October 31, 2013

Bob gave me a blessing at the beginning of school when he did all the kids blessings.

• I'll see the effect my efforts have with the kids and that will encourage me when it's hard and I'm overwhelmed
• I'll find time for myselft and to study the scriptures and communicate through prayer
• I'll have health and find doctor to give me ideas for how to improve health - be inspired
• I'll be able to help and share the anchor of the gospel with friends and neighbors. I'll be example of gospel others are looking for.

October 27, 2013

Aaron got baptized this weekend.  My parents were the only family who could come.  They got here Friday night and took some family pictures for us.  Saturday we spent all morning at kids' sports games.  The kids loved having grandma and grandpa watch them.  We went to the baptism at 4:00.  Sandy and May came.  We just love them!  And two of Aaron's friends from church came.  Rachel gave the talk on the Holy Ghost and she did an amazing job.  It was wonderful.  Aaron said he felt so warm and happy and wanted to do it again.

Then we went home and had Jack-o-Lantern pizzas for dinner.  Then we got a babysitter for Seth and Ruby and we went to the Stratosphere Top of the World Restaurant for dessert.  We all had a great time.  We stayed long enough to make the full rotation.  We all tried new and fancy desserts.  Then we walked around and came home.  We also gave Aaron the baptism book I made and we all wrote our testimonies in.

October 22, 2013

Priorities in order

Spiritual
Family - relationships.good parenting, activities
Home jobs
Young Women
VT
Missionary work/friendships
Exercise
Me time (tv, blogs, reading)
Personal goals

October 20, 2013

The charter schools are creating a sports league.  There are 10-15 charter schools in las vegas.  They are just getting going, but they hope to be a full conference just like regular schools in 2 years. They're starting out with 6-8 grade basketball.  They had one day of tryouts last week.  There were 44 kids, and tons of really tall 8th graders.  Danny made the team! there were only 3 6th graders who made it and he is much shorter than most of the team, but we're so excited!

Ryan and Venessa, Dustin, Kristal and my parents came for Friday and Saturday of this weekend for Pumpkin Man.  Dad and Bob did the full sprint and Ryan, Dustin and I did a relay.  It was fun.  The sprint distance took me 15 minutes. Bob did great too.  His tire popped on the bike he borrowed.  But a nice man helped him fix it pretty fast.

We also celebrated Aaron's birthday.  His birthday was Saturday, the day of the race, so we celebrated more on Friday.  He took candy to school to give to the other kids.  And Bob got him donuts for breakfast.  He had spaghetti and white sauce for dinner and a Reeces ice cream cake.  And we went to the school carnival at night.  It was really fun.

October 6, 2013

We started family school this week.  I thought it was great.  We worked on manners both times and had treats both times.  I think that will be key.  They kids seemed to respond well.  I'm excited for this.

We got a kitten. I've been feeling bad that we failed at having a dog, so we thought maybe we should start with an easier pet and Rachel has been dying for a kitten, so we did it.  Her name is Cosmo and we've had her for a week.  So far it's been great.  She sleeps under the couch most of the day so I hardly see her when the kids aren't home and her mess is contained.  And the kids adore her.  And hold her most of the time they're at home.

Rachel decided she's going to run for Treasurer in her Student Council.  I'm so proud of her.  She has to write a speech and make posters.  Should be fun.  And I signed Rachel and Danny up for a field trip to AstroCamp in March.  There are only 100 students from the school going, but Danny loved Sea Camp so much I thought we'd try this one.  It's a science and leadership camp.  I'm glad the two of them get to go together.

Ruby is potty training.  My mom got her started again while she was at her house.  She said she did great there, but since she's been home, she won't poop in the toilet.  It's been two weeks now and it's getting a little frustrating.  I hope she figures it out soon.

October 2,2013

Conference.

How do I safeguard my kids against the world? What do I keep them away from? And what do I let them do even though it'll be hard? How do I get them ready for the hard stuff?

     -they must be reading scriptures, saying prayers, bearing testimony

     -I sit with them at bedtime once a week and ask them hard questions. Get them to talk. 

     -use Be Awesome more

     -maybe if we did something with their friends. So they could show their testimony and know each other knows. Make it cool to be righteous at least in front of each other. 

How do I redevelop and where do I use my leadership abilities?

     -family, school, community?

Better wife?

September 23, 2013 family school

I think I'm going to start doing "Family School" with the kids. It started when we went out to dinner with Meema and Peepa and the kids manners were not what they should be and I realized we need to teach that better. Then when we met Bob's friends and visited their farm. She was telling me about how they homeschool and how most of the kids work independently but an hour a day they do family school where she teaches them all something together. I loved that. So we're going to start doing that a couple afternoons a week. Our afternoons are a little disorganized. With homework, lessons and waiting to see if friends can play, the kids usually settle into some time wasting activity. And it's hard for me to organize the kids enough to do anything fun together and I miss that. And some things could be taught at FHE, but by the time Bob gets home and we have dinner fhe is usually only 20 minutes. So family school is going to be perfect!

Here are some of the topics I've thought of for family school. But I need to pray about it. 

Table manners

Guest manners

Poetry or quotes and recite

Read classic books together 

Art and artists

Crafts

Service

Holiday stuff

Cooking

Leadership skills

Qualities and skills they will need to serve where they are needed

Read aloud 2 Nephi 28:7–9. Spend some time memorizing 2 Nephi 28:8. You might want to write it in your scripture study journal from memory or recite it to a family member or friend. In the last days many people will teach false, vain, and foolish doctrines. In your scripture study journal, list a few ways these foolish doctrines are promoted and briefly explain how you can recognize the foolish doctrines of the world and avoid them. (Book of Mormon Study Guide for Home-Study Seminary Students, 2 Nephi, Unit 8: Day 2, 2 Nephi 28)

“We stopped at a water hole to watch the animals come to drink. It was very dry that season and there was not much water, really just muddy spots. … 

“The antelope, particularly, were very nervous. They would approach the mud hole, only to turn and run away in great fright. I could see there were no lions about and asked the guide why they didn’t drink. His answer, and this is the lesson, was ‘Crocodiles.’ 

“I knew he must be joking and asked him seriously, ‘What is the problem?’ The answer again: ‘Crocodiles.’ 

“‘Nonsense,’ I said. ‘There are no crocodiles out there. Anyone can see that.’ … 

“He could tell I did not believe him and determined, I suppose, to teach me a lesson. We drove to another location where the car was on an embankment above the muddy hole where we could look down. ‘There,’ he said. ‘See for yourself.’ 

“I couldn’t see anything except the mud, a little water, and the nervous animals in the distance. Then all at once I saw it!—a large crocodile, settled in the mud, waiting for some unsuspecting animal to get thirsty enough to come for a drink. 

“Suddenly I became a believer! When he could see I was willing to listen, he continued with the lesson. ‘There are crocodiles all over the park,’ he said, ‘not just in the rivers. We don’t have any water without a crocodile somewhere near it, and you’d better count on it.’ … 

“On another trip to Africa I discussed this experience with a game ranger in another park. … 

“He then showed me a place where a tragedy had occurred. A young man from England was working in the hotel for the season. In spite of constant and repeated warnings, he went through the compound fence to check something across a shallow splash of water that didn’t cover his tennis shoes. 

“‘He wasn’t two steps in,’ the ranger said, ‘before a crocodile had him, and we could do nothing to save him’” (“Spiritual Crocodiles,” Ensign, May 1976, 30–31). 

What is the danger of doubting the existence of crocodiles when you can’t see them? How is President Packer’s and the young man’s experience like what Nephi described in 2 Nephi 28:22? 

President Packer explained: 

“Those ahead of you in life have probed about the water holes a bit and raise a voice of warning about crocodiles. Not just the big, gray lizards that can bite you to pieces, but spiritual crocodiles, infinitely more dangerous, and more deceptive and less visible, even, than those well-camouflaged reptiles of Africa. 

“These spiritual crocodiles can kill or mutilate your souls. They can destroy your peace of mind and the peace of mind of those who love you. Those are the ones to be warned against, and there is hardly a watering place in all of mortality now that is not infested with them (Book of Mormon Study Guide for Home-Study Seminary Students, 2 Nephi, Unit 8: Day 2, 2 Nephi 28)