Boys

There is a saying that hangs in my laundry room.  It looks like this . . .

 

HERE is the link so you can print it too.

Only this morning, for about the 1000th time,  I went into my boys bathroom and I really wished I had a sign that said instead,

"If you are still in the process of raising 3 boys, 

please remember that the pools and pools of  

urine behind the toilet 

will disappear all to quickly, 

and that you WILL NOT (no surprise)

 miss them at all!!!"  

So, if anyone out there wants to make me this sign, I will gladly hang it on my bathroom door. 

Young Women Activity

 I love that I get to work with these wonderful Young Women!  Last week, we had a class activity, and I wanted to share our fun project.  

Since our theme for the month was on Individual Worth, I got to looking through the personal progress book for ideas.  I came across goal 7 under Individual Worth and thought it could be a really fun activity.  The goal lists several scriptures to read, and then asks the young woman to have a friend, family member and Young Women leader each write positive qualities the Lord has given to her.  

So, I took an idea off of Pinterest found HERE, where each person writes these positive qualities on a white board, and then the young woman stands in front of it and we take a picture.  Here's one example of how ours turned out. 

I really wanted the focus of this activity to be on the girls thinking of and writing these positive qualities, rather than on the crafty part to come later, so I asked them to really think of each girl as they wrote about her and be sincere and thoughtful in her comments.  They did a great job!  I felt that each girl's comments totally reflected her.  

The rest of our activity was assembling these little boards to put our pictures on.  I have a similar board in my home with a family picture on it and a totally different saying, but the idea was the same.  We Modge Podged the words on, and then taped the picture in place.  I cut, sanded and stained the boards ahead of time to again, keep the focus on the qualities we were listing, rather than the craft. 

I thought they turned out so cute!  And I hope these girls will display them and remember, above all, that they really are of Infinite Worth, with a very unique and divine mission. 

1st Day of School

 

Well, here we are already!  School has begun, and might I say is going quite well so far.  Chad started 2nd grade this year.  WOW!  That seems hard to believe! 

 This is him at his new desk right as the bell rang on the first day.  I have to say I am so impressed with how well he is doing with his morning routine-he gets up each day and is ready before scripture study.  So proud of him! 

 Tyler just started his 2nd year of preschool.  He is super excited!  He has one whole day under his belt, but hopefully, he will have a great year! 

And of course, Greyson, couldn't be left out when the camera was pulled out for pictures.  

Love these boys! 

Moments

I've been having a few of those moments lately where, even if only for a few seconds, I see my children for the joy they bring and the little people they are becoming.  I treasure those moments, and I need to seek for more of them.  As a mother, I think it is all too easy to get caught up in the mundane tasks of everyday life and miss all the moments that really matter.  Moments like all three of my boys playing together, happily.  Watching my 7-year-old speak to his 2-year-old brother in a kind, motherly voice, like he has heard me doing, or reading him a story.  Chad reading, really reading, from chapter books-man, he's growing up!  Tyler talking to me all day, telling me everything that comes to his little boy mind, and Greyson telling me, "I do it, by myself.".  I came across this quote the other day that really struck me:

The happiest people I know are not those who find their golden ticket; they are those who, while in the pursuit of worthy goals, discover and treasure the beauty and sweetness of the everyday moments". -Dieter F. Uchdorf

Boy, I am so guilty of waiting for my "golden ticket". Not that I'm not happy now, but I find myself constantly thinking of how much better life will be when . . .

When Dave can quit his second job and be home more
When we have finished paying off our debts
When we build our dream home
When I'm all done being pregnant, like done forever, which I'm not sure is yet
When all my kids are in school and I can get a little more done each day

The list could go on and on.  The thing is, when I constantly focus on the future or my "golden ticket", I'm missing the everyday moments.  I'm learning that life is mostly challenges and trials of faith,  with small fleeting moments of peace and joy, that if we look for them, are truly our treasure.  My children are growing up before my eyes.  I've got to treasure these moments.  Yes, some days are hard.  But, I know that for this stage of my life, home is where I need to be.  And, when we are on the Lord's errand, we are entitled to His help.  I know that as a mother, I'm on the Lords errand.

I posted that quote in my bedroom, right as I walk out of my room.  I need to frame it and place it in virtually every room in my home as a reminder.  No more "golden tickets" Telena, THIS is my NOW!