Living Aquarium

We liked petting the stingray. Loved the octopus and the sharks.

Little girl, little nurturer

Doodle's first self portrait.

God has told us "Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children". I love when his words are so obviously true.

Doodle just started drawing. She had not done any drawing before but when we got a new white board, she just couldn't resist. The fun part for me was seeing what she would draw. It is no secret that boys and girls are innately different. Doodle drew her family. Girls are wired to nurture. They can do many other things but when it comes to their core, to their purpose, even at a very young age they know that family is important and that they're role has to do with relationships with those around them.

I have been through 4 boys. They drew some family but favored trucks and boats. This was during a time when their dad had a lot to do with trucks and boats. They were following the example of their dad. "By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families."

As parents we have a huge responsibility to be a good example, to enjoy our God given roles and to encourage those desires in our children. It is such a beautiful plan to be organized in families and have a loving Father in Heaven as our third partner. And it is comforting and amazing that those desires are planted deeply at a very young age.

Obama's speech

I read President Obama's speech this morning. It wasn't very scary. He had some good ideas. Kids should stay in school. (being a home schooler I must say that it would make more sense to me to encourage children to continually further their education, learn all they can, school is not going to solve every problem but that is another post) Basically I can't offer a specific example of what I didn't like but I can say that I don't like him. I don't like the attitude he expresses over everything that says we are not good. We are not good enough. He seemed to be talking as if no one would choose to stay in school on their own. He is there to encourage them to tough it out. That it will be worth it and you owe it to yourself and your country. It is a subtle attitude that always comes through. Our country is not great - it needs fixing. The people are not doing enough. . . I just feel like he considers it his job is to fix the country, the economy, the health care, the education. If we would just help him do it his way then we might have a great country.

I want to be a great American. I live in a great country where good people have opportunities to create great futures for themselves. We are an independent nation. Our federal government is there to protect our freedoms - not to fix us, give us everything, provide for any need they may foresee. They are there to provide an environment where we can work hard, progress, make mistakes and learn from the consequences of those mistakes, and also reap the blessings and benefits that come from hard work, effort, innovation and choosing to serve others when we see a need. We can be a friend. We can reach out to others. We can build great communities without being told to. I live in a great country. One of the best things I can do to make this country great is to focus on raising a spiritually strong family with Godly values of hard work, charity, and leadership.

I think I'm done with my political posts. Thanks for putting up with me. If you want to read President Obama's speech I found it through a link on ksl.com. You are welcome to share with me your thoughts.

Marriage and family

We had a combined adult meeting in church today. Our addiction missionaries and a couple of recovering addicts spoke to us. The main focus was on pornography and the destructive effects on the family - the whole family. And the healing that is possibly with proper priesthood authority, counseling, and the atonement of Jesus Christ. The epidemic is scary but when we know it's there, when we can help one another through it, and when we know how to fight it then it doesn't have to destroy our families.



I feel the desire to share some things that I have been reading. On lds.org they have links to the LDS speakers at the the World Congress on Families. I went to the links that had the whole speeches. They were so good, so inspiring and help me understand the incredible need to defend traditional families and to strengthen my own family, especially spiritually. Wendy Watson Nelson spoke on spiritually strengthen our families. Elder Russell M. Nelson spoke on the importance of traditional families and the religious freedom and protection the family looses when we redefine the family. Sherri Dew spoke on the importance of moral purity and virtue. It helps me a lot to understand the "why"s. I know these things are important but reading these words helps me to be able to better explain to others the need for strong, righteous families.




Really, family is one of our most precious possession.

Changes

This is where I am spending a lot of time lately. I pulled out my kids' old finger exercises and drills and am practicing each day. Then I move on to my special list of primary songs. The reason I am so inspired to improve my abilities would be my new calling. I was released from the nursery and am now the primary pianist. My abilities are not yet dependable or confident although this is not my first time as primary pianist. I remember being call to this as a young woman when primary met during the week. We played out of the old Sing With Me book and I think the calling lasted about 1 month. We will see if I can hold this one down for a little longer. The program is coming up soon too so there is another reason to practice tickling those ivories.

My secret hope is that all my practicing will inspire some of the other musicians in my house to practice also. That would make it all worth while.

Are you pledging to Obama

There is a lot of talk right now about an I pledge video. Hollywood is pledging many things that they feel will make our country better. They are pledging these things to Barrack Obama. They ask you to pledge. Our country was not founded to pledge or serve the president and his vision for America. We are a country for the people, by the people, of the people. I pledge allegiance to the United States of America, to freedom, liberty, to the founding principles of the constitution - NOT to the current president and his hopes of change for our country.

On September 8 President Obama has plans to speak to the public school children of our country. Listening is mandatory for all students in attendance that day. Afterwords the teachers are given activities praising Obama and being directed to consider ways they can help him reach his objectives. The contents of the speech are not available for preview.

As parents we are being ignored as protectors and guardians of our children. The family is the fundamental unit of society, not the government. We are the foundation of society. He intends on building a new foundation. His ideas for increased government control and intervention in our lives is wrong. Please search it out. Be aware of what your children are being taught from the federal government without your permission or supervision. The school is not the place, our children are not his vehicle. Schools should be run locally by elected school boards with a voice in the education of our children and the ability to have our schools represent the values of our community not the confused and freedom robbing ideas of the new czars.

Unless I hear that my child's school is free from this indoctrination, he will stay home. Make a stand and keep your children home on September 8.

sweetness of ?

I have been enjoying a special blessing that I wasn't expecting. I have three girls all moved away to college. They are wonderful, independent, beautiful girls. The blessing I'm enjoying is that they like me.

They call me with questions.

They listen to my answers and even call again. They share their triumphs, fears, hopes, and even the little things.

I can't tell you how fun it is to think that they don't mind calling home, don't mind if I don't have all the answers, and don't mind accepting advice, suggestions, or too many questions.

I have had a lot of calls from Elise. She loves her new little baby and is having so much fun. She is sharing the fun by calling with updates and questions. Sometimes I don't have the answers. Sometimes she doesn't like the answers. For me the blessing is that she is showing me with her questions that she believes I was/am a good mother and have some things worth sharing.

I don't think I can explain how good it feels to have people you love and admire believe in you. That is what I am feeling. They each know me very well. They know my weaknesses. They know I made/make mistakes. They know I'm still learning too but they still call.

I hope they each know how much I love them and am grateful to be their mom.