Kid's Schedule Time

Having 5 boys is not an easy task but having a set schedule makes it much easier.

Here is the schedule that we start our boys with at kindergarten.

We have a picture only schedule that we do before that. It helped me a lot to see what other people were doing before we set ours up and we went through a process trying to figure out what worked best. This works for us.

I put this list in a plastic magnetic picture holder that we put on the fridge and the kids used dry erase markers to check it off. Now they just do if from memory most of the time. It is nice to say "Do your morning schedule." Instead of running through each little thing.

Why I am now sharing my beliefs.

I love the gospel, I love the scriptures. I love the Lord. I have not openly shared these things like I am now not because "I haven't believed" and not because "I am ashamed" but because I felt in the past that I was respecting others by not sharing them openly. I felt like I was being polite by not publishing the tender feelings of my heart. I realize that is not the case. It is so much a part of who I am that I am not being completely honest if I don't share it.

Missionary sees mom after 2 years

This really made me cry.

The Joy's of Little Boys

The Best Things About Having Boys

After our fifth boy was born we decided that our family was only meant for boys. I often get questions of “Are you going to try for a girl?” to which I reply with a smile “No I’m not.” Although I sometimes think I should be sad, and I would love to have a little girl, my life with five boys under the age of nine is lively, wonderful and irreplaceable.

How do I paint a picture that adequately relays the fun, the challenges and the satisfaction that I feel when thinking of my life with these little gentlemen? I wouldn’t explain mothering five boys as a job, a career, or a trudergy; I would more fully describe it as a sport. It takes strategy, hard work, practice, failure, and patience but in the end it is extremely fulfilling.

Facing One of Life's Greatest Spiritual Threats, Prosperity - Part 1

Can you spot me and my husband? Nairobi, Kenya, 2000

Prosperity, Although a Blessing, Can be a Slow Poison to Our Spirits (if left unchecked)
I know that most of us will scoff at the title of this post and feel like it may not apply to us since times are hard and people are losing incomes and homes. Or maybe we think we would have been the first to raise our hands to choose prosperity when they were handing out trials before we came to earth (Which I'm not saying that trials were handed out, honestly I have no idea how that works) But prosperity although it seems like a quaint and nice trial can be a slow poison to our spirits and that of our children.

Saving a Marriage, Captain Moroni Style

The first year of our marriage was pretty rough. It is no secret for those around us that my husband and I had married quickly, something that I would not recommend to others. I'm not sure what came over me or him or both of us.  We both had dated others and served missions for our church. We actually met after our missions at the MTC (Missionary Training Center). I applied for a job to become a teacher, it was a job I always wanted. He was the interviewer. I will spare the details but although I was interested in my interviewer (which was strange for me. I can confidently say that I was always attracted to personality and that seemed to take a while, but he had me right away) it would have been unprofessional for me or him to state any interest in the interview and honestly I would have been just a little creeped out if he called me off of my resume.

Protecting Family Against Pornography, Captain Moroni Style

I have lots of little boys and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't hit my knees and plead for them and their future as we prepare for the storm of filth that will soon over take these beautiful and innocent souls.

I am weak, I'm not very organized and I personally have not faced the challenges that they will face at least not in the degree that they will face them. I need help, prayer and faith to figure out how to help them and protect them. I know that tragically it is not a matter of "if" but "when" they will face this beast that is so accepted, and so common and not only readily accessible but unavoidable.

Asking like Nephi instead of questioning like Laman and Lemuel

As Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is it okay to have questions about the gospel, the prophet, the leaders? I would say most definitely yes...in fact, it is spiritually healthy to ask questions but please hear me out and keep reading.

One main purpose of this life is to become an agent to ourselves. Agency is essential to our eternal identity and honestly we could not make it to the greatest kingdom without it. Also remember that was the difference in the plan that was rejected and the great plan that was accepted. In order to be an agent to ourselves we do need to understand what we are choosing and why.

But as we ask questions lets look to the scriptures to two examples of brothers, raised in the same household who also asked questions but did so with different intents and with different outcomes. Lets think of Nephi vs Laman and Lemuel who were all faced with their father's, the prophet's, counsel to leave their familiar and comfortable home and go into the wilderness and face some hefty obstacles. I can't even imagine how hard this decision would have been. I am sure we only know a tiny part of what they suffered.

Learning from Naaman

From my understanding some who were part of the OW movement were not happy that Elder Oaks was the one to address the issue of women and the priesthood and not President Monson himself. It reminds me of a story of Naaman in the old testament. He was a rich man with much influence and power and he went to see the prophet Elisha to be healed of leprosy. The prophet sent out his servant and the servant told Naaman to wash in the river 7 times. Naaman was angry because the prophet didn't come out himself and told him by his servant to go wash in a dirty river (Remember Naaman was an important man). It even says Naaman left in a rage. Naaman's wise servant asked him "If the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it?" Naaman humbled himself and went and did as the prophet's servant said and was healed of his leprosy. 2 kings 5:1-9. Honestly this is a personal reflection only. I am not perfect, I am not meaning to down anyone but I think this story applies to me. If I'm not fit to listen to the Lord's servant (even if it isn't President Manson himself) and do the small and simple things of the gospel that are required of me then I won't rid myself of my own "personal leprosy" which honestly I have a lot of work to do...

A Woman "Without" the Priesthood and Why I Feel Favored of the Lord

With conference approaching I'm going out on a limb and expressing my opinion of women and the priesthood in a long, heartfelt blog post.

So many of our great members especially men have remained quiet on the issue out of respect for the small percent that want to be heard. I've listened, pondered, prayed and considered my own experience and this is my opinion on why it is not important for me to have the priesthood.  

I would say I am a well educated woman. I received a graduate degree from a good University and I served an honorable full time mission. I once had a thriving career and income but I chose to leave it and raise my children while remaining home (this was a prayerful decision and we were given the financial opportunity. I do not believe this is the path for all women.).  I am at peace with my role as a women, a mother and a homemaker and I do not feel like I need the priesthood to further my salvation or that of those around me, or further the church by having the priesthood expanded to me. I believe that there are greater spiritual gifts for me to focus on gaining that ARE vital to my salvation and that will allow me to be an instrument in the Lord's hands.