'Tis the season!

It is the season for families, friends and fun. I love the spirit of giving that changes everyone. In general, people seem to be a little more kind, forgiving and open to new friendships. I think a lot of it has to do with the spirit of Christ. One cannot remember him and forget to love their neighbor. It is magical and even enchanting how the world all over embraces the principles of love. And I can't help but think that the more we simplify during this precious season the more we can gain from it. It's the little things like cuddling up with your children to a classic movie, snuggled in a blanket. It's during such times that we sit around the table and read another chapter of a great book while sipping on homeade hot chocolate that the miracle of the season takes place. It happens when the door bell rings and another dear neighbor has dropped off some kind of gift and the children squeal with glee because someone remembered them. It's during those snowy days that you can sit around in a circle and cut homeade snowflakes to display that memories are formed. It's the simple things like taking a widow a plate of food, in my case, playing music for the neighbors or sharing homeade cookies that we contribute to the magic ot the season. Tis the season to refocus, reform and remember Him.

Our traditions are mostly centered around books

Christmas!

My first year to decorate our new staircase!

Our Christmas Home!

Halloween was so much fun. I found some things from around the house and a few ideas from Martha Stewart and we created the costumes. It is a lot of work, and one day I think they will have an inkling of what it takes to be a parent. But in the mean time we created another memory and that is what matters. From Youngest to oldest...Joseph is a black goat. Brett is a firefighter. Justin, who insisted on being a pumpkin got it. Jessica is the statue of liberty. MaKayla is a beehive (thanks Martha) Alexis is Medusa...she loves greek mythology.

Halloween

My dear mother-in-law took our little Jessica after her baptism for a few days. She likes to take the kids once a year for nearly a week to spend time with them and in my mind she mentors them. I am so thrilled by this as I find so much good and wisdom in her that she can pass down to my children. And I know that we as parents cannot do it all-we need extended family help. As we are young and still learning wisdom, our elders have so much of it already figured out to offer that I see them as a gold mine of knowledge. But what hit me the most was what my mother-in-law had to say about Jessica. Usually she is pretty honest and does a personality check on each of the kids while they are there. And quite honestly, she was nervous to take Jessica. (She has always been "the hard one") But upon returning she found so much good in her that me as a parent kind of knows is there, but we get caught up in the day and chaos of it to really pay attention to who are children are deep down. She had everything good to say about her and never paid any of my children so many wonderful compliments. My thoughts in sharing this are these; Why do we always find the fault in our children first. Why is that the first thing we notice and why does that seem to smother all the good? Jessica has so much good to offer as in my mother-in-laws words are, "there was never a more thoughtful, unselfish, gracious and helpful child-she was absolutely perfect." But in my day most of what I see is a little girl who is lost in the numbers of a big family. I am afraid all I have paid attention to is her lack of cooperation and tantrums (yes, at 8 years old). I am grateful for the insight and inspiration to find the good, focus on the good. I believe it is our job as parents to find the genius in our children and develop it. Parenthood is not just about feeding and cleaning them. It is about finding out who they are, their hopes and dreams and mentoring them through that so they can achieve their mission and purpose in life. It is my faith, hope and prayer that I can do this in all of my children. BIG to do list!!!

Perserverance

As I have watched my children each in the two year old stage and noticably my last one there now I have had something hit me. Children are determined. They don't give up, no matter how many times they fall when learning to walk, or crawl, roll over or even talk. They just keep going. When is it that most of us loose this quality of perserverance? One could only imagine what the world would be like if people maintained that courage and confidence that we all once owned. Where does it come from and why does it end? Just one of those things I hope to perserve in my children and adopt in myself.

I have had it hit me really hard lately how fast little ones grow. I am so thankful to be a mother. It has challenged me in ways I never imagined. Motherhood has taken me to a place that I can only believe is a small glimpse of my heavenly parents and the selfless life of our Savior Jesus Christ. And when times get tough and laundry, diapers, meals and cleaning don't ever seem to end-somewhere you forget all of that and all that is left are the memories. So it is my goal to make sure that I take the time to create them. Somehow, somewhere between the noise, chaos and drama there has got to be a sense of who I am and exactly what I am doing. There is an overwhelming responsibility placed on my shoulders and often I feel unequal to the task, but I have a vision for each of my children and I know that when I fall short the Savior will pick up the rest. As I recently heard a quote I have adapted the faith that the Lord does not give us a challenge just because of who we are but of who we may become.