Changing

The weather and winter have been hard on everyone.  Yesterday I felt so negative, but I pleaded with the Lord to help me turn to Christ and become more like Him.  He answered my prayer and helped me to be more grateful and less selfish.

Feeling Better

This afternoon and evening I've felt so much better!  Heavenly Father is so good to us!  Adelynn is much better too!  I'm so grateful; I am so glad I can do things again and feel great!

Sick Babies

Adelynn, Tank, & Ella all have the flu, poor things. I wish I could suffer for them. But seeing that I can't I will love, cuddle, massage, and pamper them as much as possible. I'm grateful for this opportunity to be choose to my little ones. Well, I best get to bed I could be needed a lot tonight. Which is fine with me.

Sickness

I was in bed with a fever today and Wednesday. The kids are amazing! They are so compassionate! Mom being out means a lot of extra work and sacrifice for everyone else. They step up and do it so cheerfully. Heavenly Father has blessed me so much with this wonderful family!

"I will give unto you success."

Parenthood and just surviving in this world can seem a daunting task sometimes.  Eight children to train, educate, feed, clothe, run around, cuddle, listen to, etc.  It seems almost impossible some days.  Today I felt failure was closing in around me.  I kept thinking: "Who am I to educate these little ones?  I have the simple vocabulary of a third grader.  I have to study to help the kids with math concepts.  What was I thinking I could educate my children? I never even graduated from high school or college.  Jaremy has to correct my pronunciation all the time.  If I had to support the family by working I would be earning minimum wage.  I can't handle teaching big kids and caring for little ones at the same time? I can't control my temper or teach with positive methods. I am failing and my children will fail because of me." I prayed desperately for help; for hope; for vision.  Maybe even a vision.  But I told Heavenly Father I really didn't have time for a vision.  Kids were crying, dinner was very late, school unfinished, snow unshoveled, etc.  But the Lord did answer my prayer, not with a vision but with a scripture.

I had tucked in sick Ella and little Adelynn.  The big boys were shoveling neighbors driveways.  Jessica and Natalie were walking the dogs in the storm.  Jaremy too was in bed sick.  So I had time to cuddle with Tank and read him "Laura."  That's what he calls "Little House" books.  After I grabbed the scriptures to read to him.  I opened right to Alma 26:27.

"Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success."

I knew the scripture was a very direct answer to my pleading earlier.  Heavenly Father is aware of our struggles and challenges.  I can't give up! or even slow down for a second!  We will succeed!  The Lord has spoken it to my heart!  Will it be hard!  I hope so!  Then success tastes all the sweeter!  Heavenly Father will help us!!  He makes it so we can have success!!!

Well, I better use the next little bit working on vocabulary lists and time lines for tomorrow!  We will succeed!

Hard Winter

The air in Salt Lake Valley is awful. It's been so gray and dull for so long. We have struggled with a bit of cabin fever, boredom, and real fever this winter. A storm has rolled in today to help clean the air for which I am grateful. Before we know it we will be planting a garden, running around in green grass and under blue skies. I'm grateful Heavenly Father has blessed me to live here where I can experience for seasons. I'm grateful I have a break from yard work and can focus on school work with the kids. I love both! I'm grateful for the variety as well. To help us get through the rest of the winter we will go on more outings and try to get some exercise.

Dog Update

I was so close to getting rid of the dogs.  But Jaremy insisted we stick with what we started and not just quit.  For this I am grateful.  We bought shock collars, made a virtual fence, and trained them to stay in it.  That lets them get their wiggles out.  We have also worked harder on basic training and taking them for walks.  They have made great improvements.  We still have an occasional accident indoors, but we are making progress.  We got rabbits and hay so we can eventually feed them for almost nothing.  They are sweet dogs! So good with the kids and baby!!!  We just have to have patience and keep problem solving and training.