Jesus The Christ

Ever since I first read this INCREDIBLE book I have wanted to make reading it a yearly thing... Well you know what they say about good intentions!

But this year I am actually going to do it! 

I think the Christmas Season to Easter Season is kind of the perfect time to read this book!

I've had several requests for my reading schedule so here it is!!

Back Friday to Christmas: 109 pages to get through to after Christ's birth. 5 pages a day!

Christmas to Easter: 689 pages = 7 pages a day!

The dates won't match up completely but it should get you really close and definitely help you get into the real reason for the season!!

You can read this book online for free HERE

or on your Gospel Library App and the I believe you can download it free when you download the Deseret Book E-book App.

If this blog was a child...

I would be charged with neglect... SEVERE neglect!

Other things have just taken priority. The writers block also hit me. I am also still trying to figure out how I feel busier with one child gone to school and only one at home...shouldn't I feel like there is less to DO?! 

And you know what?! I am FEELIN' it. BOY am I feelin' it.

Who hasn't in their life right? Probably super awesome, selfless people who never ever think about themselves. Thanks for raising the bar and letting the rest of us feel like failures :)

When I feel run down I dig in my heels and try to fight it with caffeine and more sleep...ok you caught me! Just more caffeine. But eventually my body and mind hit muscle failure and I start thinking about the V-word.

VACATION

But this is where it really gets pathetic (because you thought I had already reached that level! Psych!)! I don't want some fancy shmancy vacation where I get to lounge on some white sand beach. 

I literally want to spend the day in a hotel room, Animal Planet/HGTV/Food Network white noising it for me in the background, with me and my laptop and PINTEREST. 

That's it. Ok well there would be chocolate too but then I would be set. All day just VEGGING. That sounds like JUST what I need. 

Believe it or not, I have actually lived this fantasy. A couple years ago when I visited my husband in Korea, he had to work and so I got to spend hours pinteresting my little heart away while National Geographic took me on adventures all over the world. It did get boring after day 1 but that first day was epic.

Remember I said there was chocolate?!

Family Home Evening: Family Coat of Arms Edition

I remember back when I was in a teenager and my family took a trip to the beach. We stayed up most of the night talking about how important family is. My dad talked about how families are like links in a chain and that our goal is to be a strong link in that chain versus, say a paperclip. We talked about how our choices impact our children and our grandchildren and the incalculable number of people that will follow us in this chain.  And then we designed a family crest or coat of arms. 

This is something I have always wanted to do with my little family. A coat of arms was very significant back in the day! It let people know who you were and where you came from. It is what you would put on your shield when you went into battle. The symbols used just drip with meaning and purpose.

So we found a free Coat of Arms Generator. Came up with a family motto. Picked our charges and VIOLA! Our family crest was born!

We chose blue because it represents steadfastness, loyalty and strength. All things we want our family to have. Red is for warriors. We explained to the boys that Satan wants nothing more than to split our family up and that every day we are fighting a battle to keep it together. The blue X is for protection. The band down the center is for bravery. The silver in the shield itself represents cleanliness, wisdom, joy and peace. The crescent in the center was used to represent our hope for greater honor or in other words our hope for exaltation as a family. Our family motto is of course written in Latin but means: Heaven not Earth. Meaning our family is meant for something more. It is forever. It doesn't end here. Clayton chose the dragon which represents how a dragon protects its treasures. Which he is definitely protective so it fits! I chose the bear because I very much am a mommy bear. I will protect and care for my children at all costs. It's also a symbol of health and bravery. Things I want! Little Man chose a snake because he loves them. Snakes symbolize wisdom which fits him very well. Baby Boy chose the lion because he loves tigers. But the lion fits him very well as it represents bravery. This kid has very little fear. 

My plan is to paint it and then frame it so it looks a little more legit and so we have it as a reminder of our goals as a family. It is no secret how important I believe family is. And I love that we now have this crest! So if you need an idea for FHE next week, here you go!

For a great list of what these symbols mean go HERE!!

"Mommy, do you want me to grow up?"

As I put my son to bed on Sunday, he asked me, "Mommy, do you want me to grow up?"

The response that instantly came into my mind was a resounding, HECK NO!!

This week is a big week for him! He started Kindergarten and is turning 6. 

I paused and thought it over and then said, " I want you to grow up. I want you learn and laugh and love. I want you to be able to have a family one day and feel the things I feel. I want you to know what it feels like to make mistakes. I want you to know what it feels like to overcome them. I want you to watch your children grow. I want you to know the love that can come from being married for all eternity. I want you to spend the many years of your life getting to know your Savior. I want you to be able to share what you know with others. I want you to grow up because the world NEEDS boys like you. Boys who are kind, that stand up for others, that are courageous and strong. While I would love to keep you forever little, more than that I want you to do more, feel more and enjoy life in a way you can't now. It will happen before I know it. I'm not ready for that day. But I know I am doing everything I can to make sure you are ready. And that's the most important thing a mother can do."

August Rabbits: It's finally here...

I would say "Happy Rabbits" but this Rabbits is not so happy...

Dear August...

I've decided I grew up in a special utopia where August is still religiously protected as prime SUMMER territory. But the last two places we have lived have made a blatant attempt to challenge my beliefs that SUMMER is for FUN and AUTUMN is for SCHOOL. I remember growing up and hearing horror stories about how so-and-so's cousin who lives in Arizona started school practically in JULY!! GASP!!! Surely such evil couldn't exist in the United States... the land of the FREE!? 

Am I being dramatic? Of course! But there is a very good reason why I care SO MUCH this year...

Little Man is starting Kindergarten. And I'm a little more than miffed that this whole coming of age situation is basically encroaching on my ideals of Summer. Really, if we were digging a little deeper I would actually admit that the reason I am so put off is because my BABY IS STARTING SCHOOL!! 

Once again I have become THAT MOM I said I would never be. I thought I would be excited to see him go to school... BUT HE'S SO MUCH FUN TO HAVE AROUND!!!

Especially lately as he has decided to finish most of his conversations with me with a slight bow and a "Your Highness." Like who wouldn't want that around ALL THE TIME?? It's totally random but I can't say I hate it!

Dear August 2014...