mornings

it's summer,

who needs a shirt anyway?!

  

i love our summer mornings together.  

sadie and abe are both at camps this week, so it's been quieter and calm with three kiddos.  

we are striving to read the scriptures each morning together.  i am motivated because of this quote by sister reeves in the last general conference: (read her whole talk here)

Brothers and sisters, because I know from my own experiences, and those of my husband, I must testify of the blessings of daily scripture study and prayer and weekly family home evening. These are the very practices that help take away stress, give direction to our lives, and add protection to our homes. Then, if pornography or other challenges do strike our families, we can petition the Lord for help and expect great guidance from the Spirit, knowing that we have done what our Father has asked us to do.

i take it very seriously that i can petition the Lord for help and EXPECT GREAT GUIDANCE when i am doing my part.  i have also felt this and know it is absolutely true!  

i also loved this part of her talk:

Brothers and sisters, how do we protect our children and youth? Filters are useful tools, but the greatest filter in the world, the only one that will ultimately work, is the personal internal filter that comes from a deep and abiding testimony of our Heavenly Father’s love and our Savior’s atoning sacrifice for each one of us.

How do we lead our children to deep conversion and to access our Savior’s Atonement? I love the prophet Nephi’s declaration of what his people did to fortify the youth of his day: “We talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, [and] we prophesy of Christ … that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.”⁴

yesterday morning, dave read about families, and i had to capture the moment.  vivian, ready to participate (except a shirt), and the boys both snuggled up to dave.   i am so grateful for dave.  when he read the scripture in the book of mormon about husbands loving their wives and wives loving their husband, and parents loving their children, i asked max if he thinks we do that...max got 'SERIOUS EYES' and nodded a BIG yes!   dave also read the proclamation on the family and talked about the things that make a successful family.  kai was so happy to hear that 'recreational activities' was on the list and "now dad HAS to play soccer with us!"

it's romantic to see dave and remember him in high school and now look at him as my husband and the father of my kids. 

being a mom and a wife has made me a better person, more dependent on my Savior and Heavenly Father, and it's where I have felt the most joy and happiness.

it is not always easy...

actually, it's a lot of hard work
i don't do it perfectly-
but i love it.