Needed this tonight.
We're amazing.
Sometimes I forget.
Showing posts with label The Inspiration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Inspiration. Show all posts
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Thank-you Sister Beck
" A good woman knows that she does not have enough time, energy, or opportunity to take care of all the people or do all of the things her heart yearns to do. Life is not calm for most women, and each day seems to require the accomplishment of a million things, most of which are important."
Sister July B. Beck
Relief Society General President of the Church of Jesus-Christ of
Latter-Day Saints.
As I sat down to plan for the week today I rapidly found myself advancing towards a good panic attack as I stared at my completed to-do list. My mind came back to these words from Sister Beck in the most recent general conference and I quickly calmed down as I recognized that this is the righteous lot of all women. We all have much to - we must therefore be careful about what we do do.
The "to-do" list can become an obsession if I let it. Everything on that list is important. But studying the scriptures, having family prayer, sitting down and reading a book with the girls, have a little wrestling match for no good reason, and saying a prayer to calm myself in a flustered moment - these things are not on the to-do list; yet, they are among the most important tasks of any day.
Thank-you Sister Beck for helping me to remember that if nothing gets crossed off that list tomorrow because calming down a one-year-old teether and making meals for a hungry family consumed the majority of the day - then I have actually had a VERY successful day after all.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Top Five Fridays - Motherhood Quotes
Today I am just keeping it simple. Here are five quotes that can make you laugh, think about, and treasure up motherhood . . .
1. "There is no one perfect way to be a good mother. Each situation is unique. Each mother has different challenges, different skills and abilities, and certainly different children. The choice is different and unique for each mother and each family. Many are able to be “full-time moms,” at least during the most formative years of their children’s lives, and many others would like to be. Some may have to work part-or full-time; some may work at home; some may divide their lives into periods of home and family and work. What matters is that a mother loves her children deeply and, in keeping with the devotion she has for God and her husband, prioritizes them above all else." M. Russell Ballard
2. "Cleaning up with children around is like shoveling during a blizzard." Author Unknown
3. "The phrase 'working mother' is redundant." Jane Sellman
4. "One of the greatest needs in the world today is intelligent, conscientious motherhood. … Motherhood is the greatest potential influence either for good or ill in human life. The mother’s image is the first that stamps itself on the unwritten page of the young child’s mind. It is her caress that first awakens a sense of security; her kiss the first realization of affection; her sympathy and tenderness the first assurance that there is love in the world. The noblest calling in the world is motherhood. True motherhood is the most beautiful of all arts, the greatest of all professions. She who can paint a masterpiece, or who can write a book that will influence millions, deserves the admiration and plaudits of mankind; but she who rears successfully a family of healthy, beautiful sons and daughters, whose immortal souls will exert an influence throughout the ages long after paintings shall have faded, and books and statues shall have decayed or have been destroyed, deserves the highest honor that man can give, and the choicest blessings of God." David O. McKay
5. An ounce of mother is worth a pound of clergy. ~Spanish Proverb
So don't forget mommies - what we do each day is amazing, wonderful, and more meaningful than anything that we will ever do. Have a good one. ;)
1. "There is no one perfect way to be a good mother. Each situation is unique. Each mother has different challenges, different skills and abilities, and certainly different children. The choice is different and unique for each mother and each family. Many are able to be “full-time moms,” at least during the most formative years of their children’s lives, and many others would like to be. Some may have to work part-or full-time; some may work at home; some may divide their lives into periods of home and family and work. What matters is that a mother loves her children deeply and, in keeping with the devotion she has for God and her husband, prioritizes them above all else." M. Russell Ballard
2. "Cleaning up with children around is like shoveling during a blizzard." Author Unknown
3. "The phrase 'working mother' is redundant." Jane Sellman
4. "One of the greatest needs in the world today is intelligent, conscientious motherhood. … Motherhood is the greatest potential influence either for good or ill in human life. The mother’s image is the first that stamps itself on the unwritten page of the young child’s mind. It is her caress that first awakens a sense of security; her kiss the first realization of affection; her sympathy and tenderness the first assurance that there is love in the world. The noblest calling in the world is motherhood. True motherhood is the most beautiful of all arts, the greatest of all professions. She who can paint a masterpiece, or who can write a book that will influence millions, deserves the admiration and plaudits of mankind; but she who rears successfully a family of healthy, beautiful sons and daughters, whose immortal souls will exert an influence throughout the ages long after paintings shall have faded, and books and statues shall have decayed or have been destroyed, deserves the highest honor that man can give, and the choicest blessings of God." David O. McKay
5. An ounce of mother is worth a pound of clergy. ~Spanish Proverb
So don't forget mommies - what we do each day is amazing, wonderful, and more meaningful than anything that we will ever do. Have a good one. ;)
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Family Home Evening with a Toddler
Does any of the following sound familiar?
Monday night rolls around and it is time for FHE. It seems to take all of your strength and imagination just to get everyone sitting down in the same room, and you still have prayers, music, and the lesson to get to. The song seems to go well since your child knows all the words to "I Am a Child of God" and lets you know it by screeching the words at the top of her little lungs. ( I really shouldn't say "little lungs", that seems to imply that its not very loud.) During the prayer your child actually bows her head and folds her arms, but she chants Jesus' name through the entire prayer. Then comes the lesson that you have worked so hard to prepare, we'll just leave that one to your imagination . . .
I don't know about some of you, but I for one have found it a little bit difficult to find toddler friendly family home evenings. When it was just Garrett and I, it was easy. We would just work our way through different manuals, listen to lectures on C.D., or read from the Ensign for our Family Home Evening lessons. Now that there is a little girl involved you need the visuals, the activities, and the fun finger plays and songs to go along with the lesson. So, I have been saving all of my family home evenings and organizing them by subjects into large manila envelope. I thought I would share the lessons that I am creating with all of you. I put the lesson into a word document each month anyway so that my kids can one day have access to all the stuff I put together, so I figured, why not post it here too? Now, I can hardly take credit for half of the stuff that I do. I get plenty of help from the Friend, the Ensign, from the new nursery manual, from all the primary manuals, and from many other websites that I will share as well. I simply take a little from each to get what I want in the end.
Some weeks I must say that my preparation feels like it goes to waste. Kenzie seems to be in her own world wanting to watch a show, grab the visuals and run, or try and engage us in a wrestling match; however, I know it will all pay off in the end. The First Presidency Message in April's Ensign by President Eyring was very inspirational:
"We have the greatest opportunity with the young. The best time to teach is early, while children are still immune to the temptations of their mortal enemy and long before the words of truth may be harder for them to hear in the noise of their personal struggles.
"A wise parent would never miss a chance to gather children together to learn of the doctrine of Jesus Christ. Such moments are so rare in comparison with the efforts of the enemy. For every hour the power of doctrine is introduced into a child’s life, there may be hundreds of hours of messages and images denying or ignoring the saving truths.
"The question should not be whether we are too tired to prepare to teach doctrine or whether it would be better to draw a child closer by just having fun or whether the child is beginning to think that we preach too much. The question must be, “With so little time and so few opportunities, what words of doctrine from me will fortify them against the attacks on their faith which are sure to come?” The words you speak today may be the ones they remember. And today will soon be gone.
"The years pass, we teach the doctrine the best we can, and yet some still do not respond. There is sorrow in that. But there is hope in the scriptural record of families. Think of Alma the Younger and Enos. In their moments of crisis, they remembered the words of their fathers, words of the doctrine of Jesus Christ (see Enos 1:1–4; Alma 36:16–19). It saved them. Your teaching of that sacred doctrine will be remembered."
While it may feel like a roller coaster now and all that you feel is happening is that you're regurgitating a lesson on a topic that you already know inside out, you will be surprised what will sink in. Just a few weeks ago we were have a lesson on Joseph Smith and the first vision. That particular night was quite frustrating. I had attached several figures to popsicle sticks in order to reenact the first vision. All Kenzie wanted to do was snatch the sticks away from Garrett and I and try to pull them apart (I had used bright blue tape as an adhesive and she was quite intrigued by it). The lesson felt rushed and confused and Garrett and I just sighed in relief when it was all over. I was shocked this week when I was putting the figures and the other pictures from the lesson away to have Kenzie walk up and point at the pictures and say "Prophet Joseph" loud and clear . . .
Monday night rolls around and it is time for FHE. It seems to take all of your strength and imagination just to get everyone sitting down in the same room, and you still have prayers, music, and the lesson to get to. The song seems to go well since your child knows all the words to "I Am a Child of God" and lets you know it by screeching the words at the top of her little lungs. ( I really shouldn't say "little lungs", that seems to imply that its not very loud.) During the prayer your child actually bows her head and folds her arms, but she chants Jesus' name through the entire prayer. Then comes the lesson that you have worked so hard to prepare, we'll just leave that one to your imagination . . .
I don't know about some of you, but I for one have found it a little bit difficult to find toddler friendly family home evenings. When it was just Garrett and I, it was easy. We would just work our way through different manuals, listen to lectures on C.D., or read from the Ensign for our Family Home Evening lessons. Now that there is a little girl involved you need the visuals, the activities, and the fun finger plays and songs to go along with the lesson. So, I have been saving all of my family home evenings and organizing them by subjects into large manila envelope. I thought I would share the lessons that I am creating with all of you. I put the lesson into a word document each month anyway so that my kids can one day have access to all the stuff I put together, so I figured, why not post it here too? Now, I can hardly take credit for half of the stuff that I do. I get plenty of help from the Friend, the Ensign, from the new nursery manual, from all the primary manuals, and from many other websites that I will share as well. I simply take a little from each to get what I want in the end.
Some weeks I must say that my preparation feels like it goes to waste. Kenzie seems to be in her own world wanting to watch a show, grab the visuals and run, or try and engage us in a wrestling match; however, I know it will all pay off in the end. The First Presidency Message in April's Ensign by President Eyring was very inspirational:
"We have the greatest opportunity with the young. The best time to teach is early, while children are still immune to the temptations of their mortal enemy and long before the words of truth may be harder for them to hear in the noise of their personal struggles.
"A wise parent would never miss a chance to gather children together to learn of the doctrine of Jesus Christ. Such moments are so rare in comparison with the efforts of the enemy. For every hour the power of doctrine is introduced into a child’s life, there may be hundreds of hours of messages and images denying or ignoring the saving truths.
"The question should not be whether we are too tired to prepare to teach doctrine or whether it would be better to draw a child closer by just having fun or whether the child is beginning to think that we preach too much. The question must be, “With so little time and so few opportunities, what words of doctrine from me will fortify them against the attacks on their faith which are sure to come?” The words you speak today may be the ones they remember. And today will soon be gone.
"The years pass, we teach the doctrine the best we can, and yet some still do not respond. There is sorrow in that. But there is hope in the scriptural record of families. Think of Alma the Younger and Enos. In their moments of crisis, they remembered the words of their fathers, words of the doctrine of Jesus Christ (see Enos 1:1–4; Alma 36:16–19). It saved them. Your teaching of that sacred doctrine will be remembered."
While it may feel like a roller coaster now and all that you feel is happening is that you're regurgitating a lesson on a topic that you already know inside out, you will be surprised what will sink in. Just a few weeks ago we were have a lesson on Joseph Smith and the first vision. That particular night was quite frustrating. I had attached several figures to popsicle sticks in order to reenact the first vision. All Kenzie wanted to do was snatch the sticks away from Garrett and I and try to pull them apart (I had used bright blue tape as an adhesive and she was quite intrigued by it). The lesson felt rushed and confused and Garrett and I just sighed in relief when it was all over. I was shocked this week when I was putting the figures and the other pictures from the lesson away to have Kenzie walk up and point at the pictures and say "Prophet Joseph" loud and clear . . .
Monday, June 16, 2008
A Miracle
Not a day passes that I am not completely in awe at my beautiful daughter. Often times I find myself just pausing for a moment to look at Kenzie and I find myself overwhelmed with a spirit of gratitude which often brings tears to my eyes. She is such a miracle in my life. The past fifteen months of my life have been filled with so much more meaning. As a mother I feel a deep responsibility to be an example to my children and I find that because of this loving responsibility I am so much more motivated to do everything I can to improve my talents and work on my weaknesses. I have never felt such a desire to be a better person - especially when I see how much my example wears on MaKenzie. When I am in a short snippy mood Kenzie quickly follows, when I am laughing a giggling she is full of squeels. Just the other day I was playing with her and I had a toy that I kept grabbing from her because she would laugh everytime I snached in out of her hand. Well, now she seems to think that snapping anything out of anyones hand is appropriate whether it be another baby's toy or mommy's scissors. It's crazy how quickly she learns!
MaKenzie is recently learning to walk. She has been taking a few steps here and there for about three or four weeks now, but it hasn't been until this week that she is randomly standing up to just walk around the house. Everytime she stands to walk I can't take my eyes off of her. It is so fun just watching her toddle along with her tongue sticking out in concentration or a big smail on her face as she lunges towards me.
Aunt Virginia is in town this week with her friend Aubrey for their senior trip. She seems to be doing a lot better interacting with her in her own house. (We went out for the actual graduation a few weeks ago and she wouldn't let anyone touch her without some major temper tantrums.) I hope that we can always be close with our families even if they are far away. Garrett and I don't know where we will settle, but having family in town always makes me want to be sure that we are close to family. It's fun to see Kenzie forming an attachment to Viriginia. I love that Ginny and I have become such close friends too. My parents did such a good job at teaching Ginny and I the importance of our relationship as sisters even though we were five years apart. I really hope that I can do the same for our children. I don't know how many times that I got the lecture that my sister is the one friend that I will always have around and how many times I just sat there rolling my eyes wanting to go off and be with my friends. In the end - with the exception of a few friends that I still keep in contact with - my parents were right. Even with those friends that I keep in contact with the relationship that I have with them now isn't the same as the friendship that Ginny and I have. We can talk and laugh about anything without any worries about saying something wrong or offending each other. Even when we do offend each other we are quick to forgive and forget and move on. I really hope our kids will have that with their siblings.
Anyway, all of this typing on our loud old keyboard is waking up Kenzie, so I best be off . . .
MaKenzie is recently learning to walk. She has been taking a few steps here and there for about three or four weeks now, but it hasn't been until this week that she is randomly standing up to just walk around the house. Everytime she stands to walk I can't take my eyes off of her. It is so fun just watching her toddle along with her tongue sticking out in concentration or a big smail on her face as she lunges towards me.
Aunt Virginia is in town this week with her friend Aubrey for their senior trip. She seems to be doing a lot better interacting with her in her own house. (We went out for the actual graduation a few weeks ago and she wouldn't let anyone touch her without some major temper tantrums.) I hope that we can always be close with our families even if they are far away. Garrett and I don't know where we will settle, but having family in town always makes me want to be sure that we are close to family. It's fun to see Kenzie forming an attachment to Viriginia. I love that Ginny and I have become such close friends too. My parents did such a good job at teaching Ginny and I the importance of our relationship as sisters even though we were five years apart. I really hope that I can do the same for our children. I don't know how many times that I got the lecture that my sister is the one friend that I will always have around and how many times I just sat there rolling my eyes wanting to go off and be with my friends. In the end - with the exception of a few friends that I still keep in contact with - my parents were right. Even with those friends that I keep in contact with the relationship that I have with them now isn't the same as the friendship that Ginny and I have. We can talk and laugh about anything without any worries about saying something wrong or offending each other. Even when we do offend each other we are quick to forgive and forget and move on. I really hope our kids will have that with their siblings.
Anyway, all of this typing on our loud old keyboard is waking up Kenzie, so I best be off . . .
Sunday, April 20, 2008
The Inspiration
The inspiration for this blog came shortly after General Conference a few weeks back after Elder M. Russell Ballard gave his fantastic talk entitled "Daughters of God". His remarks were focused on young mothers. While all of his remarks were absolutely fantastic, one part of his talk served as the inspiration for this little blog. He organized his talk into four questions that he responded to with his "four generations" of wisdom and observations. The first question that he responded to was "What can you do, as a young mother, to reduce the pressure and enjoy your family more?". One of his bits of advice in response to this questions was as follows: "Recognize that the joy of motherhood comes in moments. There will be hard times and frustrating times. But amid the challenges, there are shining moments of joy and satisfaction." He then goes on to encourage us not to over schedule ourselves and to be sure to savor those moments in our children's lives.
Since listening to President Ballard's talk I have found myself looking at motherhood and it's daily tasks through completely different lenses. I realize how many learning moments and life moments there are to just pause and enjoy and ponder on. They are those little moments when Garrett gets home and when I take the time to get excited with MaKenzie about Daddy walking through the door, rather than getting too focused on the dinner I'm pulling together or the telephone that is ringing. They are those little moments when I need to pause and get down on my hands and knees and just play with MaKenzie and watch her learn and grow rather than being so concerned about the next thing on my to do list. Since I have put on these "new lenses" I have found motherhood less challenging and more enjoyable. I'm not as wound up at the end of the day, and I'm not as worried about what else needs to be done. (And guess what - it all gets done anyway WITHOUT the worries - surprise, surprise there huh?) I have slowed life down a little bit to enjoy each interaction with my family as much as I can.
While this blog most likely won't be filled with all the happy moments, I feel that I can learn from recording these small events in my day and maybe even have something to pass onto my daughters who will one day find themselves dealing with the daily challenges of motherhood . . .
Since listening to President Ballard's talk I have found myself looking at motherhood and it's daily tasks through completely different lenses. I realize how many learning moments and life moments there are to just pause and enjoy and ponder on. They are those little moments when Garrett gets home and when I take the time to get excited with MaKenzie about Daddy walking through the door, rather than getting too focused on the dinner I'm pulling together or the telephone that is ringing. They are those little moments when I need to pause and get down on my hands and knees and just play with MaKenzie and watch her learn and grow rather than being so concerned about the next thing on my to do list. Since I have put on these "new lenses" I have found motherhood less challenging and more enjoyable. I'm not as wound up at the end of the day, and I'm not as worried about what else needs to be done. (And guess what - it all gets done anyway WITHOUT the worries - surprise, surprise there huh?) I have slowed life down a little bit to enjoy each interaction with my family as much as I can.
While this blog most likely won't be filled with all the happy moments, I feel that I can learn from recording these small events in my day and maybe even have something to pass onto my daughters who will one day find themselves dealing with the daily challenges of motherhood . . .
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