The More the Merrier

ARGHHHHH!!!!!

2012-01-26T09:31:00.001-07:00

After only 2 weeks of having our minivan fixed, It has broken down again!!!!!! We are not going back to the same place, maybe that is the problem. BUT, we are sooooo poor. Why can't we ever catch up? And it is not that I am just overspending all of the time. I have stayed under budget week after week after week, and often $150 under budget. That money should be savings! I do not know what more to do.

I really am grateful that our trials are ALL financial. We are all in good health-- and I mean really good health. We all get along and love being together. Really my life is great except for this one little thing.

John asked, what can be done? Well, if some one popped down from the sky and left us $10,000. If we got the girl's braces for free. If gas and food would suddenly go down 25%. If it cost us $0 to have the baby. Something like that.

Finally, A Good Solution

2012-01-24T15:44:00.001-07:00

We have computer game addiction at our house. We are very careful about what games we allow, but how much time we allow has always been an out and out war.

Over Christmas, my sister in law, Margaret was talking about how her boys hated Sundays because they couldn't play computer games that day. Tired of her boys complaining about Sundays, she made only Tuesdays and Friday computer days. She said, all complaints ended even though they had less game time.

We had been struggling with trying to enforce one hour a person a day. It really wasn't working. So, I thought I would borrow a page from Margaret's book. Since I have six gamers, and Margaret only has two, I thought we needed to add a little more time. So Mondays and Wednesdays are girl game days, and Tuesdays and Thursdays are boy game days. We began Jan 1st.

It is working beautifully. And while the first week, they played games as much as they could, now they are often busy doing other things. My kids have learned to do other things!!! It is a miracle. This is the best solution ever!!!!!

My Baby Turns One

2012-01-22T13:11:00.000-07:00

Last Tuesday, Joshua turned one. I thought I would be sad because I did not think that I would be pregnant. But since, in another 6.5 months, I will have another little baby to cuddle, I just don't feel sad.

So my baby is a year. When Ruth turned one, she was so grown up and BIG. Joshua is still just a little baby. He is not grown up at all, and he is definitely NOT big. Though, Ruth at 12 months, weighed the same as Joshua does now. Ruth was walking, but not talking, and Joshua is talking, but not walking. Still, Ruth was HUGE and very grown up at 12 months, and Joshua is still just a tiny little baby.

Now about our little Joshua guy. He is sweet. He loves to hug. He loves to bite (a fight I will be embarking on soon). He loves, loves, loves to eat. You cannot have food, or the smell of food around Josh, unless he is eating! Or, he will be screaming.

From this

to this

Happy Birthday, Baby! We love You!

Who I am, and Why I Stand Where I Do: Part IV

2012-01-19T23:56:00.001-07:00

I am now at the final segment of Who I am, and Why I Stand Where I Do. I am going to cover how homosexual activists are recruiting you, the danger of the homosexual lifestyle, and what it really means to love your gay friend or family member. I think this will be the hardest post to write. But here goes:

First, How are homosexual activists recruiting you? Some of you may think they are not recruiting you. Statistics prove otherwise. The most recent Gallup Poll, concludes:

This year's nine-percentage-point increase in support for same-sex marriage is the largest year-to-year shift yet measured over this time period. Two-thirds of Americans were opposed to legalized same-sex marriage in 1996, with 27% in favor. By 2004, support had risen to 42% and, despite some fluctuations from year to year, stayed at roughly that level through last year.

In 2011, 53% of those polled believed same-sex marriage should be valid. So why in 15 years have so many people changed their minds? It is because the homosexual activists are really good at converting the public to their cause. They convert adults through ridicule. And it works really well. Thomas S. Monson said, " What a powerful tool of the adversary is ridicule and mockery!"

The majority of the people do not view themselves as bigots or members of hate groups. It hurts to be told you are a bigot or hateful. It is very persuasive. Recently I ran into an article titled, I'm Christian Unless You're Gay .This article is very persuasive. I would suggest reading it and seeing if you don't feel like you need to be more accepting when you have finished. The author, Dan Pearce, declares:

The greatest spiritual leaders in history have all preached love for others as the basis for all happiness, and never did they accompany such mandates with a list of unlovable actions or deeds. They never said, love everybody except for the gays. Love everybody except for the homeless. Love everybody except for the drug users. Love everybody except for the gang members, or those covered in ink, or the spouse abusers. They didn’t tell us it was okay to love everybody with the exception of the “trailer trash,” those living in poverty, or the illegal immigrants. They didn’t tell us it was okay to love everybody except for our ex-lovers, our lovers’ ex lovers, or our ex-lovers’ lovers. The mandate was pretty damn clear, wasn’t it?

I think this is pretty convincing. I want to think, "Yes, I love everybody. We are commanded to love everybody, and if I am truly Christian, I would love gays too." Unfortunately, what the author means, and what every person promoting the gay agenda means is there are no "unlovable actions or deeds." If you do not approve of the action then you cannot love the person.

Inwardly, we know this is not true. Every Christian who has felt the atoning power of Christ in their lives knows that the Savior did not approve of their actions, but His love for them is insurmountable and incomprehensible. And when one has repented of his sins, he knows that part of God's love was helping him change and turn away from something that was not good in his life.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints,has a great question and answer session on homosexuality. It is a long article. Here is part:

PUBLIC AFFAIRS: So you are saying that homosexual feelings are controllable?

ELDER OAKS: Yes, homosexual feelings are controllable. Perhaps there is an inclination or susceptibility to such feelings that is a reality for some and not a reality for others. But out of such susceptibilities come feelings, and feelings are controllable. If we cater to the feelings, they increase the power of the temptation. If we yield to the temptation, we have committed sinful behavior. That pattern is the same for a person that covets someone else’s property and has a strong temptation to steal. It’s the same for a person that develops a taste for alcohol. It’s the same for a person that is born with a ‘short fuse,’ as we would say of a susceptibility to anger. If they let that susceptibility remain uncontrolled, it becomes a feeling of anger, and a feeling of anger can yield to behavior that is sinful and illegal.
We’re not talking about a unique challenge here. We’re talking about a common condition of mortality. We don’t understand exactly the ‘why,’ or the extent to which there are inclinations or susceptibilities and so on. But what we do know is that feelings can be controlled and behavior can be controlled. The line of sin is between the feelings and the behavior. The line of prudence is between the susceptibility and the feelings. We need to lay hold on the feelings and try to control them to keep us from getting into a circumstance that leads to sinful behavior.

Second, the danger of the homosexual lifestyle: Studies have shown that living a homosexual life is bad for your physical health and your mental health. On page 17, of this document, you can find lists of several risks for homosexuality and all of the studies supporting it. Here are just a few:

"Homosexual behavior significantly increases the likely hood of psychiatric, mental, and emotional disorders."
GLB youth grades 9-12, have twice the risk for, "an increased use of cocaine and other illegal drugs, use of tobacco,marijuana, and cocaine before age 13, sexual intercourse before age 13, and sexual intercourse with four or more partners.
"20-year-old gay men have a 50 percent chance of becoming HIV positive by age 55."
"Among homosexual men, ages 18 to 25: 79.2 percent have used marijuana; 75 percent have
used psychotherapeutics for nonmedical reasons;65.2 percent have used stimulants such as
dexedrine and benzedrine; 62.5 percent have used inhalants such as amyl or butyl nitrate; and
50.2 percent have used hallucinogens such as LSD. Rates among lesbians: marijuana, 82 percent; psychotherapeutics, 58.8 percent; stimulants,52.9 percent; inhalants, 41.2 percent; and hallucinogens, 41.2 percent. Comparing current usage to national usage, homosexuals were found to use drugs with greater frequency: "Among adults aged 18-25, 16.5 percent of men and 9.1 percent of women have used marijuana in the past month, compared with 37.5 per-cent of gay men and 23.5 percent of lesbians."

Finally, I will discuss: what it really means to love your gay friend or family member. Honestly, this is a tough one, and I am sure that I do not have it 100% correct. In the question and answer session from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints, when asked about a 17 year old son coming to a parent and saying, "I have same sex attraction," the first thing Elder Oaks says is, "You’re my son. You will always be my son, and I’ll always be there to help you." Then he further states, "I think it’s important for you to understand that homosexuality, which you’ve spoken of, is not a noun that describes a condition. It’s an adjective that describes feelings or behavior" I think these two statements sum up perfectly what our Heavenly Father feels. I think we can base our behavior on these two statements as well. Should you cast a child,sibling, or friend off because he/she is engaging in homosexual behavior? No. Should you stand with your child, sibling, or friend and affirm that homosexuality is immutable and unchangeable and therefore completely acceptable? No.

By deciding along with between 47 and 53% of society in America today that homosexuality is unchangeable and completely acceptable you are hurting young people like myself that are confronted with it early in life. You are hurting the homosexual adults that want to repent and change. It doesn't help the drug user for everyone to say, "drug use is wonderful and just a part of who you are," and it doesn't help the gay person or the rest of society to say, "homosexuality is one of those wonderful parts of human diversity." This is not true love. True love loves the sinner, but does not love the sin. This will hurt your friends feelings. But, if you are still there to talk and to listen and to be a friend, not having the exact same beliefs as a gay friend, child, or sibling should not destroy the relationship.

Who am I, and why do I stand where I do? I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints. I am one of God's many children. I am a wife, and a mother, a sister, a daughter, and a friend. I stand where I do because I have seem what affects homosexuality has on the soul and no matter how many times I am called a bigot or am considered to be spreading hate, I know that by saying, "homosexuality is a sin, and a choice," I am telling the truth. I can be a friend to a gay person. I can sit down and have lunch and a chat. But I will not say I love you by saying what you are doing is good.

Who I am, and Why I Stand Where I Do: Part III

2012-01-19T10:55:00.002-07:00

My experience with homosexuality all occurred while I was quite young. I got to see hands on how different people chose that lifestyle. In this segment of Who I am, and Why I stand Where I Do, I am going to cover why I think homosexuality is a choice, and how homosexual activists are proselyting to children. Friday, I am going to write a final segment and discuss how homosexual activists are recruiting you, the danger of the homosexual lifestyle, and what it really means to love your gay friend or family member.

First, I do not believe homosexuality is genetic. I do not believe anyone is "born gay". My personal experiences and scientific research tell me otherwise.

I had much of the same experiences as my friends. We all had adults tell us that we were gay. We all had friends tell us we were gay. We all had an opportunity to try out a homosexual relationship before we "felt" we may be gay. Many of us had psychiatrists tell us any depression or anxiety we felt was because we were gay and we would all be better if we embraced that lifestyle. We were all very young too.

Sometime ago, I reposted an article by the United Families International on the myth of the gay gene. Here is the complete article. Some of the highlights are:

No scientist or researcher has ever proven that homosexuality is genetic, immutable or unchangeable. In fact many of the so-called gay gene studies, such as the Bailey/Pillard “twin studies,” prove the exact opposite – homosexual behavior is not genetic.
The American Psychological Association states: “There is no consensus among scientists about the exact reasons that an individual develops a heterosexual, bisexual, gay or lesbian orientation. Although much research has examined the possible genetic, hormonal, developmental, social, and cultural influences on sexual orientation, no findings have emerged that permit scientists to conclude that sexual orientation is determined by any particular factor or factors. Many think that nature and nurture both play complex roles….

You can find a list of studies about genetics and homosexuality on page 35 of this document.

Second, The homosexual community proselytes. They are actively seeking to get young people to question their sexuality. Young people who have been molested or raped, girls who are tomboys, boys who are small of stature and like the arts, and children with depression and anxiety are particularly vulnerable. Why? Because these are the kids that either get told they are gay regularly, or because these are the kids that feel badly about themselves and are seeking for friends and a group to be a part of.

Here are two recent examples of the homosexual activists proselyting homosexuality to children.

Dan Savage, a homosexual activist leader began a campaign to "end bullying," called, It Get's Better. This campaign has put out TV advertisements,and is working to get gay-straight alliance clubs in schools.

One such add was aired during Fox's American Idle, June 10, 2011. When Peggy Nance, of Concerned Women for America, expressed outrage, Dan Savage, founder of the "It Gets Better project", stated::

“Nance’s son was always our target demo,”... “Again, we don’t know if he’s gay. But he might be and, if he is, he needs to hear from us.”
The “primary goal” of the campaign, he explained, is “to reach LGBT kids who are being bullied by their peers and their families.”
“Now I don’t know if Nance’s son is gay, bi, or trans, but if he is, he needs to know more than most that it can get better for him too, that there’s hope for his future, and that the adult world isn’t entirely populated by hateful s***s like his mother,” he wrote, adding “here’s hoping” that “Nance’s son is gay.”

Around the same time, Daniel Villarrea, a writer for The Queerity, a top online GBLT Magazine wrote an article entitled, Can We Please Just Start Admitting That We Do Actually Want To Indoctrinate Kids?. The entire article can be found here. (There is a lot of vulgar language in it.)

Other examples include public school programs already in place in California and Massachusetts.

Scott M. Soulier, of United Families International states:

Having a “gay” club to join in the secondary school setting is tantamount to inviting students to self-label as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or sympathetic to the same. Adolescents are psychologically unprepared to ponder such a question. It is simply and demonstrably unsafe for youth to be allowed or encouraged to prematurely self-label.

From my own experience as a teenager, I would have to agree with this 100% . Every person I knew had significant trouble with depression and anxiety after having been involved in homosexual sex. And not one of these people came from a home where parents rejected their homosexuality or kicked them out of the home or anything of that sort. All of these people were supported and often congratulated by their friends. This was all before gay clubs, and school curriculum about homosexuality. Recent research by Remafedi, et al., supports my personal experience as well.

Scott M. Soulier, of United Families International highlights: I

1. “…for each year’s delay in bisexual or homosexual labeling, the odds of suicide attempts are diminished by 20%.”
2. “…suicide attempts were not explained by experiences with discrimination, violence, loss of friendship, or current personal attitudes towards homosexuality.”
3. “…gender nonconformity and precocious psychosocial development were predictive of self-harm.
(Remafedi, G., Farrow, J. A., & Deisher,R. W., (1991). Risk factors for attempted suicide in gay and bisexual youth. Pediatrics, 87, p. 874.)

I do not believe that men like Dan Savage and Daniel Villarrea really care about children who are experiencing same sex attraction.These programs are not about love and helping people. Getting children to leave their families for a life of sex because "that is who they really are, " is not about love and help and safety.

Part IV coming soon:
How homosexual activists are recruiting you, and how to love your homosexual friend or family member.

Who I am, and Why I Stand Where I Do: Part II

2012-01-18T08:31:00.003-07:00

In Part I of "Who I am, and Why I Stand Where I Do," I went over a bit of my teenage/young adult history with homosexuality. In Part II, I want to discuss, why some of the things were the way they were, and what happened to some of my old friends.

First, looking back at that history, I think people wonder if this could possibly be true. Where were my parents, why did I have friends like these, etc. So here are some answers to those questions. Yes, everything in Part I is true, and happened exactly as I described!

Where were my parents? They were right there, and I am sure that they worried about the friends that I had. I do not think they knew everything that was going on or how consistently my friends tried to push me away from religion and toward a life of sex. I think that my parents would have had to spend a lot of time questioning me about my friends and things that they say. I didn't really discuss things that went on away from home with my parents. I may have been vague when they asked. I know they did ask me on occasion. When they did push, in a teenage fashion, I pushed back.

Why did I have friends like these? I had one thing in common with all of my friends: depression. At age 7, I developed childhood depression. That continued until I was about 21. All of my friends, were like minded-- misery enjoys company.

How, when most of the people I spent time with were pushing me to be atheist and sexually active did I remain religious and morally clean? My parents were a big part of this one. We had family prayer, and family scripture study. We were required to go to church and all of our church activities. When I was seven years old, my family had moved a great distance, I was experiencing depression from the move, and my parents were experiencing severe financial problems. My world had turned upside down. My parents asked their bishop what they should do. Their bishop told them to read the Book of Mormon everyday as a family. My parents followed that advice. Being the serious little child that I was, I noticed a change in our home from before we had Book of Mormon reading to when we had it everyday. This made a HUGE difference in my life. I learned to love the Book of Mormon at age seven because I felt happier when we read it together as a family. I read the Book of Mormon through for the first time between the ages of 7 and 11. When things were tough for me at age 13, I read the Book of Mormon again. When I was 16, I decided that I needed to read 3 chapters from the Book of Mormon most nights. When I was 17, my New's Years Resolution was to read the Book of Mormon everyday no matter how late it got. When I got married at 21.5, I had read the Book of Mormon 23 times, The New Testament once, and the Doctrine and Covenants twice. I had also read whatever church books I could get a hold of. I think I really did crave religion. And I needed that. My diligent scripture study is what kept me safe, and firm in my religion.

Now, I want to talk about what history, I knew of some of my friends. First there was Sam, my one friend, that I met at 16, and he later became bi-sexual and then gay. I mentioned that he told me that at age 12, he kissed a boy that he had over his house during an "innocent friend sleepover" (There is a reason we do not allow sleep overs with our children.) After he decided he was all gay, he got a boyfriend, Nick. About 3 months into this relationship, Sam began seeing a psychiatrist, and was put on anti-depressants. One could argue, that Sam had leanings that way anyway. True, but not to the same severity. Two years into Sam's relationship with Nick, he began having sexual relationships with a girl. After a few months of this, Sam felt guilty and got a different psychiatrist to reaffirm his homosexuality. Nick, also sought professional help and began taking medication.

Another friend, Shawn, in my original group of 5, decided he was bisexual after he graduated high school. He had many male partners, but was always trying to find female partners. When I was 20, he was interested in me. I was not interested back. A few months after my rejection, he declared that he was 100% gay. I heard from him just before I got engaged, but not after. He also sought psychiatric help about the same time he tried out homosexuality, after high school. He confided in me that his psychiatrist helped him realize that he was all gay (as opposed to bisexual) and that is why he was having trouble with depression.

The guy that decided he was gay and wanted to have relationship with Travis, joined the army and decided that he mostly liked girls and a lot of alcohol.

After about 3 months of the bisexual girl always being physical with me, I quit hanging around her. I do not know any of her history. But at the time I did know her, she was on a couple of different psychiatric drugs, and was being told by her psychiatrist that she was gay and things would go better for her if she embraced her "true self".

Another friend that I acted in musicals with, was a small framed guy that liked dancing and singing and acting. A lot of men would say, "Oh, he is just gay, and does not know it yet." When he was about 22 after being told that he was gay consistently for years, and after graduating college with a degree in acting, he became gay. A year ago, he ran into my mother. He said to her that becoming homosexual was the biggest mistake he had ever made in his life. He said that he often mourns the loss of a wife and children. He also said that he cannot escape the homosexual lifestyle.

My sister, who liked sports, is tough, joined the army, and has always been a tomboy has had many people and especially psychiatrists tell her that she is a lesbian and that she just needs to embrace that lifestyle. My sister has not given into that pressure and the one thing she wants most in life is to marry and have children.

Part III coming soon

I will discuss how my experience with homosexuality has formed what I believe about it.

Who I am, and Why I Stand Where I Do: Part I

2012-01-17T18:11:00.000-07:00

I post a lot of things about homosexuality, and against the homosexual agenda. I am sure by many, I am labelled a bigot. Guess what? That is okay with me. I know where I stand, I know why I stand where I stand, and I am sure about it. I will explain:

I am a loyal friend. I have always been so. I love to talk, and if someone will hang out with me and talk, I will love them! I do love them. I love people easily. I just have to know the person. All my life, I have collected friends. But not just any friends. I collect close friends. I am always the one to make the effort to stay in touch. And it is usually just me. Most people don't care. But I love people. I love my friends-- old and new. This is just me and has always been me. I conscientiously stop sending notes and emails to people when they don't respond. Recently, I have realized that is good, not bad or co-dependent. It is okay to love the people you know. And that is what I do. If I know you, it is likely I will love you and be happy to have you around and stay in touch after one of us moves away.

When I was 12, my neighbor's mother left her husband and three children for a lesbian relationship. The oldest child, who had behavior problems from that time forward, went to jail after high school, and not much later ended his own life. That was my first experience with a homosexual person.

When I was 14, I babysat for a women with two children. She had recently gotten divorced and was living with another woman. After a few months of babysitting these kids, my mother told me the woman was a lesbian. I didn't believe her. But I looked through the house and noticed there were only two bedrooms. The one with the queen bed for the two adults, and the smaller room with the bunk bed for the two children. The children did not know about their mother or sex or anything. They were 8 and 6. I didn't babysit them for many more months after I found out the relationship. I never said anything, but I felt bad for the kids.

When I was nearly 16, a girl my age moved to my area. We had a lot in common and became close friends very quickly. This girl, had an old boyfriend from her old state, who was bisexual. That was my third time hearing/ meeting some one with same sex attraction and behavior.

This friend and I were close friends. We spent most of our weekends together. This girl's parents called us lesbians. I was shocked! I had no feelings along those lines. I was shocked, disgusted, surprised. I had just turned 16. I had little experience with sex of any sort.I wondered why her parents would say that. I now wonder if she had leanings that way. I do not know.

Around this same time, 16, I formed a group of close friends in high school. There were about 5 of us, and the girl I mentioned above who I considered my best friend. All but this one girl considered themselves atheist. They would give me a lot of slack for believing in God. One time, one boy held me tight while another twisted my arm very hard behind my back. They kept hurting me more and more saying, "Say there is no God." (Good Friends, huh?) Eventually, they threw me on the dirty floor of the high school.

I stayed close friends with them for years. When, I was 17, the boy who twisted my arm, confided in me that he thought he was bisexual. I was okay with that. He had earlier shown me his masturbating journal, where he kept tally of every time he masturbated. He did make sexual advances toward me from time to time, but he knew my standards and I was firm.

When, I was 18 this same boy, told me he was just gay and introduced me to his boyfriend. I was still close friends with him, and now I was close friends with his partner. The first guy, told me he first thought he was gay when at 12, he kissed the boy he had to his house for a sleep over.

This boy's, time to time sexual advances toward me became more frequent after he decided he was gay. His partner did not do this. But the two of then would tell me that I was at least bisexual because of my best friend (who had moved away by this time.) These boys moved to college in January.

When, I was 18, after my other friends had all left, I became close friends with 3 other people. One girl, and two guys. One guy, Travis, I was very close to. We did not have a romantic relationship. He told me because of my moral standards and his desire for a sexual relationship, he would not "date me". We hung out and talked on the phone everyday. I really liked him a lot. I was his friend to talk to and he always had another girl to have sex with. I am really glad I did not change my standards for this guy. I really did like him a lot.

The summer before I left for college, I hung out with these 3 friends most days. The other boy in the group decided he was gay and liked Travis. The girl and I did not like this. we both liked Travis too. Nothing happened. When the one guy's advances didn't get accepted, he left our group of friends and joined the army.Travis and the other girl started a sexual relationship when I left for college.

I went to Rick's college. One of my friends roommates and her friend from home became physically close with another roommate. They were always sitting on each other's laps and sleeping in the same bed. They would say that they were just friends. It was so physical that everyone wondered. But mostly, at Ricks college, I had no experiences with homosexuality. I kept in touch with all of my friends from home, gay and straight through the old fashioned way of letter writing.

The fist summer after Ricks, I mainly hung out with Travis and the people I worked with-- there was one lesbian in the group. I had a fun summer and I dated a lot. Our high school group had broken up. Travis never let me go on a date a lone because he said he knew the guys intentions and wanted to protect me. I guess, I was naive. But it bothered me, and I would try to make Travis get a date to come along. He didn't always. I hung out with my old gay guy friends from time to time still too, but they were barely in town. Still, when we did get together, the one guy still made sexual advances. I was definitely friends with gay people but no matter what they said to me, I did not bend on my religious beliefs.

My second summer after I finished Rick's college was intense. My old best friend, the girl who moved near me when I was 15, was going to move in with me and work at the summer camp that I worked at. This didn't happen and the circumstances were odd. By this time, we were both 20. I was deep into depression, on medication, and really not very healthy. This girl did not end up moving in. Her father had her brothers beat her up as she left for the bus. He held her down at home. Then he wrote a letter to my mother saying that this girl and I were lesbians and we should not move in together and couldn't she realize this? Now, being a parent I wonder if this girl's father knew something I did not.

At the same time, I had made friend, a girl, who was bisexual. She would always kiss my cheek, hug me, and grab for my hand. She always told me that she knew I would be ready for a gay relationship soon. My first gay friend, and the other 3 people in my original high school group (who were at this time all gay or bisexual) kept telling me again and again that I was at least bisexual and that I needed to embrace it. I started to question myself, my long held LDS beliefs and all. These "friends" were very pushy. My parents and Travis advised me to stop hanging out with them. I was not good at letting go of friends. But I agreed with my parents not to go to an overnight party with my first high school friends.That was a good call.

At the end of the summer, I decided to go to the University of Michigan. There, I met John. We were best friends immediately. But friends was all for several months. He was shorter than I am, so there was no pressure to date or anything. One thing I loved about John was that he was a Latter Day Saint too, and he knew the gospel and followed it 100%. It was a relief to have a best friend that believed what I believed and encouraged me in those beliefs. Well, I married my bestest friend ever. I wrote or called all of my friends, and except for Travis, I never heard from them again. That made me sad. I knew they did not want me to marry and especially to marry a Mormon. I am so grateful I did. Because for the first time in my life, I was truly happy.

Part II soon

Anya's Birthday Party

2012-01-17T16:38:00.001-07:00

This adorable just turned 4 year old wanted a birthday party.

So we invited a few little girls, decorated crowns and had tea party. All of the little girls LOVED the tea party and stayed eating their little food on their little dishes for nearly an hour.

With time running out, we quickly opened presents-- heaven for a 4 year old girl.

And finally we decorated cupcakes with sprinkles, coconut, gummy bears, and gummy cherries. A few kids thought carrots and oranges made great cupcake decorations! Cost of party: $25!!!! It was PERFECT!

Update on New NATIONAL Sexuality Education Standards

2012-01-16T13:25:00.000-07:00

I had an opportunity to talk to a couple of people here in Utah that know more about this sort of thing than I do. Here is what I learned.

I would have to say that Utah's school's are fairly safe. The reason is, the federal government, at this point in time, is not going to require schools to use this program. Also, I know that some people in the Utah state's legislature have been working on laws in Utah to counter a program exactly like this. If there comes a time, when lobbying needs to done in Utah. I will let you know how to contact your representatives to help laws get passed. People contacting representatives really and truly is a good way to make "your voice" heard. (If you don't feel like your vote counts, then send emails and make phone calls to the people who are elected.)
In other states, I would advise you to contact your state representatives and ask them to write laws that would make this sort of program illegal in your state. In some states, laws to prevent this may already be in place.
This is most likely international policy coming from the United Nations. It is very similar to things found in Convention on the Rights of the Child. (the United States is the only country which has not signed this internationally recognized agreement.
One of the biggest problems with education today is federal funding to help states pay for the rising of costs of education. Why would this be a problem? This is a problem because then the federal government can, and does say, "We will give you XXmillion dollars for education, only if you put X program in your schools." That is how a program like the newly written sexuality education program is forced into states that would not wish to have such a program.
It is good to know there are many good people and many good groups that are working together to prevent programs like these being taught in our schools.

New NATIONAL Sexuality Education Standards

2012-01-13T08:54:00.000-07:00

For the past four years the American Association of Health Education, the American School Health Association, the National Education Association – Health Information Network, the Society of State Leaders of Health and Physical Education, Advocates for Youth, Answer, and the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States have been working on and authoring a national sexuality program to create a national sexuality education standard to advance the implementation of sexuality education in US public schools.

http://www.futureofsexed.org/documents/josh-fose-standards-web.pdf
http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/brand-new-guidelines-pushing-radical-explicit-sex-ed-agenda-on-schools-nati#comment_listing

These new recommendations include:

For kindergarten to second grade: They suggest that, by the end of second grade, children should be using “proper names for body parts, including male and female anatomy,” be familiar with “different kinds of family structures,” and be able to “describe differences and similarities in how boys and girls may be expected to act, and provide examples of how friends, family, media, society and culture influence ways in which boys and girls think they should act.”

3rd to 5th grade: Introduction to sexual orientation would begin in the 3rd – 5th grade, and by 5th grade, students are expected to be able to define sexual orientation as “the romantic attraction of an individual to someone of the same gender or a different gender.”

6th to 8th grade: curriculum calls for an explanation of the correct way to use a condom and an analysis of “external influences that have an impact on one’s attitudes about gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity.”

9th to 12th grade: the curriculum prescribes that students should be able to “differentiate between biological sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity and expression.” and for students to be able to “compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of abstinence and other contraceptive methods, including condoms,” and “explain how to access local STD and HIV testing and treatment services.”

I think if enough parents and teachers know about it and act, we can stop this program from being implemented. Do you really want you kindergartener to be familiar with “different kinds of family structures,”? or your 6th grader to know how to use a condom? How many teachers want to teach that to their students? This is America. This can be stopped!

Today, I am going to work hard to find ways this can be countered. I will post more about what YOU can do. But first, please let as many people as you can know about it. The more the word gets out, the more likely it will be stopped.

Another reason as many parents as possible should know about this is because if it is implemented, parents need to know that they will have to address these issues with their own children. You will have to talk to you kindergartener about different families and truth. You will have to teach your elementary kids that "gender is an essential characteristic of premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose," and you will have to speak even more openly about sex with your middle and high school students. So please, pass this on.

Glad to Realize

2012-01-12T08:49:00.000-07:00

I have been so tired this pregnancy. More tired than I have ever been any of my previous eight pregnancies-- including the one that I was very anemic. I know I am not anemic because I take an iron pill. So I have been worried. What is wrong with me? I have never felt this exhausted even when I am pregnant.

Last night I realized something important. Every other pregnancy, I took a 1 1/2 to 2 hour nap everyday, and most nights I got between 7 1/2 and 8 hours of sleep. I was being pregnant on 9 to 10 hours of sleep per 24 hour period. This pregnancy, I have not been napping and I have been getting up a little earlier to clean the house. So I have been being pregnant on 6 1/2 to 7 hours of sleep in a 24 hour period and that is only if I am not up at night for any reason. I think I know why I am so exhausted, and relieved that it isn't some unknown medical problem.

I am going to have to find some way to remedy this. I am not sure how I am going to change things. But I am sure having a napping mom that feels well most of the time will be nicer for my family than having a mom that is always feeling exhausted and ill.

Anya Turns 4

2012-01-11T20:16:00.001-07:00

My little Anya is now a big 4 year old! Her birthday was Monday. She laughed and ran away nearly every time we sang to her. In the last year Anya has changed from a very shy and quiet child to much more assertive child. We know when Anya is not happy now. Instead of annoying me by saying, "mom, mom, mom, mom...," she says, "Mom, you have to talk to me!" Of course, my guilty conscience responds to that better. Happy birthday, my little bunny. I love you.

Math and Home School and Saxon and Blah, Blah, Blah

2012-01-09T15:06:00.002-07:00

So, in some ways I am learning math all over again. In some ways, I am just having my memory refreshed. But this time around instead of just memorizing math principles. I am learning why. I am learning why because I actually really want to know, but also because Johnny demands that I tell him why no matter what. So here is an example of the why in math that I never bothered to think about in high school.

Negative Numbers: Did you ever wonder why when you subtract a negative number from a number the two negatives make a positive? I never did before. But I knew Johnny would need to know, so I had to think this one through and ask my mathematician husband. It is actually so the rules are consistant. Think of it this way:

For all real numbers, a - a = 0

So (-a) - (-a) = 0,

when you subtract a number from itself then you get zero whether it is positive or negative. This rule has to remain constant so

a - (-b) = a + b,

because

(-a) - (-a) = (-a) + (a),

which equals 0.

Tada. It feels nice to be able to prove why a math concept is true instead of just know the rule.

On another math topic: there is a way of teaching math called Saxon Math that has taken over how math is being taught-- and that is BAD. Here is why.

A man named Saxon did not understand math very well. But he did not know that he did not understand math. He made this theory that a student should not have to know how to do a math problem unless it is taught to them. So what has happened? Children are taught every way to add, every way to subtract, every way to multiply and divide. If you do not believe me check out your child's math book (it doesn't have to be called Saxon anymore. Saxon has taken over). We bought a fifth grade math book for Johnny. All it had was a year's worth of different ways to multiply-- boring, yes. Now, you may think your kids are learning things earlier than you did because it includes scientific notation and exponents. I don't think I hit that until 7th or 8th grade. But that is it-- just every way to multiply. You may be thinking, "this woman is nuts. Why is this bad?" I am going to tell you why I am not nuts and why this is bad. Before Saxon, kids were not told every way there is to do a single problem. Mostly, we were given just one way. Then on tests, we would have problems pop up here and there that we would have to think out and find a different way to solve them. On standardized tests, we would be given a lot of those , "You have never seen this problem before" problems. That was a-okay for most kids, because we had already had to use the "think this problem out" skill. We knew what to do. American test scores were pretty good. In fact, American's were generally considered around the world to be "very inventive" We thought up the machines, the Japanese made them better. Not bad, I think. That is all gone with Saxon. Saxon does not believe a student should have to think a problem out. Saxon believed a student should not have to do a problem unless the student was shown how to do that particular problem. Math changed from a subject that greatly improved one's critical thinking skills to just a bunch of memorizing. In fact, an absurd amount of memorizing. So we tossed aside the saxon theory based math book, and swapped to the traditional way. Here is what I am finding with my own kids:

1. Johnny had an algebra problem where in order to find the answer, he had to divide 81 by 3 (81/3). 2.Johnny said, "the answer is 81/3".

3. I said write it down and divide it out.

4. Johnny hates any division that he doesn't already have memorized, and Johnny HATES writing it out.

5. So Johnny said to himself. 3 X 10 = 30. There are 2 (30's) in 80. So that is 20. Then there is 21 left, and 3/21 = 7.

6. Johnny yelled out, "The answer is 27. Do you want to know how I did it?"

If Johnny had already been shown this way of diving (removing the tens and then dividing the left over) he would have missed the opportunity to think it out. Johnny has learned important critical thinking skills. Johnny is being trained to solve problems, not just to compute a memorized problem.

Guess what? Japan used to do math more like Saxon. Japan now does math more like the old fashioned American-way (before 1995-ish). And guess what? Americans are continually falling behind the international level. So Saxon math is BAD!

My favorite Helper

2012-01-08T17:58:00.002-07:00

I know, I know, I know. I should not have a "favorite helper, " but I just love that as soon as I open the dish washer to load or unload, little Josh is there "helping". And I LOVE his company so much that I don't even mind clean dishes being dropped on the floor, and dirty dishes unloaded.

The First Snow

2012-01-08T17:53:00.002-07:00

Joseph was the first to make it out. He had on fuzzy pj's, a hat, mismatched mittens, and boots!

Anya got the scarf, hat, mittens, and shoes, but she missed the coat note too.

Then Rachel missed the "You need a coat" note as well.

Okay, so it is family tradition. We don't wear coats or clothes in the snow.

Joshua so wanted to get to the snow. I finally let him touch it. He jumped up shocked and cried whenever I moved him close to the snow after that!

The Last Faith Post Has Arrived

2012-01-07T11:36:00.001-07:00

Remember when I said I had one more author to post about faith? Well, she has come through. Meet Maria Stahl, an amazing hard working woman full of faith. She travels all over the country every week and still makes it home to work in the temple and to attend church on Sunday. She grew up in Montana, but has lived in Utah, NYC, and Washington D.C.

“Faith is knowing the sun will rise, lighting each new day.” A while back Diane asked me to write something on faith, and every time I thought about this, this line from a children’s song would came to mind. The Bible dictionary states that “To have faith is to have confidence in something or someone” I like that word “confidence”. Webster Dictionary states that confidence is a firm belief; trust; reliance; the fact of being or feeling certain; assurance.

When we think about the word Faith in a religious context how do we have confidence in the things that may not be seen? As a child, how do we know that sun will rise? We don’t. It just happens. We don’t learn until many years later that the earth rotates on an axis every day. And then we learn that besides rotating on an axis it also rotates around round the Sun. If we are just learning, to have faith, sometimes we have to just accept that certain things will happen, not knowing why. As we actively learn more about our Savior Jesus Christ, we gradually learn to understand more about those things that are not seen and can truly have confidence that it will happen. I cannot see the earth rotate around the sun. I can see the effects of it though, every day. I was not there to see the atoning sacrifice that Jesus Christ gave for me and all of us, but I have learned to see the effects of it in my life and in those around me. I have confidence in that because I have learned to recognize it, just as I have learned to recognize when the sun will rise.

The opposite of confidence is diffidence or shyness. One who is shy is easily frightened or startled, not at ease with people, or shows distrust or caution; is wary. This definition reminds me of horses. When I was a kid, I grew up on a farm in Montana. We had some horses. Young horses would “shy” away from items that may come up to them on the side where their peripheral vision is not good. They will jump first before directly looking at whatever was on their side to decide whether it will hurt them or not, even if it was a plastic bag blowing in the wind. The difference in riding a shy horse verses a confident horse is great. As a rider on a shy horse you always have to have a firm hold of the reins, and be prepared for a bumpy ride, verses the trained, confident horse that has learned to look and be aware before deciding what to do. That ride is usually smoother and much more enjoyable.

As I think it is with life. Those who learn to have faith in Jesus Christ are able to ride through life a little smoother. That doesn’t mean that there may be things that will make them sad, hurt them , or make them want to run away. But with faith they can learned to have confidence to take the time to stop and look at it directly to understand it more fully.

Faith is knowing the sun will rise, lighting each new day.Faith is knowing the Lord will hear my prayers each time I pray.Faith is like a little seed: if planted it will grow.Faith is a swelling within my heart. When I do right, I know.

Faith is know I lived with God before my mortal birth.Faith is knowing I can return when my life ends on earth.Faith is trust in God above; in Christ, who showed the way.Faith is strengthened; I feel it grow whenever I obey.I hope that this year , we can all strive to strengthen our Faith.

2 Notes

2012-01-05T21:03:00.003-07:00

Joseph is a very verbal 2 year old, and he just fascinates me with all of the things his two year old brain thinks about. Like when he took my Valrohna chocolate disk and said, "it is a boat." The chocolate boat then floated through the air and into his mouth with a few engine sounds to boot.
I saw the obgyn. There was a baby, 9 weeks, 2days. The baby had a beating heart and was even wiggling. All looks well. I am due Aug 5th. 9 kids sounds HUGE! But when I hold this new little one, I know it will fit right in and just belong.

New Years Resolutions

2012-01-02T10:50:00.002-07:00

Resolutions 2011:

1.Potty Train Anya: Done before the end of January.
2.Potty Train Joseph: Didn't happen at all. (Why was I able to potty train my first 5 kids all before 2 1/2 and I have not been able to do it with my 6th and 7th? I am wondering if I have just gotten lazy?)

Resolutions 2012:
1.Find and incorporate healthy vegetarian dishes into our weekly diet.

Why? Because I have always tried to do meatless dishes 3 to 4 days a week, but they have never been healthy. It is always something like pancakes or bread and fruit, or milk based soups. We have done beans and rice, but I have too many kids that just won't eat that to make it a realistic dinner.
Do I think I will succeed? Maybe, if I can find recipes that I can easily buy ingredients for and they do not take more than 30 minutes of preparation. And only if I get this started in the first two months of the year. If I haven't gotten into this habit by the end of February, I am sure I will fail with this goal.

2. Teach My Children to take better care of and to respect things.

Why? Because they lose all of the game pieces and don't care. Because they brake something in the house and think, "no big deal". And frankly, I am tired of the destruction. This many kids can cause a lot of damage. And I think my kids can benefit from respect lessons.
Do I think I will succeed? Yes and No. No, because I am so out numbered. Yes, because I am mad. My kids will find that they will be in a lot more trouble for general destruction and carelessness.

3.Potty Train Joseph.

Why? Because he will be three in July, and at some point I always win out on this matter.
Do I think I will succeed? Absolutely, no question. This will happen in 2012.

4.Make music lessons a bigger deal.

Why? Because I am jealous from everyone's Christmas letters about how talented their kids are and how many instruments they play etc.
Do I think I will succeed? No, because my motivating force is jealousy, and I am very likely having another baby, which always makes that hard.

5. Teach Rachel how to get her shoes on the right feet.

Why? Because she is almost 6!
Do I think I will succeed? As long as I am diligent the first few months of the year.

6.And of course to EXERCISE MORE!

Why? well, I always need to.
Do I think I will succeed? I hope so. Maybe but I am not very good at this one. I keep thinking someday. Once I did, and was going strong until we moved. I was going strong last year too until I injured my foot. So maybe for a little while until something stops me like the birth of a baby.

Review Extravaganza: The Finale

2011-12-30T20:39:00.001-07:00

The last three months of 2011, were pretty darn good. In October: I had this unique thing to say about home school:

Homeschool in the community is just soso. I have had two different experiences. Ruth and Kate are taking a Shakespeare class in Salt Lake. They are with a group of teens that are good and nice and talented. They like it. The moms involved are sociable and pleasant. I wish I could be sure that we would have interactions with this same group post Shakespeare class. I have not yet been able to find anything very social for my younger kids. I tried doing a park day in our area for young kids-- that failed. I tried do a teen night out for older kids in our area-- that failed. I have tried to join two different co-ops-- both of those have failed. We have gone to a party and two field trips with homeschoolers in Davis county. (See we live just on the Davis County and Salt Lake border. So the Shakespeare class is pretty equal in distance to most of the Davis county events.) I can hardly get anyone to associate with me or my children at field trips and parties. With the acception of two women, I can't even get the mothers of homescchooling families to associate with me. I go up to them. I introduce myself and my children. I try and find things to talk to about with them-- but nothing. In many cases I feel like they just wish me to go away. In one way my experience has been weird, in another way, I feel like I am dealing with an HOA when dealing with the homeschool community. I would completely think I was socially retarded and the fault is all on my side except that I have not had these experiences with public school moms while volunteering in school and planning parties. I have not had these problems with my neighbors or my fellow church members. Socially, homeschool has been very unique.

Also in October, I wrote this personal story and had a lot of interesting commentary, which prompted me to do a week of faith, with guest writers in November. So in November I had a whole bunch of amazing things written about faith. You can find all of those awesome articles under the "Scripture Musings" tab.

Also in November, one of our vehicles broke down twice, so I wrote about how I deal with stress.

December, has been fairly quiet. We chose to be a one car family rather than spending all of our Christmas money repairing a car. We had a great Christmas and will get the car looked at in January. So 2012 will begin the decision to fix a car that has been breaking down a lot, or buy a new one.

Christmas 2011

2011-12-27T19:07:00.000-07:00

We had a very nice day with the Robertson's on Christmas Eve. We had a great rib eye roast dinner, sang carols,read stories, and just had a wonderful time with brothers ans sisters, Moms, and Dads, Aunts, and Uncles, and cousins.
The kids woke up at 7:29, confessing that they didn't sleep much that night.
We dumped out stockings and saw what Santa brought. Most kids were very pleased.
We opened presents.
We played with our new stuff for a while, and then began the Christmas cleanup.
We halted the Christmas Cleanup to get ready for Church.
We went to church with only about 20 other families, my brother Seth and his fiance, Marie.
We came home, put sweet potatoes into the oven, and relaxed for 20 minutes.
We made an easy but delicious Christmas dinner of salmon, rice, sweet potatoes, and salad. We also had some amazing dark chocolate, and smoked gouda cheese.
We cleaned up dinner, and hung out with Seth, Marie, and my sister Amy. We played games, and did puzzles.
We had some chocolate cake.
We cleaned up the rest of the Christmas mess.
We read about the wisemen, and sent the little kids to bed.
We chatted with Seth, Amy, and Marie until they left.
We sent the big kids to bed.
We had a great time playing the game John got for Christmas.
We had a great Christmas without going into debt. We are very blessed with wonderful family, friends, and faith.

Twas the Night Before Christmas

2011-12-27T18:50:00.000-07:00

When all through the house, I take a picture and realize, I didn't clean like I thought I had. But, with the help of a secret Santa, Santa came through and we didn't go into debt at all. Thank you, secret Santa and Grammas and Grandpas. We love you!

Review Extravaganza: Part III

2011-12-23T20:13:00.002-07:00

I am late this week, but not too late. I was busy all day finishing the Christmas Shopping. It is all done. Whew! Can't Wait for Christmas!

In July

I tried to get pictures of all of my kids together, and realized that was probably asking for too much cooperation, especially from a teenager.

We gave away our first set of kittens and the kids were good with that. The cat went into heat again, the very next day. (Why is it called in heat?)

AND...

Our very best friends from Wichita came to visit.

In August:

We took our whole family camping, and began our first try at Home Schooling.

In September:

Joseph informed us about what's scary. And I have plenty more to say about Home Schooling.

Conversation with Joseph

2011-12-20T21:20:00.001-07:00

Joseph playing with two pairs of scissors.
Me: Joseph, are you cute?
Joseph: No, not cute.
Me: Joseph, are you funny.
Joseph: No not funny.
Me: Joseph are you hungry.
Joseph: No, not hungry.
Me: Joseph, do you love Dad?
Joseph: No mom, I am just Joseph.
Me: Are you Joseph?
Joseph: Mom I am just playing with 2 scissors.
Me: Joseph, are your scissors talking.
Joseph: Yes, scissors talking.
Me:Joseph, I hate to tell you this, but that means you are cute.
Joseph: No, NOT CUTE!

Santa at Our House

2011-12-19T17:51:00.000-07:00

Santa Claus at our house is complicated with a variety of opinions floating around, and quite the history. I doubt many families have as much Santa Claus drama as our family seems to have. I will start from the beginning.

When I was pregnant with Ruth John's parents told us how important Santa Claus was, and how people who say telling your children about Santa Claus is lying to them are not seeing the big picture. They said that children need to know that everything they get doesn't come from their parents. They concluded that teaching about Santa Claus is akin to teaching your children about the Savior. Because children need to know that Salvation comes through Jesus Christ. Santa is a good way to illustrate this. I believed my in laws knew everything back then, and while I thought their opinion was a bit strong, I had no problems with doing Santa Claus.

One year later, John and I excitedly took Ruth to the mall to see Santa Claus. As we sat our baby daughter on the Santa Claus's lap, she looked at us like we are abusing her and immediately began screaming. The Santa Claus just looked annoyed and handed her back. Oh well, next year we think.

Another year goes by and it is time to see Santa Claus again. This time, Ruth won't even go into the same room as Santa Claus or any man with facial hair for that matter. We sit 3 month old Kate on Santa's lap, snap a few pictures and feel disappointed that Ruth thinks Santa is evil.

Less than one year later, I start telling Ruth that if she wants to get dinosaurs for Christmas, she has to be brave and ask Santa Claus to bring them. I wanted to prepare her not to be afraid. When the time came, Ruth walked to within about 5 feet of Santa Claus and yelled, "I want dinosaurs!" Kate, would not even look at Santa Claus, not even from 5 feet. Ruth leaves feeling more brave than excited about Santa bringing dinosaurs for Christmas.

The next year, Ruth is 3 1/2 and Kate is 2. I bring them to mall the to visit Santa Claus like usual. We walked around the amazing singing reindeer display in New York. We talked about what they wanted for Christmas. I told them they did not have to sit on Santa's lap. They just needed to tell him what they wanted for Christmas. I sat on a bench with Ruth and Kate near Santa Claus so they could build up their courage. (I really wanted them to be excited and to like Santa Claus.) After watching Santa Claus for a while, Kate turned to me and very seriously declared, "I do not like presents anymore." I felt TERRIBLE! We went home and we did not visit Santa. I promised Kate I would talk to Santa Claus for her, and that she could get a present that she would like.

Another year later, John and I were a lot less interested in our kids being excited about Santa Claus then we were interested in knowing if they were still terrified of him. We went to the mall again. Our 41/2 year old, 3 year old, and 1 year old all cried before we even got into line. I tried having them watch Santa Claus movies to get them to like him. Nothing doing. Any man with a beard was a bad guy period. At this point John and I were pretty confident that teaching our children about Santa Claus was nothing like teaching our children about the Savior.

After Christmas this year, I had a very unique conversation with Ruth and Kate. We sat down to the table to paint. I asked what they wanted to paint, and Ruth said we should paint magical things. Kate chirped up with, "Ruth, don't you know there is no such thing as magic." Curious, I asked what made Kate say that. Kate replied that while she saw magic in movies, she had never seen magic in real life, and had therefore concluded that magic was not real. Kate then stated that if magic was not real then fairies were not real, and Santa Claus was not real because they did magic and she knew that magic was not real. I was actually impressed with my very cynical/logical three year old. Kate did not end there. Kate declared that Heavenly Father was not real because she could not see Him. I asked her if she then believed in Jesus, and Kate said yes because she had seen Him in movies with real people. (Okay, so her logic was a little flawed.) I bore testimony that Heavenly Father is real, and that he is the father of her spirit and that she would see Him again. I said no more about Santa or fairies or magic. I think this is the most memorable conversation I have ever had with a 3 year old.

The following year. I pretty much gave up on Santa Claus. We did take the kids to the mall, and this year, Kate who was not sure Santa was real anymore was not longer afraid of him. Kate grabbed, Ruth's hand marched her up to Santa Claus and said, "See he is not scary." Then she pulled on his fake beard, and said that he wasn't even real. Ruth was no longer terrified and decided it was OK to believe in Santa Claus now. This whole Christmas season, Kate asked me whether or not Santa Claus was real several times. I just told her that she could believe he was real if she wanted to, but if she did not want to that was fine too. Ruth really did believe that Santa Claus was real, but this was the only year.

The following year, at the very beginning of the Christmas season, Kate now a big kindergartener, came to me and very solemnly said, "Mom, I need to know the truth. Is Jesus real? Is Heavenly Father real? Is Santa Claus real?" I told her the truth. Yes, Jesus is real. Yes, Heavenly Father is real. No, Santa Claus is not real, he is just pretend. A day later, Ruth came to me crying. She told me that Kate said Santa Claus was not real. Before I could talk to Ruth, Kate said, "Mom, you cannot lie to my sister." Okay, Ruth Santa is just pretend. Would you mind not telling anyone else? Then Kate brought me Johnny and told me that I needed to tell him the truth too. Kate then told Dad the truth who declared he was glad not to be lying to our children anymore. Kate also told her entire kindergarten class, but they did not believe her. (FEW).

That summer Kate told her 7 and 9 year old cousins "the truth". I had a very angry sister in law that told me my kids were not mature enough to not believe in Santa Claus. (Well, I did try). But I was no longer in league with my husbands family and their opinions on Santa Claus. My kids were good, and happy and religious and didn't believe in Santa Claus. I had a good counter example.

A couple more years went by, and Adam just from watching TV and playing with his cousins believed in Santa Claus. Kate brought him to me to straighten him out, but no. You can not tell a child that believes dogs talk and monsters are real, that there is no Santa Claus. Good, I didn't want another tussle with sister in laws. Kate would get no presents if she told her cousins. John thought I was being rather harsh. Oh well, we made it through with no lies and no telling those who should not know.

The next year, last year, Johnny told Adam that Santa Claus isn't real. Well, Adam believes everything Johnny says. If Johnny says something that is proof of the truth of it. Adam goes ahead and tells his kindergarten class. They don't believe him.

Now this year, a strange thing has happened. Rachel is 5. Rachel has as strong of a personality as Kate. Rachel believes in Santa Claus no matter what Kate, or Adam, or anyone says. I think this is partly due to Rachel wanting "everything" for Christmas. I had a conversation with Rachel at 5 about as interesting as Kate's at 3. Rachel came to me and asked if we could visit Santa Claus. I kind of gave up on that all together the past 5 years. Rachel wanted to tell Santa what she wanted for Christmas. So sure. Yes, we can see Santa Claus. We make a plan to see him. A few days before the scheduled Santa visit Rachel comes up to me and says, "mom, when I visit Santa Claus, if his beard is real, then I know that you are wrong and I am right. And when I visit Santa Claus and his beard is real, then I am the one telling the truth and you are the one telling a lie." Okay, then Rachel, sure, let's check the beard. I was curious to see what would happen. On the way to see Santa, John thought he better educate our younger children on what they should do. He told each of them that they should tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas. John asked Rachel what she wanted. In Rachel fashion she confidently declared, "I want everything in the world." A little shocked, John asked Rachel if that was very fair and shouldn't she be more realistic. John eventually got Rachel down to 10 and then 2 Polly Pockets. While they went to see Santa, I took the baby and the older kids to Claire's. John said it was "delightful" watching Rachel, Anya, Joseph, and even Adam going excitedly up to Santa and telling him what they wanted for Christmas. When I met back up with them, Rachel said she pulled the beard. It is real, and she is right. Santa Claus is real and she is definitely getting polly pockets and maybe everything in the world for Christmas.

Now, John and I aren't being exactly one on the topic. He thinks we need to start things afresh with our younger children and do Santa Claus more thoroughly. I am not on board with that. Probably because I still feel terrible for trying so hard to get my terrified little daughters to believe in Santa Claus. I don't mind that Rachel believes in Santa Claus and loves him and wants everything in the world from him. I don't mind that Anya and Joseph like Santa Claus because Rachel so thoroughly loves him. But I WILL NOT compare Santa Claus to truth, and sacrifice and certainly not the Son of God. I will make the books I read and the conversations I have with my children about Christmas mainly about the Savior. We can do Santa and snowmen crafts. We can visit Santa in the mall. We will hang up stockings and one of the three presents we get for our kids will be unwrapped and sitting below their stockings from Santa Claus. But when my kids ask, I will tell them Santa is not real, but he is fun to pretend about just like fairies, and magic, and ninjas, and scooby doo, and bionicles.

One more note: Kate has decided that she is going to homeschool her kids and never even mention Santa Claus. So they will never know about the "Santa Lie." And I bet Rachel's kids will all love and believe in Santa with their whole hearts and souls. Christmas with all of the different families being raised from my different children should be very interesting.

Review Extravaganza Part II

2011-12-16T10:40:00.004-07:00

In April, Rachel decided that all of her dreams come true. Here are two of our dream conversations:

Rachel asked, "Are we having just candy for dinner? I dreamed that we had just candy for dinner."

I answered, "No. I am afraid that only happens in dreams."

A little while later, Rachel said to Kate, "I do not have to pick up the living room because I dreamed that I did not have to pick up the living room."
Kate said, "Sorry Rachel. Dreams don't come true."
To which Rachel replied, "ALL MY DREAMS COME TRUE."

Mom, Dad, Kate, and Ruth echoed, "Rachel, clean up the living room."

And as much as we did not want it, we were still getting snow.

In May, I am still finding the weather annoying enough to blog about it. I had to decide whether Joseph was really a devil or an angel.

And Rachel and Anya had their really cute dance recital.

In June, I got together with two of my old college roommates. That was so much fun! (I've lost 10 pounds since then too, Hurrah!)

And the weather finally decided to turn to summer, so we took advantage of it!

What Home School Looks Like at Our House

2011-12-15T09:36:00.000-07:00

Johnny reading. He is only allowed to spend an hour on reading during school time. So he sets the oven timer.

Rachel sits on the floor with a pile of papers, markers, pens, and crayons. She is currently completing an addition worksheet. Anya is sitting beside Rachel doing her preschool pages or "reading books".

Ruth works in the same spot everyday at the end of the table. She is doing an online school.

Kate cuddles next to the fire everyday. She is reading Huckleberry Finn. Joshua likes to hang out next to Kate. He can often be seem climbing on top of her. If Joshua is fussy and I am busy helping someone, Kate will put Joshua in her lap.

Adam works in several different spots throughout the day. Currently he is sitting on a stool at our kitchen island working in his workbook.

I am usually found beside a child doing math or reading or just answering questions. If I am not there, check the laundry room. I try and keep the laundry going throughout the day.

I have found some really great websites with printable worksheets. I thought I would share them here. Some are great for public school and preschool families that like to give their children a little extra outside the classroom. I always did.

Super teacher worksheet site This is a great website. You can get anything here from lined paper to beginning algebra.
Dotted lined Paper This is from the super teacher worksheet site, but is a little difficult to navigate to. This is just plain lined paper for kindergarten and preschool. I use it to help my kids learn to write their names.
Lined Paper with Space for Picture This is also from the super teacher worksheet site. It has a box for a drawing at the top and dotted lines for a story or a sentence. Adam and Rachel use this for their journal. They have to write one or two sentences and then draw a picture about what they wrote. When I am good, I keep them and put them in a little book.
Spelling Words This websites has spelling words through the eighth grade level. I use it for Kate and Johnny who do the 7th grade spelling words. For Adam, I use the super teacher worksheet site for spelling because they have worksheets to print up with the spelling list.
Grammar and Puncuation Worksheets This is an awesome website for older kids. I can get good worksheets for correcting punctuation. There are advanced reading comprehension worksheets. All of the parts of speech are covered. With this website, I have one warning. I always read the story before giving it to my kids. Sometimes I think the stuff presented for reading comprehension isn't good.
themathworksheetsite I have been using this one for years. I love the 5 minute drills. They have been a great way of helping my kids learn their math facts quickly.

Christmas at Temple Square

2011-12-14T09:12:00.001-07:00

This year, despite two bathroom trips, was the best Family Home Evening Trip to Temple Square yet. With coats, hats, and gloves, we were comfortable outside for a couple of hours. That made it so much easier for the kids to enjoy the Christmas lights and the great Nativities. Everything was beautiful and comfortable, and everyone behaved.

Shakespeare Christmas Party

2011-12-14T09:06:00.000-07:00

Ruth and Kate had their Shakespeare group over for a Christmas party. This was probably the easiest party my girls have thrown. All of the kids were good and kind and responsible. They all got along really well. I am glad that Ruth and Kate have been able to join up with a good, fun group of home school kids.

Review Extravaganza

2011-12-09T08:19:00.001-07:00

I am linking up with Grumpy Grateful Mom for Review Extravaganza. What you do is chose a few favorite posts or photos from older posts through 2011. This Friday is January thru March. Next Friday is April thru June...you get the picture.

In January, Joshua arrived! A few days later Kate won the science fair even though we chose a lame, but fun project so she would not win.

A few days after that, our dryer broke down, and a few days after that our dish washer broke down. Happy January to us.

In February, Ruth and Kate made these awesome Valentine's for school because they were sick of giving mushy Valentine's to everyone.

And In March,

I became the parent of a teenager,

Joshua started smiling for us, and Anya discovered her artistic talents.

Crazy Hair Day

2011-12-08T17:36:00.001-07:00

The kids want to have some home schools spirit days. The one day they all loved and all wanted to include was crazy hair day. So we did it on Wednesday. We started the day by giving everyone crazy hair!

First Candy Cane

2011-12-08T17:33:00.001-07:00

I think this boy is just adorable!

Colors

2011-12-08T16:53:00.001-07:00

My children have color issues. They have to HAVE the color they want all the time, but they aren't necessarily consistent.

A long time ago, Ruth liked green. She had to have her dishes and crayons and such be green. Then she decided yellow was a better color. Everything needed to be yellow. Until, her friend told her that yellow was an ugly color. Of course, she could not have anything yellow at that point.

A few months later, Kate turned two and loved blue. Kate had to have everything blue. Blue, clothing, blue dishes, blue crayons, and markers-- nothing but blue. After a couple of days of Kate having to have everything blue. Ruth declared that it was not fair because she liked blue too. Now Ruth had to have EVERYTHING blue. Every morning there was a war over the blue sippy cup. Eventually, I just bought all blue dishes, extra blue paint, crayons, markers, etc., and mainly all blue clothes for both girls-- not that easy. This settled things except Kate switched back and forth on which was the best shade of blue.

About a year later, Ruth decided blue was not the only color. She liked all of the colors. When people asked Ruth what her favorite color was, Ruth would respond, "rainbow". Nice. Now I had to have rainbow things around to avoid the "wrong color breakdown".

As Johnny got older, he decided all colors were good to like. Ruth did not like this. "All of the colors" belonged to her. Eventually, Johnny settled for black, brown, and green, but he always had to have blue dishes. At least he would wear multiple colors of clothing without much trouble.

When Adam came of age. He chose yellow. Everyone was okay with this because it did not infringe on anyone else's color choices. Later, Rachel chose pink. We were good as long as some one didn't set the wrong color of dishes at the wrong person's seat at the table.

Over a year ago, we began having color problems again. First Anya chose pink as a favorite color. Rachel was miffed. Pink was HER color. However, Anya didn't care about what Rachel thought. She liked pink. Anya had to have all pink clothes, all pink dishes, all pink crayons, and any available pink food. Rachel rebelled. She no longer liked pink. Rachel had to have everything blue. If you gave Rachel anything pink, she would have a "wrong color breakdown". Kate was unhappy again because Rachel was taking HER color. Kate was 11!

At the same time, Adam started kindergarten with a whole slew of yellow shirts. After about 3 weeks of kindergarten, Adam decided yellow was not his favorite color anymore. Adam had a to have blue. So now, I had 4 kids that would cry if they did not get blue dishes. I had to buy more dishes (I had to anyway, but still.)

Now, one year later, Anya does not like pink anymore. If you give Anya anything pink she will have a "wrong color breakdown". So what do you think? Rachel suddenly likes pink again. If you do not get Rachel the pink plate you are in trouble. Anya now has to have yellow or green. Most of our yellow and green dishes had become cat dishes because no one else would eat from them.

We have had one more change too. Since Adam has been home schooling, guess what? He likes yellow again. Only this time, he does not call it yellow. He calls it "gold".

Indeed, my kids have color issues. As a child, when I would do something that bugged my mom, she would say, "I can't wait until your kids do this to you." I haven't felt that much, but, I won't mind my grandchildren getting revenge for me on this issue.

You Know You Needed To Gocery Shop When...

2011-12-05T18:56:00.001-07:00

It is Christmas time and your 3, 5, and 7 year old children are sitting together looking at the grocery add and alerting you to all of the food that is on sale.
You finally go grocery shopping for a few things, and like it is Christmas your children cheer: Yeah, bread that squishes! Yeah, oranges! Yeah we have chicken and bananas!

I Am Starting to Wonder...

2011-12-05T08:39:00.001-07:00

if I know what causes it. The night, I woke up with the burnt apple crisp, I couldn't get back to sleep. I kept thinking, "my period should have started 2 or 3 days ago." For me, that is a BIG deal. I remembered that I had a pregnancy test (expired?) from one and a half years ago when I bought a duel package to test for Joshua's pregnancy. So at 4 am, when I couldn't sleep, and was shocked that I had to "go" for a second time that night, I closed myself into the bathroom, and took that test. At first, I breathed a sigh if relief-- one pink stripe. I set the test down and cleaned up. As I was leaving the bathroom, I glanced at it again, and there were two very bright pink stripes.

What????? I thought we were suppose to wait this time. We were using condemns. I start to wonder, "Other people have asked me, but do I know what causes this?"

I wasn't going back to sleep. I went downstairs to pray, to think, and to read. Then I crept back into to bed, asked my sleeping husband if he was awake (Duh?) and then told him my little story. Now, my sleeping husband was awake.

Three days before this, I had some spotting. (I thought my period would be bugging me the next day.) The day after, I had a lot of cramping. Maybe, this will be a miscarriage? I have had spotting and cramping with a miscarriage and with a full pregnancy. I don't feel particularly sick. But I have had sick pregnancies and non sick pregnancies. I never felt sick with my two miscarriages. It's too early to tell.

How am I feeling? Well, I know without a doubt this is the will of the Lord. And THAT is comforting. If I have a baby about 18 to 19 months after Joshua, I know that is the will of the Lord. If I have a miscarriage, I know that the Lord wanted me to go through that at this time.

I also feel humbled that the Lord would entrust another little soul to me at this time. I feel anxious about how we can even possibly pay for this baby. I feel tired just thinking about 9 months of another pregnancy. I feel sad that I will not be able to go to girls camp with Ruth and Kate. I feel sorry that I finally lost my 20 pounds that I wanted too, and was hoping to tackle the last 10. I feel like well, I am 36 and my biological clock is ticking. This may be my last opportunity. I feel like I can do what the Lord requires.

I know, as with every pregnancy, I need to trust in the Lord and His plan for our family. So I will. The entire day after the burnt apple crisp night, the words from Come, Come Ye Saints kept coming to mind.

Why should we mourn,

Or think our lot is hard?

Tis not so.

All is right.

Why should we think

To earn a great reward?

If we now,

Shun the fight.

Gird up your loins,

Fresh courage take,

Our God will never us forsake.

And soon we'll have,

This tale to tell.

All is well,

All is well.

A New Kind of Potpouri

2011-12-01T19:43:00.001-07:00

I made 3 pans of apple crisp last night. Before, I went to bed, I said, "I wonder if the oven is on? It is strange that the house still smells like cooking apples?" I rolled over and went to sleep. I awoke at 3:45, and smelt cooking apples still, although the smell was less pleasant. This time, I got out of bed, and found out that I forgot to turn off the oven and take the last pan of apple crisp out of the oven. YUM!

Saving Our Boys

2011-11-30T17:11:00.001-07:00

Since, I have 4 of them, I think about boys a lot. The world has turned. It used to be difficult for girls. Today, girls are more successful than ever. But as things have become easier for girls to become educated and have successful careers, things have become more difficult for the boys.

Today you hear statistics about how 60% of women are college educated while only 40% of men are. How boys are failing in school; how teachers teach toward girls, and boys are just left behind. Then there is the problem of video games, and pornography available everywhere.

I meet a lot of amazing women who are beautiful, intelligent, and successful. Yet, they are not married, even though they would choose to be so. Where are the men? Birthrates are still around 50/50 in the United States. Many of them are on the computer, addicted to video games and pornography. They are stuck, and they do not know how to escape.

Today's surveys have found that even among Christian men, pornography addiction is about 50%.

Neuroscientist and researcher Dr. William M. Struthers researched why, and wrote a book called, Wired for Intimacy: How Pornography Hijacks the Male Brain.

Struthers writes, "The simplest explanation for why men view pornography ... is they are driven to seek out sexual intimacy... Satisfying this drive is pleasurable. Sexual intercourse and the naked form of women are enjoyable, as designed by God to be." He continues, "The male brain is built like an ideal pornography receiver, wired to be on the alert for these images of nakedness... the images of sexuality grab our attention, jumping out and hypnotizing a man like an HD television among a sea of standard televisions."

All types of media, know this to be true. We cannot drive down the highway in our city with out being faced with billboard sized women in bikinis. We cannot go to a grocery or department store with out seeing magazines full of nearly naked, and sexually poised women. The internet is very dangerous. Adds with women practically naked or top naked pop up unless there is a good way to block it. Even then, pornographic images get through. The pornography industries is a billion dollar industry. And it is killing our boys.

Through his neurological research, Struthers has found, "As men fall deeper into the mental habit of fixating on these images, the exposure to them creates neural pathways. These Neural paths become wider as they are repeatedly traveled with each exposure to pornography. ...They become the automatic pathway through which interactions with women are routed. Every woman they come into contact with is objectified, undressed and evaluated as a willing (or unwilling) mental sexual partner."

What this means is that the more pornography a boy or a man views, the more his brain changes and the more addicted and the more trapped he becomes by his own brain.

Struthers said that saying "my brain made me do it" is not an excuse for sin.

He continues, "A man with a properly oriented conscience and filled with the Spirit values the image of God in women and has trained his mind to take sexual thoughts captive."

So what is to be done? I do not have a good answer. In our home, we monitor the internet, and use child protection software. We read our children's books or at least look through them before handing them over. We do not allow barbies or any other immodest girl toy into the house. We use a Clear Play DVD player and even then we are very careful about what movies we watch. We talk about pornography. We talk about what to do if something pops up on the computer. We talk about what to do if a friend shares pornography. Our daughters warn the boys to look away if there is an immodest image while we are out. We teach about the atonement.

Still, I know that my boys and my husband cannot completely avoid pornography. They need to know what the are up against. Yesterday's world was a tough place for girls. Today's world is a very dangerous place for boys.

Thanksgiving This Year

2011-11-28T15:51:00.001-07:00

No more stomach flu! I love when the flu only hits one person!

We had a great time. The turkey came out 3 hours late, but I didn't care because I wasn't cooking it. Plus, Grandpa made BBQ ribs and tort with raspberry sauce. Who could complain?

Everything I baked came out well, and I was particularly happy that no one ate my pumpkin pies, so we had pumpkin pie for breakfast and lunch for 2 days straight!

This thanksgiving, I am thankful for leftovers.

Next year, we are bringing banana splits with 4 or 5different kids of ice cream, candy bars, sprinkles, cherries, strawberries, different sauces, and I am not making any pies. Let's hope there will be leftovers next year too.

Something to be Grateful For

2011-11-23T08:56:00.001-07:00

Occasionally something I loathe lends me gratitude. I loathe puking. I didn't puke at all between the ages of 10 and 20. I was never even a little tempted by alcohol no matter what my friends said because I couldn't understand why anyone would purposely drink something that could make them puke. I actually debated with myself over having children because barf horrified me so much. Of course, everyone knows how that decision turned out. I am not so terrified from puke anymore, but I still loathe it.

Yesterday, Rachel was sick. She wasn't immensely sick. She had a fever and vomited once. But, she didn't like being sick. So she prayed. Rachel prayed a lot and hard. Every time she thought she was going to puke, she prayed that she would not.

Rachel is my child that always says scriptures, and church, and almost anything spiritual is boring. She has been the hardest to get to come for family prayer and family scripture study. As a mother raising a child in today's world of "whateverism", I have been a little concerned. So, today, as I ponder my blessings, I am most grateful for illnesses that bring us to our Heavenly Father, even if that illness ruins Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Through the Years

2011-11-22T11:54:00.001-07:00

In 1997, we lived with John's family. I begged his family to let me make orange rolls, and so for the first time, I made bread. They were delicious and perfect.

In 1998, I made an entire Thanksgiving dinner all by myself. It was a lot of work. But, it was delicious! We had it with My Uncle Bob, who lived near us in Ann Arbor, MI.

In 1999, I made my 2nd entire Thanksgiving dinner. Kate was my very fussy 3 month old baby, Ruth was just over 1 1/2 years, and John wouldn't help with the kids because he felt like he needed to be working, even on Thanksgiving. It was a nightmare! Kate had to be held the entire time. It took me 8 hours just to make 2 apple pies. The turkey cooked too slowly and came out 2 hours late and a little under done. I swore I would never make an entire Thanksgiving dinner again.

In 2000, our friends, the Shumway-Smith's invited our family and a few others to their house for Thanksgiving dinner. I made a couple of pies, and some orange rolls! We had a nice dinner. The kids played with their friends, and we played some fun games. John complained that Thanksgiving should be just family, and I reminded him that I would never make an entire Thanksgiving dinner again.

In 2001, we drove from Long Island, New York to Portland, ME, and had Thanksgiving with all of my siblings and parents. I believe we even took the ferry to make the drive a couple hours shorter.

In 2002, we lived in Toronto, Canada. They have Thanksgiving on our Columbus Day. But I still made Thanksgiving dinner, the whole thing, all by myself on the U.S. Thanksgiving Day because I was home sick for the United States. John worked, and Ruth went to school. Johnny was a year old and it wasn't too bad. We enjoyed our dinner.

In 2003, we went to the church potluck Thanksgiving dinner on Canada's Thanksgiving Day and called it good! I made some apple pie on the U.S. Thanksgiving Day.

In 2004, my parents flew out to our new home in Wichita, KS. I has an awesome time making Thanksgiving dinner with my mom. It was so fun to have that time planning and cooking with my mom. What a treasure!

In 2005, I made all of the pies and jellos, and things. Then Johnny, Kate, and myself came down with the stomach flu. On Thanksgiving Day, we were recovering. I made the whole thing the day after Thanksgiving just in time for Ruth, Adam, and John to come down with the stomach flu. I think we ended up throwing out most of the turkey.

In 2006, after 3 days of cooking and tending kids, and cleaning, all on my lonesome (John still thought working was more important than Thanksgiving), we sat down to a very large, nicely decorated, carefully made meal. After trying a few things, Johnny declared, "Mom, this is the worst dinner, you have ever made!" That was the best entertainment. I don't think a sitcom could come up with something so perfect. Still, it made me think, "Why am I doing this?" Again, I swore I wouldn't do it alone again.

In 2007, John did not want to invite 3 families over to share the work, so he decided to find out why I would complain about making a "simple dinner". John helped with all of the cooking. He even helped plan the menu. We tried a lot of new things. After the dinner was over, John declared that that was too much work, and he was thankful that we would not have to do that again for a whole year!

In 2008, we decided to have a Thanksgiving dinner, we were thankful for. So we let everyone choose a couple of foods they just loved and that is what we had. We had a smorgousborg of BBQ ribs, homemade cheese fries, a roast, mashed squash, orange rolls, Italian Sodas, and banana splits. It was lovely. And it was less than half the work.

In 2009, we had moved to Utah and had Thanksgiving dinner with all of John's family. There were a lot of people and a lot of food, and it was just different, but good different. John still thought we should just all have BBQ ribs because they are easier to make. The next morning, Ruth had the stomach flu. She decided Thanksgiving meant throwing up. We have tried to tell her it is just chance.

In 2010, I made a few things and we all went up to John's family's. I declared again and again, how nice it is to have other families to share Thanksgiving with.

This year, Rachel has come down with the stomach flu. Maybe Ruth is right??? I am supposed to make pies, and orange rolls, jello and squash. I am hoping we can make it to the Robertson's. But if we have a bunch of barfing kids, I'll make the pies, rolls, jello, and squash. Then I will throw some ribs and BBQ sauce into the crockpot, make some cheese fries, and those who are not ill can join in. Hopefully, no one else will get sick...tbc

Thanksgiving Dinner, 2008, our dinner of food we are grateful for!

Shakespeare Parents Night

2011-11-21T12:58:00.001-07:00

Friday, we had Shakespeare parents night. Ruth, and Kate, and all of their Shakespeare classmates have been studying the Elizabethan Period, reading 7 Shakespeare plays, working on over 100 vocabulary words, and making fancy presentations to teach their classmates. All of their work from the last 3 months concluded Friday night with a 15 minute production of Julius Caesar preformed for the parents and families.

Kate, the Soothsayer warning Julius Caesar to "beware the ides of March".

The senate stabbing Caesar

Ruth, Antony's servant, delivering her speech over Caesar's body.


Time for a Bow!

Ruth and Kate are really enjoying this class and all of the people they are working with. They have learned a lot including how to do hard things like read a whole bunch of Shakespeare. Now they will start actors training and begin practicing for the BIG play of The Twelfth Night.

A Thanksgiving Craft

2011-11-21T12:55:00.001-07:00

Pilgrims

Stress and Stuff

2011-11-18T08:44:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, our minivan broke down for the second time this month. At this point, we are certain the minivan is not worth as much as money as we have been putting into it. About an half hour before the minivan broke down, John and I had a conversation about how we had no idea how we were going to pay for Christmas this year because half of our Christmas budget fixed the minivan two weeks ago. Needless to say, I was very stressed yesterday morning.

When, I am stressed, I clean or I organize. This is weird, I know. So I sat down and went through my email inbox and deleted 4 months of emails. Once, that was organized, I was ready to get back into the swing. This meant school. But, I had wasted about 30 to 40 minutes de-stressing. We were behind for the day, so I had to skip some things. I skipped reading the Friend and New Era magazines and our memorizing time. Then I felt less stressed, but guilty.

Should I really take time away from my kids education to de-stress? Well I had a funny conversation about this is the van with all of my family. My husband says, yes, but that instead of cleaning and organizing, I should eat junk food and watch a movie. The kids are all for the movie and junk food thing, but when I get stressed enough to clean a ton, well then our house is sparkling and their chores are a lot easier.

Then came the question of why? Why do I clean when I am stressed? How can that make me feel better? Well, maybe it is like a drug??? When things are cleaned and organized, I feel a lot better. There are probably satisfying chemicals that are released from my brain. But not too long afterwards, my house is dirty and unorganized again. So I clean and organize some more and feel better again. Of course, when things are flowing smoothly and I am not stressed, I have the normal reaction and do not want to clean and organize. But with this many kids, I get that stress cleaning bug every few days, and then there is my compulsive cleaning schedule that I cannot let go of even for a holiday. So drug-like? Maybe?

The conversation conclusion was, John still thinks I should eat junk food and watch a movie. The kids are undecided especially when my stress cleaning leads me to all of the nooks and crannies in the living room and it is their turn to pick up and vacuum the living room. I think, wouldn't it be nice if I could just stick to the cleaning schedule and exercise like crazy when I am stressed.

However, I think my first conclusion is best. I should not let stress take me away from my responsibilities. In fact, if I had perfect faith, I would not get stressed. I know Heavenly Father will assist us in taking care of both Christmas and our car. He has always come through, and He always will.

Uggghhh Potty Training!

2011-11-16T13:34:00.001-07:00

Is it weird that the thing I want most right now is for Joseph to pee? He has been sitting on his potty chair holding it in all day. Started to poo, but it scared him and he quit. I know there is more to come. Why can't he just go and get it over with? Why is potty training so hard???

on a lighter note, Rachel came out of primary Sunday and told us that fasting is when you go really fast without food and water.

Rachel's Songs

2011-11-13T10:52:00.001-07:00

I've written about this before, but my daughter, Rachel, sings and dances all-of-the-time. She mostly sings whatever tune comes to her mind and I am guessing the words are about whatever she is thinking about then. The two recent memorable ones are:

I am a pretty princess, and I will grow up to be a ninja.
Isn't it funny that my mom is so ugly and my dad is so handsome. Isn't it funny that my dad married an ugly girl. (This was about the drawing she had just made, not about me and John. Good thing too, she is the one kid that looks just like me.)

A Seventh Birthday

2011-11-13T10:24:00.001-07:00

My little man, Adam turned 7, November 4th! He is my one kid that I tried really hard to get here. He came after 2 miscarriages and 6 months of "trying". The doctors told me that after 2 miscarriages, I had a 60% chance of having a third. I was really nervous those first three months until I saw my healthy little 3 month fetus wiggling around in the ultra sound. Still, Adam arrived reluctantly, 2 days late and my longest labor of 4 hours (I fired that doctor; he wouldn't break my water).

Adam has always been our funny kid. He has been making jokes since he knew about jokes! He is tough and sensitive all rolled into one. He LOVES his big brother, Johnny, and does what he can to be just like him.

At seven, my little Adam tries very hard to be a big kid. He cannot know this, but he does way more and is way more capable than my 3 older children were at this age. Unlike my older 3, Adam picks up giant messes (messes weren't so big back when Ruth was 7), he clears out the dish washer and loads in dirty dishes; he vacuums; he changes diapers; he dresses little kids. He buckles and unbuckles babies in their car seats. He doesn't know that I have never required this of a 6/7 year old before, and I won't tell him. I need his helping hands.

But, unlike my older 3, he is the only 6/7 year old to stay up late on a regular basis watching movies and playing games with mom and dad. This reminds me, he also tries very hard to like movies and T.V. shows that he really doesn't like-- Just so he can prove that he really is a big kid!

For his birthday, we spent the day with some of his favorite cousins just before they moved to Arizona (sniff, sniff). It was a small party, but Adam really enjoyed the day with his cousins.

A Week About Faith: Final Post

2011-11-12T13:49:00.001-07:00

My guest write for Saturday did not follow through, but I have a friend who will write something for me sometime next week. So We will get 7 articles on faith not from me.

I think this has been a very uplifting week. We have been blessed by the stories and faith from six amazing women. As I have read this weeks posts, The scripture from Proverbs 3:5-6 has come to mind over and over.

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

If I had to sum up the themes from this week. This is what I would say

Trust the Lord and keep the commandments
Trust the Lord and follow the promptings one receives from the Holy Ghost.
Trust the Lord and know that His will is better for you than your will.
Trust the Lord to know that when times are rough, He is still with you and
Be patient in affliction.

I want to thank all of my wonderful writers. I could have written my heart out all week and not have come up with so much. So Thank you writers. I have learned a lot. Your writings have helped me to become a better person, and I am sure there are a lot of other people out there who feel the same.

Diane

A Week About Faith: Alida

2011-11-10T22:11:00.001-07:00

My name is Alida, I'm a mommy of 6 little blessings (ages 12, 10, 8, 6, 3, 1), the wife of a pretty great guy (for nearly 13 years), a daughter of goodly parents (I'm their favorite) and a friend to a lot of wonderful people. I'm a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you know "The Mormons." I'm a little goofy, a little nerdy, a little silly, and a lot AWESOME. I enjoy pina coladas and getting caught in the rain....I'm not into Yoko and I have half a brain....(wait a minute, I think that's a song....) Either way, I'm a pretty fun person, I enjoy blogging and entertaining the masses. There is always something going on at the Bowles home so come read about my colorful life at Living Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

Trust in The Lord

Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said: “We can say: ‘I know that [God] loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things’ (1 Ne. 11:17). There have been and will be times in each of our lives when such faith must be the bottom line: We don’t know what is happening to us or around us, but we know that God loves us, and knowing that, for the moment, is enough” (“Not My Will, But Thine” [1988], 119).

What an uplifting week this has been here on Diane's blog as each of these amazing women have shared their stories of Faith in all things. Admittedly, I've been struggling this week with finding the right words to share with you the special message that is in my heart. I have written and then re-written this post several times throughout the week and nothing has felt quite right. However, I have faith that the Lord knows my heart and he will guide me through this.
It's a beautiful Autumn morning. I'm sitting by a large window and feeling the warmth of the sunlight as it fills each corner of the room. It's so still and quiet here except for the cars rushing by on the street down below. My 10 year old son Brinton is peacefully sleeping in a bed across the room and occasionally I hear the rustling of his blankets as he switches position. I kind of want to hold on to this moment a little longer.

As I write this I'm sitting in a room at the Ronald McDonald House Charities roughly 3 hours from home, about 150 miles away from my family. By the time you read this on Friday, November 11th, Brinton will be undergoing major surgery on his spine called a C1-C2 spinal fusion, to help stabilize his neck from a rare spinal deformity called Os Odontoideum. This will be his 8th surgery in his 10 short years and it will probably be his most life changing. He faces 3 months of rehab and physical therapy, while learning to live with a halo brace that will prevent him from moving his head or neck while he heals. This has been a huge test of our faith and this story is still being written....

I know now why I've been struggling to write this post! The story I thought I needed to share is not the message the Lord wants me to share. So, while I ask for your thoughts and prayers for my sweet son, I wish to move on to another experience that I've had with faith. (Side note: It's incredible how fast the words are flying out of me now that I've chosen to trust in the Lord and listen to the spirit...)

About four years ago everything was going wrong. We lived in Las Vegas, NV at the time and although we had been incredibly successful, by the worlds standards, we were falling apart. Our business was failing, our finances were out of control, our marriage was suffering, our family was struggling, WE. WERE. A. MESS. I couldn't see even a glimmer of hope or happiness in our future. I just wanted to run away from all of it. Then we found out we were expecting baby #5. This news came as a wonderful surprise and blessing but also added to our struggle. We decided that we needed to leave Las Vegas, get back to Utah, rebuild our lives, and we'd all live happily ever after. That wasn't the Lord's plan for us. Time and time again we'd have job offers only to fall through at the last second, it was a never ending cycle. The tunnel just kept getting longer.

In January of 2008 my husband attended the temple by himself one evening to ponder and pray what we should do. His answer: Move to Kansas City.

Um what?

Neither he nor I had ever even been to Missouri or Kansas. Ever. My husband often tells the story that he felt like Lehi coming home that evening to tell the family we were moving to the wilderness. I was still quite dumbfounded by this revelation but in my heart I knew without a doubt it was the right thing to do. I knew that the Lord would not call me to do something harder than what I could handle and if the last year of struggle was any indication of how strong I was, this move was going to be a piece of cake. Right?!

Well, that night he sent out resume after resume and within a week he had already lined up several interviews. A couple of weeks after that we were on our way to Kansas City to look at homes and interview for jobs. He was offered 2 jobs right away, along with a great sign on package and they were paying to move us across the country. Our prayers had been answered. I felt that because of our faith our family was being made whole again. I thought that this was the end to our trial, that I had finally made it out of the dark.

Knowing that our baby was due March 29th we planned to move the first week in April for him to start work. I worked diligently to pack all our things, to sell those things which we could not take, to get all our affairs in order. Each day passed and there was no sign of baby. The clock was ticking on our move day and still no baby. There was no way I could travel thousands of miles across the country 39 weeks pregnant. What would we do? Our plan B was to have Jeremiah leave to start work (as he could not postpone his start day) and I would stay with my mother until I delivered our son, at which time I would join him in Kansas City.

One night when I could no longer bare the thought of having Jeremiah leave me behind, I knelt down in prayer and I pleaded with Heavenly Father....."Please, please don't let me have this baby without his father here. Please."

By April 7th we moved to Kansas. By we I mean my husband and children.....

I stayed behind still waiting for our son to be born. I believe in trusting my body and letting baby come without induction. I was planning a home birth and my midwife fully supported my desire to wait for my body and my baby to be ready. I was questioning my decision with each passing day. Wondering if I should just go to the hospital and get induced but some how knowing that waiting was the right thing to do.

I took joy in the time I spent with my mom cooking, taking walks, shopping, watching movies but I was angry with the Lord. I couldn't understand why, if I had done everything he asked up to that point, he hadn't answered that prayer that my husband be there when our son was born. I had exercised so much faith and I felt like he left me in my greatest time of need. One week passed, two weeks passed, I was desperate for my baby, desperate for my 4 children already living in Kansas. Three weeks passed.

On April 26th, 2008, still very much pregnant with my little boy, my husband flew back to Las Vegas for a business meeting. He arrived at 2:00 pm, I went into labor a little before 5pm and delivered our son 45 minutes later. As I held my newborn baby Liam in my arms and looked into his eyes, I had a realization that the prayer that I had called out to my father in heaven, "Please, please don't let me have this baby without his father here. Please." Had been answered. Not in my timing but in the Lord's. Here I had nearly lost all faith, I had nearly lost all hope but the Lord followed through in His timing, not in mine.

Sadly, my mother passed away from cancer 9 months after Liam was born. Had the Lord given me that which I had prayed for in MY time and not in HIS, I never would've had that month with my mother. The Lord truly does know each and every one of us. He hears our prayers. He knows our struggles. He knows our hearts and what we need better than we do.
I testify that I know Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. That He is the one true Son of a living God. That He loves us so much that He bore all our burdens so that we may return to live with Him someday. You are not alone. Even when your faith may falter, may waiver, even when you struggle, you are not alone. Sometimes, knowing that is all the faith we need.

A Week About Faith: Montserrat

2011-11-10T00:59:00.001-07:00

Montserrat is a farmer's wife, mother of nine, homeschooler, photographer, lover of all things chocolate (except white chocolate, yuck!) and enjoys playing a good game of Scrabble. She is thankful for the trials she has in life that help her come closer to Christ and build her faith even more.

Faith Enough to Be Healed

Over 12 years ago I had the privilege of visiting teaching a wonderful older sister, Toni, who lived just down the street from me. She was confined to a wheelchair because of the effects of Multiple Sclerosis. Her husband, Don, was so sweet! He always made sure she was comfortable, that she had everything she needed. He escorted her to every meeting and outing she wished to participate in.

One day while visiting teaching her we were discussing faith. The lesson mentioned that if we have enough faith it can heal our physical maladies. Toni, confined to her wheelchair, bore testimony that she knew that was true. My visiting teaching partner who was rather, how shall I say it, blunt at times, asked Toni point blank, "Then why aren't you healed of your MS? Do you not have enough faith?"

Toni smiled sweetly and answered, "Let me tell you a story."

Toni proceeded to tell how in February of 1994 Pres. Hinckley was visiting our area of Nevada. She was just beginning to suffer even more from the MS. The ward had fasted on her behalf, she had received multiple priesthood blessings of healing, and yet she was getting worse not better! She was beginning to doubt that she had enough faith. That maybe she wasn't good enough or worthy enough to be noticed by Heavenly Father. When Pres. Hinckley visited Toni made a special request to meet him and if possible obtain a priesthood blessing.

Her request was granted.

Toni told of the excitement she and her family felt. Finally, she would be healed. How could she not after receiving a priesthood blessing from an apostle of the Lord? The time for the blessing came. She was ecstatic when she heard these words, "Toni, you have enough faith to be healed." This was it!

And then these words, "But it is not the Lord's will. You can be of more service to others in your condition now than if you were whole."

Toni never looked back. She only regretted that she missed opportunities to serve while she spent her time wishing to be made whole.

Two years after she shared this experience with us Toni and Don were killed in a car accident. He died first, instantly at the scene. She held on for three more hours, we believe waiting for her sweetheart to prepare everything for her arrival in heaven.

In Elder Oak's new book, Life's Lessons Learned, the first chapter is about the lesson on faith their family learned during the sickness and subsequent death of his father. His father had also received countless priesthood blessings promising healing and a full recovery. Elder Oaks' shared snippets of letter his mother wrote to his father while he was confined in a TB sanatorium several states away. She wrote, "You shall be healed if your faith is great enough! . . . Recovery is according to our faith . . . The blessing is ours for the faith and asking. . . If our faith is great enough there is no blessing God can withhold from us."

At his father's funeral their stake president spoke these words: "All was done medically and in faith . . .in prayer that could be done for him . . . No doubt the most earnest and sincere prayer that was ever offered was the one offered while the Master was in the Garden of Gethsemane and prayed most earnestly to His Father. 'May this cup pass by me' . . . but it closed with these remarks, 'not my will, but thine, be done.' So it was with the Savior Himself. His prayer was not answered because it was not the will of the Lord, and so our prayers have not been answered as we have asked . . .for [Lloyd's] recovery, but we have always said, 'thy will be done.'"

This is an important concept of faith that we must learn. Sometimes it is the Lord's will that we are healed or that some desire is to be ours if we but show enough faith in our actions and prayers. But other times it is not.

Elder Oak's taught: "Faith, no matter how strong it is, cannot produce a result contrary to the will of him whose power it is. The exercise of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is always subject to the order of heaven, to the goodness and will and wisdom and timing of the Lord. That is why we cannot have true faith in the Lord without also having complete trust in the Lord’s will and in the Lord’s timing. When we have that kind of faith and trust in the Lord, we have true security in our lives. President Spencer W. Kimball said, “Security is not born of inexhaustible wealth but of unquenchable faith” (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1982, pp. 72–73).

We will all be faced with times when our faith will be tested. It is up to us to have that unquenchable faith that can heal, move mountains, create miracles but also have enough faith to accept the Lord's will no matter what the outcome. His ultimate desire is for us to be happy. We in our limited view may only see heartache and pain and brokenness. But if we submit our will to His with perfect faith in His timing we will eventually be able to become what He wants us to become and realize that yes, indeed, His plan for us will make us whole and perfect and happy.

You can read more from Montserrat at http://chocolateonmycranium.blogspot.com/

A Week of Faith: by LeAnn

2011-11-08T22:55:00.000-07:00

LeAnn and her newest Great Granddaughter, Lilly LeAnn

LeAnn is the mother of 6 married children and has 32 grandchildren and 2 great granddaughters. She and her husband are serving a part time Inner City Mission. They also serve as ordinance workers in the Jordan River Temple. She loves reading and writing blogs, working on family histories, genealogy, journaling and most of all spending time with her grandchildren.

I just finished reading the first two posts for A Week of Faith. The experiences and thoughts were so awesome. I could relate to both of the posts in so many ways. It was like hey; I have been there and done that too. Life is basically wonderful but we do have those moments when our faith is tested. The Lord wants to know where we stand. These are the minutes when we cry out to Him and like Joseph Smith we may wonder where God is. I have had many stand alone hours when I think like the Primary song: “Heavenly Father are you really there? And do you hear and answer every child’s prayer?” I know that Heavenly Father does hear and answer prayers. I think I could write a book of miracles that have shown me through the years that He has answered my prayers. I accept the invitation to walk with my Savior, Jesus Christ.

My favorite scripture is Proverb 3: 5-6; “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Whenever I hit a rough spot in the road; I get back on track with this scripture. I have learned to trust the Lord; but that doesn’t mean that I don’t struggle through the oppositions of life.

One thing that has helped me a lot through the years to grow in my faith is the examples of others. Just after I had our 6th child; I became somewhat depressed and overwhelmed. I wondered how I was going to handle all of the needs of my growing family. My parents had come to stay with us for a week to help me with the children. My mother noted that I was down and told me, just like when I was young; “Find a good book and go to your room and read for a while”. I chose to read the book, “Mary Fielding Smith- Daughter of Britain”. Don C. Corbett the author of the book made the following statement: “Mary Fielding Smith’s life was one of conflict. This conflict sharpened her determination, made her a fighter, and drove her to great heights. Without conflict, she would not have attained the eminence that she did. Under the goading of her adversaries, she matched her ingenuity with the obstacles which arose. Under the burden she carried as a widow, she found extra-spiritual support which enlarged her capabilities. Faced with the problems of daily survival, she developed the power for making the right decisions. The vicissitudes of life humbled her and caused her to be grateful for all favors. Conflict was ever present and ruthless. It pounded her until it hurt; spurred her relentlessly to do her level best; energized her to achieve the impossible; wrung her to the breaking point; grieved her to tears; challenged her to the mountain tops; and rewarded her with fame and distinction”. After reading her book I used the mantra; “If Mary Fielding Smith can do it, I can do it”.

The following experience is by no means the only one of course; but it was a faith promoting moment. My husband lost his job after working for a company for 19 years. We were devastated. At the time we lived in Washington. He was in the older age group where it is sometimes very hard to find a job. It took 9 months to find work and this was the exact month that his severance pay ran out. Now the miracle of the story is that he had interviews with four different companies and we had been in fasting and prayer for a job offer. At this time we were making a trip to Utah for a Wedding of our niece. On the way to the airport he received an offer to work for a company in Fort Worth, Texas. While waiting for our flight to leave he received another offer to work in Kansas City, Kansas. When we landed in Salt Lake he had an offer to work in Salt Lake. Here were 3 different areas and three different job offers. How were we to know which one to take? We had been fasting and praying over many months for a job and here we were with three offers. After the wedding in the Salt Lake Temple; we decided to walk around the temple grounds and see if we could figure out where we were suppose to go. He had interviewed with all three companies and had looked at all the pros and cons of each area. We sat down on a bench and prayed. A short time after the prayer I just knew we were supposed to move back to Salt Lake where we had family living. However, this particular job was in a different area of management than he had worked before; it would all be new to him. The other fact was it was the highest cost of living and the lowest pay of the three jobs. Meanwhile, I did not say anything to my husband about my feelings because I really needed Heavenly Father to answer his prayers. As we were walking around the temple grounds hand in hand; I noted that my husband was crying. I look up at him and asked what was wrong and he simply said we are to take the job here in Salt Lake. He told me that the words of a hymn came to his mind and he repeated the words to me. We both started to cry at that point. Here are the words: “Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed, For I am thy God and will still give thee aid. I’ll strength-en thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, - Upheld by my righteous….omnipotent.”We knew beyond doubt that we were to move here. We later realized that the title of the hymn was “How Firm a Foundation”. Now we cry every time we sing this hymn at church. At the time we didn’t know why we needed to be here; but we now know. We know that we were guided here and that our prayers were answered.

This wasn’t an easy move for sure. We had a house to sell and he was to start the job right away. There continued to be little miracles along the way. The first night in our new home we discovered that we didn’t have any hot water. The next morning I got up early to boil some water for my husband to bathe with and the thought came to me; at least I am not a pioneer who had to go down to the creek to get the water to bathe with. Yes, if Mary Fielding Smith can do it; I can do it. Another prominent mantra of mine is “I Believe in Miracles”; and I do”.

You can find LeAnn’s blog @ Living Waters http://lgwilliams.blogspot.com

Guest Writer at Chocolate on My Cranium

2011-11-08T07:52:00.001-07:00

Today, I am a guest writer over at Chocolate on My Cranium. She is Celebrating November with posts about Gratitude and Service. So go check her out, and please scroll down and read what Tristan, Becca, and Julie have to say about faith. My life has been blessed by their faith and their stories. I am sure yours will be too.

A Week About Faith: By Tristan

2011-11-07T23:08:00.001-07:00

Faith is such an all-encompassing topic. We could discuss what faith is, how to share our faith, having faith during trials, or the part faith plays in everyday life, to name a few possibilities. The Bible Dictionary has an entire section on faith and some of the phrases that stood out to me from it were:

To have faith is to have confidence in something or someone.
Strong faith is developed by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
All true faith must be based upon correct knowledge.

When Diane invited me to join in her Week of Faith with a guest post I knew exactly what I wanted to share but did not really know how to share it.
You see, faith is both a sustaining part of my life and something I need replenished on a daily basis. This has become more apparent to me in the last few months because of unexpected things God has sent our way. Today I want to share that story – it’s one we’re still in the middle of.
A bit of background: I turned 30 this year, which makes me an official grown up. I’m a mother and wife, having married at the age of 19 and given birth to my first child at age 20. I have spent most of my marriage pregnant (and have a very patient husband who loves me hormones and all). Remember how I’ve been married for all of 11 years now? I’m currently in my 10th pregnancy and have 6 sweet children ages 10 and under.
God has taken our family through some challenges I never expected, including back to back babies and three miscarriages. The baby boy I’m carrying now is the newest challenge, one that we’re only getting through on faith. You see my little son has a hole in his spine, also known as Spina Bifida. There are other issues with it, including bilateral clubfeet, a brain that is not in the right position in his skull, and more we can only guess at.
The world’s ‘solution’ more than 65% of the time when faced with this diagnosis is abortion.

How Has Faith Affected Our Family?

First and foremost, when confronted with the diagnosis that our son’s physical body is far from ‘typical’ we never considered aborting this child of God. Faith that God has chosen this body for our son and our knowledge of God’s perfection (he makes no mistakes) gave us peace at a time when every doctor’s first words to us were “I’m so sorry.”
Faith has given us perspective. We admit that we don’t know God’s plans for our family, we don’t know why this challenge was chosen for us. However we have faith that God’s plan is the only one that will bring us true happiness, the eternal kind. We trust God and so when we don’t understand why we find ourselves in a trial we hold on to our faith, our confidence, in God’s love.
Faith reassures us that even when doctors look at us and answer many of our questions with “we just don’t know” that God knows all the answers. None of this is a surprise to Him, and He has a plan in place. God has not left us to struggle through this alone, nor has He given us more than we can bear if we will turn to Him and seek His help.
Faith has given us joy. Our confidence in God’s mercy, love, and character makes it possible for us to not only face the future with peace, but with joy. We are thrilled to be expecting this son, we can’t wait to meet him.
At the same time we work daily to increase our faith. It often seems we have just enough faith to get through one day to the next. We know that our obedience to the everyday, small things God asks of us is essential to keep refilling our faith at this time when we’re making heavy withdrawls on a daily basis. Obedience in the little things:

prayer
scripture study
family home evening
honesty
forgiveness
serving others
keeping our covenants

God doesn’t ask us to do some great thing before He will build up our faith. What He asks is that we are faithful in the small things, and when we are diligent He immediately blesses us with more faith. God is waiting with open arms, pleading with us to let Him bless us. I have confidence, or faith, in my Father in Heaven. I know He loves me enough to send challenges that will bring me to my knees, that will turn my heart to Him. It is in seeking Him that I find every good gift, including the faith to live joyfully through mortality.
Tristan has been married to the love of her life for 11 wonderful years and thanks God daily for the balance he brings to her type-A personality.

You can read more from Tristan at www.ourbusyhomeschool.blogspot.com

A Week About Faith: By Becca

2011-11-06T22:58:00.001-07:00

Hey. My Name is Becca. I’m a young mom of 2 gorgeous kiddos who are amazingly fun and drive mecrazy all at the same time. I do photography, manage a storage business, take care of the house hereand there, and sometimes I even cook when I’m too sick of fast food. My handsome hub and I have beenmarried for 4.5 years, happily so, I might add. I love what I do and I do what I love.

I’ve been thinking about what I wanted to say about faith for the last week or so, and I have to say, Iwas disappointed with myself. I was disappointed that I didn’t just have all of these moments in my lifethat I could say “hey everyone, look at this amazing example of faith.” I have to say I wanted to havesomething so profound, something powerful, something that would leave all you readers left with asense of the great faith I had.

But I couldn’t do any of that. I couldn’t even think of anything, really, that felt important enough toshare. And after reading the Madhouse post, I have to say, nothing compares to a story like that….

And that’s where the problem is. I am trying to be profound. I am comparing my spirituality with thatof others. And therein lies the biggest lesson that I have to remind myself all the time: the gospel ispersonal. And therefore, everything about it is personal. And so now, instead of using all the stuff I hadbeen thinking of prior to this, here is what comes to my mind, my personal tid bits about faith. These aremy feelings. And I hope that even though they aren’t super amazing or crazy stories, that you can seehow personal it is, and let that build your own testimony of Heavenly Father’s knowledge of each andevery one of us in our individual situations, and our individual personalities.

So here we go…

James and I had been married for a couple years, our daughter Grace was about 15 months old. I was 6months pregnant with our little boy, Rocky. Our lives had been in a great place – we had saved moneyfor a home, James had a great job as a Sales Director for Circuit City – we were good to go. The veryweek we scheduled to look at homes, the bomb went off: Circuit City was going out of business. Jameshad lost his job. He had a few weeks of work, and then it was over. No income. No insurance. And wehad a baby coming.

I remember being so upset. I remember feeling that we had been cheated out of our big dream we hadworked so hard for. I had wanted a home of my own so badly, and I was actually upset that it wasn’tgoing to happen for us at that time. We prayed as always. We went to church as always. But for somereason…I didn’t feel close to the spirit. We tried to get Medicaid, but because of our savings we couldn’tbe approved. If everything went fine with the birth, we would have enough money to pay for it – but ifsomething bad happened…if Rocky had to have special care like our first child…we would have to go intomajor debt. I was stressed out. I didn’t know how we were going to make it. We lived off of our savings,and kept re-applying for insurance. Time pressed on, the due date drew near, and things just seemed toget worse.

Then, James got a job that had promised a decent income and insurance within 30 days. That wouldhave landed us insurance right about the time of birth, so we took the job. It seemed like a good idea.We felt strongly to take it, and we moved to an apt. right by his new job. After the first 2 weeks, werealized that they were not paying what they said, and then found out it was 90 days until we could haveinsurance. I remember crying basically every day at this point. I felt so.stressed.out. I didn’t understandwhy we would have felt so strongly to take this job if it wasn’t what they had told us it would be. I’mpretty sure I was just pissed off most of the time.

On the flip side – and this has honestly been a major example of faith in my life since it happened –my oldest brother and his wife lived outside of Utah. They had 6 children and she was pregnant withtheir 7th. They had felt the need to move to Utah. So they did. They trusted that God would take care ofthem. My brother applied for jobs, and they lived with my parents until they could find a place of theirown and a job, etc. I remember my sister-in-law showed amazing faith and strength during this roughtime. When nothing seemed to work out, she always spoke with confidence and spoke with trust in theLord that things would work out. I knew that their situation was worse than ours, but for some reasonI couldn’t find the same faith that she seemed to have. So I looked to her to strengthen my own faith. Ifigured if they were so trusting that everything would work out, then I could be trusting as well. I tried toimprove my attitude.

I remember I focused especially hard on the principle that if you do all you can do, He will carry you therest of the way. So I looked at my imperfections. I wanted to make sure I was doing everything I coulddo. I magnified my calling, I prayed constantly, I did scripture study, etc. I felt the strong need to go tothe temple, so we went. I needed peace. I was aching for some sort of relief, some sort of sense thatthings really would be ok. While we were there, it was nice, but as soon as we left, all our troubles werestill there. I felt the spirit while I was there, but that didn’t change the fact that things weren’t workingout. As we drove home…our car broke down. I remember I just wanted to burst into tears, but insteadI just laughed. I laughed and I laughed. My hub didn’t think it was funny. But I just said “You know, theysay all you need is love. And I guess that’s true, because we don’t have money, we don’t have insurance,and now we don’t have a car. All we have is love. So I guess that’s all we need.” And we called for a ridehome.

A few thousand bucks later, and our savings depleted, our car was repaired. We had about 3 weeks untilRocky was due. I remember reading the story about the man who said “Oh Lord, I believe. Help thou myunbelief.” And I felt it. I connected with that story. I told Heavenly Father that I wanted to believe likeeveryone else – like my brother and his wife. I wanted to just have that faith. I believed that things couldwork out, but I just didn’t see how. I felt so cheated because we had been so smart with our money tostay out of debt, and now, we were about to go into thousands of dollars into debt and I knew it wouldincrease each month as James’ job wasn’t paying him anything. I cried. And opened my heart. And then Isimply said “help thou my unbelief.” I couldn’t see an answer. But I hoped that He could.

The next day, we received a phone call. It was from our good pal, Brad. He had recently gotten a job forRosetta Stone as the area manager over Kiosks in Utah and Salt Lake Counties. “How would you like tohead up the new kiosk in the University Mall?” After asking many questions, we would get insurancewithin 2 weeks (amazing!) , it was good pay, and it was short enough hours that James would even beable to go back to school after a 2 year break.

are you kidding me?

I couldn’t believe it! James took the job, started immediately, and we had insurance the week that Rockywas born.

I cannot tell you what an amazing eye-opener that was for me. There was no way that things shouldhave worked out. No way at all. But they did. He really did help my unbelief. And it has taught me to notdoubt again.

When things are tough, and they will be if they aren’t already, know that they will work out. Faith tome means believing that there is a rainbow after the storm. That Spring will come after a dark and longwinter. Apply that to your life – when you feel like your life is in a dark and cold season of a bitter winter– have faith and believe that in time, your spring will come.

Faith isn’t only to get through difficult times in life, but it’s something that you can use to get throughanything. A hard day with your children. A challenging calling. Learning how to forgive and forget.Learning how to repent.

Faith to me means trusting our Heavenly Father. Trusting that He actually does have a plan, and trustingthat he does in fact guide our lives. When He calls me to a calling that I don’t feel like I can do, I trustthat it’s to help me grow and progress in ways that He sees fit. I have faith that it is for my good, tobetter me. Trust the lord, rely on Him for your strength no matter what it is that you need strength for –and He will bless you.

We got our Ensign yesterday and I read a bit of it today – the talk “It Is Better to Look Up” really spoketo me when it comes to faith. “IF we, like President Monson, exercise our faith and look to God for help,we will not be overwhelmed with the burdens of life. We will not feel incapable of doing what we arecalled to do or need to do. We will be strengthened and our lives will be filled with peace and joy…Butwe must have the faith to look up and the courage to follow his direction.”

I love that the gospel is really very simple – do what we are supposed to do, and God will take care of us.If you are doing all you need to do, don’t stress. God hears your prayers. He knows you personally. Heknows your needs, He knows your heart. Have faith that He is there and that He is taking care of you.

And to end, another quote from that talk, “As we remember Him(Christ) and trust in His power, wereceive strength through His atonement. It is the means whereby we can be relieved of our anxieties,our burdens, and our suffering. It is the means whereby we can receive the faith and strength to endureall things.”

You can read more from the lovely Becca at http://jbclary.blogspot.com/

A week About Faith: By Julie

2011-11-05T23:53:00.000-06:00

Julie Hess is the author and chief inmate of Hesses Madhouse (http://hessesmadhouse.blogspot.com). She's married to Zan, a school administrator and they, together, have seven co-inmates sharing their world. At the Madhouse, Julie shares all of the craziness that is her life. To learn more about Julie, just head on over to the Madhouse.

Thank you, Diane, for allowing me this chance of writing for your blog. I appreciate all the times you comment on mine and all the encouragement you give me. We moms need to stick together. We're doing the most important work there is. Thank you for helping me keep that perspective through what you write.

On March 17, 1999, the most important person in my life left. Before she left, my mom taught me some very important lessons. She taught me to listen, and more importantly, she taught me to do something about what I heard.

I was born very late in my mom's life. I was the daughter she's waited for after so many sons. I have little doubt that one of my purposes in her life was to be her friend, and at the time of her death, I was to be her advocate when she could no longer advocate for herself.

Before she died, my mother, who'd been battling cancer for a year, lay in a coma for five days. It was agonizing. I sat at her bedside and administered the medication prescribed and followed the instructions given me by the hospice workers that dropped in from time to time. I watched her stop eating and stop drinking and just lay there. It was a very helpless time.

One morning, after about three days of this, I couldn't stand it any longer.

I went down to her room where she lay so completely unconscious of anything going on around her, and I knelt at her feet. It was there that I begged and pleaded with God to teach me what I should do. There HAD to be something--anything. "Please! Teach me!" were my words.

In my mind and heart, I suddenly knew.

I went and filled a cup with water and used a swab--tears running down my face--to give her some relief. I continued and continued as I silently uttered a prayer of gratitude. Within moments, I received a gift. My mom opened her eyes and looked at me but somehow looked through me. In her sweet voice that had been silent for days, she whispered something to me, but was it to me or to someone she could see but I couldn't? I couldn't tell. In her weakness, I couldn't hear what she said. Ugh! NO! I asked her to repeat it. She smiled and said it again and then slipped back off to sleep. The next day, she was gone.

I will never know what my mother told me that day. It was enough to see her smile one last time. It was enough to know that God knew her and her needs, and it solidified in my heart that He knew me and mine also. What a gift to be able to serve such a valiant woman. What a blessing to be her daughter!

Two years ago, I received a surprise.

After so many boys, and in my old(er) age, I received a gift. A little girl was born into my life. At her ripe old age of two, I already experience the friend she is to me.

May I teach her to listen and to act on what she hears. Again, I know God knows me, and He knows what I need. May I teach her to understand this same principle. We're not alone. We're NEVER alone.

Giving It Time

2011-11-04T08:58:00.000-06:00

About two days I ago, I looked out my window and noticed that our neighbors across the street were moving. I am not sure they had lived here for an entire 6 months. I know they didn't feel accepted in the neighborhood and ward and I wonder if that is why they took off after so little time here.

After living here for 6 months, I felt a little of the same. I felt like I didn't know anyone. I tended to be a little judging of the people around me because I didn't have any friends. (I knew this was wrong, by the way, and tried to be nice about people even in my head.) Well, that has changed. I know a lot more people in my neighborhood. I certainly don't know all, but I know enough to feel happy. I don't find myself making judgements of anyone anymore. Because I have a few friends and feel accepted, it is easy for me to think that I live around a bunch of great people. And I do, and I did after living here for only 6 months. It just takes time and effort to make friends.

Now, if I had to move, I would feel so sad and I know I would miss living here because I like the people I live around and the people I go to church with a lot.

Oh, and I have to say, the day after the one family moved out, a new family began moving in, and guess what? They have 6 kids between the ages of 1 and 9! I am excited! Now there will be three big families here. Us: the mega-family, the couple down the street that recently had their fifth child (in six years), and the new neighbors across the street!

Tid Bits

2011-11-03T10:11:00.000-06:00

I just have to dump all of those little things that I don't want to forget all in one very convenient, quickly written post.

Adam said that for his birthday he wants anything as long as it is not for a girl. His favorite gift so far is the decorative skeleton key my mom snipped off her purse and mailed to him.
Robertson's never sleep. Pardon's (my family) sleep a ton. I think my 4 oldest kids have more Robertson blood. The last two nights, they have not gone to sleep before midnight. What is up with a seven year old gabbing to his brother at 12:18am!!!!!!!!
Rachel came up to me yesterday and excitedly declared, "I just saw Joshua standing up like a REAL human!" I told John to go move the crib down to the lowest position immediately, and Johnny replied, "Oh, he was standing up when I got him up from his nap. Thanks for the heads up guys. I am glad Joshua can stand like a real human.
Anya pushed Joseph off the green cable box in our front yard, and Joseph emerged a very sad little boy with a giant bump/scrape on his forehead. As it has begun to heal, he has gained two black eyes. Poor baby. I wonder if I should have brought him to the doctor, but there was no concussion signs.
Anya, Joseph and Joshua all like pacifiers. Joshua is the only legitimate pacifier sucker, but the other two borrow. Anya found a spare in the afternoon and took it over. When Joseph wouldn't stop crying because of a sore bum and those never-sleeping Robertson genes, Anya gave Joseph the pacifier. Redemption!
Johnny asked me if I was going to read the book he just finished. When I said no, he said good and proceeded to follow me around the house for an hour telling me about his book.

Just had to add the picture of Joseph's awful bump and the black eyes that have formed. Poor kid looks just miserable.

A Week About Faith

2011-11-01T15:13:00.000-06:00

A Week About Faith begins on Sunday. I am pretty excited about this. I have a bunch of wonderful guest writers. I think we will have a lot of great articles and a lot we can be taught about faith. If you want to participate, I will have a link to each Faith post and you can write your own posts about faith and link them back. You are also welcome to grab my faith button on the side bar to link back here.

Halloween 2011

2011-11-01T07:58:00.000-06:00

The Trick-or-Treaters

The Door-Women

The Loot

Homeschool So Far

2011-10-30T21:21:00.000-06:00

I have several things to say about our homeschool experience so far. First and most importantly, my kids are good kids to home school. We are used to the routine now. The kids do a very good job at getting all of their work done and sitting for lessons. I like teaching my kids and being with my kids all day long. Home school in the home is good.

Second, homeschool in the community is just soso. I have had two different experiences. Ruth and Kate are taking a Shakespeare class in Salt Lake. They are with a group of teens that are good and nice and talented. They like it. The moms involved are sociable and pleasant. I wish I could be sure that we would have interactions with this same group post Shakespeare class. I have not yet been able to find anything very social for my younger kids. I tried doing a park day in our area for young kids-- that failed. I tried do a teen night out for older kids in our area-- that failed. I have tried to join two different co-ops-- both of those have failed. We have gone to a party and two field trips with homeschoolers in Davis county. (See we live just on the Davis County and Salt Lake border. So the Shakespeare class is pretty equal in distance to most of the Davis county events.) I can hardly get anyone to associate with me or my children at field trips and parties. With the acception of two women, I can't even get the mothers of homescchooling families to associate with me. I go to up them. I introduce myself and my children. I try and find things to talk to about with them-- but nothing. In many cases I feel like they just wish me to go away. In one way my experience has been weird, in another way, I feel like I am dealing with an HOA when dealing with the homeschool community. I would completely think I was socially retarded and the fault is all on my side except that I have not had these experiences with public school moms while volunteering in school and planning parties. I have not had these problems with my neighbors or my fellow church members. Socially, homeschool has been very unique.

Third, a structured homeschool education is far superior to what you get in public schools. Children can work at their own levels and progress as soon as they are ready. They can also choose to study things they are interested in. In a lot of ways, I feel like a structured homeschool education is a lot more like college. Children can choose a focus while still learning a variety of the basics. There is just more time for study and interests. I like this. John likes this. The kids like this.

So our conclusion thus far is complicated and mixed. I have been pondering and praying about this. The older kids are pondering and praying about this. We haven't come up with a we will definitely not do homeschool next year or a we definitely will. I want my kids to get a good education. I like being in charge of their education and knowing in very detail what they are learning. I also want my children to learn to live around and work with a variety of people. I want them to be able to talk to and be comfortable with people their own ages. I do not feel like my children are getting what they need socially. Another issue is seminary. Ruth will need to take seminary next year and it is at the school that is a 15 to 20 minute drive away. I don't want to drive back and forth to the school everyday. I feel like seminary is the church's education program for the youth and that is very important to participate in. So we are not positive we will continue homeschooling for all of our children. Because of the lack of social opportunities, I may even put Rachel into kindergarten after Christmas. Adam needs to be home until his eyes are working correctly. Homeschool is the best help for that. We may want to send all of our kids to high school because of seminary. On the other hand,. I think they need to be involved in the decision. If they do not want to go back, we can find another way. If they do go back, I am a lot wiser about being an advocate for my children. I know that I can stand up for them and I have also learned that it is imperative to read their textbooks and go over every website they are referred to. We have not made any decisions yet. But we are thinking about it, pondering about it and praying about it.

How

2011-10-29T16:27:00.001-06:00

I don't think this little Joseph story comes out as well in print as it does in life, but it is just one of those funny tidbits of parenting that I don't want to forget.

The Story
I smelt an awful, nasty, familiar smell. I grabbed up Joseph to change his diaper. I opened his diaper up to find nothing except a fairly dry diaper. I said to little Joe, "How is it possible that you could have nothing in there and still smell so bad." Joseph looked up with his big hazel eyes, pursed his lips together and blew. (Made passed gas noises that is.)

Yes, I suppose that would do it, but this time it turns out the smell was all Joshua's fault.

I Wonder...

2011-10-29T16:18:00.001-06:00

When I think back to my college days, or my days of being a young mom, I laugh at myself because I thought I was SO BUSY! Yet, now when I look back, I realize that I wasn't busy at all compared to now. Back then, I had so much more free time and freedom. Now I think I am SO BUSY again. So I wonder if when I am older and a Grandma and perhaps working in the Temple or being a missionary and having a bunch of grown children and grandchildren if I will be even busier than I am now and will look back at this time and laugh at myself for thinking I was SO BUSY?

Halloween Crafts

2011-10-27T17:25:00.003-06:00

I have found that a good way to make little kids happy and show them that you love them is to do crafts with them. So, I have been taking advantage of the beginning of the holidays and have been doing either papery craft things with my little guys, or fun Halloween foods. Everyday we don't do a craft, the little ones always ask when we will make another craft.

I have also found that Halloween themes can come out kind of funny. Today we drew skeletons, cut them out and put them on black paper. Rachel made a mommy and baby skeleton. Isn't that cute?

Kind of, until you actually think about how you get a mommy and a baby skeleton. Then Halloween themes don't seem so adorable and fun. But, next week we are onto Thanksgiving themes and I have great book of good ideas for Thanksgiving crafts to do with small children.

Rachel's Mommy and Baby Skeletons

Adam's Skeleton

The skeleton Joseph and I made

Anya's King Skeleton with Hair

Pumpkins, and Witches, and a Ghost

Crossed Feet

2011-10-27T17:10:00.001-06:00

Joshua always has his feet crossed. When he sits on the floor, he crosses his feet. In his car seat-- crossed feet. In the bathtub-- crossed feet. In his high chair-- crossed feet. If you want him to uncross his feet just tickle them because that is what he will do.

just had to add in a cute smiley picture for good measure

Lessons From Pride and Prejudice

2011-10-26T08:59:00.001-06:00

I love Pride and Prejudice. I love the book. I love the movie. AND I love having my kids watch the movie and read the book! There is so much that is good in this classic novel. There is so much to learn, and each lesson in many cases is directly opposite to what novels and Hollywood movies teach today.

In Pride and Prejudice the only real villains are those characters involved in immorality. In today's society most of Hollywood's heroes are immoral.
In Pride and Prejudice the climax of the movie, when all seems lost, is when fornication is committed. In many romantic movies of today, the resolution, or the brightest part of the movie is usually an act of fornication. Or in general fornication is promoted throughout the entire movie as just good and normal. A good example of this is the 1998 movie You've Got mail.
In Pride and Prejudice being honest and fair and generous are virtues of the best characters. The worst characters are those who take advantage of other people. In many Hollywood movies, honesty isn't even visited as a virtue. Protecting yourself by whatever means is more virtuous then being honest and fair.
In Pride and Prejudice having a good marriage is the grandest thing, and something to work for and improve yourself for. In Hollywood, marriage is promoted as old fashioned at best. A character does not have to improve themselves to be married. Accepting some one how they are is the true virtue. Divorce is even promoted as good and necessary. Happily Ever After is becoming less and less and marriage and more and more just a good friendship.

In a world where girls have immodest, sensual, and promiscuous women as the heroes in books and movies, I am glad my daughters have Jane and Elizabeth Bennet to learn from.

Twice the burden?

2011-10-26T08:26:00.002-06:00

I follow a blog written by a lovely Catholic woman in Britian. She just gave birth to her 10th and 11th children: 2 beautiful little girls. After having the twins she came across an article titled,
"Twice the burden, but mothers of twins live longer and are stronger".

She a felt annoyed as some of us do when people respond to having children as a burden. Then she posted a response on her blog that I felt was so perfect. With her permission I am reposting her article here.

So please read this moving article from Tania at largerfamilylife :

Wednesday, 26 October 2011

Why we've been wrong to celebrate our twins' arrival

Anna and Elizabeth - 5 days old

The last eight days have had us joyfully celebrating the safe and happy arrival of our baby girls. We've been on cloud nine, enjoying cuddling them, caring for them, and cherishing them. We've spent hours marvelling at how tiny yet perfectly formed they are. Every detail has been taken in, from their tiny fingers and toes to their scrunching of noses when they yawn. The sounds they make and the faces they pull, nothing has been missed and has been closely watched and drunk in by us. We've spent the last eight days savouring every second of this part of parenting where we are getting to know these two new, precious additions to our family.

We've been overwhelmed and overjoyed. We've been congratulated and sent cards and gifts and good wishes, yet it came to my attention that we've got it all wrong.

I came across a headline yesterday about how mothers of twins live longer and are stronger according to a study of 59,000 women. I first read it and thought, "Well, good news for me!". I then went back and re-read the headline.

"Twice the burden, but mothers of twins live longer and are stronger"

And then I felt annoyed.

Twice the burden?

Why not something like, "Double the fun" or "Twice as nice"?

Why is it ok to refer to the safe arrival of a new child into the family as a negative thing? Not only is it ok to refer to a child as a burden, but acceptable to do so? How many people would have touched on that headline as being offensive or inappropriate? How many people reading this post would consider me over-sensitive to it and over-reactive? They're only words, after all.

The problem is that they aren't "only words". This seems to be the norm nowadays of how children are viewed. The dictionary definition of the word "burden" is something that is carried (load) or something oppressive or worrisome. "Burden" is also defined as a dead weight, an imposition, a headache, a concern and a millstone.

Would you console a grieving parent that they are now free of the burden of the child they no longer have? Or would you pat a couple on the back who have been trying desperately to for years to start the family they so long for and tell them not to worry, at least they won't have such a great millstone around their necks? Would you read my last two posts and then send me a "With Deepest Sympathy" card and tell me how sorry you are that I am now subjected to a life of affliction?

We don't have a right to have children. We don't have a right to take them or the ability to have them as an entitlement. This was all given as a gift to us which we have over time taken for granted. Then we began to see them as an inconvenience, fitting one or two in if we decide to because, after all, there is so much more out there we could be spending our time and money on, and this slope has now led us to resent the very things we should be appreciating and be grateful of.

The Evening Standard's article isn't the exception by any means. This is one example of many out there and sadly I feel it is only going to get worse. The effect of which is that people read headlines like this and don't even question them, which means that it's normal, it's accepted and it's now the view of the majority of society.

So while I go and hold my beautiful newborn daughters and drink in their new baby smell and watch them as they sleep, I will be thinking of all the other crosses in life I could be bearing, and if this is the burden God chose for me to bear then I'll take it gladly and count myself very, very lucky.

My Dynamic Duel

2011-10-23T10:21:00.000-06:00

Ruth asked me why I never post good things about her on my blog. I guess it is because I try not to brag. But for my beautiful daughter, I will go ahead and brag all day. I pridefully declare that I have two awesome daughters!!!! Ruth who is 13 1/2 and Kate who is 12 are my dynamic duel. They are good and stalwart and serviceable. They are kind and generous and caring. They are gracious and talented. They try hard to get along with each other and other people. They are friendly and fun. They are studious and successful.

Good and Stalwart-- Ruth and Kate know that they are happier when they keep the commandments of God. They read their scriptures and listen to the teachings of the modern day prophets. They discuss the things of the gospel with their parents and try to apply it in their lives and and behavior.
Serviceable-- Ruth follows me around all day asking me how she can help. There is a girl in our Young Womens group with asperbergers that would not go until Ruth befriended her and invited her to come. When she came, Ruth sat beside her and talked to her. Kate is always making delicious treats for our family and neighbors. Kate spends a lot of time playing with and caring for Joseph and Joshua. Kate also spends a lot of time talking to her father and doing the things that he likes to do.
Kind and Generous, and Caring-- When some one in our family is sick or injured, Kate is right there caring for them. Johnny was very sick all this last week and Kate was always volunteering to bring him drinks and crackers when I was too busy. She also spent a lot of time sitting near him and talking to him. Ruth and Kate are always buying little things for their younger brothers and sisters and friends with the money they have earned for themselves. When we have family events Ruth will chase and wrestle and play with all of her little cousins.
Gracious and Talented-- Ruth never forgets to say thank you and is always happy with what she gets. Kate is always telling me what a good mom I am even though she is getting to that age. Ruth and Kate are both good artists. Ruth likes sing and works to be a good singer. They spend a lot of time drawing and creating things. They like to swim and dive. Kate likes to run and works on that. They are talented.
Getting Along-- Ruth and Kate definitely make a big effort to get along with each other even though they are very different. They truly are best friends. They are also nice to other girls and like to have friends and be with their friends.
Friendly and Fun--well, just hang out with them for a while. They are fun and witty yet still kind in their speech.
Studious and Successful-- they are amazing home schoolers. I hear other moms complain about getting their kids to sit and study. Ruth and Kate get their books out and work straight for 4 to 5 hours without complaint. I do not have to tell them to do their work. They just do it. Before home school each was a straight A student in all of the top classes. I would say they are hard working. Kate especially. She had a hard time learning to read, but she worked diligently and it has paid off.

Yes, I have two awesome daughters. I am so glad Heavenly Father gave me my amazing girls first. They help me so much everyday. My life as a mother of 8 is so much easier because of my dynamic duel.

For My Birthday

2011-10-22T16:07:00.001-06:00

I had an awesome girls party at my mother in laws home last night. Everyone forgot to bring cameras, so you will have to use your imaginations. Now, just imagine a bunch of moms of various ages, a grandma, 2 teenage-ish girls and 6 little girls sitting in a big room with a projector TV, an awesome sound system, and a few couches, chairs, and bean bags watching the 6 hour A&E Pride and Prejudice while, doing hair, painting nails, and having foot massages. Does it sound lovely? It was-- very, very lovely!

A Week of Faith

2011-10-21T11:53:00.001-06:00

I am going to do something that I have not done before. I am going to have a Week of Faith on my blog. I will do this the week of Novemeber 6th. I will have guest writers, and I will set up a link for anyone to link their blog posts about faith to. I have already asked some people to be guest writers and I have received some positive responses. I am working on making a button to grab. I have some things to learn, so this will give me an opportunity to learn some neat things to make my blog better. I am excited!! I am excited to learn from other people about faith and how faith has affected their lives. If you have an experience with how faith has worked in your lives or you would like to write about what you know about faith you can contact me to be a guest writer (diane.etc@gmail.com). I will post more about this as we get closer. So come by the week of November 6th to talk about Faith.

Something I Forgot to Say in "My Personal Story" Post

2011-10-17T01:32:00.001-06:00

After I published my A Personal Story post, I thought crap I forgot to say... So now I am saying it.

I forgot to say: I am NOT recommending for any one to suddenly stop taking anti-depressants. I think that is quite dangerous, in fact. So please do not just go and throw away your anti-depressants. I was not quite 21 when I did this. I was impulsive at that time in my life, like I think a lot of people are at that age. Also, I am certain that the antidepressants I was on were not helping me at all. All they ever did was make me feel sick and drugged. Quitting medication like this cold turkey is not good and not recommended.

What I am saying is: the atonement of Jesus Christ heals both sins and afflictions. One accesses the atonement for sin by faith and repentance, and one accesses the atonement for afflictions by faith and service.

I am also saying it is good to listen and act upon the words of the Prophets and Apostles. I believe they are angels sent to us with personal messages from the Lord. I am also saying that the Bishops in our ward are over us and have the power to receive revelation for the members of his own ward. If my bishop says, "Get over yourself and serve others," then that is what I need to do. If your bishop says see a psychiatrist and do what he says, then that is what you should you.

So please, please do not just throw away you anti depressants. We are all individuals. And we are all children of God, and if we go to Him in faith believing we can be healed, then He will heal us.

I have kept this story secret for 15 years. Recently, I have felt the Spirit prompting me to share it. If my personal struggles can help some one else then that is good. The more people I have gotten to know, the more I realize that most people struggle with feelings of despair and depression. Truly, we all are brothers and sisters.

A Personal Story

2011-10-16T11:52:00.001-06:00

Anyone who knows me now would not have any idea about this, and I have kept it very quiet. Recently, I have felt like I need to share this personal story from my youth.

Just before I turned 7 years old my family moved from the Seattle, Washington area to Worcester, Massachusetts. It was a big move, and it was hard on the whole family. It was especially hard for me. I was happy in Washington. I had friends in my school, and we had a comfortable home. We moved to a very old (built in 1801) home that was very neat but very cold and old. We moved from a place where the winters are mild to a place with very fierce winters. I did not have any friends in school. In fact, I was chased around and made fun of and even demanded to cry by my classmates. My teacher said mean things to me daily. My parents were having a hard time financially. The type of food we ate changed drastically. I cannot blame my parents for moving us. My dad needed a job. But from this move, I went from a fairly happy child to a very depressed child.

Depression stayed with me from that time forward. I withdrew, and I had a hard time making friends for many years to come. I always felt on the outside of society. Any friends I did have either suffered from depression or didn't hang around very long. I definitely had the nobody likes me everybody hates me attitude. (Looking back now, I know that is what kept me from having friends.) I do not want to go into many of the details. If you looked up depression on wikipedia, I probably had most of the symptoms at some point between the ages of 7 and 21. My depression was very severe.

As a child and a young teenager, I did nothing about it. I had a friend that mentioned depression to me when I was 16, but I did not want to even talk about it. I wanted to be normal. I knew I wasn't. In college, I formed a group of friends that were all depressed. I started seeing a counselor and talking about my sad childhood. That is when my life became the darkest. I had embraced depression, and made it my very identity. I hardly talked about anything else. I was put on medication. When my counselor asked me if I wanted to get better, I responded that I didn't know myself aside from depression. I didn't think I had a non-depressed self. This was while I was at Rick's college.

After Rick's college, I had a tough summer. I wanted to live closer to my family, but I didn't feel a part of them, and I didn't want to be too close. I chose, not to go to school in Utah, like I had planned. Instead, I decided to attend the University of Michigan. That way, I would be close enough to family when I wanted to drive home, but far enough away to feel independent. I will be ever grateful for that choice.

Once in Michigan, I had an interview with my singles ward Bishop. He interviewed every new member of the ward. Like everyone else, I told him the big sob story of my life. He had no compassion. He simply said something like, "It seems to me you are only thinking about yourself. You should just get out of yourself and start serving and thinking about other people." That was a slap in my face that I have been ever grateful for. I took his advice very seriously and began looking for others who needed me.

Not too long after this, two talks in the October 1996 General Conference grabbed my attention. One by Elder Neil A. Maxwell, According to the Desires of Our Hearts, and another by President James E. Faust, Woman, Why Weepest Thou? really hit me. President Faust said, "Through faith and righteousness all of the inequities, injuries, and pains of this life can be fully compensated for and made right." He was talking about the atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ. With power, this statement swept over me. I then knew that the atonement not only healed sins but afflictions as well. Neil A. Maxwell, said, "what we insistently desire, over time, is what we will eventually become and what we will receive in eternity." I knew this statement was meant for me.

About two weeks later, I woke up with the same familiar feelings of despair. I said aloud, "I do not want to spend the rest of my life like this." I got out of bed, threw away my anti-depressants, and got down on my hands and knees. In my prayer, I stated that I knew the atonement of my Savior healed afflictions and cleansed from sins. I asked for the atonement to heal my life long depression. I knew The Lord heard my prayer. I had faith that I would be healed, and I went forward with faith.

I made a lot of significant changes in my life that day and the weeks following. I took my good Bishops advice very seriously and began to serve and look for ways to serve. I threw away books that I had about depression. I threw away my bad and depressing music. I changed the way I dressed. I changed my friends. In some ways this happened naturally. My old friends did not like me being happy. The departure of friendship was mutual and necessary to my full recovery.

From depression, I was healed completely. I was healed not through medication or counseling. I was healed through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I was healed because of the pains and suffering of The Savior in our behalf . My very soul and body were changed and I know that this sort of power only comes through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Since that time, my life has been good and easy. I can make and keep friends. I can do hard things, and I feel happy everyday. There are days that I find myself feeling sad or depressed. I know these thoughts very well. (I grew up with them.) But, I know that it is not me. I consider depression a personal temptation. I know better. I put it behind me and I get to work. I clean my house; I play with my kids; I invite a friend to go out with me, and I find enjoyment and solace in the scriptures. I have had no trouble with depression for 15 years now. I know that I will not be afflicted with this again because I choose not to and especially because of the Savior. I love his beautiful words in Matthew chapter 11.

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Indeed His yoke is easy and His burden is light. My heart is filled with gratitude.

Maintenance

2011-10-16T09:39:00.001-06:00

This past summer I was sitting around with a bunch of family and we were talking about house keeping-- I know that is weird, but we were all moms. I mentioned that I didn't go to bed until the kitchen was cleaned and the rest of the downstairs was picked up, swept, and vacuumed so I could wake up to a clean house. One person looked at me rather incredulously and with that "you are crazy" tone in her voice asked, "What is the point of having your house clean when everyone is sleeping?" I dumbly responded that I just like that 15 minutes in the morning of quiet in a clean house before dishes and food are brought out, toys are dumped and books and papers are taken off the shelves. However true the answer was, I have since realized there is another bigger more important reason-- Maintenance.

If we did not pick up the toys, books, papers, clean and wash and sweep the kitchen everyday our house would be unlivable within a few days. A family of 4 or 5 may be able to get away with only doing dishes every day and cleaning on Saturdays. That does not work for a family of 10. Just think of what your home looks like after your 2 or 3 children have played and then think of what it looks like after your 2 or3 children have played with their 5 friends. That is what our house looks like at about 3 o'clock everyday. So at 3 we clean the house and at 8 or 9, we clean the house again. When I go to bed, the living room is cleaned and vacuumed, the kitchen is clean, and the upstairs has been picked up. Since all of our stuff and all of our mess makers are tucked nicely away for the night, our little house can have a break. And we are keeping our mess under control.

Now it is true that I have had a not going to bed until the house is cleaned policy since Ruth was 5 months old. It really wasn't that necessary then. Still, I am grateful that I made that policy early in my marriage because it has made maintaining a home for 10 much easier.

I have one more disclaimer. When, Ruth was 5 months old, a mother of 8 children came to our relief society to talk to us about keeping a nice house. She mentioned that every night once the Temple was closed, the Temple got dusted, and vacuumed, and wiped down. I think that is where I got the idea to begin with, and I still think it was a good idea.

Adam Loves Johnny

2011-10-15T11:57:00.002-06:00

Adam loves Johnny!!! He does what ever Johnny does. If we are playing a game, Adam will only do what Johnny does-- even if Johnny is losing the game. If we are choosing food, Adam always says, "I want what Johnny wants." If Johnny changes his mind, Adam changes his mind too. Adam has to go to bed before Johnny, but Adam never goes to sleep until Johnny goes to bed. When Johnny has friends over, Adam plays too. Adam talks like Johnny's friends are his friends. Pretty much, Adam mimics Johnny in every way. The nice thing about this arrangement is while Johnny definitely gets annoyed, he is nice to Adam about it.

Happiness

2011-10-15T11:34:00.001-06:00

Love this child!!!! I have been so very blessed to have born eight children. Not many women can do this. Even before birth control eight was an unusual number. I feel like God has smiled upon me by giving me these eight precious babies. I am so very glad I get to care for eight wonderful people. I love their tears and their smiles and their all. Indeed, "Each is a precious son or daughter of Heavenly Parents." How happy I am to be entrusted with their care.

Happy Dad

2011-10-15T11:25:00.000-06:00

Catching Up

2011-10-15T09:14:00.002-06:00

Homeschool, plus all these other evening activities that we are involved in keep me so busy I have much less time to blog than I would like. So Saturday and Sunday are becoming my catch up on the blog days. We only have three soccer games left, though. I am hoping for a few more free evenings then. There have been several things I thought about writing. I guess I will see if I can remember any of them. Here are a few catch up on the fam notes.

I turned 36 yesterday, and John got me a Kindle Fire (which actually doesn't come out until mid November) I should receive it in a little more than a month. I am excited. Now we can finally watch movies during church ;-0!
Adam was saying some abnoxious things to Ruth (not really being mean). Ruth responded, "You are a jerk. Die!" So she was in trouble. Ruth had to do two things that Adam wanted her to do. This usually involves doing chores for the other person, but instead Adam wanted Ruth to play New Super Mario Bros Wii with him, and to fast for 20 days!
Adam is always saying, "Mom, can I tell you something?" So Joseph without knowing what it means has been saying, "Mom, can I tell you something?" I really think Joseph experiments with word phrases.
Kate joined Ruth's Shakespeare class because I went to talk to the mom who does the class, and she meant the other students. Kate then decided it was worth reading Shakespeare to go.They also have weekend movies with this group.
At the pool, when the lifeguard isn't looking, Adam does front hand springs into the water. I think that is pretty cool for a 6 year old. When he swims a little better, I will put him into a diving class. I have these dreams of Adam being a gymnast olympian. But dreams are all those are. We are too poor to give my talented little boy any lessons. Still, Ruth and Adam have both been decent gymnast, and I LOVE watching them.

Time for Soccer, but I have more posts to come.

Dear Husband Turns 40

2011-10-08T20:43:00.003-06:00

John turned 40 yesterday. I can hardly believe it. He has now entered his 5th decade. That just seems old to me. The weird thing is that he probably has not reached the half point of his life. That half point is likely around the corner though. I will be 36 next Friday. That, for the first time makes me feel old. I got married and had children so young that my age always seemed appropriate. Even with all that, 36 seems old to me. I guess John and I are truly middle age now.

Feminism: Good or Bad

2011-10-08T19:32:00.003-06:00

The feminist movement has done a lot to change the world. Today, more than ever before women have a say in the world. Prior to the feminist movement women were not allowed in most universities, women could not vote and women could not hold many jobs. From reading the bible, it seems like women were often treated more like possessions. That seemed to slowly change in the western nations. Until just a little over 100 years ago when women were given the right to vote, and then things began changing rapidly for women. 100 years ago the women working for woman's sufferage did a lot of good. I am grateful that I can vote and wear pants, and that I could go to college and improve my mind. These things are good things. These things have helped women. But today, feminism is not just about becoming educated, voting, and wearing pants. Today feminism is not good.

Today feminist women reject their very nature. The very idea of being a wife and a mother are scorned. As a result women who give up careers to stay home with their children are looked down upon. Being a mother is second to almost anything else. Many of my high school friends chose not to become parents until they had post graduate degrees, a house, a savings account, a beautiful nursery and full time career and were over 30 years of age. Those who started families younger seem happier.

Media portrays women as being strong warriors (take Tangled for example) that can fight better than men. Women are portrayed as being the smartest and the best problem solvers. These same smart, warrior women are very sexualized. Their bodies are there on display. Media also portrays women as promiscuous. In media women are shown sleeping around and showing off their bodies. Billboards all around my city show women in underwear and bikinis advertising plastic surgery. This is the image my daughters are growing up with. They are expected to be sexy warriors and corporate geniuses who desire to give their bodies to anyone.

In general, media leaves the roll of motherhood to the stupid, the unambitious, the dull and old fashioned. Children are considered a burden and both husband and children are only trophies for later in life-- later, after college and career and plenty of promiscuity. This has become a part of common thinking. I have had people see my children and ask me why I ruined my life. My oldest daughter has argued that she knows women are better athletes, and warriors because of what she has learned in the movies and at school. Even watching the Olympics does not change that perspective for her.

From all of this, feminism has robbed women of what is most joyful and fulfilling. Staying home and raising children, cleaning home and making things beautiful, cooking and cleaning for your one and only true love are all good and part of the very nature of women. In The Family: A Proclamation to the World, it states, "Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children." This is not just because women are better at nurturing, but because it is the very nature of a woman to nurture. Most little girls don't dream of becoming great warriors or corporate geniuses. Most little girls hold their dolls and dream of becoming a wife and a mother. Little girls seem to be born dreaming about and looking for their true love. Feminism, while good when it gave women freedom to become educated is now bad in that it takes away from women what will most make them happy.

I am a Finalist

2011-10-06T08:24:00.003-06:00

Stephanie at Diapers and Divinity has been doing some neat things around General Conference. One contest was a photo contest of your family during General Conference. On a whim, I submitted my sustaining the apostle's while eating donuts photo. And to my great surprise, I am one of three finalist. So if you feel inclined, please go here and vote for me. But, I have to admit, the the first picture is way better than mine. It is very beautifully done. So if you feel inclined to vote for a different picture, it won't hurt my feelings.

Frustration

2011-10-06T08:15:00.001-06:00

At home, home school is going great. Life is peaceful. The kids are studying hard, and learning well. They are doing great with me being their teacher. They are enjoying what they are learning and they are getting along well with each other. Not at home, home school is going terribly. I am having a very hard time finding a group of home school families to associate with. We have one. They are great. We get along very well and respect them a lot. My daughters' love their daughters'. Our boys all love computers games and that is enough for them, and the mom and I get along well. Ruth has a Shakespeare class and that is the highlight of her week. But that is all.

My experiences with the rest of the homeschooling community have been weird at best. We have gone on a field trip with 150 other homeschoolers. But no one talked to us, except for one little boy who made friends with Adam. I talked to other parents, but they merely answered my questions. I could not lead them into conversation. The older girls there hung to their parents and really didn't extend themselves outside their own family. I think it was rather depressing for Ruth. I tried to hold park days, but no one came. I quit wasting my time. I am trying to begin a teen/preteen monthly fun activity. For September, I set it up for us to go roller skating. Our friends daughters came, one woman had me take her two children, and I met one other mother with a 13 year old boy. The next day, I found out there were other people there, but that the adults were too shy to meet me. How weird is that?

We went to the homeschooling swimming day. Only one or two other families were there. I tried talking to a mother-- nothing. I tried talking to her children and they swam away and left the rec center. I don't want to be too critical, but this is just downright weird. I feel like I am the victim of false advertising. You always hear the argument that home schooled children are more social because they can talk to people of all ages and are at ease. In my experience thus far, that is just not true. The parents and children I have met that seem to be happy and friendly and social are the parents and children with large families. I don't want to be critical, but it is true that this has been the weirdest social experience of my life. My friend has said some similar things. She is moving and they have joined a group in Utah county and she has said that she has been impressed with how good and social the children out there are.

I have considered putting them back in school. Kate said she won't go because her home school work is so much more interesting. Adam has to be wearing an eye patch for 3 hours a day to save the vision in his left eye. He can't wear it at school and homeschool is the best way to get the patch on while he is doing a lot of sit down concentration work. Ruth would go back today, but John won't let her. Rachel would like to go to school. I won't send Johnny back to school. He needs too strong of an academic setting. School was hurting Johnny. Really, home school has a lot of positives. But I want my kids to be at ease with their peers. I also want my kids to have support with other homeschool children. It is good to have a peer support group when doing something different from 90% of the population.

There is one disclaimer in this whole circumstance. A lot of people home school their children because they do not thrive in the social environment at schools or because they have certain disabilities. That is different. I think the part that frustrates me the most is the adults who will not talk to me.

I am going to keep trying. I have a couple of ideas. Ruth has her Shakespeare class in Salt Lake with about 15 other teenagers. I am going to talk to the mother who hosts this group, and see if there is a coop or something we can join in the Salt Lake area. If that does not pan out, we will join our friends in Utah county. I am also going to continue doing my teen activity night. Next time, I am going to have the people who come register and then have a get to know you activity before we do the real fun stuff. There is still hope, but I am very frustrated with the social part of homeschooling.

Kittens Again

2011-10-04T20:39:00.000-06:00

Our gray cat, Twix has had her second batch of kittens this year. Last spring she had 4 white male cats, and one gray female. This time she has 5 black and white kittens. 2 are males, and 3 are females. They make us happy. We like having kittens around every now and then. So far this having a cat who has a lot of babies is working well. As long as it isn't hard to get rid of them, this will continue to be great.

New Years Resolution Revisited

2011-10-04T17:47:00.001-06:00

For my 2011 new years resolution I wanted to get both Anya and Joseph potty trained. Anya potty trained within two weeks of me making this goal. I tried starting Joseph in June, but I couldn't get him to pee. I tried a little after he turned two near the end of July-- same thing. I tried again recently. I thought if I just gave him a lot to drink and sat with him for a few hours, pee would just happen and I could tell him that is what I wanted him to be doing. So, during General Conference, I got Joseph to drink 1 glass of water, 2 cups of hot chocolate, and one cup of orange juice. I sat him down on the potty just as conference began. We sat and sat and sat for the entire two hours and no pee. We had to go to the library between sessions. So I put his diaper on him and then he peed A LOT. I guess he has really good bladder control, but he is one stinker to get to pee outside a diaper. I am not sure, I am going to get this done before December 31st. I am still going to try, though.

family Pictures 2011!!!

2011-10-03T18:13:00.000-06:00

My girls!!

You would never know these two are only 17 months apart.

Love all those funny faces!

5 kids born in 6 years!

My boys!!

General Conference

2011-10-02T08:52:00.001-06:00

Yesterday was the first half of the semiannual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Every six months we gather around our computer and listen to The Prophet, Thomas S. Monson, his counselors, the 12 apostles, and other general authorities of the church. These are wise men who are telling us what God needs us to know and do. General Conference is my 2 favorite times of the year. We sit down near our computer and blast it from speakers around the house. We also celebrate with the junk food we love but rarely have (our semiannual junk food fest). Today we will listen to the final two sessions. Then we will listen to the talks over and over again for the next six months. We will try to change our lives and ourselves to be more in line with the counsel of the Prophet. We honor him, and we know that he speaks the words of Christ, as if Christ were speaking them Himself. We will follow the prophet!

What the Other Kids Do During Soccer

2011-10-02T08:40:00.001-06:00

Soccer

2011-10-02T08:34:00.000-06:00

The big boys have been playing soccer and they LOVE IT!!!! I will have to be a good mom and always remember to sign them up from this moment onward.

"Help, Help":Thank you and Explanations

2011-10-02T08:25:00.000-06:00

First, I want to say thank you for all of the advice. I have taken some of the advice and Joshua is doing a lot better. In fact, he gained nearly a pound in just 4 days. He was 14.4 pounds and now he is 15.2.

A lot of people wonder why a mother of 8 would need help/ advice. Well, we are pretty healthy and I really have had no need to worry about nutrition. In all honesty, I have very little knowledge of nutrition. All of my previous 7 babies nursed well. A couple of them, I put on whole milk at 11 months because I was pregnant and they did just fine. I am healthy. I have always been able to eat pretty much whatever I want to and I feel great most of the time. My kids are mostly healthy. No one has any food allergies or long term health issues (at this point). My husband is healthy, and he hates healthy food. Except for the first year of living in a new place, we are rarely sick, and even then, it has been very rare that we have ever had any severe illness. So we eat what we want, and we try to get in some regular exercise and we do great. On a rare occasion this has been different. Joshua is one of those differences. He was fussy, not growing, and my first child to not be crawling before 8 months of age. I knew he was hungry and that I was losing my milk because he wouldn't nurse.

This is what I have tried. I put him on a higher calorie/higher fat yogurt. I tried coconut milk and he loves it (I am really happy about it). After feeling better from the coconut milk, he was willing to try more things, and he is nursing better. I give him half a bottle of coconut milk and then he nurses. Because he is not so hungry he has settled down and is nursing without screaming except first thing in the morning. If he isn't too hungry or too full he is now willing to eat avocado. He will eat a half of one in a sitting. He is also enjoying squash and pumpkin now. I am not completely sure of his problem past being hungry. The coconut milk alone seems to have changed everything. As far as I can tell the weirdo kid won't eat if he gets too hungry and it is just a downward spiral from there. I think I can probably rule out allergies because of his amazingly fast weight gain. Coconut milk is expensive and all of the family likes it, but it seems to be what the baby needs, so we will deal with the cost.

I thought I should also address what seemed to be a few concerns in the comment section. I think some people were worried I was force feeding or being overly concerned about size. I have only ever force fed one of my kids. I hated being force fed as a child and adamantly decided I would not do it with my own children. Mostly, that has worked just fine. Except my third child, Johnny. When he was 17 months and about done breast feeding, he came down with a bad case of croup. After about 6 days he was no longer coughing, but he had a high fever and was not walking anymore. I took him to the doctor thinking he probably had developed pneumonia. The doctor checked him, but could not find anything wrong with him so she sent me to the emergency room. They took a chest x-ray first-- no pneumonia. So they took some blood to see if he had a blood infection. They came back. No blood infection, BUT he was malnurished and severely anemic. They sent me home, but they would not give me iron until I force fed him and took him to see his doctor. So I began force feeding. He hates food so that was not an easy task, but within 24 hours his fever went away and he was walking and good. We got him on iron, and continued to make sure he ate for the next 2 years. He is still very picky. But he now eats 3 to 7 bowls of vitamin fortified sugar coated cereal each morning and is fine.

As far as worrying about size. I think a lot of people worry about that when they look at my family. I have a 13 year old daughter who is devastated that she weighs 99lbs, is 5 feet tall and wearing a woman's size 2 pants. She really is big for my kids, and she has always been a good eater. But she is not fat and I won't let her diet. I have a 12 year old daughter who is 60lbs, 4 ft 5in tall and an entire head and shoulders shorter than other kids her age. She is a picky eater. She would rather go hungry then eat something she doesn't like. Then I have a 10 year old son who is 58 pounds and about 4'5". He is smaller then everyone else his age. He is my boy that was the malnurished 17 month old. Then my son Adam is 48 pounds and almost 7. I think he is a little small for his age, but not so severely and he eats constantly. Then there is a 5 year old girl who weighs 32 pounds. She is very petite and looks about the size of most 3 year olds. She is a very picky eater. She pretty much survives on apples and dessert. Then I have a 3 year old daughter who is 26 pounds. She is small for her age and the doctors always worry, but I don't because she eats a lot and a variety and is taller then all her sisters were at the same age. She is 3 and wears a size 3-- miracle. Then there is Joseph. He is our tall, fat kid. He is 2, wieghs 26 pounds and last we checked and from what it seems like from his peers he is in the 50th percentile. Lastly there is ity bity, Joshua. I do worry some. But my husband is a short man, and while I am tall at 5'9", I grew very slowly. I did not reach 5 ft until I was nearly 14, and I did not gain my full heighth until I was 19. So between my husbands short genes and my slow growing genes people wonder if we feed our kids at all.

Secrets and Stomach Aches

2011-09-29T22:27:00.000-06:00

Today Rachel came up to me, nuzzled my arm and said, "last night I felt sick, but I felt better in the morning." I inquired more into this because she has been known to puke in her bed at night and hide it with a blanket. Since she got dressed first thing in the morning and I had not been into her room yet, this definitely was possible. She assured me there was no hidden mess in her room-- just that her stomach felt sick, but was better by morning. Then she said, "I keep a lot of secrets from you mom. Isn't that funny?" Huh? Really at 5.

Help, Help

2011-09-26T07:31:00.000-06:00

I really am asking for help. My eighth month old baby, Joshua is not nursing well, and he won't take formula. He is only 14 pounds, so he is not even on the chart for his weight. I have tried to get him to eat solid food (baby cereal, mushed fruit, and vegetables), but the only things he will eat consistently are yogurt and chocolate. I do give him a lot of yogurt, but I doubt he can get everything he needs from yogurt. I've put swiss miss cocoa into his cereal to get him to eat it, but I really don't like giving him chocolate and sugar. I know a lot of people out there in blog world know a lot and do a lot with nutrition, so I am asking WHAT SHOULD I DO? What should I give him to eat so that he can get the nutrients he needs to grow? I've been thinking about trying avocados. I am not sure if he would even be willing to eat it. How do you get such a fussy baby to eat? I have had one other very fussy eater, but he breast fed very well until he was 17months old. So if any of you know about what foods I should give him or have had such an extremely fussy eater, please let me know what you think I should do.

Johnny turns 10

2011-09-24T12:09:00.000-06:00

My little boy is ten years old now! I guess he is not a little kid anymore. Johnny has always been a good and easy kid to care for and he still is!

So about my boy: Johnny is in soccer and he is loving that. He loves to read and he stays up past midnight reading most nights. (like hid dad) I guess it is surprising that he is still good natured the next day. He likes games a lot, both computer games and board games. (like his dad too) He has always been and is still a walking, talking encyclopedia. The kid astounds and annoys me with how much he knows. He also astounds and annoys me by telling me every detail in every book he reads. I am lucky to have such a good boy! I look forward to seeing who this kid grows up to be. Johnny has a lot of potential!

Blah, Blah Blah, Another HomeSchool Post

2011-09-24T11:36:00.000-06:00

Did I say homeschool is hard? I met another homeschool mom in the library yesterday as we were both getting books to prepare school for the upcoming week. I chatted for a few minutes. I didn't have much time. But she said something that rang true. "Homeschool is a full time job." That's it. That is why I am so tired and feel like I am extremely over the top busy. I felt like just having eight kids was a full time job. That was no big deal because having 8 kids was my full time job. Compared to John's full time job, with taking care of the home and our 8 children, I put in as much time into family and work as he did. I didn't have another job. Now I have two full time jobs. I am a teacher and a full time mother. It is very tiring. There have been times, when I have felt like giving it all up. BUT... I am finding so many good things about homeschool!

The first but, I am astounded at how much better the education is. Now, I am not an unschooler. My personality is very structured. I like to be organized. So our school is very organized. Each child has thier assignments and lessons that we do every day. On Friday's and Saturdays I spend about 4 hours preparing lessons and assignments for the entire week. The older kids are handed a syllabus and they have to check each thing off with me or John everyday before they are allowed to end school. The little kids have their worksheets labelled for each day in their folders. I have each younger child scheduled in for lessons with me. Our school is very structured and my kids are making leaps and bounds. The education, without a doubt, is far superior to what they were getting in public schools. For example, Johnny is studying ancient civilizations this school year. After two weeks he has completed reading around 300 pages about Ancient Egypt. He has been required to write about everything he reads. Look at any history textbook through the 12th grade and you will not find anything so in depth. (Have you read your kids textbooks? You ought to take a look, but that is another blog all by itself.) It is just not there. Now, Johnny is in fifth grade. No fifth grader in the public schools gets anything so thorough and in such a short time during school hours. Another example is Ruth's Shakespeare class. She is required to read 7 Shakespeare plays and she will be preforming one with about 15 other homeschooled teenagers. And she is loving it! You cannot find such an in depth study in any eighth grade class in the public schools. One more example is I am doing Spanish with my younger children. Rachel knows the days of the week in Spanish better than English. They are learning to write in Spanish along side English. I am pleased to beable to give my kids foreign language experience so young.

The second but is time. Not my time, that is, but my children's time. All of their studies are finished during the school day! There is no homework as such. There is no wasted time. Most of the kids even eat lunch while working because then they will have more free time later.

The third but is well my kids. I know my kids better. I know their strengths and weaknesses better. I know what things they have picked up from being in school and who they just are. Ruth changed at the end of 7th grade last year. Instead of being the nice girl who enjoyed helping out and spending time with her parents and siblings, she became the teenager who was yelling at her parents and being mean to her younger siblings and well just acting like the textbook teenager. By the end of the summer she was back to just Ruth. She is still back to herself. She spends near to 12 hours a week with friends at church, her Shakespeare class, and select friends hanging out and swimming. But she is still just Ruth, not Ruth's friends.

The fourth but is Johnny. We have noticed that about all he learned in his four years in public school was how to waste time really, really well. He was never given enough work to keep him busy, and he learned how to waste a lot time without causing trouble or being noticed. We cringe to think what this bad habit could have done to him as an adult. Johnny has enough work to keep him busy and I am taking notice and making sure he is occupied in a good way.

I could go on with other buts, like Adam needing extra help with reading and not having to do that after school time. Suffice it to say. There are enough good buts to continue the exhausting hard work of two full time jobs.

What's Scary

2011-09-21T15:27:00.003-06:00

Kate carried Joseph up the stairs on her shoulders to bring him to bed. The whole time, Joseph was screaming saying, "This is scary." Once upstairs, I brushed his teeth, whisked him into bed and asked, "Did Kate scare you?" Joseph replied, "Yes scary, and monsters with hot cocoa and bananas!"

Ssshhhhh Don't Tell

2011-09-21T15:22:00.002-06:00

Adam who never sings at church or with the family always sings whenever he uses the bathroom. And he actually sounds pretty good. But he better not find out I can hear him.

My Family Proclamation in Pictures

2011-09-17T19:32:00.003-06:00

Our Family: The Proclamation


We, The First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God


And that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.


All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny.


Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.


We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force.


Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live.


Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.


By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.

Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children.

Sundays

2011-09-14T08:58:00.001-06:00

Some Sundays are actually nice days and church is something to enjoy rather than to get through. Last Sunday, was not that Sunday. It all started... at the beginning. As soon as we stepped out of the car, in fact. You see, Anya was a an even tempered, delightful, easy going two year old. She decided she had enough of being easy going, even tempered and delightful just after she turned 3. Now I find myself saying two things: 1.Who is the 13 teen year old? Anya or Ruth, and 2. Who is the 2 year old? Ruth or Joseph. (You see, it goes both ways). Back to Sunday. Anya did not like the way she was unbuckled. Oh the horror, she began to ball. Then she didn't like that Dad took her out of the car instead of Mom. Then she didn't like that some one else was holding the door for her. Fortunatley, there were programs sitting outside the chapel doors and she did like that. We managed to make it to the pew without further tears.

But, the baby was hungry. Anya, wanted to sit on my lap, Joseph wanted to sit on my lap, and Joshua really did need me to help his hunger pains through the passing of the Sacrament. John (the dad) left to pass the Sacrament. (The dads take this job in our ward because there are so few young men).

I survived the sacrament, but barely. Anya dumped her water into several other cups after she had sipped it, and Joshua grabbed a little cup and dumped it on me. But we survived. As soon as John was seated again, I got up to go feed Joshua. Anya and Joseph decided to come with me. I consented. Then Rachel ran after me too. I sent her back.

To get to the mother's nursing room you have to go through a girls bathroom. I find that kind of yucky, but more people are willing to throw gross diapers there instead of the tiny room with all the feeding moms. (For that I am grateful). Of course as we passed through a bathroom, Anya needed to go. NO WAY, FORGET IT was my reply. So tears in the mothers room, until "Wow, neat, soft rocking chairs!" I sat in one and began feeding Joshua. Anya sat in another and began rocking and laughing. Joseph attacked Anya because he wanted the chair too. Thus, my two toddlers were wrestling and screaming in the mother's room while I tried to feed my baby. I gave up the nice comfy rocking chair for a stiff harder to balance the baby on chair to keep my toddlers quiet. Thankfully, Joshua eats quickly, especially when there is a lot of commotion in the room.

We had to go through the bathroom again. Anya said she had to go again. I said no again because I did not have the hands available to take her. As we walked back into the chapel, Joseph started yelling "No!" (Sorry, Joe, there was no way I was going to stay another minute in the mother's room with you. Especially since other Mom's were entering as we exited.) Anya was still saying she needed to go potty. John said he would take her.

As John was exiting, Anya somersaulted down the aisle, stood up and declared, "I did a trick!" Lovely. I looked at the clock-- 40 more minutes to go. Joshua was still fussy, and Joseph still wanted my lap only. SIGH.

John came back as I continued to wrestle with the two little boys. He sat down next to Rachel and Anya who started to draw pictures. The older kids were further down the pew gabbing loudly. Rachel said, "I am drawing pooping." Anya said, "I am drawing pooping too." John said, "Don't draw gross things in church. You should draw something happy. Rachel said, "I am drawing Christmas." Anya said, "I am drawing Christmas too."

Meanwhile the older 4 were still gabbing loudly. John grabbed a piece of paper and drew a picture of the Grim Reaper saying, "This will be your fate if you aren't quiet." Weird, but it worked.

Time slowly ticked on. I had and still have no idea who the speakers even were, much less what they actually talked about. But we did make it out alive and although Joseph fell asleep just before the meeting ended, there was no way, I was going to take that kid to Sunday school. We woke him up and sent him off to nursery. I didn't get a bad report about Joseph and Anya in nursery. I think the nursery teachers survived too.

Joshua fussed the other 2 hours, so I left as soon as the clock struck 4 and hauled those little ones into their car seats. As fortune would have it, we had left over dorritos and root beer floats from Saturdays progressive dinner. After two root beer floats and more dorritos than I am willing to admit to eating, I felt better. I think we will have dorritos and root beer floats every Sunday after church!

2011-09-13T16:36:00.003-06:00

Today, I want to talk about This sentence:

Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.

In paragraph seven of The Family: A Proclamation to the World.I love this paragraph because it is the paragraph that tells us what to do. Most of the Proclamation tells us who we are in relationship to God. That is very important to know. The seventh paragraph tells us what we need to be a forever family.

What to do:

Have faith: in Alma 32:21 it states And now as I said concerning faith, faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true. Since becoming a mother, I have wondered how could I ever have done this without faith. Faith is a driver behind all that we do as a family that is good. I have my large family because of faith. We go to church because of faith. We are kind, and we are trying to have charity because of faith. Family life is amazing, but it is made amazing because of the faith that if we keep the commandments that God has given to his children our lives will be blessed. We have seen this again and again in our family. It is also amazing because of the faith that when we do keep the commandments, we are working toward keeping these amazing family relationships forever.
Prayers: We feel closer to each other and closer to God when we pray as a family. We also receive revelation together as a family for the family when we prayer together. I receive patience to deal will all of the little irritating things that pop up through the day only as I pray and ask for it. Yes, prayer helps our family know what to do, and it helps us to act how we should. We need our Heavenly Father, and we find Him together as a family through prayer.
Repentance: I think one of the best things John and I have done as parents is apologizing continually to our children when we make mistakes. We apologize when we lose out temper or are impatient or were just wrong about something. It helps all of us to be more humble and to forgive more easily.
Forgiveness: Any family can not survive without forgiveness. We must allow for the faults of others in our family, and we must lovingly let things pass everyday. Where there is no forgiveness there is no love.
Respect: I am not sure I understand respect very well. There is some sense where we give up on some things we want because we love the other person, and there is admiration for the person who has done a lot for you.
Love: love comes through service. We love those we serve and in turn they love us. Love also comes from knowing someone intimately. We love our families when we spend a lot time with them.
Compassion: I think this goes along with service too. For a family to be close we must be there for each other when times are tough for an individual in the family. After, I had my eighth baby my mother in law and sister in laws came to my home unannounced and cooked and cleaned, and filled our pantry. They recognized a need, felt compassion, and acted. That is necessary in everyday family life. It helps me not get upset with my 13 year old for spending an hour locked in the bathroom.
Work: I like this one. My kids often hear me say that we can't be happy without work. I am that freaky kind of person that cleans and cleans when I am stressed. I develop confidence and I find peace when I work, and I notice the same for my kids. Working together and developing that confidence and that marvelous sense of a a job well done has a very binding effect.
Wholesome Recreational Activities: This has got to be everyone's favorite part of being a family. This is where traditions and memories are formed. My kids favorite memories come from vacations we have taken, and day trips and holidays with lots of junk food. I love how John's family gets together all of the time to hang out and eat and play games. John's siblings are so close. They worked together and played together a lot as children and they still work together and play together a lot as adults. I want that for my children too. I have also learned that wholesome recreational activities come at a cost to the mother. They create a lot more work than ordinary life. There are plans to be made, extra food to be made and all of the cleanup. This tends to fall on the mother. But it is so worth it for the closeness it creates and the traditions it makes.

I am grateful for inspired prophets and apostles that tell us what we need for a heavenly home.

The Proclamation: The two final paragraph's

2011-09-13T15:42:00.000-06:00

I am going to link in with Chocolate on my Cranium, The Redheaded Hostess,Welcome to the Madness, and We Talk of Christ in writing about The Family: A Proclamation to the World from Sept 9th to the 23rd.

I love the Proclamation. When It came out in September of 1995, I was a bitter, unhappy almost 20 year old college sophmore. I thought family was meant for other people--not me. I did not think I would marry or have kids or any of that. When the Bishopric of my singles ward presented this and taught us about all the other church proclamations and how important this was, I nodded, thought it really had nothing to do with me and went to sleep. 2 years later, I was married, pregnant with my first child, and very happy. At that time as I began planning for a future as a parent, I took more notice of the Proclamation. I did not realize how important it would be to the world and to all of God's children. As I have seen satan's plan to destroy the family unfold in the last 10 years, I have realized how very relevant the Proclamation of the Family is to the entire world.

Today, I am going to focus on the two final paragraph's. They state:

We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.
We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

In the last year, I have focused a lot on the final paragraph. I have seen very organized groups attacking the family. The attacks come in various ways. There are the groups that would destroy marriage. There are groups that would make people think children are a burden and an expense and not worth having. There are groups that promote all types of immorality as normal and acceptable.These groups are actively promoting immorality to children. These group are well funded and very organized. One example is the ACLU (the American Civil Liberties Union). Currently the ACLU is suing school districts around the nation that block pornography and other sexual websites in the school. See here and here.

When the Proclamation was written in 1995, the First Presicency and Quorum of the 12 Apostles foresaw these events and felt to warn us. They knew our children, the children in Christian and Latter Day Saint homes, would be the people most under attack. They knew that we would need to be armed with the knowledge that we are children of God, that our bodies are a part of God's divine plan for His children, that husband and wives need to work together and that their separate rolls are divinely appointed, and that our gender was part of us before we were born. The Proclamation to the Family is a safety net today against a barrage of false doctrine. We need to defend it and declare it in our homes, in our communities, and in our schools.

Check It Out

2011-09-12T07:57:00.002-06:00

I am linking up with, Chocolate on my Cranium, The Redheaded Hostess,Welcome to the Madness, and We Talk of Christ in writing about The Family: A Proclamation to the World from Sept 9th to the 23rd.

Well, I am not really linking up with them. I have not been invited. But, I wanted to write about the Proclamation on the Family too, and I love reading what other people are writing about the The Family: A Proclamation to the World. So check me out in my SCRIPTURE MUSINGS TAB, and check out these other lovely ladies writing to celebrate the family.

I Love These: Recent Photos

2011-09-10T09:13:00.003-06:00

Here I am taking a nap on the floor with Joshua next to me playing in a pile of stuffed animals.

I took the little kids to the rides at Liberty Park.

I love the look on Rachel's face here.

The cat taking a nap across the amplifier and printer

Rachel and Anya making room in their bed for their dolls.

Home School Week 2

2011-09-10T09:02:00.000-06:00

This week went really well. A lot of the difficulties from week one have been smoothed out, and the kids are settling into the idea of schooling at home. My body is getting used to the extra work and I do not feel as tired as I felt the previous week. Everyday seemed calm. The kids worked quietly and efficiently most days. I have worked on how to fit things in better so that we have time for more fun things. Ruth is finishing her online school in 4 to 5 hours so she has more time for reading her own books and drawing. I had laryngitis all week and have learned that a quiet voice works just as well as a loud one. I need to remember this little lesson. I think that added to the peace of the week.

We still have a couple of changes to make for next week. Ruth has a Shakespeare class on Thursdays from 1 to 3. I want to make sure all of the rest of us have finished school by 12:30 that day so we can use that time for the park in good weather and the library in bad. Johnny needs me to be more consistently checking his work and making sure he is not just goofing off. To do this, I have made a daily check list for both Kate and Johnny that I will go over with them halfway through the day and they will have to turn it in at the end the day with all of their completed work.

Cooking went better this week because I bought food. It is funny how having food on hand and not having to rack my brain helps. The laundry is still in the figuring out phase. I guess I should have the older kids help, I just feel guilty when they have their school work. By giving all of the kids more written work, we are consolidating our time better. I have given up on the "don't interrupt me." I let them interrupt and whoever is most urgent gets me. Oddly enough his is working pretty well. Thanks for all of the advice here.

I really like the freedom of home school. I like that I have Johnny working on programming, We are hoping to get him a real job when he turns 16 rather than a burger flipping job. I like that Johnny can be mainly working at a 7th grade level. I like that history is mainly a lot of very interesting reading rather than a boring textbook full of dates and battles. Kate who has never liked reading much is enjoying her history reading a lot! I like that I have the time to help my first grader with reading rather than having to fit that in after 6 hours of school with a tired kid.

Our Whoopie Pie Moon Phases. Adam and Rachel are currently learning about the moon for science.

Kate typing her book report.

Ruth has her own laptop and likes to do her school at the kitchen table while listening to music-- mainly Taylor Swift.

Adam, Rachel, and Anya playing together after they finished school. Anya has been a little unhappy when Rachel has to work rather than play, but I am sure she would be more unhappy if Rachel was away at school.