But the point is that every time I cut someone's hair, little Spike thinks he needs a chop. This time I got photos. Here they are:
 | |
| BEFORE |
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| AFTER |
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Haircut during Christmas break
Both of my college boys asked me to cut their hair while they were home for Christmas. Yes, I cut hair. It has probably saved our family millions of dollars! Seriously think about that. 10 heads of hair needing to be cut every two or so months at conservatively $10.00 a cut, over the last 23 years? Ya.......a lot of money (because the true math equation would have to take into account the fact that not all 10 people have been here for the entire 24 years so it would be some sort of a calculus equation involving exponents and sums, and it has been 25 years since I have had calculus...not going there, don't worry.)
But the point is that every time I cut someone's hair, little Spike thinks he needs a chop. This time I got photos. Here they are:
But the point is that every time I cut someone's hair, little Spike thinks he needs a chop. This time I got photos. Here they are:
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
My Pre-existence Contract
Have you ever wondered if you signed some contract in the pre-existence?? I'll explain what I mean in a minute. First, a little background information. One of our fundamental beliefs as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that we lived in Heaven before our birth on earth. Not that we lived another life, but that we are the same person here we were there. Everyone who has ever lived on the earth lived there with us. We lived with God, our Father. We had a spirit body which looks like our temporal body. Part of coming to earth was receiving a physical body to house our spirit body. The other part was to show if we would be willing to choose righteousness when we did not remember our life before with God. Our inability to remember that time is a part of the plan. It is designed that way so we can show the true desires of our heart. We refer to this time with our Father in Heaven, before birth, as the pre-existence.
Now, you may think this is not fair. But our Father in Heaven promised us that He would make sure all of us had the opportunity to know the truth. This will certainly bring up more questions, which I am not going to answer right now, but if you want to discuss it, we can talk about it later, just email me, or I can direct you to someone who can sit down and discuss it with you. (Click here)
Now the story.
My calling serving in the Primary (children 18 months - 11 years) has been quite challenging lately. Recently we have doubled our children, lost half of our teachers and we have really been struggling in the reverence department.
I was complaining to one of my college boys after a particularly difficult Sunday. In mid-sentence, he cut me off.
"I don't mean to be rude or insensitive Mom, but to be honest, that is your life. You signed some pre-existence contract that agreed to working with people with difficult attitudes and very strong wills. I mean, look at it, you had me, (names some of his siblings), and then (names some of the youth and children I have worked with). I don't feel bad for you. This is your life and it in some contract you agreed to that you would do it."
His words struck a tone and resonated in my heart. This is my life. He wasn't even aware of some of the adults that has included. As soon as I help one attitude move along or change or adjust, another one equally large and determined fills the space. It is not that I need to dominate it, quite the contrary. My job is to shape it, with love and kindness, to persuade it to righteousness. Sometimes I feel like I am fighting Hell itself---for the reality of the situation is that I am.
The adversary is fighting just as hard to persuade them in the other direction. (As a side note, to those of you reading my blog who are currently fighting on his side, I may not know who you are or what country you are residing in, but God does. He knows who you are, where you are, and He knows your intent. Together, He and I will not allow you to spew your filth through my blog. This is sacred space and it protects the innocent, and the not so innocent. I invite you to consider changing your lives and the hold the adversary has on you. Start here. And just know, He loves you too, regardless of the changes necessary in your lives. He will be there for you through the difficult road of repentance. Start today.)
Maybe you might ask why this is my assignment. Well, if the truth is told, I have one--an attitude. I completely understand the attitudes because I constantly struggle against my own. My desire is for righteousness, but I fight change and I have a fiery temper (just ask anyone who has crossed the line).
I understand the desires of people's hearts to punch someone because of their behavior or words, so when the behavior actually happens, I feel like I know what they were thinking. When their nasty words fly out in a heated conflict, they are probably similar things that have gone through my head. I just do a better job of controlling my behavior in those instances.
One time my husband was teasing me about spending all of the money in our house and why we didn't have any. I just said, 'Ya', it's all my fault.' A few minutes later he said, "What you should have said was: 'well, if I was the one paying the bills, that might be a valid comment, really you are the one spending all the money.'" Then I thought, 'Why don't I say stuff like that?' The immediate thought in my head was, "Because you are nice and you care about how people feel, so you don't say things like that." And I usually don't, but when pushed to the line, all those things go through my brain. Unfortunately, sometimes they still come out of my mouth. I am working on that.
Back to the start of this post: Can you recognize constant themes in your life? Is there something you manage, struggle with, or constantly experience that may indicate that you signed a contract in the pre-existence? If you ask Heavenly Father to help you see it, I know He will, because chances are, it is there for your eternal growth and development!
Now the story.
My calling serving in the Primary (children 18 months - 11 years) has been quite challenging lately. Recently we have doubled our children, lost half of our teachers and we have really been struggling in the reverence department.
I was complaining to one of my college boys after a particularly difficult Sunday. In mid-sentence, he cut me off.
"I don't mean to be rude or insensitive Mom, but to be honest, that is your life. You signed some pre-existence contract that agreed to working with people with difficult attitudes and very strong wills. I mean, look at it, you had me, (names some of his siblings), and then (names some of the youth and children I have worked with). I don't feel bad for you. This is your life and it in some contract you agreed to that you would do it."
| commons.wikimedia.com |
His words struck a tone and resonated in my heart. This is my life. He wasn't even aware of some of the adults that has included. As soon as I help one attitude move along or change or adjust, another one equally large and determined fills the space. It is not that I need to dominate it, quite the contrary. My job is to shape it, with love and kindness, to persuade it to righteousness. Sometimes I feel like I am fighting Hell itself---for the reality of the situation is that I am.
The adversary is fighting just as hard to persuade them in the other direction. (As a side note, to those of you reading my blog who are currently fighting on his side, I may not know who you are or what country you are residing in, but God does. He knows who you are, where you are, and He knows your intent. Together, He and I will not allow you to spew your filth through my blog. This is sacred space and it protects the innocent, and the not so innocent. I invite you to consider changing your lives and the hold the adversary has on you. Start here. And just know, He loves you too, regardless of the changes necessary in your lives. He will be there for you through the difficult road of repentance. Start today.)
Maybe you might ask why this is my assignment. Well, if the truth is told, I have one--an attitude. I completely understand the attitudes because I constantly struggle against my own. My desire is for righteousness, but I fight change and I have a fiery temper (just ask anyone who has crossed the line).
I understand the desires of people's hearts to punch someone because of their behavior or words, so when the behavior actually happens, I feel like I know what they were thinking. When their nasty words fly out in a heated conflict, they are probably similar things that have gone through my head. I just do a better job of controlling my behavior in those instances.
One time my husband was teasing me about spending all of the money in our house and why we didn't have any. I just said, 'Ya', it's all my fault.' A few minutes later he said, "What you should have said was: 'well, if I was the one paying the bills, that might be a valid comment, really you are the one spending all the money.'" Then I thought, 'Why don't I say stuff like that?' The immediate thought in my head was, "Because you are nice and you care about how people feel, so you don't say things like that." And I usually don't, but when pushed to the line, all those things go through my brain. Unfortunately, sometimes they still come out of my mouth. I am working on that.
Back to the start of this post: Can you recognize constant themes in your life? Is there something you manage, struggle with, or constantly experience that may indicate that you signed a contract in the pre-existence? If you ask Heavenly Father to help you see it, I know He will, because chances are, it is there for your eternal growth and development!
Friday, January 3, 2014
Family First Friday--Week #1 2014
For New Year's Eve, my teenagers had a stake party to attend, our little ones were in bed, Drew and I were home awaiting the time to retrieve our teens, and our recently returned missionary was home with us. We were trying to figure out what to do and decided to watch a movie that came out while our missionary was serving. We chose Man of Steel, the new Superman movie.
During one scene, as we are learning about Superman's past, as a child on earth about 7 at the time, we see that he is completely overwhelmed by his senses. He is in the classroom and as the sounds and sights become too much for him, he runs from the classroom and locks himself in a closet. The teacher and the class follow him, ask him to let them in or to come out, and then they call his mother to the scene. She stands outside the door and begins to talk to him. Because he is comfortable and safe with her, he tells her his concerns and she helps him to refocus enough that he emerges from the closet.
During that scene, I could not help but feel sincere appreciation for our Father in Heaven's plan. He gave to each of us a mother and a father to guide us and help each child. Mother's inherently know their children because of the amount of time they spend taking care of them. Mothers who are trying to do what our Father in Heaven intends them to do, deeply care for their children and their welfare. They know what struggles their children have. They know how to talk to them so they are comforted. They know what will get through to that child.
This of course, does not invalidate the father's role. He too has a unique interest in his child and a specific role to fill in how his child develops. The movie depicts both of Clark's fathers fulfilling their responsibilities to him, his birth father and his adoptive father. I loved the perspective that Clark Kent had two sets of parents who loved him, sacrificed for him, made provisions for him, and each did what they thought was best for him and gave of themselves----true parenthood, sacrificing of self for the growing generation. Of course, in the movie, as it should be in real life, the sacrifice was for what the parents felt were moral reasons.
What a wonderful gift---individually tailored assistants, tutors, nurses, counselors, guides, teachers, psychologists, etc... If each of us parented like that.....what an amazing world we would have!! Even though that is not each person's reality, it is what was intended by the plan.
Our Father in Heaven knew we would not be perfect, but He also knew, that if given the chance, most of us would step up and learn to love and fulfill the responsibilities placed upon us by parenthood.
When I dropped my teens off at the stake activity, I spoke with another mother and father of 10, who were expressing their concerns for their youngest who is 11. They shared specific details of his personality and why they are concerned. The mother talked about the specialists she is looking at to help him with her concerns and the prayers she is offering to know how to help him. The father spoke of their discussions with their doctor and his counsel and advice. Those are the same things I do to help my children and I am sure they are the same things you do to help yours.
Isn't it a wonderful thing that the most powerful being in the universe cares so much about each of us that He gave us each other. Now I know there are some mothers who do not understand their role, or take responsibility for it, but those are the exception, not the rule. And provisions are also made for those who are not capable or willing to be parents to allow others to fulfill that role for their children. The parents I spoke of above actually adopted the particular child I was speaking of. And of course, Clark Kent's (Superman) mother on earth, found him, but she still loved him and cared for him as if he were her own.
Love does not come through biology. It comes because of service and sacrifice. If you do not have it for your children today or for the teen they have become, or if love in your marriage has grown cold, you can have it back. Start serving and sacrificing for the person you need your love to grow for. It will come in time. But that can be an entire post all on its own.
I just thought that scene in the movie was a beautiful description of an eternal truth. It is something we can all strive for. Happy New Year!
| ign.com |
| ign.com |
This of course, does not invalidate the father's role. He too has a unique interest in his child and a specific role to fill in how his child develops. The movie depicts both of Clark's fathers fulfilling their responsibilities to him, his birth father and his adoptive father. I loved the perspective that Clark Kent had two sets of parents who loved him, sacrificed for him, made provisions for him, and each did what they thought was best for him and gave of themselves----true parenthood, sacrificing of self for the growing generation. Of course, in the movie, as it should be in real life, the sacrifice was for what the parents felt were moral reasons.
What a wonderful gift---individually tailored assistants, tutors, nurses, counselors, guides, teachers, psychologists, etc... If each of us parented like that.....what an amazing world we would have!! Even though that is not each person's reality, it is what was intended by the plan.
Our Father in Heaven knew we would not be perfect, but He also knew, that if given the chance, most of us would step up and learn to love and fulfill the responsibilities placed upon us by parenthood.
When I dropped my teens off at the stake activity, I spoke with another mother and father of 10, who were expressing their concerns for their youngest who is 11. They shared specific details of his personality and why they are concerned. The mother talked about the specialists she is looking at to help him with her concerns and the prayers she is offering to know how to help him. The father spoke of their discussions with their doctor and his counsel and advice. Those are the same things I do to help my children and I am sure they are the same things you do to help yours.
Isn't it a wonderful thing that the most powerful being in the universe cares so much about each of us that He gave us each other. Now I know there are some mothers who do not understand their role, or take responsibility for it, but those are the exception, not the rule. And provisions are also made for those who are not capable or willing to be parents to allow others to fulfill that role for their children. The parents I spoke of above actually adopted the particular child I was speaking of. And of course, Clark Kent's (Superman) mother on earth, found him, but she still loved him and cared for him as if he were her own.
Love does not come through biology. It comes because of service and sacrifice. If you do not have it for your children today or for the teen they have become, or if love in your marriage has grown cold, you can have it back. Start serving and sacrificing for the person you need your love to grow for. It will come in time. But that can be an entire post all on its own.
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
It isn't really lost until Mom can't find it.
Do your boys struggle to find things?? I think it is a man problem. Not one of the men in my home can find something that is lost, the remote control, telephone handset, car keys, wedding rings, socks, cub scout uniforms, scriptures, phone numbers, you name it.
The other day the remote control for the television was lost. Drew had arrived home from work and wanted to sit and watch the news and no one could find the remote. Now this was a little bigger tragedy than it would seem, you see, with our lack of discretionary funding, we have really old and worn down electronic equipment in our home. The satellite receiver will only work with the remote. We cannot change the channel without the remote. The smallest individuals in the house are banned from remote usage because usually they lose the batteries from the back or just plain misplace the remote, which is what had happened this day.
Drew was kind of on the war path and declared that no children could have any privileges until the remote had been located. (I was cooking dinner, so I was off the hook.) They were all looking for half an hour, to no avail. Then Sport piped up, "We should have Mom look for it. You know it isn't really lost lost unless Mom can't find it."
I have to say, I thought about that statement and recalled several times just in the last week where something was lost and I found it within about five minutes---an extra wallet, a back pack, a scouting uniform, scriptures. I thought it was funny that the kids, or at least Sport, knew that was the pattern as well.
So I looked for the remote. I looked for half an hour. I couldn't find it. I declared it lost. We did other things with our evening. After the kids went to bed, Sun came in and said, "Look what I found..." Drew and I turned around. It was the remote.
"Where did you find it?"
"In my knitting bag. I just reached in to get something and there it was."
I have to say that I thought it was really funny that even though I didn't find it, their sister did.
I still think it is a man disease.
| en.wikipedia.org |
The other day the remote control for the television was lost. Drew had arrived home from work and wanted to sit and watch the news and no one could find the remote. Now this was a little bigger tragedy than it would seem, you see, with our lack of discretionary funding, we have really old and worn down electronic equipment in our home. The satellite receiver will only work with the remote. We cannot change the channel without the remote. The smallest individuals in the house are banned from remote usage because usually they lose the batteries from the back or just plain misplace the remote, which is what had happened this day.
Drew was kind of on the war path and declared that no children could have any privileges until the remote had been located. (I was cooking dinner, so I was off the hook.) They were all looking for half an hour, to no avail. Then Sport piped up, "We should have Mom look for it. You know it isn't really lost lost unless Mom can't find it."
| topzoneonline.com |
I have to say, I thought about that statement and recalled several times just in the last week where something was lost and I found it within about five minutes---an extra wallet, a back pack, a scouting uniform, scriptures. I thought it was funny that the kids, or at least Sport, knew that was the pattern as well.
So I looked for the remote. I looked for half an hour. I couldn't find it. I declared it lost. We did other things with our evening. After the kids went to bed, Sun came in and said, "Look what I found..." Drew and I turned around. It was the remote.
"Where did you find it?"
"In my knitting bag. I just reached in to get something and there it was."
I have to say that I thought it was really funny that even though I didn't find it, their sister did.
I still think it is a man disease.
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Happy Birthday Smiley!!!
I cannot believe Smiley is 9 today!!! Congratulations! Isn't it so very cool to have your birthday on New Year's Eve? He was due the week of Christmas and then he was a week late! It is NOT cool to have your eight baby be an entire week late. None of my babies were late, except Smiley! I guess everyone has to have their own time table, huh?
This week we have had his grandparents visiting. It would be a lot of fun, except Grandpa got sick the day after he arrived and has been in bed ever since. We thought they were going home right away, so we celebrated Smiley's birthday on Saturday so they could be here. At our house, the birthday person chooses dinner and dessert. So last Saturday, we had pizza, soda, and chocolate cake, all from the store, and none homemade.
This morning, Smiley woke up and said, "I think we should celebrate my birthday again today."
"Smiley, everyone celebrates your birthday because it is New Year's Eve! Everyone is going to have a big party."
His response: "Then I think we should have cake."
OK, Dad and I can manage that. The other exciting thing for Smiley today is stay-up night. Another tradition at our house, when you turn nine, you get to have an extra hour to stay up on Fridays, and you can watch things on TV that little children (under 9) cannot. He is pretty excited about that part.
The difficult part for us is that Spike will not stay in bed if no one is in the room. Now we do not have anyone else in there for an hour on Fridays. That will be a lovely adjustment! I might actually have to train him to stay in bed! (After training eight of them, I have been super lax in this particular area with this particular child.) Drat!
I realized the other day, that we are no longer a family with little children. Yes, we have one, but that is very different than a family that has most of the children under 10. Most of our children are 9 and older. The house functions so differently. I really like it! We are just one year away from having seven of the kids in or through the youth program. Crazy!
Anyway, happy birthday Smiley! We love you, and your very forth-right attitude!
Love Mom and Dad
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