My BATTLE with CONTENTION

Having 5 kids this close together is not easy... but I'm sure learning a lot.  I've been blessed to be the mother of children with strong personalities.  Some days they get along great- but other times it seems like they argue constantly!  And it drives me crazy.  But - deep down- I'm grateful they're so strong.  It may be more difficult now to teach them how to control their emotions and their tongues- but strong-willed children turn into leaders with steadfast convictions- (if they don't kill each other first.) ;)  Thinking ahead- we'll have 5 teenagers under one roof at the same time, so I'm determined to teach them while they're young so those years will be bearable!

Sibling rivalry is natural for kids.  We believe children are innocent through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, but “when they begin to grow up, sin conceiveth in their hearts” (Moses 6:55).  It's true that children can be delightful, loving, and sweet, but they can also be petty, selfish, and demanding.  And it's up to us as adults to teach them the way of the Lord.

I am so passionate about this.  Seriously- my greatest desire right now is to have a contention-free home.  Unrealistic?  Maybe- but I can still hope, right?  In fact, for every Christmas or Birthday or Mother's Day gift- when the kids ask me what I want, each time I say, "PEACE."

So yesterday when Jakey found out that Mother's day was coming up soon he looked up at me with a twinkle in his eye and said,

 

"Mommy, for mudders day, "I'm gonna give yew peas." 

Hmm- this wasn't exactly what I had in mind!

When we allow contention in our homes, it negates everything we try to do as mothers.  We work so hard to create this warm and loving atmosphere.  We try to keep our homes clean and orderly and pleasant for those we love.  And we try to teach our children true principles and instill proper values in them.  But if the spirit of the Lord is not present- what's the point?  Without the spirit, our teaching does very little to help children.  The Holy Spirit is the great teacher.  The Holy Spirit carries truth to their hearts- and helps them develop their own testimony.  And our kids will need strong convictions about the truth as we send them off into the world.

We know something about where contention comes from...
For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another. (3 Nephi 11:29)
The adversary (Satan) wants to create discord in our homes.  He attempts to destroy the most precious of all relationships in an effort to make us miserable like himself.  And we are actually serving him when we argue!

Ye will not suffer your children that they go hungry, or naked; neither will ye suffer that they transgress the laws of God, and fight and quarrel one with another, and serve the devil, . . . he being an enemy to all righteousness (Mosiah 4:14).

Yeah- he may be trying to destroy my family.  But I will not give up this fight.  I am determined to teach my children to get along and love each other.
Thankfully we've been blessed with the ultimate parent how-to guide when problems arise.  The scriptures have the answers to all our parenting questions.  The Lord created our children.  He knows them better than we do and He knows how to help us reach them!  But it's up to us to turn to Him and ask for guidance- and recognize we can't do this alone.  He will lead us to the answers that He's already given us in His word.  There are thousands of parenting books out there- and many are wonderful.  But they have different philosophies- and often contradictory information based on the latest study.  And the recommendations often change with societal norms.  But we have a timeless parenting manual... and the author is God himself.  What a blessing!

In my experience, these are some principles that I have found to be true (Unfortunately, I've learned the hard way on most of these):

This DOES NOT work:

Lecturing/Nagging-  It belittles our children, sends the message that they can't think for themselves, and it rarely reaches their hearts.  Basically- it's ineffective.
And, ye ^afathers, ^bprovoke not your ^cchildren to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)

This can also provoke children to feelings of anger and defensiveness.  But when we nurture them in the ways of the Lord and gently teach them- it allows the spirit to speak the truth to their hearts.

Yelling- The scriptures teach that a soft answer turneth away wrath.  (Proverbs 15:1)  It's hard to supress our own anger and frustration with our children- especially when they are disobedient and bickering.  But we are the adults, right?  They are looking to us to be the example.  I find that I must prepare myself each day spiritually- and take the time to be at peace within before my kids wake up.  That might include prayer and scripture study, uplifting music, exercise, or whatever I need to do to be the stable and calm mother my kids deserve.

Stepping in/ Being the judge-  As we try to determine who was the offender and who was right during an argument, it only seems to create jealousy and blaming and more rivalry among our children.  I think it's best to allow them the opportunity to work things out.  If we step in every time to solve all their problems, they'll never learn how to get along without us.

Punishments- only causes more friction in the home and often resentment toward the parent.
I love this scripture about parenting:
No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood (or parenthood), only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;
"By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile— D&C 121:41

This DOES work:  (Well, kids still have their choice of course, but these principles will give them the best chance of success!)

Example- As much as I'd love to leave this one off the list, I know how important this is.  When I'm stressed out or have a short temper, my children feel the tension and they often react accordingly.  It's actually a little scary to realize how much influence our attitude can have on them.  But we can choose to be a role model of positivity and love- despite our moods and/or circumstances.

Prevention:  When our family is consistently praying together, studying scriptures, and holding regular FHE (family home evening) there is much more peace in our home and our kids are much more likely to get along.  I know these practices foster unity among us, and increase the spirit of reverence in our home.

I also love this promise from Marion G. Romney (a former church leader):

“I feel certain that if, in our homes, parents will read from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein.
“The spirit of reverence will increase; mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow. The spirit of contention will depart. parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom. Children will be more responsive and submissive to the counsel of their parents. Righteousness will increase.
“Faith, hope, and charity – the pure love of Christ – will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy, and happiness".

Another practical tip about prevention- We need to be aware of when and what our kids argue about, and try to find ways around it.  For example, we used to have plates for the kids in all different colors.  For some reason everyone wanted the green one.  (Don't ask me why)  And they would argue over it almost every time we had dinner.  So I got sick of it- so I gave those away- and bought all white bowls.  Also each kid has an assigned seats, and their own day to say the prayer, etc- you get the idea.  In other words- we can look for simple solutions to prevent contention in our homes.

Look for the Good!-  It's so important to catch our kids getting along with each other.  Notice it- and reinforce that behavior with praise, affection, and other rewards.

Teach them to apply the Gospel of Jesus Christ-   This is not the same as preaching.  We need to help them understand the effect of their behavior on others.  We can teach them about Christ and His life of love and sacrifice.  We can teach them about repentance, and the importance of prayer.  One idea is to pray with our children- individually.  Recently, the kids were fighting over a toy, and one of them lashed out and was really upset.  So I took him to another room to pray.  Just him and me.  I asked him to offer the prayer- he didn't want to, but I waited on my knees until he offered it.  Finally, his heart softened, he repented, and love and unity was restored.

Love and Serve one another-

But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another. (Mosiah 4:15.)

One idea to break up an argument- a friend told me when they started quarreling, their parents made them hold hands and sing "Love at Home" or another church song.  She said they couldn't help but laugh- and it immediately dispelled the negativity and helped them feel close again.  Love that!

Here's another idea- Give them all cut-out hearts and have them do a chore, or write a note, or any kind act of service for someone in the family and leave the heart behind as a token of their love.

We did this recently- Celeste made Benny's bed and left her heart on his pillow.  Charity set the table, and I woke up to find this note from Benny on my computer... 

So maybe they really are learning something. 

My hope is that these teachings will sink into their hearts-

so we can live in Peas. Peace.

Camping Traditions

We went camping this weekend! Mr. Wonderful has been working seriously ridiculous hours lately- we hardly see him these days. So this was a much needed opportunity to reconnect and have some down-time as a family. It has become a family tradition to go camping together for General Conference. What's general conference? Well- the short answer- we believe we have a prophet and 12 apostles on the earth right now- just like Christ's original church. That's why we call our church the "restored" gospel of Jesus Christ. These inspired leaders give the entire church (over 14 million baptized members) timely and inspiring messages twice a year. The sessions are broadcast worldwide to anyone who wants to listen and learn. There are video an audio streams available online, so we cuddled up in the camper and got to learn together. Each session leaves me feeling so uplifted- and hopeful about life... hardships and all. So not only did we get to rejuvinate and have a little rest and relaxation this weekend- we also had the opportunity to grow spiritually as well.

Here are a few pics of our adventures- (and I'm excited to share a new camping treat idea with you below!)

The kids all decked out in our camo. One of our wacky family traditions!

This awesome campground had a trampoline-like bouncy thing, and the kids could not get enough of it. Notice little Jakey in the background flying a kite by himself...

They literally spent HOURS on this thing!

But the kids weren't the only ones having fun!

Daddy played this fun game with the kids. He'd jump as high as he could...

And send them all flying! They loved it!!

My camping cuties...

One advantage of going camping this time of year- we basically had the entire campground to ourselves! Usually I'm hyper concerned about the noise level- constantly shushing the kids so we don't disturb people. But this time- we could fully relax and just enjoy our time together. We played, and played, and played some more- soccer, ping-pong, playground games, tetherball, freeze tag, etc.

And here we are really roughin it... we actually ordered PIZZA for dinner! I know- aren't we the most pathetic campers ever?! Haha! But, I had a craving. (And I'm not a fan of hot dogs.)

And the kids weren't interested in s'more s'mores this time. I think they're getting sick of them. (And I'm sick of cleaning up sticky marshmallows all over their hands and clothes.) So the second night we tried something different- and started a new family camping tradition.

I'd love to share it with you! You only need a few ingredients:

Take a small (empty) can and put a roasting stick through it so it's secure. Then wrap 1/2 of the crescent roll dough around the bottom- making sure to seal the sides.

Then roast over the fire- it takes about 5 minutes to cook thoroughly.

Spoon- fill with whatever kind of pie filling flavor you prefer.

And finish it off with lots of whipped topping! (Each crescent roll tube makes about 5-6 treats).

Enjoy!

What a wonderful weekend away. The best part about playing hard- is crashing hard. We somehow all sleep better when we go camping.

Here's little Jarom... all camped out! Till next time.

The thing about stuff

So Nana and Papa sent another box for the kids yesterday.  As if they don't have enough going on- to take the time to do this for our kids every MONTH is seriously amazing.  They send all sorts of fun surprises that go along with the theme or holiday for that month.  And lots of treats. (Which is part of the reason I'm struggling to get the rest of this baby weight off... not that I'm complaining. :))

 

One thing I really appreciate-- aside from a couple special toys for the kids, they're really good about sending consumable gifts (candy, treats, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, coloring books more TREATS, etc).  Cause with 5 little ones- STUFF can pile up so quickly.  Over the years, I have become the opposite of a hoarder.  Jon is a bit of a pack-rat- so we have had a few "discussions" about this issue.  But I truly believe one of the keys to a happy family is a simple life. There's too much presure in our society to overschedule our families, spend too much time outside the home, and own too much stuff.

I have such strong feelings about this- our time as mothers with our children is so limited anyway- I don't want to waste the precious time I do have cleaning, organizing, maintaining, and being distracted by unnecessary STUFF!  I'm not going to allow anyTHING to rob us of that quality time.  Building relationships is much more fulfilling and purposeful than accumulating things anyway.  I am fiercely protective of my time with my family.  Probably even a little on the extreme side- but I've lived both ways- and I MUCH prefer a well-organized home.  But it takes serious work to make and keep it that way. 

These are a few family systems to keep the stuff from taking over our lives:

• A "one toy in- one toy out" rule.  Our kids aren't exactly a fan of this rule as you can imagine- but they'll thank me someday.  It gives them a chance to give something they value to other children who might need it more than they do.  
• I once heard a simple rule when deciding to get rid of something.  If it doesn't beautify or hasn't been used for over a year... donate it.  And if you think you might need it, but aren't really sure- donate it!
• There is a permanent donation bin in our entryway closet, where we see it every day.  This serves as a reminder to fill it regularly- at least once a month.
• What about those special childhood items?  One idea is take a picture of it- and then... you guessed it... donate it!  A picture allows you to preserve the memory- without having to store, clean, and maintain it.

Now before it sounds like I've got this all down- admittedly, I have a serious weakness with my closet.  I can't seem to give away my "thin" clothes.  But I'm ok with that.  I refuse to give up the fight to get my old body back!  So my plan is to drop the rest of this weight- and then get rid of my "fat" clothes instead.  And never go back.  But these packages loaded with treats (like my fave- Cadbury Eggs) are making my plan unlikely!

But I digress.  So here are a few pics of the surprise package:

Ha- Celeste gets pretty animated about things!

"Anything in there for me, guys?"

He got lots of presents too, but he liked the box the most!

So the kids had a blast with their all new (mostly consumable) activites. 

But baby Jarom was happy consuming the box. :)



Kids say the darndest things...

 Random interview with Celeste (age 7):
                                                                  1st Birthday: (July 2004)

7th Birthday (July 2010)

                                               

What does it mean to be happy?
It means to smile. To be good.

What five words do you think most describe you?
Friendly, piano, child of God, creative, good listener… uh, sometimes.

Where do babies come from?
Mommy's tummy.

Describe the perfect meal:
Pancakes and sausage with syrup and cake and ice cream... and a slushie.

What's the best part about being a kid?
Playing!  And losing tooths and getting dollars!  And also being creative.  And not taking care of kids- cause it’s really hard.

What would be the best part about being an adult?
Going on dates and eating as many treats as you want.

What's the worst part about second grade?
Math... Math... MATH!!!  (Ha!  I have a feeling Daddy won't like this answer.)

What do you think about boys?
Handsome, cute (Grr- Daddy won't like that one either!)

Are you a republican or democrat?
HUH?

What's life all about?
Loving

What are the greatest inventions ever?
Candy.  And family  (in that order??)

If you could change one rule that your family has, what would you change?
Eat candy whenever we wanted.  (Hmm- I'm seeing a pattern here- is she her mother's daughter, or what?) And have one hundred dresses.

What is something that makes your family special?
We believe in Jesus.

Are you a good friend? Why do you think so?
Yes- because I let people get their way sometimes.

What is the hardest thing about being a kid?

When you have little brothers and sisters- they ruin all your stuff. You wouldn’t want one.

If you could grow up to be famous, what would you want to be famous for?

Singing and art and piano

Would you cheat on a test if you knew you would not get caught? Why or why not?

No. Because I know it’s not the right thing to do, and I would feel sad.

If you were a teacher and the kids in your class would not listen to you, what would you do?
Hmm, I would tell them to stop and if they don’t- then I’d yell. Well, not like really really yell, but like kinda talk loudly.

If you could invent something that would make life easier for people, what would you invent?

Invent only one child in every family- that would make life easier!  Brothers and sisters are crazy.  (Me: But you still love them right?) Yeah, I do- but they still drive me crazy.

If you could create some new rules for the whole world, what would they be?

To be able to eat on school buses.  And only have to brush your teeth once a day- cause I don’t like brushing my teeth twice a day.  No tornadoes.

What is Heaven like?

White with clouds. And maybe even lots of white horses. Pure. Peace.

What do you do when you’re married?
You dance around in a ballroom. You can kiss and go out for dates.

Why do you think God sent you to this family?  

So I could make my family laugh. 

Yep- you're definitely right about that one!!  That's one of the MANY reasons you were sent to our family.  We sure love your bright personality Celeste.  Thanks for the joy, enthusiasm, and laughter you've brought to our home... and thanks for putting up with your little brothers and sisters!

Now please excuse me while I resume eating as many treats as I want.



The Gift of Life

You give but little when you give of your possessions.
It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.
~Kahlil Gibran


I’ve been thinking about all the natural disasters happening in the world- most recently of course the horrendous earthquake and tsunami in Japan that happened over 2 weeks ago.  The images and videos give us a glimpse of what it might have been like to live through that kind of horror, to witness your entire neighborhood- loved ones and all- being swallowed up and taken away.  But we can only begin to comprehend the devastation they suffered.  Not just physical, but emotional-- spiritual.  It seems that after these disasters occur, there is a flood of compassion, sympathy, and prayers from all around the world.  The world almost stops turning for a day or two as we all grieve with them.  There is almost constant widespread news coverage of the event, the relief efforts, and an outpouring of donations and support.

Then- a couple weeks go by, and the event seems to gradually fade from public consciousness.  We still care of course, but people seem to lose interest, and other news coverage (usually the latest scandal or titillating news story) takes its place.  But those who suffer are left- almost forgotten, when they need support and prayers the most.  In some ways their suffering may be worse.  The shock begins to wear off, and the victims have to cope with the new reality that has forced itself upon them- and begin to rebuild their homes and lives.

So I don't really know what I'm trying to say here.  It's not like we can dwell on these disasters forever- but it just saddens me- and I hope these survivors aren't forgotten.  And basically- I just want to DO something. I have this deep longing to do more than I am physically and financially capable of.  Every time I hear of any major natural disaster- Indonesia, Katrina, Haiti- I literally feel SICK inside and have an overwhelming desire (as I'm sure you do) to help somehow- in some way.  So we write out checks and send them away- hoping it will help someone out there.  Some family.  Some child.  But there's something so impersonal about that kind of giving, even though it's all we can do right now.  It's not like I can pack up my 5 kids and whisk them off to these devastated areas to join in the efforts to provide relief.  Not exactly feasible.  Someday though- in another season of life, I hope to be in a position to do just that.  But for now I will pray.  I know God can help these people know hope once again.

So I can't do much to help in Japan and other areas around the world other than give financially and pray.  But I've been thinking about other ways we can DO more to bless and serve others right here.  And I thought I’d share a story about someone who gave of himself (literally) to bless the life of another.

I’ll take you back to when I first met him. So I was in college- not a typical college girl- not into partying or dating around- just a hopeless romantic getting impatient for my prince charming to take me away.  I was sitting on my windowsill in my room thinking about my future husband and I wrote a totally cheesy heartfelt poem entitled “Where are you?":

Where are you when I need you so?

Come hold me in your arms and never let go.
If only I could gaze in your loving eyes
And feel the warmth of your touch.
I don’t even know you
Yet I love you so very much.
I wish you could be here to calm my fears
To hold me close and wipe away my tears.
You’re out there somewhere
Perhaps far, far away-
Or maybe even next door
When you find me, will you stay?


It turns out- my future hubby- my own dearest Mr. Wonderful really was next door!  He lived in the same apartment complex, and we had been neighbors for 5 months, and didn't know it.  I still have the original poem- and it will always be a treasure to me.  Anyway, I can still picture myself writing that poem- sitting on my windowsill- and I could actually see his window from mine!  We met in a college class 3 months after I wrote this poem and we both felt an immediate connection. Everything about him made me think he was THE ONE, except that… he had long hair. Really long hair.  Call me shallow, but frankly- that just wasn’t the look I was attracted to, plus I didn’t think he was the kind of guy I would feel comfortable taking home to my parents. But we developed a close relationship and quickly became best friends. Shortly thereafter, he revealed why he was growing out his hair… it was for Locks of Love, an organization that makes wigs for children with long-term medical hair loss. Needless to say, I felt about this small.  I regretted being so judgemental, and fell in love at that moment!  He was also a regular blood donor and for one of our very first dates he took me to donate blood.  (I mean seriously- talk about a keeper!)

So I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised when years later- in 2007, he brought up the idea of donating a kidney to a complete stranger. He was doing some research about other ways he could give- since his hair had been rejected since it was turning gray- (I call them highlights :)).  He was shocked when he learned that due to lack of available donors in the United States, 3,916 patients had died while waiting for a kidney transplant that year. When he mentioned that he was considering donating one of his, I immediately had some questions. But I remember his matter-of-fact response when I asked him why.

“Well, I have two, I only need one, and it could save someone’s life. So it’s a no-brainer.”

We did have to think through a few things though.  We had lots of questions including, "What are the risks involved? (minimum) Will the remaining kidney be able to compensate for the loss? (yes) What happens if down the road a family member needs a kidney?" (we'd hope another family member or friend would be willing to donate.) So we had lots of questions to consider, and recognized it was not a decision to be taken lightly. But after praying about it, and consulting with our family members and church leaders, we decided that it was the right choice for us.

On November 15, 2007, after months of testing and evaluations, the day finally arrived. I think I was more nervous than he was, but I tried to focus on the life he was going to bless. During our stay in the hospital, we had the opportunity to meet that life and his family. It was a special moment that was sweet beyond description for all involved. Now, a few years later, both the donor and the recipient are enjoying excellent health and have a special bond.

And now 5 kids later, I am so grateful that the man with the long hair turned out to be the man of my dreams. He is not only my hero, but he was a literal hero to someone in need.

My purpose in sharing this story is to inspire you to consider all the opportunities that are out there to give to those in need right here- all around us.  (And remember to keep praying for the victims in Japan!)
Here are some opportunities to give of ourselves to help save lives. 
Click on the links below for more info:

Donate Blood:
Find a blood drive near you!
If you’re ineligible to donate, click here for other ways you can help.


Donate Hair:
Learn about organizations that make wigs for those in need.


Donate Bone Marrow:
Learn about bone marrow donations.


Donate an Organ:
Learn about organ and tissue donations.

Common Myths about Organ Donations

The recovery was pretty rough- but the hardest part was keeping the kids off him.  They had a hard time understanding why they couldn't roughhouse together like they usually do!

Here he is wheeling the kids out after his operation.  Ha!  Shouldn't it be the other way around?

(Have I menioned that he's wonderful?)

The Prayer Pillow

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. (Matthew 22:38-39)

Recently I read through a journal I've kept over the last few years and noticed something that really made an impact on me. I had marked each day that I had prayed and studied the scriptures- and noticed the periods in my life that I had been doing these things consistently, were the times I wrote about deep contentment and serenity.  My marriage was rock solid, and I seemed to have more patience with the kids.  It's not that my life was free of trials during these times, but I seemed to have a greater resolve and strength to be like the Savior- a strength beyond my own. 

Prayer and scripture study are gospel basics that I KNOW I need to do.  But the challenge is in the DOING- doing it consistently and doing it right.  Admittedly, I've done it all wrong too often.  There are days when I'm completely sleep deprived- I've been up with an infant or a sick child, so I wake up with just enough time to scramble to get myself and everyone else ready. So in other words, I make time for everyone... except the Lord. And the rush of the day begins, and I have every intention of praying and reading scriptures during the day, but sometimes I get distracted or pulled in so many directions that it just doesn't happen. Rather- I fail to make it happen. "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26:4) My intentions are good- but I just don't always have the discipline to follow through.

Another mistake I've made is to be too casual with prayer and use "vain repetitions". Or I'll start a prayer, and allow my mind to wander off onto something else (that's embarrassing), or on occasion, if it's a bedtime prayer, I've even fallen asleep in the middle of it. Although I believe the Lord is pleased with any sincere effort we make to communicate with Him- I think He expects more from us.  He asks us to be sincere and penitent. Thankfully, He is eternally patient and kind with me and with all of His children.  He wants to bless us!  And He already knows what we need- but we must ask Him in prayer. I love this quote from the Bible dictionary, "The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant, but that are made conditional on our asking for them." and " … your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him." (Matthew 6:8).

There's No Place Like Home

I think as mothers in particular, we have a great need to renew ourselves spiritually each day.  As much as I adore my children and LOVE what I do- motherhood and homemaking can be exhausting. So we especially need to draw upon the power of God so we can best serve our families.  They deserve nothing less- than a balanced wife and mother who has made time to commune with the Lord.

So I made a decision to be more consistent in prayer- and it has been a great blessing in my life.  Sometimes all it takes is ONE small choice- we just have to make up our minds- and choose to put Him first.  The change came about as I asked myself, what is the single MOST important thing in my life?  And the answer came- it is truly my relationship with God and my love for Him.  So who then should get first priority in my life?  Not my husband, not my kids, not even myself... God should!  So I decided- the very first thing in the morning-- every morning-- my knees will hit the floor, in an effort to show my love and devotion to Him each day. It's a simple ritual, but it makes a tremendous difference in my life.

I know there is power in prayer.  When I sincerely pour out my heart to Him... I literally feel the burdens lift.  The problems are still unsolved, but I can let go of the negative and worrisome thoughts, and choose to be happy and trust in the Lord.

I even put a little pillow down beside my bed- as a symbol and a reminder of my desire to keep the first and great commandment.  The kids know not to move it- it is now a permanent fixture beside our bed.

"Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can" Pres. Benson declared. "He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends, and pour out peace. Whoever will lose his life in the service of God will find eternal life" (Teachings, p. 361).

He truly does make more out of us than we could ever make of ourselves.  And that is what I noticed in my journal- I discovered me without Him... and me with Him.  And I definitely prefer the latter! (And I think my hubby does too... he even has a nickname for my "feisty" side when I start snapping at him or the kids- it's Nicollete, haha!)

Basically, we can choose to go it alone in life- with our own strength, our own intellect, and our own abilities-  or we can trust in Him to walk us through this life and compensate for what we lack.  He wants to bless us and fulfill the petitions of our hearts but we must take the initiative and let him in.

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)

Slumber Party?

So Mr. Wonderful went on a ahem, "business trip" in Pheonix this week. While he was out enjoying 85 degree weather at some ritzy resort, we were here in Wisconsin where winter never ends- cooped up inside.  We decided to have a little fun of our own while he was gone- so we had a slumber party on St. Patty's Day! And I let them ALL sleep in my bed.

At the time... it seemed like a good idea. After I woke up this morning with a monsterous headache... um, not so much. But truthfully, it wasn't just about making special memories for the kids.  I just don't like sleeping without my hubby. Every little mysterious noise freaks me out and I can't sleep. So yes, I admit, my motive was a little bit selfish. But we had fun nonetheless!

So here's a video of them during our movie night. We watched "Tom and Jerry" and "Pollyanna". Yep, I'm an old-fashioned girl at heart, and I go for the classics. Plus, it wouldn't hurt if that whole "glad game" idea rubbed off on my kids a little.

This video makes me so happy. They've been bickering quite a bit lately and it drives me absolutely. crazy. If I only knew what fighting kids did to a mother, I would have been a much better child!!! Anyway, so I was pleased to see them getting along so well last night. Seriously- the sound of their laughter is truly music to my ears- and harmonized laughter... even better.



And I even let them eat popcorn in my bed. (A decision I would later regret.)

Little Jarom had fun too. I think all the laughter was contagious!

 Definitely takes after his daddy-

Here he is thoroughly enjoying himself. He has so much personality already, it's just ridiculous! He is one jolly kid.

So it was a fun slumber party (although there was not much slumbering going on). But we were up way later than their bedtime, and they got to school late. I guess they're young enough now it doesn't matter too much... it's not like it will affect their SAT scores or anything!

I should have gotten a picture of us when we first woke up. Surely- it would not have been pretty! Everybody sprawled out, popcorn kernels in my hair, serious bags under my eyes from lack of sleep, and somebody's foot in my face. But I think it was still worth it. So maybe I'll allow a slumber party once or twice a year when Daddy goes on business trips... but probably not on a school night next time.

Oh yeah- and no popcorn in bed again. Ever.