Upside-Down

We live in a crazy time. In a time when good is called evil and evil is called good. Anyone who stands for freedom, liberty, Christ, The Constitution, virtue, chastity, or honesty is persecuted, shamed, audited, and shut down.  Times are just as prophesied, yet still such wickedness and acceptance of such is shocking.
I'm eternally grateful we have the Gospel of Jesus Christ to guide us in this insane world. We know where to stand, we know how to act, we know of God's love and Atonement, we know we need to repent and we know how.  We know families are ordained of Good and can be eternal. What joy and happiness, what clarity and guidance!

Gingerbread Houses

Last night we had fun at cub scouts building Graham cracker ginger bread houses.  The boys made a big mess and lived it. We had terrific leaders that really pitched in with set up, construction, and clean-up. It would have been pretty overwhelming if it had just been me, but we had four other leaders and 15 boys.  I'm grateful Heavenly Father has helped me to change my perspective on my calling. I know it is what he wants me to do; therefore, I can do it. I can get through crazy evenings of trying to for everything in, because He will help and guide me. I can look for chances to share the love of God and my testimony of His Son with the cubs. So as things get a bit crazy around dinner time when I need to be leaving I take great comfort in knowing this is what I need to be doing and I just try to balance it all the best I can. The Lord helps me stay calm and kind. I'm so grateful for His gentle guidance.

Dear Natalie

Dear Natalie,

Happy Birthday!!!  I can't believe you are eleven.  It seems like just yesterday you were born.
You have been a glowing light in our family ever since that first day.  You are always so cheerful and optimistic.  Heavenly Father knew we needed the constant sunshine you give.

You are very aware of the needs of the family.  You quietly go around fixing meals, cleaning rooms, dressing toddlers, teaching little ones, giving massages, and doing whatever else you can to lift and help. You could run this household better than I can.  You have a tender spot for babies, children, the elderly, and anyone who needs comfort and help.  What would we do without you?!

You are brilliant!  You work hard in your school and love to learn.  You are very well organized and self-motivated.  You can plow through a to-do list and stick to hard tasks until they are completed.  You are a beautiful reader.  We all love listening to you.

Heavenly Father has blessed us so much by letting us have our dear, sweet Natalie in our family. Continue to stay close to the Lord by always praying (really praying), keeping the commandments, reading your scriptures, and remembering how much He loves you.

You are a beautiful girl!  Even if you were ugly on the outside your inner beauty would shine so brightly you would look beautiful no matter what.  You have an intense sparkle in those gorgeous eyes of yours that comes from the purity, happiness, and love in your heart.  Thank you for being such a wonderful example to all of us!  I love you ever so much!!! You are so very precious!!!

Happy Birthday!!!

Love,

Mama

Strengthened

We are on the edge financially. The company Jaremy works for is doing great, but not as well as would be required for big raises and bonuses we need.  I'm grateful we know happiness doesn't depend on a bunch of stuff. However, I catch myself worrying about launching children on missions and to school. I worry about having space for extended family parties and such. I want to get out of debt and become self-reliant and prepared, but I feel we are skating on thin ice. I ask for the Lord's guidance and help, but I'm slow to recognize the answers. I'm grateful for challenges; they are great opportunities for growing and becoming strengthened. I pray I will be teachable enough to become what the Lord wants me to be and faithful enough to do what the Lord wants me to do.

Clothes Storage

I'm so grateful for Heavenly Father's prophets and their counsel about storage.  We have been so blessed by it. Today I was so uncomfortable in my normal clothes. I thought I would have to wait until next month when we had more money for maternity garments. But I checked my clothes storage and there were several new pairs of garments. What a blessing to be prepared!

Adelynn and Tank Tell All

T (4): Our family is great! We always share. And we are nice. That's all!
A (2): I got a horse for my birthday. I ate oranges today. They were yummy! I went to the store with Jessica and Benjamin. I did school today.
T: I did all my stars. That was a lot of work. Learning is fun! I like to learn how to read.
A: I like Duggars. I like to run around at the gym. I am fast!

I'm so grateful for my cute, precious, little ones sent from God.

Kitchen Help

My little ones are always in the kitchen with me.  Adelynn (2) helps me do the dishes, measure flour, and mix everything.  Yesterday she was "washing" dishes in the sink, having a big time! Water was running all over the counter, down the cabinets, and into a puddle on the floor.  I know most moms would not be happy about this, but I was thrilled.  She feels like she is contributing.  It is also great sensory/motor play and precious bonding time with Mom.  After she was done she helped wipe up all the water.  She has excellent cleaning habits.  She puts things away when she is done, she closes cabinet and drawer doors, and she throws things right in the garbage.  She is a terrific counter and knows what comes next in bread or pancake batter.  This all comes from being welcomed in the kitchen.  When I read what Jesus said, "I have commanded that none of you should go away, but rather have commanded that ye should come unto me, that ye might feel and see; even so shall ye do unto the world," (3 Nephi 18:25) I thought this is what my attitude should be toward my children.  They should be able to feel and see and do right along with me.  It is not always the cleanest or most convenient while they are tiny, but it is still cherished time.

Soon they are making bread and cinnamon rolls all by themselves by the age of six.  They are cooking lasagna, enchiladas, and chili from scratch unassisted at ten.  In fact, there isn't anything my Natalie (10) can't make by herself.  She throws together salads and fruit shakes.  She loves to get online and try new recipes.  It's so nice to have one of the kids beg to make a meal and know that they are perfectly capable of pulling it off.  And we don't use boxes or cans around here.  We cook from scratch.  Not only that they can leave the kitchen completely clean too.  We have 6 people in our family who can make huge batches of delicious bread all by themselves.  They grind the wheat and everything.  That saves our family tons of money and me tons of time.

It is really sweet to see the big kids eagerly welcome the little ones to work beside them as well.  They are terrific teachers and kind mentors.  When Jaremy encouraged me to take this approach with the kids when they were all small it was difficult and a bit overwhelming.  But how it has paid off!!! We all love being together in the kitchen.  We can whip up a meal in no time and clean up quickly as well.  I'm so grateful Heavenly Father invites us to learn by doing His work with Him.  I hope I can catch on as fast as my kids have in the kitchen.