We Talk of Christ... (2 Ne 25:26)

I expressed my love for the Book of Mormon. I wanted to make sure the Bible was not neglected in my testimony. How I love the stories of the Bible! When I was little we had a children's version. I remember pooring over it all the time. I loved, and still do, the stories of Jesus. One of my favorites was the story of healing the blind man by putting "spittle" on his eyes. It means even more to me because my son is blind in one eye. We had many conversations when he was little about that story and how one day Ryan would be made whole again.

I was a rare exception in high school, I loved studying the Old Testament. Many thought it was boring, but I love those stories!! It was one of my favorite years in Seminary. The other was, of course, the Book of Mormon.

I hope my kids can understand the importance of studying the scriptures and the role they play in the Plan of Salvation. It is by reading them and studying them we will learn what we are to do and our purpose for being here. And most importantly, it is where they will learn to know and understand their Savior. How do they know what He would do if they are not studying Him? How will they recognize Him?

this picture is one of my favorites. It hung in my girls' room forever!



How I love the scriptures! How I love this gospel! How I love learning about it everyday!!!

Quick story:

We took the kids to dinner for reading their scriptures. They picked Chuck-a-Rama. Who doesn't like a buffet? After paying Dustin said to them, "Hey, I need you guys to quit reading your scriptures. I'm going to be broke!"

I loved that my kids in unison shouted, " NO WAY!!!" In my mind I was thinking, oh look at my good kids loving to read their scriptures. I know in reality they were happy to be at the restaurant, but I hope a love of the stories is growing!!

The Iron Rod

For family home evening the other night, my lesson was on Lehi's vision of the Tree of Life. This is one of my MANY favorite stories in the Book of Mormon. I love how detailed his account is, so I can picture it in my head. That's what I had my kids do as we read it. They were to draw it as I described it word for word from the scriptures. I must say they did pretty well. I loved the drawings so much, I wanted to make sure they made it into our family journal.

I love seeing each different interpretation. Each kid made it a point to have people drowning in the river. And where Aaron thought that people were actually clibimng the tree, that cracks me up!! All a little different, but pretty close.

We talked abouth the four different groups of people described in the scripture account and took an inventory of our personal lives to see which catagory we all fall under. I believe we are the ones holding tight and "pressing forward," but I know sometimes we might be ones that have let go for a brief moment and have gotten lost in the mists of darkness. Thankfully each time we find our way back! No one has been lost to the river yet!

Nephi is one our favorite prophets. He was so humble and teachable. And so willing to do what was asked of him. I love how he set the example for his brothers each time they chose to whine, complain, or attempted to kill him or his father! He truly shows us by example how to know the truth through prayer. Laman and Lemuel chose to complain how hard it was to understand what their father was saying, but Nephi knew what to do. He just prayed for knowledge and he got it. I also love that the actual vision was given in chapter 8 and Nephi's interpretation wasn't until chapter 15. I'm sure he prayed for a while to understand and his knowledge kept growing "line upon line" until he knew enough that he could share it.

How grateful I am for this great book! I love reading it and I love studying it. I'm happy that we are doing it as a family. We have also encouraged the kids to read it on their own. Grace is in 3 Nephi, Ryan and Aaron are in Heleman, and Kate and Becca are in Omni. I know it is hard for them to understand what they are reading, but I hope the Spirit is touching them as they do. I want my kids to have a love and appreciation for the Word of God in it's many forms, especially the Book of Mormon.

Your laugh for the day, courtesy of Dustin...

I just realized I never posted a picture of Dustin's awesome Christmas outfit. How did I miss doing this?!

He looks great, doesn't he? Oh, Dustin you are such a good sport to humor your wife in all her thinkings. I love you. And I love those pants! They are accented in all the right places!! :)

Sometimes there is NO room for perfection

Can you find what is wrong with this picture?

Take a closer look...

Yeah. My daughter went to church in those shoes and socks. Yes. She even wore them like that. One is upside down for goodness sakes (I won't mention how they TOTALLY don't match)

We had Stake Conference on Sunday and I was going at it alone; Dustin was sick. We were in hurry and by the time I noticed, we were half way to the church. The perfectionist in me was screaming, "Oh my goodness! People are going to stare at my child. Then, they are going to judge me as a mom!" Total freak out... in my head of course.

I had to take a deep breath and remind myself that it's okay if things don't go as planned. It's kind of funny. On somethings I relax and don't sweat them, but there are those things that I totally go nuts about. My children looking presentable, is one of them (please, if you have seen my other daughter roaming the neighborhood in her Harry Potter robe, I will explain in another post).

I'm not sure why it gets my feathers ruffled, but atleast I can say on this day, in that moment, I relaxed and chuckled inside of myself - after the afore mentioned in-my-head dialogue. Imperfection is not for the faint of heart!! That's what I will have to keep telling myself for a while.

Nervous

I am totally being terrible at keeping up on this blog. I have things to share, they will come later...

I just wanted to note that tomorrow I become an out- of- the- house working mom. I'm a little nervous. I have done this job before, so it's not about that. It's about how this will affect my family. I feel it will not be so great a change, but we'll see. I am already going to miss Becca's first award at school. It made me sad. I will have to remember to take pictures when I get home. Awards are important. She works hard to earn them and I worked hard to prepare her!!! Not feeling it is off to a good start.

Changes Coming Our Way.

Remember that job I told you about not long ago? I turned it down. Yeah, well, I am now employed by that daycare. I start Feb 1st. I think it's funny how things work out sometimes.

I was offered that job a month ago. I turned it down because the hours weren't right and I really didn't want to leave home. I like it here. But sometimes circumstances change. Earlier this week my sister-in-law told me she was moving. She would no longer be able to bring her kids. I needed a job.

I called my old boss back. I was in a pinch. I asked if by some miracle that position was still open. She informed me it wasn't. My heart sank a little. However, she told me that another position had just opened up. It was in the kindergarten room. The hours would be from 9 am - 1 pm. The hours are perfect, but I really wanted to teach preschool. I would have to take it, so I did.

I went in this week to get all that I needed to get done to work there. We were talking and she said that it was good thing she had called me about the other job. You bet it was! I wasn't even thinking about getting in the work field again, but I also wasn't expecting this.

The more I think about it, I get excited. It's been 10 years since my kids have had their house to themselves. I think it's time. I will be able to put in my 4 hrs of work and be done. Work will stay at work and will not be a stress to my kids. Don't get me wrong, I have always watched good kids, but there were sacrifices my kids had to make daily. Sometimes it wasn't easy for them. Their home, their bedrooms, their toys were never theirs. I think it has been good for their sharing skills, but I know sometimes they would act out just because they were feeling the stress of it all. So, I think this will be a good change for our family.

I'm a little nervous. Having a boss will be weird, but I'll adjust. Change is good for you.

Dustin has gone back on graves. Oh how we really don't like this shift in our house! It beats swings though.

We have had to adjust to him being gone at night and being quiet in the day. No family should have to endure that! But we are willing because he gets to do a job that he loves. And having a happy dad is worth lots!

One bright side is all the afternoon time we get with him. The boys have loved going to the church in the afternoon to practice basketball. While they are practicing, the girls are wearing themselves out playing line-tag. I do laps in the gym. We are all getting our exercise in and having family fun time!

Dustin is hoping to tryout for the Motors this spring. Hope he gets it! Not only will he be able to ride a motorcycle, which he loves, but he will work 4 10s and no weekends or holidays! It was yucky that he had to work this Christmas! I would like to not repeat it.

He is still on SWAT. He has some interesting stories to tell all the time. I have decided criminals are not so bright!

I know his job is dangerous, but he loves it so much. It's great seeing him so happy! And the uniform doesn't hurt either ! :)