My hope is that we remember to be grateful, we have hope for what lies ahead, (even our next life) and we enjoy this season.
Merry CHRISTmas! (The Nativity)
Merry CHRISTmas! (The Nativity)
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Monday, December 1, 2014
Hard to Make Changes
In the mornings I try to start us off with some scripture study and discussion. Today we discussed "agency". I'm trying to believe it wasn't an epic fail. We watched the following video and then wrote down our own individual goals that we posted in our rooms of things we want to improve upon this week. (How to better use our agency)
The Will of God
Homeschooling is a difficult sacrifice. The love I have for my children and the good days of learning are what keep me going.
However….
December is always a difficult month for me and my girls. Not only is Christmas time hard without Daddy but his birthday is also in December.
I have found that my and my girls emotions get more and more sensitive and therefore easily hurt until they peak at Christmas or sometimes the new Year.
I found and re-read my late husband's journal; this time to my girls. Honestly, nothing bad was said about anyone. His love for us was strong and ever apparent in his life and his words speak from the grave to us now. How he appreciated all the little things in life and lived each moment to the fullest is a testament of his great character.
This is what I hope for my children.
We discussed how they have so many "tools" in their "toolbox". They have a piece of their Daddy coursing through their veins, they have his great example, they have me (a far from perfect example but I am a true and constant in their life), they have a new father figure who cares for their over-all welfare, new siblings and new grandparents who sacrifice for them.
I asked them what kind of a mother and wife they would like to be when they grew up and they said like me. That was touching. I expressed to them how I expect them to be better than me. I hope that their children would be better than them and so on. Isn't that what we want for our future? Children to grow up stronger and more righteous than the previous generation?
That is what lead us to make our goals. (NO, it wasn't a pretty situation. No one liked thinking about changing themselves, only changing the others around them.) This never works, because of agency. We all have our freedom to choose. I can choose what manner of woman I want to be, I cannot make those same choices for my children, but I certainly hope I am putting in my share and more of the "tools" they will need in their "toolbox" to successfully make correct choices that will not only affect those immediately around them, but into the future.
Homeschooling is a difficult sacrifice. The love I have for my children and the good days of learning are what keep me going.
However….
December is always a difficult month for me and my girls. Not only is Christmas time hard without Daddy but his birthday is also in December.
I have found that my and my girls emotions get more and more sensitive and therefore easily hurt until they peak at Christmas or sometimes the new Year.
I found and re-read my late husband's journal; this time to my girls. Honestly, nothing bad was said about anyone. His love for us was strong and ever apparent in his life and his words speak from the grave to us now. How he appreciated all the little things in life and lived each moment to the fullest is a testament of his great character.
This is what I hope for my children.
We discussed how they have so many "tools" in their "toolbox". They have a piece of their Daddy coursing through their veins, they have his great example, they have me (a far from perfect example but I am a true and constant in their life), they have a new father figure who cares for their over-all welfare, new siblings and new grandparents who sacrifice for them.
I asked them what kind of a mother and wife they would like to be when they grew up and they said like me. That was touching. I expressed to them how I expect them to be better than me. I hope that their children would be better than them and so on. Isn't that what we want for our future? Children to grow up stronger and more righteous than the previous generation?
That is what lead us to make our goals. (NO, it wasn't a pretty situation. No one liked thinking about changing themselves, only changing the others around them.) This never works, because of agency. We all have our freedom to choose. I can choose what manner of woman I want to be, I cannot make those same choices for my children, but I certainly hope I am putting in my share and more of the "tools" they will need in their "toolbox" to successfully make correct choices that will not only affect those immediately around them, but into the future.
Saturday, November 15, 2014
Fun Holiday Ideas
I just had to post these cute ideas before I forget.
(On the last post I said how I was busy making cookies, well, here is the link to the cookies we made, however, I am going to give you our sugar cookie recipe because the one this sweet lady posts was not a hit with my family. Her designs are absolutely amazing though! Take a peek!)
Here are some other amazing cookies she makes! WOW!!
She is truly an artist!
Here is our SUGAR COOKIE recipe. They make soft and chewy cookies and we never put the dough in the fridge first. I have a family of 6 kids and 1 son-in-law (and counting…? =) so who has time for that? I got this recipe from a friend over a decade ago and it has remained a favourite ever since.
SUGAR COOKIES
1 cup butter
1 1/2 cup icing sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 almond extract
Mix first 5 ingredients. Blend in the following:
1 tsp baking soda
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp cream of tartar
(Recipe says to cover and chill for 2-3 hours. We skip this) Divide in half and roll 1/4" thick. Too thin and they will burn and too thick they will not cook evenly. Cut into shapes and bake @ 375' for 7-8 min. Do not let get brown. (We use non stick pans, if you are using pans that stick then I suggest a lightly sprayed pan.)
Okay, the 2nd fabulous thing…
I just stumbled upon and had to share before I forget is this site.
They are awesome! They have so many fabulous ideas and free printables. I hope this helps you with your Christmas planning and date nights etc….
Show love to others on your journey… =>
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Angels & Accidents
Last week my husband was coming to give me a hug before he left to pick up our daughter from ballet. I felt this urge to pray for his safety. (I haven't felt that way for Kevin; anxious for his safety. I felt like that daily with Brian. One could say that my spirit must have know that he would one day tragically die.) This feeling surprised me a little and I could have easily ignored the feeling since I was decorating cookies. I obeyed the prompting of the Spirit and said a prayer. As he was leaving and while he was out I prayed 2 or more times. I continued on with my cookie decorating.
Sometime later my daughter came in and said that I needed to go see Kevin, that he wanted to speak to me in the garage; that they had gotten in an accident. I thought she was joking since she is one to stress out and she was taking this lightly. Regardless, I went and sure enough our new vehicle was damaged. They had been rear ended.
I was calm. I didn't even get mad, nor have I since. (Who was this person? haha) When I returned to the kitchen I began reflecting. It was just a vehicle. I was so grateful that I wasn't in the hospital praying for their lives. I wasn't receiving bad news and having to plan a funeral (like before). They were safe. Not a big deal.
I was impressed with so many thoughts all at once by the Spirit. They were safe because of prayer. Angels are sent to protect. Maybe it was Brian? I then had a wonderful impression/experience that he had indeed been sent to keep them safe and all because I had heeded a prompting from the Holy Ghost.
Wow. How many other fabulous blessings are happening all the time that go unnoticed?
Maybe this week we can count our blessings in our journey, the obvious and not so obvious ones…?
Sometime later my daughter came in and said that I needed to go see Kevin, that he wanted to speak to me in the garage; that they had gotten in an accident. I thought she was joking since she is one to stress out and she was taking this lightly. Regardless, I went and sure enough our new vehicle was damaged. They had been rear ended.
I was calm. I didn't even get mad, nor have I since. (Who was this person? haha) When I returned to the kitchen I began reflecting. It was just a vehicle. I was so grateful that I wasn't in the hospital praying for their lives. I wasn't receiving bad news and having to plan a funeral (like before). They were safe. Not a big deal.
I was impressed with so many thoughts all at once by the Spirit. They were safe because of prayer. Angels are sent to protect. Maybe it was Brian? I then had a wonderful impression/experience that he had indeed been sent to keep them safe and all because I had heeded a prompting from the Holy Ghost.
Wow. How many other fabulous blessings are happening all the time that go unnoticed?
Maybe this week we can count our blessings in our journey, the obvious and not so obvious ones…?
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