Lots of Blessings

I have wanted to buy a step to workout on. It is low impact and something I can do while I'm home and caring for the little ones. I need something like that for my non-jogging days. However, I didn't want to pay $100 for the steps. So I asked Heavenly Father to help me find some at the D.I. He answered my prayer and I purchased used steps for only $4. I also met up with a sister I visit teach who I haven't been able to contact by phone or home visits. It was a great way to let her know I'm still thinking of her and would love to visit her. Heavenly Father answers our prayers and some. I can't tell you how many times similiar incidents have occured. Finding things at the D.I. is hit and miss. But when I pray about a need or sometimes even what I consider an important want Heavenly Father paves the way. We are ever so blessed!

School

I'm so grateful the kids have great schools to go to. What a blessing! I don't have time to give them all the education and experiences they need. I'm doing laundry, dishes, gardening, and running a household. I'm grateful they love to learn and utilize their teachers, books, and opportunities. Heavenly Father has really made things so much easier than they used to be in this world.

Looking Forward to the Weekend

We have been running this new school week! It's been great and we've accomplished a lot. The kids have kept great attitudes. I think working out really helps with this.

The little kids (Hyrum -6, Ella - 5, and Tank - 2) and I are headed to the park to float the boats they have made. While they play I will jog around and get some fresh air before it gets to hot. Heavenly Father has given us this gorgeous day!!!

First Day of School

Benjamin, Moroni, and Natalie all started school today. Natalie has never gone to school before, but today she started the third grade. I hope things go well for her. We are going to pick them up in a few minutes. I'm excited to here about their day. Jessica started high school tomorrow.

The little kids and I started school here today too. We didn't get as far as we wanted to today because Tank had a immunization fever and needed a lot of attention. But hey, it's only 2:17. We can surely get more done today!

I'm grateful Heavenly Father has blessed us with ways to educate our children. I'm also grateful for the natural love of learning with which Heavenly Father has given me. I'm grateful I still have the little ones to teach and homework with the older ones when they get home. It's good bonding time most of the time.

Sundae Run

Last night we went on a fun run put on by the local running store. Jaremy had already run in the morning, so he took care of the little ones and drove the support vehicle. It was a great family activity. We had tons of fun. The course was 4.8 miles, but you could run or walk as much or little as you wanted. After you finished your jog they had ice cream sundaes waiting at the store. Great small business idea! Great family fun!

Our family started a bit later than everyone because of Tank(2). But Benjamin(12) and Moroni(10) quickly caught up with the pack. In fact, Moroni came in first out of everyone! Benjamin would have been right with him, but his dinner made him have a pit stop at the park. He was close to Moroni though. Natalie(8) ran up ahead with the boys for awhile then slowed down. She ended up without a jogging partner, but finished the whole race anyway! Hyrum(6) and Ella (5)ran 2 miles. Then they ran another mile with the stragglers at the end. Jessica (14) ran with the store managers little son (6). His dad was back at the store, so he needed someone to help him run. She was so sweet with him and kept him going the entire way. Jessica is so thoughtful and kind. I wogged (half waddle, half jog) the whole way, expect for about 50 steps when my knee hurt. I've never jogged that far in my life. Not bad for being 5 months pregnant. Tank(2) ended up running 3/4 of a mile. Jaremy kept tabs on us and cheered us on. The kids got ice cream at the store. It was tons of fun!!! Tons better than watching a movie. We bonded as a family and with the community.

Heavenly Father has blessed us so much!! in everyway!! I'm so grateful He lets us have fun meeting challenges and being together as a family!

Rhythm and Family Traditions

I'm so grateful that Heavenly Father has allowed our family to spend great amounts of time together. Together we eat all our meals, read books, clean and cook, exercise, hike and camp, nap, read scriptures, pray, get ready for the day and for bed, learn languages and practice instruments, and just hang out and work on other goals. We have spontaneous conversations about challenges, current events, values, friends, fears, silliness, and the gospel. Conversations that happen because we have lots of unrushed time together. When we are too busy this doesn't happen.

Whether we are in school or out, on vacation or at home certain things remain part of the rhythm of our lives. These simple family traditions (mealtimes, naptimes, reading, cleaning, exercising, studying) unit us. They provide not just safety but security for each member. They create a feeling of belonging and identity. They weave together to form a beautiful family culture. Not a perfect one, but beautiful nonetheless. They help each member know they are extremely important. They open opportunities to express and discuss anything, and I mean anything. Our kids quite often say after one our regular outings together, "I love our family!" They know they are blessed to be in a traditional family that really experiences life together.

We don't do many organized community sports or activities, but we spend that time as a family instead. We do tons and tons as a family. Driving, hiking, hanging out on the beach, jogging, exploring, playing at the park, camping, swimming, sitting in the shade or around a campfire, backpacking, boating, gardening, skiing, visiting family and friends, sledding, shoveling, etc, etc. We realize we have something amazing going on here. Most people aren't this blessed. I'm so grateful Heavenly Father has let us see and feel how important our family time is. I'm so grateful He has allowed us to have tons of it!

Up and Doing

I love Captain Moroni's admonition to "begin to be up and doing." There are so many people that need help. Sometimes I feel we should move to a third world country or to a new place in the mission field. That we should do some amazing, huge thing! That might be wonderful in the future. However, right now I struggle to get my visiting teaching done well. It is a constant effort to keep up with seven, soon eight children. They must be fed, clothed, washed, educated, and trained in the ways of the Lord. I feel it a challenge to get to the temple once a week. In fact I've only gone nine times this year so far. Extended family and aging grandparents need attention and time. I find so little time for family history, missionary, and humanitarian work. But I must try harder. There is much to be done. I must stretch my every resource. I must increase my energy and pray for guidance and strength. If I could just do what was already in my capacity and reach it would be some amazing and huge thing. And I would have proved myself ready for more. I love working in the Kingdom of God! I will be more devoted. I will be up and doing!

Need Some Change

Every once in a while I feel like I'd like something dramatic to happen. I'd like Jaremy to change jobs, move, start something completely new. But usually when I get this feeling it's because I'm not in the mood to carry on with my top priorities and goals. Sometimes I just need to remember why I set them or spice them up a bit. I could just throw out my to-do list and look for a job for Jaremy in some exciting place and escape into a little dream world. Or I can just get to work on the things that are really important and that will really happen.

Sometimes it's good to drop the to-do list and spend a bit dreaming or weighing options. But this can quickly turn into not doing what needs to be done and wasting time and life. So one has to be careful not to spend much time looking for excitement and dramatic change. Most of the time it is best to stick to the essential goals and really accomplish things in an ordinary, sometimes mundane way. Once you start working diligently enthusiasm comes back into one's soul.

I'm grateful Heavenly Father has helped me recognize my boredom is sometimes laziness and work shirking.

Temple

Yesterday I was blessed to go to the temple in the morning. At 4am when my alarm went off I felt slothful and was ready to reason my way out of going. But I prayed Heavenly Father would help me to be more faithful. So the Spirit reminded me of some important things. I asked myself some questions: Am I sleeping in a tent? Do I have to pull a midnight guard duty in the snow? Do I have to get up and pull a heavy handcart? No. No. No. So that's when I told myself to get out of bed and hop into my hot shower, cross the street to the temple, and sit in peaceful comfort. Wow! What a sacrifice!

Sometimes it's embarrassing how wimpy I am! So many have sacrificed everything and suffered terribly to build up the kingdom. Am I worthy to share the kingdom with such? I think not. I can bearly haul myself out of bed to go to the temple.

I'm so grateful for the example of early pioneers and latter-day pioneers. They inspire me to stand a little taller, take my callings and duties more seriously, and press on. I know I'm not even close to them in character and faith, but I'm better than I would be because of their dedication. Heavenly Father has blessed us with their stories of faith and fortitude.

Jaremy is Awesome!

I'm so lucky, okay, blessed to have Jaremy for my sweet husband. I'm so grateful we can work as a team. I don't know how either one of us could navigate life and raise our children alone. Heavenly Father has blessed us with eachother. He supports me physically, emotionally, financially, etc. He fills in gaps that not only I couldn't but was not even aware of until he filled them. He balances me and encourages me. He is my best and dearest friend. I'm so grateful Heavenly Father made it possible for us to team up and become eternal companions.

A Clean House

Order and cleanliness bring peace, calm, creativity, and productivity. The kids always help me so much. I'm so grateful for their willingness and capability. Our house gets clean and dirty over and over again throughout a day of meals, stories, projects, play, and living. But for those brief moments when everything or most everything is in its place I can take a deep breath or two and enjoy it. Heavenly Father has blessed me with lots of help in the form of my sweetest, dearest friends my children and husband.

Family Council

This evening we have worked on memorizing scriptures as a family. We have a list with a scripture, passage, or poem for about every week of the year. If we all memorize all the passages on the list we will go to San Diego at the beginning of next year. Fun! I love working together and personally to memorize.

We also held a brief family council to discuss our morning schedule for the coming school year and our workout schedule. Tomorrow we are jogging 5.5 miles. About a week ago I jogged (Jaremy calls it wogging - half waddle, half jog) 4 miles for the first time in my life. I am excited, especially considering I'm 5 months pregnant.

Heavenly Father has blessed me with an awesome family. Together He has blessed us to be able to do amazing things. And I hope we are only scratching the surface of what we will accomplish and become in the future. We want to build His kingdom and serve His children more and more.

Tony Grove Campout

We went on our annual Tony Grove campout with the Butler family the last few days. I barely said my prayers and didn't read my scriptures for three days we were there. Not a good thing! Reading the scriptures and really praying invites the Spirit. The fruits of the Spirit are love, understanding, tolerance, kindness, etc. Without the Spirit as my constant companion I became judgemental and frustrated with those who have chosen different lifestyles and values than I have. I really need the Spirit in my life every minute so I don't fall into traps of criticism and fault finding. It's been so nice to be home and be back to a somewhat normal day so I can read my scriptures and pray more easily. Although that is no excuse for not finding a way while camping. I have to repent of my neglect of spiritual things and my critical feelings and words. I'm grateful for repentance. I will be better!