I have been having seriously guilty feelings about my Blog. I am SO behind (birthday's, holiday's, special occasions, funny moments, sad moments...) I kept thinking that I would play catch-up, but I just don't see it happening anytime soon. SO... I am pushing all the guilt out of my mind and starting fresh tonight. I do still have a
glimmer of hope that I will at least post pictures to highlight the past couple of months, but for now, I am going to focus just on today!
There will be no pictures with this post. Just a heart felt sharing of feelings and emotions.
Today I did not have the greatest start to my day. Thankfully, it is Sunday and I was able to attend church. This was the tender mercy that I needed. It was a day of lessons that seemed to be just for me. I wanted to write down some of the things that I learned because I really feel like they were personal messages to me and future generations.
1. In Sunday School, we discussed
Doctrine and Covenants 27: 15-18 dealing with putting on the armor of God. Our instructor gave a brief history of armor and how it evolved into stronger and stronger armor because of new weaponry. As the threat evolved, so there was a need to have a greater defense. So it is today. The threat against family, morality, honesty, integrity, virtue ... and the list goes on and on... are real threats and always have been. However, the mode of deliverance of these threats is so much more pervasive than has been in past generations. It is there - even when you don't want it to be there. The idea of evil taking on good appearances is all around us. Low standard television shows, movies, music, internet etc. While these things can also provide wonderful and even uplifting opportunities, we must protect ourselves and teach our children how to protect themselves from the negative influences around. This includes having a "higher level" of Family Home Evenings. That phrase, "higher level" has resonated in my mind all day and has sparked a desire to do better and to help my children find, recognize and utilize the Armor of God. It is our only sure defense.
2. In Relief Society our lesson was taken from a talk given by Douglas Callister titled "
Our Refined Heavenly Home". It was wonderful. It gave me such vision, direction, hope, motivation and desire! I could not do it justice to parapharse, but something that stuck out to me in our discussion was the importance of physically holding a book. Of turning it's pages, reading the words, feeling the emotions of the book and the sense of accomplishment when you turn the last page. With all of the electronic devices (which are NOT totally bad) our children are losing their sight on these masterpieces. If we don't encourage them and set the example for them to hold, read and cherish books and other "refined and beautiful things", THEIR children will lose them completely. These things must be protected for ourselves and for future generations.
These were just a couple of the things that I learned and felt today. I came home with such a greater desire to be a good wife and mother. To use a softer voice. To make better use of my time. To focus on my relationship with God and family. I felt God's love today and I am grateful for these teaching moments and tender mercy's that help me to be a little more like He knows I can be.
Christmas Eve
Christmas morning
Collin discovering his bow and arrow. He was SO excited!
Braden's robot. He builds it and programs it to move. It comes with a pretty hefty instruction manual. 
Caleb discovring all his fun things. Most of all he loved his little airplane. Until....
he saw his train station. Wow! He played with that ALL DAY LONG! 
Lila finding her colored pencils and easel. This girl LOVES to draw. 
Giving Lila her quilt that I made for her.
Showing her the little "rose bud's" that are quilted on it. 
Precious.
It was a great Christmas. 
