"He Will Die On His Feet Before He Will Live On His Knees"

This last Wednesday we helped the youth put on a super fun Grandparents Dinner, for all of the people over 55 years old in our ward. A member of our bishopric shared a video similar to this one, same narration, some different pictures. I have never watched anything that stirred my heart with so much patriotism.

Today is Veterans Day. I am afraid this is a day that goes by largely unnoticed in a lot of our lives. I hope this video inspires us all to really consider the sacrifices our military, each member individually, have made to make this country what it is! We are a blessed people, and it hasn't come without a price!

I love this great country! I hope this video inspires us all to remember just how blessed we are to have the freedoms we have! Next time we have the opportunity to place our hands over our heart and pledge allegiance to our flag, or sing our national anthem, I hope we remember the people in Fort Henry, their sacrifice and the sacrifice of every single person who has or does serve us in the military, with more gratitude in our hearts!

The Good, The Bad & The Perspective

Ok, we have all heard the saying, "The grass is greener on the other side", right?! But we all know that is the way it appears, but not necessarily the way it is. Sometimes it seems that someone else's lot would be easier than our own, other people look better, have more, have it more together, can do more, accomplish more,  or ARE better, than us. Sometimes it seems like the only way we know to judge our own accomplishments or experiences in life, is to compare it to someone else's accomplishments and experiences.

It seems that in the world of social media everyone's life takes on a rosy hue. They are always patient. Always serving. Always vacationing. Always the best mom EVER. Always totally put together. And you know what...I don't mind the positive posts! It is like the whole idea behind BillionClicks. When she focused on the number of negative thoughts she had in a day, it seemed she felt more and more negative. However, when she started to count the positive things about her life, she started to realize the influence of positive thinking in her life. Post the positive! I like it! If it's real and you feel it, AWESOME! Being positive does not mean that you are "Fake". Holy smokes, do I ever hate when people say that! The thing is that the responsibility of seeing the reality in things is the readers responsibility! Celebrate happy moments with friends! Just because someone has a happy moment, or 20, are we left to believe that nothing hard ever comes their way?! No! Heavens no! 

You know, I had a bit of a realization not to long ago. I have PCOS and Hashimoto Thyroiditis, not a good combo when you intend to be on the lower end of the scale. I workout A LOT and I eat mostly good. I work at it, and yet in the last couple of years I have only lost about 40 lbs, as of right now. It is frustrating to say the least! I would love to have my body reflect how I feel on the inside. I would love to not have to pull up so much weight, while doing pull-ups at CrossFit. :) I would love to not stress about injuring my joints when I run. I would love to wear all the cute outfits I have pinned on Pinterest! :) However, it just hasn't come, and who knows if it will. I just have to keep on going...for sanity reasons! :) 

So, the realization came the other day when I was out with my hubby. There was a lady in front of us in line. It was very easy to see that she was a very pretty lady. She was thin and looked great. I caught myself being a bit envious for a moment. Then I noticed something else. I could see it in her face and in the way she was acting. That girl, for as thin and pretty as I thought she was, may as well have been the most overweight person in the whole room. She was insanely uncomfortable in her skin. You could feel it from her. It made me sad for her...then for me. I realized that in a moment of self-pity, I had forgotten all of the good things that I had in my life. I forgot that I had a hubby that thinks I am the shizzle and kids that say I am the "bomb.com", and most importantly, I forgot that I like me! I looked at her lot and thought my life would be so much better if I could just look like that. In all of my shallow forgetfulness, I didn't stop to think of all that I HAD been blessed with and all that this body of mine IS able to do. How quickly I wanted to think that her life is easier than mine because of her appearance. I am a silly silly shallow person sometimes! Oh brother! 

We all have weaknesses and struggles! When someone looks like they have it all, or all together, remember that they are going through something too. They may not advertise it, but it is there! And then, in all our understanding, we should be more kind to ourselves! We are doing better than we think we are! 

Mayor Bruce Call, my favorite Sunday School teacher, said this a couple of weeks ago in his lesson. I LOVED IT! A little something to remember next time we want to beat ourselves up, as we elevate everyone around us! :)

Dreaming of Gethsemane

When I was in seminary I remember a teacher reading a quote to us. It was about a dream that Orson F. Whitney had about the Savior. I remember it had a huge impact on me. From time to time that dream will cross my mind. It did today. I had to share it with you. As I read it I can almost feel the same desperate desire to be with the Lord. Sometimes a thought, story or quote can be just enough to remind us of our goals and aspirations in this life. They can be just what we need for the little course corrections we need from time to time. This one certainly serves that purpose! Especially when we remember that it all truly is up to us!

                                                                     Painting by: Del Parson

"One night I dreamed that I was in the Garden of Gethsemane, a witness of the Savior's agony. I stood behind a tree in the foreground, Jesus, with Peter, James and John, came through a little wicket gate at my right. Leaving the three apostles there, after telling them to kneel and pray, He passed over to the other side, where He also knelt and prayed. 'Oh my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt.'

As He prayed tears streamed down His face, which was turned toward me. I was so moved at the sight that I wept also, out of pure sympathy with His great sorrow. My whole heart went out to Him. I loved Him with all my soul and longed to be with Him as I longed for nothing else. 

Presently He arose and walked to where those apostles were kneeling -- fast asleep! He shook them gently, awoke them, and in a tone of tender reproach, and untinctured by the least show of anger or scolding, asked them if they could not watch with Him one hour. 

Returning to His place, He prayed and then went back and found them again sleeping. Again He awoke them, admonished them, and returned and prayed as before. Three times this happened, until I was perfectly familiar with His appearance -- face, form and movements. He was of noble stature and majestic mien, the very God that He was and is, yet as meek and lowly as a little child. 

All at once circumstances began to change. Instead of before, it was after the Crucifixion, and the Savior, with those three apostles, now stood together in a group at my left. They were about to depart and ascend into Heaven. I could endure it no longer. I ran from behind the tree, fell at His feet, clasped Him around the knees, and begged Him to take me with Him. 

I shall never forget the kind and gentle manner in which He stooped and raised me up and embraced me. It was so vivid, so real that I felt the very warmth of His bosom against which I rested. Then He said, 'No, my son; these have finished their work, and they may go with me; but you must stay and finish yours.' Still I clung to Him. Gazing up into His face--for He was taller than I--I besought Him most earnestly. 'Well, promise me that I will come to You at the last.'  He smiled sweetly and tenderly and replied, 'That will depend entirely upon yourself.'" I awoke with a sob in my throat, and it was morning."

Before you go, have a listen to this! This sweet song is the perfect way to sum this up! 

Playing Mom!

Hey guess what I got to do for a few days last week....

I watched my sisters kids! 2 of these are mine, 4 are not....well, technically. I would kidnap every last one and keep them as my own forever, if I didn't think it would hurt my sisters feelings. 

You know what, sometime motherhood is just plain hard. It is good and is filled with lots of amazing moments that make it all worth it, but it is hard! Especially bedtime! Oh heaven help me! Bedtime! My brain and body are begging for relief and it just won't come! Every 2 seconds someone summons me to their bedroom for one more thing they need, or thought they saw, or because of the noise they are producing! Usually with just my 2 kiddos, because of their ages, we say "Head to Bed" and that is that. They disappear and we rarely hear from them until morning. It's a good phase, this one! However, with 3 cousins per room, there was endless giggling (which reminded me of my brother, sister and I growing up and sleeping in the same room on occasion, laughing all night and making my mom seriously frustrated), some fights, a lot of teasing, and a whole lot of NOT SLEEPING! I can say that last weekend gave me a whole new glimpse and understanding why my Mother-in-Law, when my husband was 10, tied him to his bed with a jump rope to get him to stay....he laughed at her the whole time, and made like Houdini and busted out in seconds! With 7 small children, all close in age, it's no wonder she would be willing to try anything! And now it makes for hilarious story telling! 

This last weekend I really thought a lot about the rewards and trials of Motherhood. At all it's phases, and with all it's numbers. I have only my 2 to raise. I had expected and wished for more, but I hashed out all of those expectations here. What I expect, and the Lord's plan for my life don't always line up, but I am smart enough to know that His plan is always far better (and almost always harder) than my own, in the grand scheme of things. 

I guess the things that I most thought about is how important it is to just try to enjoy the journey. If we are constantly focused on the tasks that are ours, we will burn out and feel like a "slave" or "servant" in our own home. Can I say that I totally believe those are thoughts placed in our minds by the adversary! We all feel them from time to time. A feeling like we are losing our identity or so overrun and under-appreciated. I get it. Those feelings totally affect me from time to time, but I have to remember the source of those kinds of thoughts, let them go, and then remember to spend more time enjoying my role as a Mother! I love playing and laughing with my kids! How the heck do I forget that and get caught up in the task list?! And then worst of all, let my task list affect the way I treat them?! Those items on that list may get checked off the list, and they may not, and the ones that get checked off usually show back up the next day. Some days, that is just the way it goes, but when we have spent the day strengthening our relationship with our kids and building their self worth, we have done what is most important, and we feel better about ourselves, more happy, and we have a greater sense of fulfillment! 

I listened to Sheri Dew & Wendy Watson Nelson speak one time about our roles in this life. They taught that we have all been sent to earth with a "to-do" list. This list is full of items that we are expected to complete in this life. It is a list personal to us. Only we are able to complete this list, the way it is supposed to be done. When we are working on this list we feel a sense of joy, peace and fulfillment in our lives. When we are not, we may be busy, but we will not be filled with those same feelings. There will be a lack of peace, joy & fulfillment in our lives. 

I love that! It helps me keep myself in check! My children are on my task list! If I am feeling run down, negative or like I don't have purpose or have lost my identity, I try to remember the source of those feelings, then take a good and honest look at what I am missing or what needs to go and make the changes. 

In Motherhood, with all of it's crazy phases, it is so important for us to remember that this time we have with small or young children is gone in an instant. Believe me! I swear I was just giving Jake his first bath on his first day home from the hospital....and suddenly he is almost a teenager! Before I know it he will be leaving on his mission! It makes my stomach hurt to even think about it! Will he leave knowing how much I love the heck out of him?! Will he KNOW that because I have shown him through the ways I have treated him?

It is my goal to spend more time playing, baking cookies or letting them figure out how to cook something new, reading stories, cuddling and laughing with my kids, celebrating my victories and letting go of my shortcomings! I prayed long and hard....7 years of my life, for the opportunity to be a mother to the children I have. The fact that I have them is miraculous to me! And that is how I need to look at my role as their mom! I gave everything I had to my Dawson, which sometimes fell dreadfully short, but it was still all I could give, and I know it was enough! That is one of the gifts I have been given, with him now on the other side of the veil. He has let me know, in no uncertain terms, that I did more than enough for him! And now I hope that when my other kids are grown I can feel the same about them! 

Alright, now that that is off my chest.....here are a few of our magic moments from this last weekend! Once we found our groove (uh hem, Mallory and her temper and inability to process the madness), it was SO much fun to have a house full of kids! Granted I felt like I was either cooking or cleaning the WHOLE time, but still...We did manage to squeeze some fun moments into the mix, and my kiddos had a BLAST! 

The biggest adventure of them all! The little kids riding to church in the back of the topless monster Bronco! Could there be anything more exciting in their lives?! 

This is me celebrating my victory! 6 kids all bathed, dressed and done up for church! It may have taken me 3 hours to get through all of them, but we were 15 min which made my hubby happy! I think this made me the hero of the day! Yay for me! :) 

Lego parties! These were the moments I loved most! All 6 of them playing together and totally happy! Even Gizmo tried getting in on the fun! A big thank you to the makers of Lego's for making a toy that these kids could play with and be entertained by for HOURS all weekend long! 

Back To School.....for the Old Man!

Oh, does this picture ever make me laugh! 

Since March my hubby has been voluntarily out of a job. I'm not going to lie, I have enjoyed the livin' day lights out of it! There is not another soul on earth that I would rather spend every second with! I never get tired of him and we always find something fun to do! It has been awesome, to say the least. And now, it is time to get on with it, I suppose.

Ryan has done Heating & Air Conditioning his whole life. His Dad started a company when Ry was young, and so he started learning the trade early on. After we got married he became the Residential Manager in the company. However, he still struggled. He didn't have a passion for what he was doing for work, and since that is where you spend such a huge chunk of time, it's kind of important to be happy with it....at least that is how we felt. So, he decided to move on, which resulted in the offer to run the Harris-Dudley branch in Sun Valley, ID.

Back again! Out of one, and right back into another. However, neither of us can deny that this was the right move for us. The Lord wanted us in Idaho and that is right where we went. Every person, every experience, especially having the twins while we were there...it all was just as it should have been. We met friends that had a profound impact on our lives, friends that we will love forever! Ry ended up becoming an equal partner in the ownership of that company. They had a good company! They were successful! One of the best...if not the best in the Valley. Ryan was designing systems for 18,000 sq. ft. homes and doing work for Tom Hanks, Arnold Schwarzenegger and other uppity ups. He was providing well for our family and we were able to do whatever was required to take care of Dawson's needs. Including taking the time off work or working from his home office so he could care for Jake & Mal while Daws and I stayed in the hospital. All seemed just right.....except it wasn't.

I totally believe that each of us was sent to the earth with a "To-Do" list, of sorts. We have missions to perform, things that only we can do. When we are living our lives in a way that fulfills those purposes, then we experience joy and fulfillment. We have peace. When we are not, we may be busy, but we will still feel a lack of joy, peace and fulfillment in our lives. 

Ryan was experiencing just that. The lack! Ry has never been one to define success by money or position. Success comes for him through feeling. Feelings of fulfillment, joy, peace....all of those feelings only come when we are living our lives inline with what our spirit knows we have been sent to do.

After Dawson died the feeling of that part of our lives coming to an end started becoming stronger and stronger. We didn't know what would happen next, but we knew the Lord's will would be done. Ry worked hard. The area we lived in started to feel the weight of the economy in the area suddenly taking a nose dive. Remember when we lived in our RV? We were trying to find a way to heal our hearts by having an adventure together. The Lord knew that this was a step in helping us financially for our next big move, the one we didn't see coming, but we could feel something was going to change. And change it did! With 10 days notice Ry and his partners decided that they weren't willing to go into a hole trying to save the company. We were even more anxious to move to the next step in our lives, and suddenly the opportunity was in front of our faces. The down fall was that we only had 10 days to pack up and move back to Utah. We barely had a chance to say goodbye to the friends we loved so much!

Once we got to Utah, we tried to find the next step for us. Was this the window to getting Ryan out of HVAC and on to his place in this world. Well....not yet!

Ry was asked to start a solar division for a friends company, and so he did that until we could sort out what to do next. We just kept feeling that there was purpose in the timing. And there was. He had a job, we found the house that was the right fit for us, and we were able to buy it. Then Ryan was givin the opportunity to go work in North Dakota for my sis-in-laws Dad. One week gone, 3 weeks home. January-March. It was a sweet arrangement. Then March came. We had enough in savings to take a step back, live on it, and sort out our next steps.

The last several months have been a lesson in faith for us. Each week we went to the temple, prayed constantly and sought the Lords will in our lives. We felt that was the best way to help us find the right path and opportunities. All along, every time a job was offered or a little stress was felt, we were met with a reassuring, "not yet, just be still". Occasionally we would have a strong feeling to do something, like build a music studio in our garage. We don't know why for sure, other than it gives Ryan a place to record, write & play music and for me to sing at the top of my lungs without disturbing a soul....and I like that! :) When we would start to worry, we would go to the temple and again, "not yet, just be still".

And then it came.....SCHOOL! Ryan had a career planned for him, since he was 11! He knows all there is to know about the industry. College wasn't something he chose to do. It is something he regrets so terribly. Not anymore! As of yesterday, Ryan started attending his first classes at UVU, with hopes to quickly transfer to BYU. We feel very good about him getting a degree in Mechanical Engineering, as of right now. He is wicked smart and totally could do anything he ever wanted to do. For now, this feels good, and we feel that as he starts in that direction either other doorways will open, or this will remain confirmed.

And so it starts! Ryan, Jake & Mal in school. Ryan at nights, for now, so he can find something to do, or start a business that will provide for our family in the meantime. Funny thing is that just the other day I felt a strong prompting to start school this January! Can you imagine?! 2 College Students with 2 kids in school! I laugh when I think about it, but it makes me excited to think about what lessons we all, and most importantly our kids, will learn through this experience! Certainly college will play a huge roll in their lives!

But beyond all of that I have to say, I have 100% respect and admiration for Ryan! He has my complete support, come what may! How could I not support him?! He is a 38 year old man, willing to walk away from a comfortable living to pursue his mission and purpose. Not everyone's mission is directly related to what they do for a living. Ryan's is. We know this, because of his Patriarchal Blessing...and from what we feel! I have mad respect for his willingness to sacrifice and become the OLD MAN on campus! THAT is living with Eternal Perspective! THAT is LifeUncommon! And I love him for it! We may be starving college students, and life might get a little crazy, but it will be yet another adventure under the belt of the Lindstrom Family! No doubt about it! 

So buckle up my friends! You are along for this ride! Wouldn't it be interesting to be able to flash forward 10 years to see what your life looks like?! Well, it would, but since it can't happen, we are just going to trust and enjoy it as much as possible!

DON'T BE AFRAID TO GET A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE IN ORDER TO FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS! THE REWARDS WILL BE PRICELESS! 

FHE: "Doing Our Dailies" Teaching the effects of daily scripture study & prayers

This lesson popped into my head a few Sunday's ago. I was sitting next to my husband in church thinking about the way I feel in my Sunday School class. We have an incredibly wise and amazing Sunday school teacher. I told my husband that I feel like a dried out, thirsty sponge, in his class. I feel myself trying to take in every little bit of information, like it is water filling me up. Then I started to think about sponges a little more and this lesson came together. Please feel free to adapt it, along with any other FHE lesson on this blog, to fit the needs of your family!

I placed an old dried out sponge on a plate and had everyone feel it. It was not pliable. It was hard and rigid. 

We talked about and compared this to the scripture stories that talk about people being hard-hearted, or stiff-necked, and discussed how this happens when we aren't living our lives close to the spirit, following the prophet & keeping the commandments. 

We talked about how "doing our dailies" (Daily scripture study, serve others & prayer, etc), is what keeps us from becoming hard like this sponge. 

I also told them about how sometimes a sponge can become so hard that it requires a lot of wringing over and over to get it to let the water in, and sometimes that can be like trials that happen in our lives that can be used to remind us to turn to the Lord in all things. 

We poured water on the sponge little by little. Explaining that it was like each time we say our prayers, read scriptures or do an act of kindness. Those actions change us. 

They make us softer and more teachable. 

And when we continue to do these things each day, like a sponge that has pressure applied, we "ooze" those things that we have filled our selves with. We talked about the prodding being like missionary work or being asked questions by others about our faith. When our sponge was moist, but not full, nothing came out. We lacked the conviction in our testimony, or the knowledge, to teach. However, when we have "done our dailies" consistently, our testimony flows easily. 

Then we talked about how adding things to our dailies like going to the temple frequently, serving and looking for more opportunities to serve, being quick to forgive and kind to everyone, paying our tithing and fast offerings, etc, what we have put in cannot be contained. Everything we do or say is a reflection of our beliefs and conviction of the reality of our Savior Jesus Christ. It "oozes" from us, in our actions and words. 

  

THIS is the best place to be!

We brought another hard sponge into the mix and talked about how it could represent our friends, or people we meet or associate with. 

When we consistently, everyday, participate in scripture study and be sure to say prayers, serve, etc. In other words, when we fill our lives with the things of the Lord, our testimony cannot help but affect the people around us! 

As our testimony "oozes" the people around us begin to feel of the Lords love for them, through us, if we listen to the spirit! 

When we do everything that we can, each day, to fill our lives and minds with the spirit, the Lord can use us as instruments to reach out to our brothers and sisters around us and we can help bring them back to Him! 

HIS First

This last Sunday I had such an interesting impression during the Sacrament.

Jake was about to pass the Sacrament for his first time. This is a BIG DEAL! He has really been so worried about it. Worried that he wouldn't know where to go, worried that he would mess up or get confused....just a whole lot of worry. We had promised him that we would all be praying hard for him. So, he summoned the courage and took his place.

While I was praying for him, and thinking about how much I love this little man of mine. I suddenly had a very strong impression about my role as his mother, and Ryan's role as his father. These roles are a privilege and a calling.

Our children each come to this world with a specific purpose and mission to fulfill and the Lord is entrusting us, his children, to guide these little ones through their lives. He knows us all personally, and so He knows the order in which we should come to this Earth. We were chosen to come before our children, because  the Lord knew that we would be able to give our children what they would need to meet the requirements of their lives. The interesting thing about this feeling was the sense of being a secondary parent, for lack of a better term. Sometimes I think I look at my kids as being totally mine, but they are not. They are His first! He loves them infinitely! He knows their spirits and their potential and their weaknesses, because He, our Father in Heaven, is literally our Father! Likewise, He knows us, our potential and our weaknesses, because He is our Father as well! His love for my children, and His trust in me, as well as His gratitude for the work I am trying to do with my kids, was so profound today! I know where I fall short, and so does He. I think that is why He sent this loving reminder to me today.

Perspective always seems to do a world of good! I can't help but feel a desire to do a little better, be a bit more patient, pray a little more on their behalf, knowing that the Lord will guide me in this role, when I think of my children as His children first!

Fishes Wishes

Have you heard about these little girls? 

This is Alice (2) and Natalie (8). They both have a very rare disease called Leaky SCIDS. It is an auto immune disorder that was threatening their lives. The only hopeful cure was a bone marrow transplant. So, over that last few months, this family has been going through the process of finding donors, going through chemo to kill the marrow in their bodies and then through the transplant process. 

Both of these girls are my friend Lisy's daughters. One of their brothers was a perfect match for Natalie and able to donate. Alice finally received a match from an anonymous stranger. Thank goodness! 

I have been amazed at the burden Tyler and Lisy have been carrying on their shoulders. 2 girls in the hospital, plus surgery for one son to be able to donate, no to mention the fact that they have a very young baby that also needed to be with Lisy. So crazy! 

This has been something they have been dealing with for so many years. However, only recently has anyone known about it. My friend Wendy has organized so much of the donations, media attention, etc, needed to help them through this process. She has been so inspirational to me. I have never seen anyone, with enough on her own plate as it is, so willingly and lovingly give every ounce of energy she had, and then some, to aid and share in the burden of someone else. She is really quite an example! 

I want to thank Lisy and Tyler for letting us share in this experience with them. I know it is hard to share your burdens and experiences with so many, but because you have my testimony of modern day miracles has grown infinitely! My testimony of the power of prayer and the reality that God hears and answers them is stronger than ever! There is no possible way to know what has happened thus far in this experience and doubt the existence of a loving Father in Heaven. So thank you! Thank you for letting us watch this experience unfold! 

If you want to see something incredibly amazing you should really read their blog! They have documented daily the things they have experienced. Videos included. 

Just over a week ago I read the blog and saw that Alices body was not "engrafting" or accepting the transplant. I feared so much for her little life. My heart ached to think of the grief that was waiting to receive Tyler, Lisy and their family. I know that grief, and I ached for them to face the same. 

We decided to hold a fast for little Alice. As this decision was made and just as the fast began, little Alice took a turn for the worst. She had a seizure and crashed totally. You can read about that night HERE. It is heart breaking! 

We were all grateful that the inspiration for the fast had come earlier that day and the fast had already begun. The next day was filled with heartbreaking fear. To be honest, I watched my phone all day worried for the phone call to come that Alice had returned to our Father in Heaven. It didn't come. Thank goodness! 

Instead their was a post that left no room for the denial of miracles. Though Alice had been incoherent, she was suddenly talking just like her cute little self. Tests were done, there were no lasting effects, or even signs that the seizure or any damage had taken place. Within hours Alice was back in her normal room, and hours after than, miraculously, engrafted! Her numbers that indicated the marrow was taking hold grew day after day. Just over a week after this terrifying accident came a post stating that Alice was going home! You have to read it and watch the video! So amazing! You can see that one HERE.

Alice has changed lives! She is a positive little girl, with a very strong spirit! Her parents just posted this about her! So profound! So inspirational! I just had to share it with you! I hope you read it! I hope I can be more like Alice with the ability to see the good in everything....even, and especially in the hardest times! 

 READ "ALICE INSPIRED" POST HERE! 

If you would like to help the Fish family in anyway, be sure to check their blog, on one of the links above, for details! 

Lamb of God

A couple of weeks ago I heard about this CD in my Relief Society class. We listened to one of the songs. It was incredibly beautiful! So, I went to Seagull Book and bought a copy for myself. I have not been able to stop listening to it! It is so so beautiful and perfect! Throughout this last week I have felt my testimony of the power of the Atonement and the life, mission and love that Jesus Christ had for all of us, grow immeasurably. There is power in music like this. The narration, the solos, the choir.....the message. I cannot recommend this enough! I bought myself a copy and then had to by many more copies to give as gifts. I want everyone to hear it! 

Here is a small sample of one of the songs put to a video clip (I think it is from "To This End Was I Born".) 

If you want to see another great clip or check out more about it, go HERE to check out Rob Gardners website. I got my 2 CD set for just over $8! I would have paid 3 times that! It's awesome! TRUST ME!

Welding, Habits & Crossroads

Image Source

Ryan spoke in church this last Sunday. The topic was something along the lines of "How Scouting supports the Aaronic Priesthood". I think he kindled a bit of passion and an understanding of what a great organization the Boy Scouts of America is. I am a bit partial to him, but man alive can that guy speak! I LOVE it!

One of the quotes he read really made an impact on me. As you read it think beyond the boys and scouting. Think about your role with either your own children, or children you have an impact on......

"The whole object of our scouting is to seize the boys character in it's red-hot stage of enthusiasm and to weld it into the right shape and to encourage and develop it's individuality so that the boy may educate himself to become a good man and reliable citizen for his country." 

-Baden Powell 

Isn't that a fabulous quote? "seize [their] character in it's red-hot stage of enthusiasm..." SHEESH! What a fabulous combination of words to describe the passion every child has for learning at one point or another, and the passion which we should use to help "weld [their enthusiasm] into the right shape and encourage and develop [their] individuality"!

This has left me thinking about how vital my role is in the lives of my children. This last week I read a quote by President Gordon B. Hinckley, that was directed to the women.....

"You are the bearers of the children. You are they who nurture them and establish within them the habits of their lives. No other work reaches so close to divinity as does the nurturing of the sons and daughters of God."

-Gordon B. Hinckley, "Stand Strong against the Wiles of the World" Ensign, Nov. 1995

How beautiful is that?! Beautiful and humbling. I haven't been able to get "establish within them the habits of their lives" out of my mind, since I read this. What a responsibility! Everything from spiritual habits (personal prayer & scripture study), kindness, serving others, expressing and feeling gratitude, taking care of our physical bodies, etc....all of these habits are first taught by us. As their Mothers, we have the most influence when it comes to "welding" their characters, not at all to outshine the powerful impact fathers have upon them, but our responsibilities mold habits, because of our vigilance to the constant ebb and flow of their daily choices and reactions.

Ryan also read a poem that has been quoted by President Thomas S. Monson.....

"He stood at the crossroads all alone, 

the sunlight in his face. 

He had no thought for the world unknown, 

he was set for a manly race.

But the road stretched East, 

and the road stretched West, 

and the lad knew not which road was best.

So he chose the road that led him down, 

and he lost the race and the victors crown. 

He was caught at last in an angry snare, 

because no one stood at the crossroads there, 

to show him the better road. 

Another at the self-same place a boy with high hopes stood, 

he too was set for a manly race, 

he too was seeking the things that were good. 

But one was there who the roads did know, 

and that one showed him which way to go. 

So he turned from the road that would lead him down, 

and he won the race, and the victors crown. 

He walks today the highway fair, because one stood at the crossroads there, to show him the better way."

- Sadie Tiller Crawley

It is sad to read "because no one stood at the crossroads there, to show him the better road". The combination of three quotes have reminded me to be present so that when my children come to the crossroads in their lives they will see their parents waiting there to show them which way to go, because we know the same roads they will face. 

Man, I love stuff like this! It makes me so grateful to be a Mom and helps me realize how present and selfless I have to be in order to help these kids succeed. Pretty amazing job, I say! :) 

Grateful Kids Are Happier Kids

I love when my hubby sends me great articles like this: 

GRATEFUL KIDS ARE HAPPIER 

(you should totally take a sec and read it, too!)

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"We know that grateful kids are happier [and] more satisfied with their lives," explains Hoftra University psychology assistant professor Jeffrey Froh in an article this week in The Washington Post. "They report better relationships with friends and family, higher GPAs, less materialism, less envy and less depression, along with a desire to connect to their community and to want to give back."

That's not all. It's also believed to boost immune systems and lower blood pressure over time. In a Temple Univeristy study, patients with hypertension lowered their blood pressure just by calling a "gratitude" hotline everyday. If it's that effective on adults with health problems, imagine what announcing the good things in life at early age can do. 

In a study of early adolescents, Froh found that kids who journaled daily about their good fortune, over a period of two weeks, were less prone to depression and more satisfied with their lives overall. And that optimism and satisfaction made them more likely to take care of themselves physically in the long-term."

Gratitude is a powerful powerful thing, my friends! I am so glad I read this article! It reminds me both the importance of  putting more focus on it within my own life AND the importance of teaching my children the importance of developing an attitude of gratitude. How powerful would it be to live our lives focusing on all that we have to be grateful for, instead of all that we lack?! Of course we would be more satisfied and happy. 


This whole article has inspired me to start a new tradition in my family. Each night at family dinner we are going to go around the table and list one thing that we are grateful for that day. I will encourage the kids not to repeat, if they can help it. I hope that doing this will help all of us  become more mindful of all they have to be grateful for, and that it will help bring us closer as a family! 


Thanks for the awesome article Ry!  

Flecks or Nuggets?

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This story has me thinking today.......

There is a story of a young merchant from Boston, who in 1849, as the story goes, was caught up in the fervor of the California gold rush. He sold all of this possessions to seek his fortune in the California rivers, which he was told were filled with gold nuggets so big that one could hardly carry them. 

Day after endless day, the young man dipped his pan into the river and came up empty. His only reward was a growing pile of rocks. Discouraged and broke, he was ready to quit until one day an old, experienced prospector said to him, "That's quite a pile of rocks you are getting there, my boy."

The young man replied, "There's no gold here. I',m going back home."

Walking over to the pile of rocks, the old prospector said, "Oh, there is gold all right. You just have to know where to find it." He picked two rocks up in his hands and crashed them together. One of the rocks split open, revealing several flecks of gold sparkling in the sunlight.

Noticing the bulging leather pouch fastened to the prospector's waist, the young man said, "I'm looking for nuggets like the ones in your pouch, not just tiny flecks."

The old prospector extended his pouch toward the young man, who looked inside, expecting to see several large nuggets. He was stunned to see that the pouch was filled with thousands of flecks of gold. 

The old prospector said, "Son, it seems to me you are so busy looking for large nuggets that you're missing filling your pouch with these precious flecks of gold. The patient accumulation of these little flecks has brought me great wealth."

Today I am thinking about how easily I get focused on doing too much. I tend to be a person that loves simplicity, but I seem to always wrap everything up in a complicated mess. The funny this is that when I am crazy busy I spread myself to thin. Never really giving enough of myself to anything to make it feel right. However, when I simplify and focus on the small things, the things that make my big picture it's best, life is more peaceful and fulfilling. What makes me forget this?! 

My goal this year is to focus more on the "flecks" in my life. Today I am making a list of all the things that are important to me (scripture study, daily prayers, weekly temple attendance, serving others, spending "fun" time with my kids, taking care of my health, being a crazy amazing wife :), being a better friend, etc). These things will receive my energy. They are the little things in life that make my life rich, blessed and full of happiness. 

Sure there will be things that will require my attention. However, I will learn to give them what they require and then move on.....simplify. 

This totally reminds me of a story a lady told at a convention she was speaking at. She was talking about making treats for her childs school class. She was supposed to bring 20 treats that resembled "12 Drummers Drumming". She stayed up all hours of the night baking large cookies shaped like drums. She frosted and detailed each one meticulously. She was exhausted the next day when she took them to the class. As she set them in front of the kids she sought a bit of ooo's and aahhh's from the children. Instead.....they ate them in like 2 seconds flat and went on with the rest of the party. She said, "It was this point that I realized a Ding Dong and 2 Twizzlers would have worked just fine."

I think about that a lot. How true is that?! Sometimes it is so great to give something our best effort, and others it is OK to just accomplish the task. After all, we are all busy. There is a lot that is required of us. WHY make it harder than it is supposed to be. In my experience, when I give a large amount of effort to the things that are not on my list of things that are important to me, I tend to feel overrun and a sense of failure, no matter how much I accomplish outside of those things. 

Sometimes the nuggets are great, but they are few and far between. The flecks, however, are in everything that is important to us, and as they accumulate, their value is far beyond a nugget here or there. "The patient accumulation of these little flecks [will bring us] great wealth!"

2 Years Ago Today......

Two years ago today our little man finished his mission here on earth. His mission was abnormally difficult. He suffered more than most and more than I am sure we know. His life's purpose was to remind each one of us, and the hundreds of thousands that have read about him, that God lives, that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is vital to each one of us, both in it's power to wash away our sins and in it's ability to lift our burdens and comfort our weary hearts. Families are forever. Temples, and the sacred and beautiful ordinances performed there are vital to the eternal nature of our lives. 

The list could go on and on! 

Today I am grateful that our son came to our family. I am grateful for the 4 1/2 years we had with him. I know it was meant to be much less, however, our noble boy chose to stay for us. 

I have had Jake on my mind a lot. How difficult this has to have been for him. His faith is remarkable! He trusts the Lord. He misses his brother, and while he doesn't have an adults ability to try to wrap his mind around the purposes in all of this, he trusts and he seeks the Lord for comfort. He inspires me! I am so proud of him! 

Mallory speaks of "Dawsy" all of the time. She writes him letters and draws him pictures. In random moments she comes for a cuddle and expresses her love for Dawson and how much she misses him. I ask her things that she remembers about him all of the time. I desperately do not want her to forget, although, I know she will over time, I hope she holds on to enough to keep the close bond she feels with him now. 

Ryan is not as open about his grieving as we are. I respect that. He loves Dawson so deeply and I know he misses him so much. He grieves and processes much on his own. There are moments when I catch him with puffy eyes after a good cry, mostly after we watch a video of Dawson, and I love him all the more because of it. He is such a good man. His faith strengthens ours. I am eternally grateful for the way he lives his life. It is important to him to live close to the Lord so that he may be worthy to use the sacred priesthood power that blesses our family. At his hands, and through the power of the Lord, through that sacred priesthood, miracles were realized and strength given to each one of us. I wonder how I will ever express adequately how much I love and appreciate him for the way he loves us and sets such an example. He is the greatest blessing in my life! I remind him of that daily! 

Today I can almost feel the soft puffy palms of Dawson's hands and his chubby little fingers, one of my favorite things about him. I remember once lying next to him on my bed studying his features and feeling my heart break over the thought of ever living without them. It felt impossible. Still does sometimes. Oh, to feel him press his body against my shoulder, trying to get just a little closer to me, feeling his contentment as he said "ma ma" over and over, with his little face turned into my neck. I can almost feel his lips moving on my neck and the hardness of his cheeks against my shoulder when he smiled so big, so proud of himself for mastering such a big word. I sit in church most weeks and think what I would give to lean over and unbuckle his seat belt on his fluorescent green wheelchair and lift him out so that he can snuggle with me. I can almost feel his abnormally flat back on my fingertips as I scratched it and tickled his little ribs. I can almost feel his bony little hiney on my forearm. 

These, and so much more, are the things I miss on a daily basis. Today in particular. It's funny how sometimes I can truly almost feel him. Oh, to have just 20 more seconds, but it wouldn't be enough! 

These moments are the moments I am SO grateful to KNOW that I will see me sweet boy again! I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the gift of the Resurrection. One day my 4 1/2 year old boy will rise in his perfect little white suit, and we will continue where we left off....just without all the pain, and with a whole lot of walking and running around! What a blessing! 

D, thanks for the gift of your life! So many love you and honor you today! You are a gift to many and we love you so very much! Thanks for the moments when you reach through the veil to let us know you are always with us! Above all, thank you for teaching us to have an Eternal Perspective! You are ours for Eternity. Nothing this world has to offer will ever be more appealing than that! We love you Bubba! See you soon! 

(Want to honor Dawson with us today? Check out yesterday's post to find out what we will be doing today and what you can do to join in and share the love!)

FHE {Losing Ourselves In the Service of Others}

I have been trying to think of ways to help my kids understand the importance of opening their eyes to the needs of others, and developing the ability to focus on ways they can recognize things they can do to serve others. This little object lesson popped into my head one day. I think the message was received! :) 

We did this lesson with cousins and enlisted the help of aunts and uncles, just for a bit of added fun. 

OBJECT LESSON: 

• Roll a piece of paper starting at the corner. Form a funnel with a dime sized hole in the end. Cut off the tops so that the wider opening is all the same length. Tape paper so that the funnel will stay wrapped. Make enough so that each child has two. 
• Have the children hold their funnels up to their eyes. These are their new glasses. 

• Give the kids an exact course to follow. I told the boys to walk from where they were standing to the Christmas tree. It isn't easy to see through such a small hole. They can only see what is directly in front of them. Make the course obstacle free and in a straight line. Tell them to walk slow and be careful. 

• When they arrived at their destination they were pleased with their ability to easily perform the task.  This is when I had them remove their "glasses" and turn back to look at the path they had just followed. As they turned they could see a few things they missed a long their path. 

• Without knowing they passed Aunt Anna who was struggling to keep young Chloe entertained. Perhaps she is like a young mother in church with young children and full hands. 

• They also passed little Mallory. Her backpack had fallen and all of her things were scattered. She was trying to put them back in all by herself. 

• They passed Brigham. He had fallen down and his leg was hurt. 

• They also passed by Uncle Kevin....who needed a refill on his drink! (Pictured above) Oh Kevin! :) 

Had they noticed any of these things as they passed? Or were they totally focused on their own path/needs/course? 

• I explained to them that these glasses were a representation of living our lives focusing only on ourselves. When we can only see our needs it makes us blind to all of the things we can be doing to help others. Simply opening a door for Anna, or sitting with her during sacrament meeting to help keep her young children quiet so she can listen, stopping to help Mallory refill her bag, making sure Briggy is OK, or even refilling Uncle Kevin's drink...all of these things would only take a little time, but they would all make a big difference. 

LESSON:

President Monson said, 

"Unless we lose ourselves in the service of others, there is little purpose to our own lives."

• We discussed how important that is. That means that if the end goal was to make it to the tree, making it to the tree had very little purpose, IF we failed to notice those along the path that we could have helped, so that they could continue on the path to their goal, as well. That is a really big statement. I hoped that it would impact their minds, as it did mine. 

We Read Luke 9:24 & discussed what it meant. 

"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it, but whosoever will lose his life, for my sake, the same shall save it."

We read and discussed the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:30-37. We talked about the first 2 people to pass and how they were wearing their "Selfish Glasses". Perhaps they were "too busy" or had something they had to hurry and get to. Those are both probably the most common excuses we give for not serving others. Again, there is little purpose in all of the things we accomplish, unless we are willing to serve others along the way. We talked about how the Good Samaritan did more than just what was necessary by leaving money for the man to be cared for and then asking them to let him know if it cost more than what he gave so that he could give them what was required when he came back through.

I told them about a special experience that happened to me recently:

I told them how I have the opportunity to travel to a lot of different places to speak about Dawson. I have spoke to the youth, the youth and their parents, entire wards, groups of women, groups of adults, small groups and large groups. When Dawson passed away it was something that I knew the Lord would want me to do. His story and his special life and all of the miracles that were a part of it were meant to be shared with many people.

I told them that when I am asked to speak I go, no matter how far away, and I would never ask the ward to pay any of my expenses. I have always felt that the Lord would provide a way for me to go.

I recently went to speak in Southern Arizona. Our budget was a little tight when it was time to go. I withdrew $200, which is exactly how much the trip would cost, from my grocery budget and trusted that the Lord would help us stretch the rest to meet our needs.

The spirit was so strong at the fireside. I knew that the message the Lord wanted to share with this group was received. It was such a great experience.

As we pulled back into my friends driveway we noticed another car pulling up. A man got out of his car and walked over to me. He handed me an envelope, told me thank you, gave me a hug and then left. Later I sat in my room at my friends home and opened that envelope, thinking I would find a note. In the envelope was $200, the exact amount it would cost for my trip. To me this was a message from Heavenly Father. He wanted me to be sure that He was constantly aware of every little need and that He would work through His faithful and willing children to fill those needs, as long as we are willing to continue with faith.

We talked about how the man certainly could have used so much money, but he was a man that listened to the promptings of the spirit and was willing to watch for ways he could help others along his path. This man set an example for me that day! I was blessed by his faithfulness, both financially, and more importantly, spiritually.

We closed with a poem President Monson quoted in his talk "What Have I Done For Someone Today?" in October 2009 General Conference:

I have wept in the night 
For the shortness of sight
That to somebody's need made me blind;
But I never have yet
Felt a tinge of regret
For being a little too kind.