April sure is a busy time of year and it's only half-over.

I'm glad it gets a kick-off with General Conference. I love that family time and the feeling like we're in touch with the whole of the church, getting filled with hope.

What's been going on with us? (Facebook hiatus requires such a post)

Bryce: Loves Kindergarten. Loves Mommy. Loves adventures with his brother. Loves imagining with his sister. Loves to run, jump, climb. He has tendons like a spring-loaded monkey. He can be such a good helper as long as you don't take him to run errands.

Ella: Likes me. She REALLY likes me. She's never been one to climb all over me, but lately she's been full of kisses and need for attention. She loves drawing and is determined to be an artist. She doodles flourishes like I do. LOVE that. She is such a gentle, serene person.

Dane: Is so glad that the weather is warming up! He really enjoys scouts and his technical piano skills are great. He's always astounding us with his wide-spread knowledge. He seems to be a factoid-sponge. He is an amazing helper with his brother and sister (if she'll let him). As long as something is his idea, he'll absolutely excel at it.

Cami: My world at home has been school/genealogy/school/genealogy/housework?/school... I really wonder if I'm meant to go back to school. Math is a lot harder than I want it to be. The final will be complete in just over two weeks. I face doing it all again, only harder, for Summer semester.

The best part of this month so far was a very special event. Last Saturday, I went to the temple with my aunt, uncle, cousin, mom and Grandma Sharon so that she could be sealed to her parents. It was a perfect moment for her and we loved being a part of this.

The best news I received this month (with ALL the credit going to my wonderful husband) is that Dead Can Dance is coming in concert. I'd thought them long broken up, but now I get to see them live. Oh. Wow.



Cameron: Life at work isn't easy, but he, as ever, has a positive attitude. He loves his kids and he makes it so obvious. I try to give him an easy-out on things like piano recitals and such because he is so busy, but he doesn't take me up on them. He's there for them whenever they need him. He's the best parent to go to when they need someone with whom to talk.

Of course, we did Easter with cousins at my Aunt Jone's house.

The next day we were back in Spanish Fork with Cam's family hunting an amazing amount of eggs, thanks to the enthusiasm of Aunt Alesha.

More good stuff to come in April and the rest of Spring. I must finish my retaining wall. I must turn 36. I must replace my toilet seats.

Have a great day!

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chilliest land
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

--by Emily Dickinson

I am constantly amazed by how the littlest efforts we make toward the betterment of our parenting abilities seem to reap great rewards. When I put my hand in the Savior's and let Him lead me by his example it feels like I am holding hands with hope. It shouldn't come as a surprise that He is so willing to offer aid to us in our most important responsibility (our children).

Harmony and cooperation definitely ebb and flow in our home and it felt like the tide had been out for far too long. I was ornery, dissatisfied and was feeling like my only choice in the governing of my children was to come down on them harder, coerce them into obedience. It really only takes a day or two of feeling like this to realize it's time to re-examine things and see what needs to be fixed.

I always get very frustrated about bedtime. When I close the doors to my children's rooms, I view it (too strongly) as a mark to the end of my parental responsibility for the day. I don't have to feed anyone, answer another question, break up another argument or remind anyone of a task uncompleted.

My children view their doors as boundaries which must be crossed.

You see the problem here...

Anyway, the other day, after a get back-to-bed-you-can't-have-any-milk moment with Bryce, I put myself in time out. In reflection, I realized that my parenting lacks one of the most prominent of Christ's attributes: compassion.

It hurt me to see how much the lack of compassion had built me into a type of dictatorish, imperial meanie. I repented. I asked for help in being compassionate. I began to read again Christlike Parenting by Dr. Glenn I Latham. It's amazing how easy a self-help book can be when you really need help. The thing that I read yesterday that really stuck with me was about keeping the home a place where the child feels safe. A place where they know they can bring their concerns up for discussion without worrying they are going to be reviled, or that their concerns will be minimized or shrugged off. If home is not safe, then they will go elsewhere.

Yesterday was a good day. Bryce was ready to put up a lot of fights with me. He was inclined to large fits. I didn't fight with him. I let him have his fit (which was probably longer because no one made him repress it), but then I was able to praise him for turning it around later and letting us have a fun time together. He brightened when I shared how I understood that it was frustrating to have to do something you don't want to, but I was happy to be with him. For me, the best part was that I had no apologizing to do, no bitterness toward my child, no guilt.

Yeah, I was frustrated, but it's only my first compassionate day. Yes, I am very worried that I won't be able to keep it up. Yes, I worry about my awful temper, but compassion, as a word, is striking me strongly and I think if I can hold onto that I'll be okay.

(one last thing, if you can bear with me...as a joke, I was telling the kids that Cam and I have super powers. I said Cameron's was super-compassion and that mine was my lightning quick anger. Dane said "Yeah, Mom, but haven't you noticed lately that you've been losing your super power?" Score!)

Yesterday was a good day

Sometimes I don't really understand myself.

I think that if you asked most people what they want out of life they'd answer that they want to be happy.

That would be my answer: I'd like to be happy.

So why does it seem that I try to sabotage my own happiness?

As a member of the church with a knowledge of the gospel, I know how to be happy. I catch blips of it all the time, from moments of inspiration with answers to tender mercies of things just going right in the moments that I need. So why do I turn away from the happiness I know I can have by following the Savior to seek out the instant gratifications (chocolate doesn't count), the quick entertainment, the choice of self-satisfaction or the simple running away from the responsibilities I know are right to take care of?

I often wonder why I try to make my life harder than it needs to be. I am so swayed by the world. To me it is like this amazing kalidescope, those ones we had when we were kids, that would change with the slightest tap, shifting the unstable components into another vivid image. There are so many pretty pictures! There are so many good things to do! I want to do it all! But the world is made up of unstable components that won't hold their value when the jolts of life send them shifting.

Oh that I could learn the simple lesson of the wise man and his house on the rock! I am my own worst enemy. Heavenly Father seems to know this and other than myself, I really don't have any trials.

Here's a big *eyeroll* to me!

Way back in 1997-98, I was a missionary.

I worked hard.

I studied.

I likened the scriptures unto myself and my situation.

Often times, if I study the scriptures, I find myself in the happy memory of what those inspiring verses meant to me then, rather than studying out what they could mean for me today.

There are so many wonderful missionary/sharing-the-gospel verses contained in the scriptures, but just today, I understood that I could actually apply them to me now.

What am I now?

I am a mother
a wife
a Primary secretary
a member of my community
an aunt

This morning D&C 100 verse 6 came to me as I was thinking about my children. "For it shall be given you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment, what ye shall say."

I have really been trying hard to be a good mother these past few weeks. By trying hard though, I mean I've been praying hard for every aid and help the Lord could give me. I have increased in patience, tolerance, soft speaking, problem-solving, chore-tasking, however I still have struggled with coming up with the right thing to say, at the right moment that will help me help my kids be at their best.

So many discipline theories tell you that you're supposed to have the ideal response ready at all times for each situation. These ideas have left Cam and I frustrated because it's IMPOSSIBLE.

However, I have never before thought of receiving this kind of help, this 'given you...what ye shall say', with parenting. So often my responses to my children aren't kind, respectful, genuine, helpful or testifying (of faith in God or them), but I know that today I was supposed to learn this and I'm going to try it out.

I am going to ask for the specific help of having the right messages, the right words come into my mind in my interactions with my children. I have faith that this can work.


More of this section is worth reading:
5 Therefore, verily I say unto you, lift up your voices unto this people; speak the thoughts that I shall put into your hearts, and you shall not be confounded before men;
6 For it shall be given you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment, what ye shall say.
7 But a commandment I give unto you, that ye shall declare whatsoever thing ye declare in my name, in solemnity of heart, in the spirit of meekness, in all things.
8 And I give unto you this promise, that inasmuch as ye do this the Holy Ghost shall be shed forth in bearing record unto all things whatsoever ye shall say.

Ooh, does verse 8 mean that my kids will actually retain what I say to them? :)

In the past several weeks, Bryce has reached the peak of negative behavior that we have ever seen from him. He's angry, violent, impatient, quick to lash out, throw things, yell...so mini-Me.

I have been frustrated to tears so often during this time period.

One day, I remembered that I could ask Heavenly Father about it all and before I could even finish that thought, little ideas and understanding started filtering through my thick skull. Things like:

• positive attention


• praise, praise, praise


• curb your own temper, he's following your example


• accept that he's three and a half and work with it

There was a lot more, but the amazing part is still that I hadn't even asked for help (yet) and He knew that I didn't have time to wait for a kneel-down moment. Bam! Inspiration from above, simply because He knew I was open to receive what He could help me with.

After settling Bryce into bed, I cried in prayer with gratitude and for further instruction. After I prayed I was able to make a list of things I could do throughout the day that would help him accept me as a loving, but authoritative, figure that he would be more willing to work with.

The difference is clear cut. When I do what I received, we have really successful days. He has gone back to being very affectionate and will listen to me with a lot less defiance. Daily improvements in both our behavior.

Project: Bryce has been a good, good thing.

One of my favorite blogs is The Chocolate Chip Waffle by Terresa Wellborn.

I read her every day and it fills my soul, makes me think and always makes me leave a comment.

Well, today she's inspired a whole post based on German word: Weltanschauung.

Weltanschauung: \ˈvelt-ˌän-ˌshau-əŋ\ n.A person's world view; philosophy of life; a framework through which to interpret the world.

These are my personal philosophies

• I can accomplish anything that requires physical application IE assembling furniture, electrical work, installing computer components, sawing limbs off trees, etc. (I can't always, but I always think I can)


• Sunshine is good for you


• Rain (literal or figurative) can make you grow
  
• Life without music is without flavor and depth


• Poets should rule the world


• Days should be 29 hours long
  
• "A man should hear a little music, read
  a little poetry, and see a fine picture
  every day of his life, in order that worldly
  cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful
  which God has implanted in the human soul." -Goethe


• Clothes do not make the man (or woman)


• I can do hard things


• The oldies are the goodies (unless we're actually talking about goodies. Stale M&Ms are not good)


• Children are worth believing in


• Much can be healed with ice cream or a good haircut


• Faith is an anchor that can keep you from floating off into oblivion


• Prayer is a person's personal grip on the faith/anchor


• If you think something is wrong, you're probably right and should fix it


• The choice is always up to you
  
• We begin and end with family (to paraphrase Anthony Brandt)


• Clutter=Chaos and vice versa


• Sleeping is for wimps


• Naps are a waste of time, but often an eventuality


• Learning to serve others is a gift you can give yourself


• Love makes the world go 'round and can make your heart stop (in a good way)

At some time or another we all have problems relating to others of our species, more so of our own gender and further...members of our own family.
Lately, I've found myself a little hurt and a bit angry at times toward two of my relatives. They have drawn close to me in times of need and I felt a lot of joy being close to them, helping them, being their friend or confindant (because we all need someone from time to time and it's a blessing to be that someone).
Then, sadly for me, as soon as their scar tissue has formed, I am a forgotten entity. No emails, no calls, texts, whatever. I feel like my heart's been scooped out and is melting on the counter and I am left hollow.
Stuff like this happens to people all the time, I know, but I don't think we realize it most of the time, but it's when it seems to happen repeatedly you come to understand why you might feel a little frigid toward someone.

So...

I was talking to Cameron about all of this, serving up my frustrations and he says: (you guessed it)
I guess now you know how Heavenly Father feels.

It was this crazy post-parable type statement made at a perfect moment in time for me and the impact of it shook me so hard my teeth rattled.
Having pushed Heavenly Father away for awhile now, teasing Him with flickers of possible returns, prayers here and there, only recently have I truly have been opening my selfish heart again.
It hurt so much to see what Cameron was saying. (He did say it wasn't directed at me, but the world at large.) He said how many times to we come to Heavenly Father in times of need, speak to Him daily, hourly even and then when the crisis passes, give Him hardly more than a passing thought.
So sad to be a fair weather friend to my God.
I'm working on this. Things are still tenuous in my relationship with the Almighty, but I see that it's all in me to make it less so.

Recently, I found this very helpful.

Seems like kind of an irreverent title, but when Dane was baptized last Saturday, it seemed to plunge our entire family into a whole new stage.
Suddenly, it was the year that all kids would be in school (Bryce: preschool, Ella: kindergarten, Dane: third).
Suddenly, they were all in Primary classes, not the nursery.
Suddenly, they were all articulate, intelligent, amazing little people.Our family is growing up way too fast, but yet it feels good to see them progress and stretch into who they are.

The baptism was wonderful. We had a peaceful, easy-going morning arriving at the Stake Center at 10 AM. We were joined by my parents Ron & Cindy, my in-laws David & Kathy, my brothers Eric and Ryan and nephew Kyler. My aunt Laurie brought her grandson Brady. Dane's great-grandma Sharon came and so did Cameron's sister Alesha and her family. I was also grateful to have the support of my three dear friends as well as their children.

Two prospective missionaries gave talks on baptism and the Holy Ghost.

It was such a sweet moment to see my husband and my son standing in the baptismal font together, seeing that they were both very touched by such a sacred moment.

While we waited for Dane and Cameron to dry off and dress, the bishopric asked the grandparents to either bear their testimony of the gospel or share memories of Dane. It was so wonderful to hear my mother and mother-in-law share such sweet feelings they had. I enjoyed what my father-in-law had to say about Dane. My father missed his opportunity. I don't know if he'd say he missed it, but I would've like to hear what he might have shared.

Dane received the gift of the Holy Ghost during a blessing from his Grandpa Stringham. He was counseled about many good things during the blessing. There was definitely something wonderful coming from Dane that day. It seemed like every time I caught his eye, there was a greater wisdom in his face. We all agreed that the morning passed way too quickly.

Afterwards, we all returned to our home for lunch and birthday cake. Dane loves being with his cousins, so it really was the perfect day for him. Hours later we bid farewell to our last guests and none of us could stop smiling about this amazing day.

Thank you for making this wonderful choice, Dane! Happy Birthday, we love you!!!

I feel so humble and at peace this morning.

I know part of the reason has to be that the special holiday season begins this Thursday. Although Thanksgiving is often overlooked in decorations, do we truly forget this holiday where we gather together surrounded and surrounding the bouty in our lives? Thanksgiving never ceases to bring gratitude for too warm kitchens, wonderful smells of amazing food, and body-packed homes (or restaurants or church cultural halls) with people I love. The kids are fresh-scrubbed and dressed decently. Adults care less about their mischief. I love Thanksgiving and I love the Thanksgiving prayer on the food.

More peace...

Many of you use the music application Pandora. Did you know you can also have an LDS/Inspirational station WITHOUT (audio) COMMERCIALS? http://www.pandora.com/ I found Kenneth Cope, Hilary Weeks, Jon Schmidt, Jenny Jorday Frogley, MoTab, Paul Cardall, etc. We've all been listening to it this morning and it's really been great! It lends itself to a very sweet Sunday morning.

My kids have been sick with icky coughs (mostly at night) and Bryce was in some kind of pain last night that made him weep (is he too young for growing pains?). The blessing of being able to take care of my kids, their physical ailments, humbles me.

What a blessing to be needed by someone so small. I love being a mother.

It's all I truly wanted to be when I 'grew up.' I'm far from the best mother and this, of course, keeps me very humble. Isn't this all part of the plan anyway? I'm really grateful to be part of Heavenly Father's plan. I know that He knows me. What better gift can I have?

(by the way, this last picture is of me and Dane CRASHED on the couch during my creation narcolepsy period aka pregnancy with Ella)

go this way.

It is hard to teach kids about gratitude.

Especially when it comes to praying. Kids constantly think about what they want/need (and it's a good thing they tell me about it or no one would eat around here)...oh and about having fun. My kids are always praying to 'have a good time.'

Yesterday, for Family Home Evening we went around the table and had everyone tell us something they would be sad about if they didn't have it. When they would say something, then I would say: "Well, you must be grateful for _____ then." I'd let them know that it was something they could thank Heavenly Father for during their prayers.

They were all worth mentioning, but here's what I remember.

Ella:

Her room

Her brothers

Her toys

Dane:

His home

His family

His clothes

Bryce:

His Daddy

His Clothes

His room

Cami:

Technology to help with chores

Temples

The Scriptures

Cameron:

His car

His clothes

His wife

Then bedtime came with nighttime prayers. I had the boys (we switch off each night for bedtime routine) and Dane helped Bryce with his prayer. Both prayers were rich with gratitude and at the end of his prayer, Dane's voice was becoming a bit choked. He finished and I asked if he were okay.

Quietly, he asked me if I knew how sometime people cry when they're happy?

Yes, I replied and I let him know that he was feeling the Spirit tell him that what he has shared with Heavenly Father was good.

It was a good moment. Those moments you pray for. I am grateful that I could be there for that.

When does 10 times 2 equal infinity? When you add the third element of the Savior.

Ten Ten Ten

Ten years with this man

On a hot August day, Friday the 13th actually, we stepped into this place

And became this

Forever

Now we are this

Forever.

Yesterday was a roller coaster of emotions for me. I had had a very relaxed weekend of love and attention from the man (and time alone with him, too! Thanks, Mom!) and when Sunday morning came I just wanted to stay in my warm bed and let the family take care of themselves...
...except Cam had a really bad cold and was feeling miserable. Back to work.
Anyway, I was feeling a bit bogged down, but after having a long, teary talk with my best friend, the aforementioned man, I was feeling a lot better.
Cam stayed home sick from church and I took Dane and Ella with me.
It didn't take long for my mood to rise higher, my feelings were hopeful and I was experiencing genuine joy. It never fails to amaze me how the simple truths of the gospel and reminders of God's love for me can remove the demons of anger, self-doubt, self-hate and darkness that creep into our lives, even when I'm not doing a lot to help myself. Such blessings!
During Sunday School I was able to write a very objective list of needs I felt my family had for me. They are simple and not profound, but here it is:

Cameron needs:

• a strong & loving companion


• Dinner


• a spiritual equal

Dane needs:

• me to be constant in my behavior so that he can learn to be constant in his


• a pattern of obedience to follow


• an organized closet & dresser

Ella needs:

• instruction with drawing & reading


• a little more variety for lunch


• an organized closet set-up

Bryce needs:

• Quiet time


• More opportunity to do responsible things


• Learning games ('homework')

I need:

• Personal, constant prayer


• Daily hope through faith (eventually leading to charity)


• Fresh air & sunshine

So today I am filled with optimism (usually something my personality avoids) and genuine peace of conscience. It's a good place to be!

p.s. Tender mercies are all around. On our way home from downtown on Saturday night I was distracted from our conversation by the sight of the (soon to be dedicated) Draper temple all lit up, but the distracting part was the one small cloud made it look like a heavenly light was shining over the temple. It was beautiful! Cam saw it too so I wasn't hallucinating. :)

p.p.s. I also want to check out this Spark and this Spark.

Well, there are definitely good things that happened yesterday.

I almost finished painting the wall and I'm finishing up right after I post.

One bonus project I'm really excited about was done with help from my dad, who I successfully bribed with lasagne. Now to join me in my excitement, you would have actually had to use my kids/guest bathroom, but anyway...This sunken tub used to have dark sliding doors encasing it. This made it nearly impossible to bathe my kids. It had become a very unhappy chore until now! Yay! It's gone! Of course, now I have a lot of left-over grime to scrape off and scrub away, but I DON"T CARE! It's like a new bathroom, full of light and space and no metal bar to press on my chest while I'm trying to wash my kids' hair! Yay again!

Now, to the not so pleasant part, which begins just after finishing up all I could do on my wall yesterday and after picking up Dane from school. Bryce's mild cold took everything up a big notch by giving him a 103.4 degree fever. We got right into his pediatrician who said that he had a condition that comes from ugly viruses called Bronchiolitis. I have never seen him so unhappy and we had a rough, rough night. Right before bed, his fever jumped up again to 103.8 and you can be I'm getting that bajeebies (is that how one might spell that?!) scared out of me. He's breathing very rapidly, one breath per second, which is the absolute limit before you take the kid to the hospital for oxygen! Yikes! I give him a luke warm bath that makes him very upset, but it took his temp down a whole degree so there's a little relief. So I'm crying and praying, praying and crying and he finally is able to fall asleep for about 20 minutes (it's like 10 PM, now). He wakes throwing a fit ever 30 minutes or so after that and lullabies, stories, everything makes him more upset. My alarm goes off at 2 AM so I can give him two medications as well as a breathing treatment, but (after he screamed himself to sleep) he slept until 7:30 this morning.

Can you say SAGA?

If you're still with me, Bryce is doing OK. Still coughing like crazy and he has a milder fever. He's pretty miserable. Just looking at his sad pouty lips and pink, pink cheeks would break your heart.

Well, it's tradition around here that the kids always get really sick when Cam's out of town. I'm even going so far as to say it could be worse. All of them could be sick OR I could be cleaning up vomit. I'm really very grateful and I do know that Heavenly Father heard and answered my prayers last night.

Since the temple is no longer in seen from my back window (I'm the one who moved, I know) I haven't done my update feature for awhile.


Here is the Oquirrh Mountain Temple.




It's still being constructed as indicated by items littered throughout the parking lot, but the Moroni is atop the steeple and the trees have been planted on the grounds. It is beautiful and is an especially beautiful beacon at night when the inside lights are on.

Other exciting news is the opportunity we in the SL valley have to attend the open house for the Utah Draper Temple next month! We are so excited to take our children inside the House of the Lord and let them see the beauty and feel the spirit of that special place.

Monday: Ella's birthday and we had a big birthday party for both her and Bryce. I had some errand running to do earlier in the day and ended up having only three hours (3 pm to 6 pm) to pull the party all together before our family members arrived. In that time I managed (after turning on "Monsters, Inc." for my little monsters) to bake two cakes (from mixes), frost and decorate (with new toys from the store), make dough for 4 pizzas and get out all the appetizers... Then those tender mercies start happening. My SIL Alesha and family arrive and begin slicing pizza toppings and putting them together with me. We get one, then another in the oven and then everyone else begins arriving. The timing was nice...too many cooks in the kitchen are, well, too many. It was nice that everyone else was running later. GREAT!

The party was fun, busy and full of energy! Final count: 14 adults, 7 kids under 7. Happy Birthday, kids!

Tuesday:

Ella had her well-child check-up. Why she felt the need to talk baby talk with Bryce, dropping Rs and Ls all over the place as the pediatrician is evaluating abilities, etc. I do not know. A small growth on her lower back that had showed up and increased in size rapidly in the last 6 months, turned out to be nothing. A great relief as we were suspecting some cancerous mole. 4 shots and no, she wasn't brave and the way she was thrashing about I wouldn't be surprised if they hurt more than they needed to. Not fun.

Tuesday, was also Ella's soccer game. Coach Mommy didn't check the time and we arrived and hour early. She was too cold (and WHINY!) to play, but we did have one of the kids totally become a break-out star and made three goals in quick succession (with an assist from Brenner), making a soccer game with 4-yr-olds actually exciting. We won. Always fun!

Wednesday:

Kids got along well. Cooperated. Did chores. So nice!

Dane's soccer game went well. He has fun. We spend the whole time wrestling with Bryce in an effort to keep him running onto the field. They haven't won yet, but remember, that's not what's important, right? Right, but tell that to the parents sitting to the left and right of me!

Thursday:

Even more cooperation from the kids with Dane mopping the kitchen floor for the first time and not much complaining when I asked them for extra help sans pay.

I did good on my chores as well, nearly resurrecting my home from the disaster Monday brought to normalcy. I also made my bookshelves look nice.

I got back to reading the scriptures with the kids. I have been nagged by promptings and didn't want to ignore them any more. Best part! They were beyond enthusiastic and had obviously missed doing this with me.

Ella got to go to her first birthday party that I recall dropping her off at. It felt like the first day of school suddenly and I was a mildly upset by it. So hard to let go, sometimes... Did I mention the party was just next door?

Dane did well with piano, continually impressing his teacher. How 'bout impressing your mother with a little less pounding and making a 10-minute daily practice into a 40-minute one?

Now here is Friday:

Exciting stuff happening for Cameron that I can't share yet.

Dane had been Mr. Attitude all morning and it's only 8:34 AM. Long day? Most likely. I've fed everyone, but myself. I should do that, but I'm dressed and they're not, so neener-neener!

This is as interesting a post as I could come up before this weekend. If you are my friend on http://www.goodreads.com/ then you know I just added a few new books to my currently-reading list, so I want to work on some of those and I'm going to end this...and read scriptures with my kids before picking up any library books.

Who You Are by Hilary Weeks

I know you wonder if you'll ever have a day
When the kids stay calm, the laundry's done,
and the dishes are put away
And sometimes you feel like your days are
spent and gone
And the question running through your mind
is, "What have I gotten done?"
And when you finally have a moment to
slow down
At the end of your day
I know Father would say
Believe in what you're doing
Believe in who you are
Hold tight to the truth that you're a daughter
of God
Believe in who you're becoming
Believe in who you are
It may seem simple--all the little things you do
But the lives you touch matter so much and
there's no one else like you
And Father needs you to stand tall and faithful
Be all you can be
Oh, if you could see what He sees
You'd believe in what you're doing
You'd believe in who you are
So hold tight to the truth that you're a
daughter of God
Believe in who you're becoming
Believe in who you are
When it's hard to believe in yourself
And you feel like you're beginning to doubt
Remember
He believes in what you're doing
He believes in who you are
Don't lose sight of the truth that you're a
daughter of God
He believes in who you're becoming
He believes in who you are.


Very early one morning I wanted to help out my sick husband get out of the snow covered drive-way so he could work (which he wanted to do) without killing himself (which, to me, seemed like what shoveling several inches of snow would d0) so I decided to get totally bundled up at 5 AM or so and shovel it for him.
I can listen to music on my phone and so I got my ear plugs and went to work. In the middle of this labor, the song above came on. I hadn't heard it yet as I'd just gotten this Hilary Weeks (an amazing LDS singer/songwriter) cd and just put all the song on my phone.
I listened intently and silently wept in the bitter cold and yet as I wept, really, my heart was leaping with joy at the truth of the words. The little things I did, including attempting to shovel snow in our huge drive-way, mattered to Heavenly Father. I felt my burdens become lighter.
This is what hope does. It lightens our burdens. It makes us feel stronger than perhaps we are.
Here are some thoughts from Education Week shared by Vickey Pahnke Taylor that focus on hope getting us through trials and adversity.

• Dark clouds are only temporary. Hope can disperse those clouds.
• We need to not just go through trials, but have them go through us to strengthen us.
• Hope transforms us. When we decide to be a part of the miracles then hope grows and more miracles can happen.
• "In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love."--Mother Teresa
• He rejoices when we move away from the darkness and change, pray, brighten up and then put that hope out for others to see.
• We need to find ways that we can be a hope to another person, even our children
• When we break through our disobedience, we will find that hope was missing.

Have you ever really pondered what the Savior says about taking His yoke upon us?
In my naivete, I really thought that this was just about an extra burden that we should take on in being a part of the gospel.
But what is a yoke?
It ties oxen together so that their efforts together make the work easier. It's that simple. If we yoke ourselves to the Savior, he will take on our heavy burden and make it a part of his burden. His burden is "light," he says. This means he is not going to add to your burden, but will share His light and hope and strengthen your faith.

And from Elder Hales, who spoke at the devotional: "Mothers...don't sell yourselves short. Don't let the world demean, debase or denigrate your position [as mothers] as invaluable or as mere servitude."
To all my mother-friends out there: I hope you have a very good week and remember that all the little things you do are truly a part of His great work.

Love,
Cami

HOMECOMING!!!

My in-laws have finally returned from their second mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They served in the Germany Freiberg Temple for 18 months. They met and worked with some wonderful people and I'm sure it was hard to say good-bye. They had some amazing experiences there and so many blessings.

Kids sure grow a lot in 18 months. Kathy, my mil, stood back for a long time just looking at the grandkids then teased them about eating while she was gone when she told them not to.

We made welcome home signs during family home evening yesterday. Bryce, whose sign read "Hello. My name is Bryce", held his sign the whole time, even all the way back home. Dane decorated a cute hat as well with the German flag and "I am 6" written all over it.

My sweet niece and nephew practiced at saying "Welcome Home" and did a great job. Kristine was heart-broken when we had to say good-bye in the parking garage. I don't know if she was sadder about leaving Grandma and Grandpa or not getting to play with my kids.

Alesha and her daddy
The group (Alesha took the shot)