Good Weekends

 I had to get a few pictures with Luke today because I forgot to on Friday. It was a bit emotional for me walking to the baptismal font on Friday knowing that this was my last child to be baptized. All the “lasts” are hard to process! My kids are growing up too fast! I’m grateful it is summer time now and I hope we are able to enjoy it together. Brad shared some of his thoughts from Luke’s baptism today in his testimony that he shared. He talked about how excited Luke was to be baptized. He had gotten in his suit and packed his clothes for the baptism hours before it was time to go. And when he and Brad were walking to the front, Luke was running to it! I need to be that excited about making and keeping my own covenants!  It was such a great weekend. We’re so grateful to our family for driving to be here. I’m so grateful for the perfect weather we had on Friday. It’s been rainy ever since! We were lucky that things worked out so well.

Think Celestial!

 Life has been a whirlwind this week. My head and heart are heavy. Life is challenging and yet when all is said and done, I know it’s worth it. We can get through it all. Luke and Ryder still giggle and laugh and play like all is well in the world and I love them for their innocence. We will keep on living and loving and doing our best to bring happiness into the world and love those who are hurting and try to keep an eternal perspective or as President Nelson would say; “Think Celestial!” I’m lucky I have some great people in my life to get through it all with!

Life and Family

 My emotions have been all over the place these last few days. Our neighbor died and he was so young and his girlfriend of 10 years is mourning. I spoke with her yesterday and it was heartbreaking to hear about it. I wish I knew how I could help. All I could do was be there for her. Hopefully we can help her more soon.

And then we had friends welcome their son home from his two year mission yesterday. It was such a happy moment. I love seeing the mom give that first hug to her son after two long years. It was such a happy moment!

Life is full of highs and lows, good times and really awful times. Right now I’m feeling so grateful for the good time we’re experiencing in life. Our kids are amazing and are at such fun ages. Even our teenagers still love us and want to hang out with us. Brad and I feel very lucky to have them. I guess it was good for me to step back after these two experiences and feel gratitude for life. Life is a beautiful thing.

Tenley and I spent the day in Bozeman today. Her JV team had a game and then we stayed to watch the Varsity girls play. Then we went out for lunch and stopped for desert at the best ice cream shop ever, Sweet Peaks! It was a beautiful, sunny fall day. The drive was beautiful as well. We saw a lot of colorful trees! 

Life

 A lot of sad things happened in the world today. I’m sure a lot of sad things happen in the world every day. It breaks my heart when a young person dies, it’s even worse when they’re murdered and it’s even harder to understand when it happens somewhere you’ve been before.

I’m just so grateful to be alive and I’m even more grateful to have my husband and children living life with me. And I’m so grateful for Jesus and the plan.

Breath of Heaven

 Today was a little exhausting. I taught the co op class. I’m with Luke’s class so there are eight six and seven year olds and they don’t obey me or the other teachers very well. And obviously we’re not there to be their parent but at the same time we do have rules for them to follow. Anyway it was a tiring morning with them and my to-do list at home is overflowing so I was just overwhelmed today. Tonight I realized I had forgotten to pick up a grocery order so I went back out after dinner and had a moment by myself out in the dark, cold night in my car. I turned on calming Christmas music and my favorite song, ‘Breath of Heaven’ came on. I love the lyrics and the perspective we get of Mary and how she must have felt. Her world was turned upside down and I’m sure no one believed she had a miraculous conception. She probably didn’t feel worthy for the task. She probably felt overwhelmed and worried. But she went forward anyway, asking for help. 

Breath of Heaven, hold me together, pour over me your holiness, for you are holy. Help me be strong. Help me be. Help me.

Being a mother is hard. Homeschooling my kids is hard. Creating a peaceful, organized home is hard. Trying to do it all is impossible. Obviously what I’m experiencing pales in comparison to what Mary went through but it still teaches me a lesson. I have help. Help to know what really needs my attention. Help to get up each morning and try again. Help to find joy every day and live with gratitude.

This picture definitely wasn’t reality today but they did sit this still for a few moments! We learned about London England today and had a little tea party!

Fear Not

 Apparently the storm in Missoula last night was more intense than I realized. Missoula is a bit of a disaster right now and the university where Kade is lost power and won’t have it back on until Saturday! His phone is dead so I haven’t been able to talk to him again but I did talk to one of the counselors there who said they have plenty of food and water and are still planning to keep FSY going as normal. I can’t wait to hear more details! I do remember asking Kade last night if he was scared at all and he said, “No mom! Fear not!” It’s his companies theme for this week and it’s a perfect one! I hope he goes through life with that mentality!

The Plan of Love

 We had a great lesson about the plan of salvation today in relief society. Our sweet teacher put up the segments of the plan and it spelled out LOVE. It was really sweet to see. It really is a plan of love! We are all really here because God loves us and wants more for us and this is our opportunity to choose to have that. 

We got to have dessert with friends tonight and she made the most delicious strawberry shortcake that I’ve ever had! I’m craving it now! Haha. But our kids had such a great time and so did we.

Our Weed Killer

 We had a good Sunday. We still have 9 am church after the ward split but we only had our sacrament meeting today because of all the changes. It was sad not to be with some of our people today but I felt peace as well. As Brad said last week, “It’s not about who we worship with but about who we’re there to worship.” The whole purpose is our relationship with Jesus Christ. 

When Brad made it home he mentioned seeing a lot of dandelion weeds in our front yard. Before we knew it Luke was gone. He had gone to the shed to get the weed killer and was spraying the weeds in the front yard. This became his responsibility last summer and I guess he still takes ownership for it! He wants the weeds to die! Haha.

Bigger Houses

 I remember growing up and always listening to classic rock music with my Dad. Then one day he started to listen to country music because he liked the lyrics of the country songs. He is right. The lyrics to country music songs tell stories and are often more uplifting than current pop songs. My favorite song right now is called "Bigger Houses." I was just going to share my favorite lyrics, but I have to share the whole song! It's too good! And it's so true. Happiness isn't found in bigger houses or cooler cars or fancy vacations or keeping up with the Joneses. It's found in relationships. 

We've been wanting a bigger house for a long time now, but right now I'm so content. I'm so happy. Life is so good. I don't want anything to change. And it's because things are so good with our family. I thought we'd hate each other after spending so much time together homeschooling every day, but honestly, we are closer than we ever have been before. My days are full being with my favorite people. I'm the luckiest.

Used to dream about buying that bigger house

Sitting on top of some hill

Losing sleep about filling my bank account

Wondering if I ever will

But the older I get, I just care less and less

'Bout keeping up with people named Jones

If you don't fill it up with somebody that you love

It ain't ever gonna feel like home

There's always gonna be a higher high

You could chase for the rest of your life

Greener grass in the yard next door

Or a shined up Chevy little newer than yours

You're never gonna fill an empty cup

If what you got's still not enough

The thing about happiness I've found is

It don't live in bigger houses

I can hear the kids making little footsteps

Running down the hallway upstairs

I can see the dogs playing in the back yard

Through the kitchen window right there

Maybe life's kinda more 'bout us swinging on a porch

Holding her while the sun disappears

Why would I wanna be anywhere else in the world

When my whole world is sitting right here?

There's always gonna be a higher high

You could chase for the rest of your life

Greener grass in the yard next door

Or a shined up Chevy little newer than yours

You're never gonna fill an empty cup

If what you got's still not enough

The thing about happiness I've found is

It don't live in bigger houses

No-no, no-no, no-no

There's always gonna be a higher high

You could chase for the rest of your life

Greener grass in the yard next door

Or a shined up Chevy little newer than yours

You're never gonna fill an empty cup

If what you got's still not enough

Thing about happiness I've found is

It don't live in bigger houses

The thing about happiness I've found is

It don't live in bigger houses

Mm-hm

New Rules

 I was running errands a lot today. Relief Society visits this morning with my friend and then dropping Kade off at basketball practice, taking some things to Brad's office, picking Kade up from basketball practice and then heading to a lesson with the Elders. They're teaching a boy Kade's age so it was good for us both to be there. But, apparently while Kade and I were gone things were not going well at home. Tenley has a fever and was on the couch all day. I told the little boys that when they were done with their electronic time they should go outside to play because it was gorgeous! They did play outside for a little bit but then Ryder wanted to come back inside and Luke was not ok with that. He was mad, screaming, and threatened to throw rocks at the window and break Ryder's Legos along with other things. It was awful! Parenting is hard and kids aren't perfect, but this was worse than what I've had to deal with for any of our other children. We need to make some changes so we have new rules and boundaries with Luke now. He is a sweet kid but he is learning bad behavior and we need to fix it. I also need to be more present or he needs to be coming along with me. Luke seems to understand how serious it all was and he also understands our new rules. Sometimes it takes a bad moment to give us the motivation we need to make good changes in life. That happened to us today. Luke is still learning right from wrong and hopefully we can all be better teachers for him! Seriously, it's hard to imagine such a sweet face saying such mean things!

Stake Conference

We’ve had such a spiritual weekend so far and tonight just added to that. Our Stake conference session tonight was so good and filled my heart in all the good ways. People are amazing. Relying on the atonement of Jesus Christ can get us through anything. Life is precious. Seek Jesus in the temple. True disciples build, lift, and inspire. I feel so inspired to be better and do better. 

The kids were happy to kick us out tonight and play video games and watch a movie. Kade also had a basketball game this morning and played hard! I love cheering on his team!

Wise Words

Brad’s cousin passed away unexpectedly earlier this month. It has been so sad, but as I watched his funeral service I was so uplifted. They shared this acronym of his that he often shared with others and I haven’t stopped thinking of it since. It truly is the simple, sacred acts that we consistently repeat every day that will bring us peace, power, and perspective.

Moments

I’ve been soaking up every little moment I can with my little Luke. I don’t know what it is but I just wish I could freeze time right now. Life is perfect, my kids are adorable, and Luke is so sweet and cuddly. I don’t want him to grow up!

Funeral Services

I was able to watch the funeral services for Brad’s cousin over zoom this morning. It was a beautiful service and even though it is so heartbreaking the words and stories that were shared were so uplifting. The plan of happiness is real. Families are forever. And Jesus is able to help us through our struggles. His cousin loved the acronym for sacred: Simple Acts Consistently Repeated Every Day. Making time to have those sacred moments each day is important and helps bring us closer to the Lord.

Comforting Words

We were told today that Brad’s cousin died suddenly from a heart attack. He was two weeks away from turning 50 and a very fit person. We had just received a Christmas card from his wife last month. He has four kids and they are such a beautiful family. It was so shocking and so sad. But my nephew Koy who is serving a mission shared a powerful testimony in his letter about the plan of salvation. And we also heard a comforting quote about death from Gandalf on The Lord of the Rings of all places! Separation from those we love because of death hurts, but it is not the end! We will see them again.

From Elder Koy Murdock:

I got some rough news this last week and today as of an hour ago.  I'm glad I'm on a mission right now and that I don't have a lot of free time to think about it.  I was able to go out to work and focus on the Lord to where it wasn't as saddening as it usually is, but I have a strong and unbreakable testimony about the Plan of Salvation.  I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for each one of us and that whatever happens in our lives, we will all be able to reunite again someday.  I know some of us will long for that day but I promise it will come.  I know that with all my heart.  I hope you all can build your testimonies on the foundation of Jesus Christ because that is the most solid rock you will ever know.  With that being said, live everyday like it's your last.  I know everyone says that, but I invite you all to say that phrase and repeat it 3 or 5 times and say it with emotion because you might not be on this earth tomorrow.  Any impression of the Spirit that you get, you NEED to follow that before your agency comes in.  God truly knows what your life is like.  He knows you better than you know yourself.  He can help you because you don't know what's best for you.  He does.  And when you can figure that out on your own, you will live so much happier and you will be more in tune with the Spirit and I promise that as a representative of Jesus Christ.  I am forever grateful to be on a mission and that I can bring people closer to our Savior.  He's coming soon.  Many prophecies have been fulfilled so I also invite you all to repent, and come unto Him.  I love you all so much and hope that one day, we can all see each other again and share stories of our lives.

Little Burritos

We had a good Sunday! The kids practiced for their primary program that they’ll have in two weeks at church and they enjoyed that. Since it was a 5th Sunday we had a special meeting with all of the adults and were able to hear from our ward leaders about WHY they attend church and what their conversion story is. It was a spiritualy powerful meeting and I really enjoyed it. My favorite thoughts were: “I come to feel the spirit,” “I come because when you show up, blessing come,” “I come to continually work on my conversion,” “I come because I believe in the Savior’s promise of eternal families.” For me, I go to church each week because I love Jesus. I want to strengthen my relationship with Him and I know that can happen as I renew my baptismal covenants when I take the sacrament. 

Brad had an emergency patient when we got home so we didn’t see him very much today, but he did find time to twist up our little boys into burrito blankets! The loved it! 

Psalms

I have loved reading the Psalms this week. They’re so beautiful and they bring me peace. In Psalms 19:7 it says “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.” I love the thought that it’s obedience to the Lord’s laws that converts our souls. We have to do, we have to follow, in order to be converted. It doesn’t just happen. Another thought shared today at church during the lesson was that we choose to hold onto the iron rod and it is our choice to let go. No one can force us to let go or tear our hands away. It’s always a choice.

Life

One of Brad’s patients recently died in a motorcycle accident. It was shocking and very sad. His funeral was today so I joined Brad for it. It was as uplifting and inspiring as a funeral could be. It was definitely emotionally exhausting but I’m glad I went.

Kade and Ryder stayed home from school to help with Luke during the funeral. We went for a walk to the park this morning to enjoy the sunshine! It was nice to be with my boys and enjoy the beautiful weather and with the thoughts of the funeral on my mind, just enjoy being alive.

Sunday Discussions

Kade and Luke stayed home from church today. They both have coughs and Kade’s energy is still low. Ryder’s primary class got to join with mine and it was fun to have him in class. He’s a sweet boy and was good at listening and answering questions! 

When we got home from church the kids wanted to play the Nintendo 64. We’ve always said no video games on Sunday. I sat down with the kids and had a long conversation with them about Sunday and why it is a different day than most days during the week. We discussed what they think are and aren’t appropriate activities on Sunday. We decided that activities we do as a family are good. They mentioned board games and Ryder wanted to know how board games are any different than Nintendo games. In both cases they’re playing together and in neither case do they learn more about Jesus. He stumped me on this one. So they played Nintendo together today. We will see how long that lasts. I wish Brad had been there to help me out! 

Mantras

After I picked up the kids from gymnastics Ryder told me that some kids in his class were teasing him about being so tiny. There are a lot of ways to deal with kids that are saying mean things but being mean back is never an option I give my kids. We talk about ignoring them or being funny back. He said he just ignored them today. Then Tenley said that she and her friend were getting made fun of last week at their Christian school. I hope that I can teach my kids to handle being made fun of with grace and poise because it is definitely a situation that will happen time and again in their lives. One of the best parts about homeschooling to me is our devotionals in the morning. I get to teach them how to be strong and confident and rely on God. I’ve been having them repeat a little mantra each morning to remind themselves who they are. “I am a child of God made in His likeness and in His image and as such I am capable of anything!”

Tenley always feels funny saying that, but I think it’s important for them to know. They are made in the likeness of God. They have His attributes. They have the potential to become great people. They are great people! I just need them to believe it. And once they do, they will do great things.