and how much do I leave up to to their dad? All I know for sure is that I really want to try to keep my house clean and peaceful at the same time, but is thay acual possible with 9 people living in the same house?
For those of you are following my blog-here's an update on a few things-still haven't spoken to my 12 year old about girls because we have been focusing on his talk on humility-kind of fits doesn't it? And I'm still reading my Book of Mormon daily. I am in second Nephi and it is shring the prophesies of Isaiah. If you have ever read Isaiah then you know that it is really complicated in that it prophesies about Isaiah's time, Jesus' life, and the second coming simultaneously. It is a slow read, but I have the institute study guide and that really helps especially with the history of the region. You can get your own copy from deseret book. Here is the link www.deseretbook.com
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Who Will Meet the Challenge?
The other night at Family Home Evening, my brother-in-law made a compelling challenge to the kids in the family. He challenged them to read all 531 pages of the Book of Mormon by the end of summer. Not only did he make the challenge, but he offered one hundred dollars to each of them when they finish and can prove through a question and answer session that they successfully completed the challenge.
Being a parent can be difficult, but one thing I know is that reading the Scriptures daily will bring many blessings into my kids lives. So I am going to lead by example and take the challenge and read my Book of Mormon before the end of the summer. I have already read the first 80 pages and am off to a good start. It is so interesting that every time I read my scriptures it is like reading them for the first time. I always find something new that helps me increase my understanding and adds to my testimony.
This time I found a passage that I completely related to in 2 Nephi 1:17. In this passage Lehi is sharing his concern for his children. In it he says: " My heart hath been weighed down with sorrow from time to time, for I have feared, lest for the hardness of your hearts the Lord your God should come out in the fullness of His wrath upon you, that ye be cut off and destroyed forever."
I completely relate to Lehi in his concerns. I worry about my children and their decisions. I especially worry about my eldest daughter who is sooo lost. My heart aches often for her. I wish that she could see the error in her ways and know in her heart that Heavenly Father loves her, but she refuses. She won't even acknowledge the presence of a higher being above herself. It is just awful to watch her live her life so unhappy and so without purpose. I know that I failed as a mother to raise her in the church, I failed to share my testimony with her and to guide her to develop her own testimony. I pray every night that her heart will be softened and she will find her way back to our Heavenly Father's love, but I fear that I pray in vain, that she is too far gone. I worry for her salvation and desire nothing more than to have her with her family forever. Like Heavenly Father never gives up on me, I will never give up on her.
So, I will join in with the other five children in this house and take my brother-in-law's challenge to read the entire Book of Mormon before the summer ends. (even though I know I don't get any money) We will see which of the other 5 children meet the challenge and get the extra blessing of a few dollars in their pocket as well...
Being a parent can be difficult, but one thing I know is that reading the Scriptures daily will bring many blessings into my kids lives. So I am going to lead by example and take the challenge and read my Book of Mormon before the end of the summer. I have already read the first 80 pages and am off to a good start. It is so interesting that every time I read my scriptures it is like reading them for the first time. I always find something new that helps me increase my understanding and adds to my testimony.
This time I found a passage that I completely related to in 2 Nephi 1:17. In this passage Lehi is sharing his concern for his children. In it he says: " My heart hath been weighed down with sorrow from time to time, for I have feared, lest for the hardness of your hearts the Lord your God should come out in the fullness of His wrath upon you, that ye be cut off and destroyed forever."
I completely relate to Lehi in his concerns. I worry about my children and their decisions. I especially worry about my eldest daughter who is sooo lost. My heart aches often for her. I wish that she could see the error in her ways and know in her heart that Heavenly Father loves her, but she refuses. She won't even acknowledge the presence of a higher being above herself. It is just awful to watch her live her life so unhappy and so without purpose. I know that I failed as a mother to raise her in the church, I failed to share my testimony with her and to guide her to develop her own testimony. I pray every night that her heart will be softened and she will find her way back to our Heavenly Father's love, but I fear that I pray in vain, that she is too far gone. I worry for her salvation and desire nothing more than to have her with her family forever. Like Heavenly Father never gives up on me, I will never give up on her.
So, I will join in with the other five children in this house and take my brother-in-law's challenge to read the entire Book of Mormon before the summer ends. (even though I know I don't get any money) We will see which of the other 5 children meet the challenge and get the extra blessing of a few dollars in their pocket as well...
Girls Already...
So a few days ago my sister shares with me a few text messages on my nephew's phone from my twelve year old son. Mind you he just turned 12 in May, so he is barely 12 and he is my baby. The texts were asking my 15 year old nephew for advice on what to tell a girl that was asking my son out.
REALLY!!
He's only 12 and since when do girls ask guys out??? Luckily my nephew did a great job and supported my son well. In the texts they exchanged that my son isn't allowed to date until he is 16(Phew, at least they remembered something), and that my son didn't want to be mean to the girl, but he just wasn't interested. I think they decided on something like it was against his religion to date so young. Which made me chuckle, because he's playing the crazy Mormon card at such a young age. By the way it isn't actually against his religion to date, but it is strongly suggested by youth leaders to the kids that they wait. The final message from my son said something like- "Great, now she hates my guts"- and my nephew's response was, "Sorry."
After I got over the fact that I was shocked about a girl asking my son out over text messages at such a young age, and the fact that he didn't tell me anything about it (I think that was the worst part). I was proud of the boys for making the right decision and following the guidance we had provided. But, being a mother I can't just leave it alone- oh heck no- and since my husbands first response when I told him was, "What a little stud," I can't count on him to guide my son. (Guys never grow up do they!)
So, I called my son to my room and told him that we needed to sit down and have a conversation about girls and our expectations about dating. He was to say the least, less than pleased. He was quite obviously embarrassed, and made it clear that he didn't want to talk to his mother about this, but toooo bad. I told him that there was nothing to worry about, that I just felt it necessary to share with him my thoughts and expectations for him so that there would be no confusion. I have a bit more praying to do for guidance on how to handle this talk, but I will let you know how the talk went later. Good thing my kids don't know about this blog yet- my son would be even more embarrassed and angry with me for sharing. In the meantime, I think I am going to buy my nephew an ice-cream for being such a good cousin!
For our talk I might start with a video like this one- what do you think?
REALLY!!
He's only 12 and since when do girls ask guys out??? Luckily my nephew did a great job and supported my son well. In the texts they exchanged that my son isn't allowed to date until he is 16(Phew, at least they remembered something), and that my son didn't want to be mean to the girl, but he just wasn't interested. I think they decided on something like it was against his religion to date so young. Which made me chuckle, because he's playing the crazy Mormon card at such a young age. By the way it isn't actually against his religion to date, but it is strongly suggested by youth leaders to the kids that they wait. The final message from my son said something like- "Great, now she hates my guts"- and my nephew's response was, "Sorry."
After I got over the fact that I was shocked about a girl asking my son out over text messages at such a young age, and the fact that he didn't tell me anything about it (I think that was the worst part). I was proud of the boys for making the right decision and following the guidance we had provided. But, being a mother I can't just leave it alone- oh heck no- and since my husbands first response when I told him was, "What a little stud," I can't count on him to guide my son. (Guys never grow up do they!)
So, I called my son to my room and told him that we needed to sit down and have a conversation about girls and our expectations about dating. He was to say the least, less than pleased. He was quite obviously embarrassed, and made it clear that he didn't want to talk to his mother about this, but toooo bad. I told him that there was nothing to worry about, that I just felt it necessary to share with him my thoughts and expectations for him so that there would be no confusion. I have a bit more praying to do for guidance on how to handle this talk, but I will let you know how the talk went later. Good thing my kids don't know about this blog yet- my son would be even more embarrassed and angry with me for sharing. In the meantime, I think I am going to buy my nephew an ice-cream for being such a good cousin!
For our talk I might start with a video like this one- what do you think?
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
You have to start somewhere...
I am not a journaler because I get to busy to remember to write... I am not a blogger because I have just never really felt that I had anything important to share... but as I read an article in July/August 2012 edition of LDS living I was absolutely inspired by the article, "Sharing Her Hope," If Stephen Nielson can overcome her challenges and share her message, then I really had no excuse. So I said to myself- you have to start somewhere...
As a young child I always knew that I wanted nothing more than to be a mommy and a teacher, now at 37 as a mommy of three beautiful children and a teacher I am happy. I think back and chuckle a little bit at the pieces of my dream that were definitely missing. Like the huge debt that I would in incur to finish my degree, or how hard it can be to be a wife and a mother while working a full time job, but mostly I realize that I had forgotten God.
Growing up I was raised in a Catholic family, but for me church was just something you did and I really made no connection between myself and the blessings of my Heavenly Father's Plan. Luckily for me I took a World Religions course in high school that peaked my interest and opened up my eyes to the idea of organized religion and faith in general. At that point I knew that I needed to find my purpose in life and that I couldn't do it on my own, that nothing in my life was possible without my Heavenly Father. Today I am the happiest I have ever been because I have found my place and purpose. Don't get me wrong my life isn't easy, as a matter of a fact it is the complete opposite, but I know that I can handle it because I have the love and support of my Heavenly Father.
I must admit that I never imagined being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints would be the answer to my prayers. Of all churches this one never crossed my mind! I mean seriously don't Mormons have like a hundred wives, worship aliens, try to convert everyone to their cult, and wear pioneer clothing?? To my surprise none of the crazy things I heard were true, instead I found that this Christ centered church is all about family and following God's plan as laid out by Jesus Christ through His ministry here on earth. Instead I wear all the same clothes as everyone else, don't have any sister wives (though I could totally share laundry duty!), and happily live my life in the blessings of the Spirit. I have a ton of non LDS friends and family members and I am sure they can attest that I have never tried to convert them. Will I happily share what has helped me live such a joyous life- oh yeah baby! Wouldn't you share with me if you had something amazing in your life?? But despite what many believe, Mormons strongly believe in allowing everyone to worship as they see fit- we are just happy that we all have the free agency to make those choices on our own.
While I don't pretend to think that my blog will interest anyone, I hope that it will serve as a record of my thoughts, feelings, experiences and faith for my kids someday. If you aren't my kids and are reading this blog... enjoy!
For more information on the church feel free to visit the official church website: www.lds.org or mormon.org
As a young child I always knew that I wanted nothing more than to be a mommy and a teacher, now at 37 as a mommy of three beautiful children and a teacher I am happy. I think back and chuckle a little bit at the pieces of my dream that were definitely missing. Like the huge debt that I would in incur to finish my degree, or how hard it can be to be a wife and a mother while working a full time job, but mostly I realize that I had forgotten God.
Growing up I was raised in a Catholic family, but for me church was just something you did and I really made no connection between myself and the blessings of my Heavenly Father's Plan. Luckily for me I took a World Religions course in high school that peaked my interest and opened up my eyes to the idea of organized religion and faith in general. At that point I knew that I needed to find my purpose in life and that I couldn't do it on my own, that nothing in my life was possible without my Heavenly Father. Today I am the happiest I have ever been because I have found my place and purpose. Don't get me wrong my life isn't easy, as a matter of a fact it is the complete opposite, but I know that I can handle it because I have the love and support of my Heavenly Father.
I must admit that I never imagined being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints would be the answer to my prayers. Of all churches this one never crossed my mind! I mean seriously don't Mormons have like a hundred wives, worship aliens, try to convert everyone to their cult, and wear pioneer clothing?? To my surprise none of the crazy things I heard were true, instead I found that this Christ centered church is all about family and following God's plan as laid out by Jesus Christ through His ministry here on earth. Instead I wear all the same clothes as everyone else, don't have any sister wives (though I could totally share laundry duty!), and happily live my life in the blessings of the Spirit. I have a ton of non LDS friends and family members and I am sure they can attest that I have never tried to convert them. Will I happily share what has helped me live such a joyous life- oh yeah baby! Wouldn't you share with me if you had something amazing in your life?? But despite what many believe, Mormons strongly believe in allowing everyone to worship as they see fit- we are just happy that we all have the free agency to make those choices on our own.
While I don't pretend to think that my blog will interest anyone, I hope that it will serve as a record of my thoughts, feelings, experiences and faith for my kids someday. If you aren't my kids and are reading this blog... enjoy!
For more information on the church feel free to visit the official church website: www.lds.org or mormon.org
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