Amazing Kids

I have a chart for each child (a different color for each child) which list the things they must do each weekday. All their assignments for school, chores, goal progression, and other duties are on their chart. It makes it easy for the older children to keep themselves going with out much supervision. And it helps me keep track of what I need to do to help the little ones move along. At the end of the day if they get everything done for that day they get a star drawn on that days column. They must earn all five stars for the week if they want to participate in fun weekend activities.

Most of the kids really work hard and push themselves. Some are more self-motivated than others. And of course, they all go through phases. This week they have gone the extra mile! It makes everyone so excited and happy, not to mention we get a lot done!

I'm so grateful for the ideas Heavenly Father gives me as mother to help me train and teach my children. And on how to run a household. Of course, I need to learn even more so we can run along more smoothly, accomplish and learn more, serve more people, hasten the work, and do it all with more gentleness, kindness, and love.

Hope

I'm so grateful for today!  I've been given more energy, an added measure of hope, a bit more faith that Heavenly Father will help me rise to the challenges of my life.  I'm grateful for the Spirit that I've felt today.  If you feel like you are failing, like you can't do it, like Heavenly Father isn't helping those are lies from the devil.  If you feel like you are slowly but surely coming closer to Christ, like you can do it, like Heavenly Father is very aware of you and doing what is best for you then those feelings are from God.  I'm so grateful I've been taught this.  That way if I feel negative I can quickly repent and ask for greater hope, faith, and charity.

The Lord sent us here to succeed gloriously.  I can push myself!  I can live worthy of His help.  I can do everything within my power and leave the rest to the Lord.

Colds

Adelynn and I have colds. Pregnancy demands a lot from your body. When I get a bit sick on to of that it really drains me. Even though my pregnancies are challenging they are healthy and relatively easy. I'm so grateful we are being blessed with another sweet member of our family. What's a little lost sleep and discomfort compared to this wondrous, eternal blessing.

Family Home Evening

This evening we are having our neighbors come over for family home evening with us. I hope it goes well. I am so grateful for the tradition of Family Home Evening. Heavenly Father had blessed us so much through this weekly family meeting! We love it!

Preps

We have been making and dehydrating meals to put in our 72-hour kit. We've even tried bottling bread. We will try cakes, muffins, and brownies too. It has been fun to prepare for any emergency or hard time ahead. We have been adding to our year's supply of food. We have about 8 months worth. For our big family it takes a lot just to keep up with daily needs, so a are having to take baby steps to store extra. We are so close to the edge financially that Jaremy and I are stressed out. Future needs loom large! We must get to the temple once a week. We need inspiration! We also need to remember the encouragement we were given in or last regional conference. If we keep the commandments and love righteously we will get through okay and be blessed. Don't the scriptures tell us if we keep the commandments we will prosper in the land? I'm grateful for this assurance from the Lord. I just need to remember it and have more faith and live as He would have me live.

Stake Conference

We attended an amazing conference on Hastening the Work. I pray I can follow the promptings I received and help do my little part in the vineyard. I am grateful Heavenly Father gives us a part of His work and works with us as we try to hasten the work. 

Saturday Is a Special Day

Today we are laying out Sunday clothes, showering, curling girls' hair in curlers, cleaning, cooking, and trying to be all ready for Sunday. Plus we need to do the normal things like workout, take naps, and read stories.

Tomorrow is Stake Conference.  Actually, meetings start this afternoon.  I'm excited to hear the counsel from our church leaders.  Heavenly Father has blessed us so much to be taught and to feel His Spirit.

If we have a bit of leftover time I want to try bottling pumpkin bread, chili, and cake.  We could also clean the basement and bottle more pumpkin before it goes bad.

Today we had pumpkin bread and hot chocolate for breakfast.  We will have hummus sandwiches for lunch and taco salad for dinner.  Tomorrow it is oatmeal, hummus sandwiches, and stir fry.  We are so blessed.  We never go hungry!  And Heavenly Father has blessed us with variety and treats along with the staples.