An Unexpected Blessing

I am so excited!  We found a free piano on Craigslist and my wonderful, strong husband, along with a couple of awesome friends, drove over an hour away to pick it up for me on Tuesday.

I don't know how to play the piano but I have always wanted to learn and to teach my children to play.  I never bothered taking lessons since I had no way to practice but I am now in luck.

I wanted so much to be able to play hymns for my family but thought there was no way of affording a piano for at least another 10 years.  I know Heavenly Father blesses us when we have righteous desires.

 Isn't is gorgeous?  Or maybe it's just like children where we all think ours are the best ;)  I am proud of my piano!

Modesty and Femininity

Lydia at Home Living writes  a beautiful post that helps us remember why dressing modestly is so important. 

I LOVE DRESSES! When I was younger I used to wish I could live in the "olden days" so that I could wear big pretty dresses every day.  My wedding was a dream come true with that big beautiful gown and I didn't want to take it off!

In school I would wear skirts or dresses occasionally but I got tired of every person I saw asking me why I was dressed up that day. 

After I "grew up" I realized peer pressure did not effect me so much anymore, so now when I feel like wearing a skirt or a dress I do it!

Just as Lydia in the post mentioned I am not an only dress person.  I believe in modesty and looking appropriate no matter what is worn.  Going to BYU-Idaho there was a dress code.  We could not wear overalls, shorts, flip flops etc.  on campus.  I loved this because it taught me that we need to look the part.  We should not go to our job in sweats and big t-shirts.  Just like we wear our Sunday dress for church and worship we should look nice and presentable for the job we are doing.

I know that when I get up every morning and spend about 15 minutes putting on some makeup and clothes and fixing my hair I feel better and do my job as a mother better throughout the day.

 Elder Bednar said... 

The Church’s temples are recognized throughout the world for their beauty. The buildings are made of the finest materials and constructed with true craftsmanship.
We must be thoughtful and careful about how we dress and what we put on our personal temples. Like it or not, other people make judgments about the restored gospel by what they see us in.

I know my body is a temple and I strive every day to dress it in a way that I can be a true example and follower of Christ.

Gender Roles are Sacred

I read this article in the news which made me cringe and mourn for this child.

I think it's a boy!?!?

Storm's parents have decided to keep their child's gender a secret in hopes that he or she will grow up with no "stereotypes." Really? 

Stocker and Witterick say the decision gives Storm the freedom to choose who he or she wants to be. "What we noticed is that parents make so many choices for their children. It's obnoxious," adds Stocker, a teacher at an alternative school.
This is so sad. First of all gender is a very important part of us and should not be confused and second how can we expect our children to make their own decisions with their "freedom to choose" if we don't first teach them?

 The Family: A Proclamation to the World states  "Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose."

President Kimball clarified the eternal significance of gender identity when he said: 

“Some people are ignorant or vicious and apparently attempting to destroy the concept of masculinity and femininity. More and more girls dress, groom, and act like men. More and more men dress, groom, and act like women. The high purposes of life are damaged and destroyed by the growing unisex theory. God made man in his own image, male and female made he them. With relatively few accidents of nature, we are born male or female. The Lord knew best. Certainly, men and women who would change their sex status will answer to their Maker” 

As we can see Satan is working harder than ever to destroy our eternal identities and the family.

President Kimball also said:

“Many of the social restraints which in the past have helped to reinforce and to shore up the family are dissolving and disappearing. The time will come when only those who believe deeply and actively in the family will be able to preserve their families in the midst of the gathering evil around us. …

“… There are those who would define the family in such a nontraditional way that they would define it out of existence. …

“We of all people, brothers and sisters, should not be taken in by the specious arguments that the family unit is somehow tied to a particular phase of development a moral society is going through. We are free to resist those moves which downplay the significance of the family and which play up the significance of selfish individualism. We know the family to be eternal.” 

 ^{I know that gender is an essential characteristic that we are born with and it is important to remember our roles as men and women.  I look around and often see the unisex trend in dress and actions.  We must not let this influence of society distract us from our sacred eternal identities.}

^{I am grateful for my role as a woman, mother and wife.  I enjoy being feminine and love my duties that go along with it.  I hope that I can remember my eternal role as a fulfill my duties.}  

Mother's Day

I know this is a day late but I was having too much fun with my kiddos this weekend!

I love Mother's Day because I am so grateful for what my mother did to raise me and many other mothers and women who influenced me for the better.

But most of all this Mother's Day I really reflected upon how much I love being a mother.  I believe we must first decide that we want to love being a mother.

There is nothing more I would rather do with my life than to sacrifice myself for someone else, especially my sweet little kids that Heavenly Father has trusted me with.

I am grateful for what they teach me.  I have realized lately that sometimes I get too caught up in getting things done that I forget my main goal everyday is to teach, train and nurture my children. 

I have to often remind myself that NEVER is EVERYTHING going to be done.  I need to just stop what I am doing sometimes and read that book to my children or build a Lego tower with them.  When my child is talking to me I need to stop what I am doing and really listen.

Here are my greatest blessings!!

 Anna and I before church when she was 3 weeks old... the memories!

This is in the hospital after Joshua was born.  It seems so long ago, even though it's only been 10 months.

 Pictures of my babies in the hospital right after they were born.  I bet you can guess who is who.

Happy Mother's Day!

Prophecy

Here is a great post on Being a Mother Who Knows of a prophecy by Heber C. Kimball that really caught my attention.

"An army of Elders will be sent to the four quarters of the earth the search out the righteous and warn the wicked of what is coming. All kinds of religions will be started and miracles performed that will deceive the elect if that were possible. Our sons and daughters must live pure lives so as to be prepared for what is coming. After a while the Gentiles will gather by the thousands to this place and Salt Lake City will be classed among the wicked cities of the world. A spirit of speculation and extravagance will take possession of the saints, and the results will be financial bondage.

"Persecution comes next and all true latter-day Saints will be tested to the limit. Many will apostatize and others will be still not knowing what to do. Darkness will cover the earth and gross darkness the minds of the people. The judgments of God will be poured out on the wicked to the extent that our Elders from far and near will be called home, or in other words the gospel will be taken from the Gentiles and later on carried to the Jews.

"The western boundary of the State of Missouri will be swept so clean of its inhabitants that, as President Young tell us, when you return to that place, there will not be left so much as a yellow dog to wag his tail. Before that day comes, however, the Saints will be put to tests that will try the integrity of the best of them. The pressure will become so great that the more righteous among them will cry unto the Lord day and night until deliverance comes.

"Then the prophet and others will make their appearance and those who have remained faithful will be selected to return to Jackson County, Missouri, and take part in the up building of that beautiful city, the New Jerusalem."

Passed down in personal family records. Printed in the Deseret News, May 23, 1931. 


This really caught my attention as I have been pondering all that has been going on in our world and country as we move closer to the second coming of our Savior. 

Also because I live in western Missouri right next to Jackson county! 

These last few months our stake leaders have been preaching preparedness like crazy.  Our stake president recently said that the time to prepare is over, and that we are either prepared or not.  They have specifically said that those in our stake WILL need our food storage supply.

We have money set aside for this and in the next two weeks we are getting all the rest of the supplies we need for our basic year supply but of course will continue to add over time.  I also just re-stocked my 72 hour kit which we keep in our tornado shelter. 

I hope each of us is prepared not only temporally, but spiritually, for the second coming of Jesus Christ.   The Lord has said, “If ye are prepared ye shall not fear” (D&C 38:30).

You can go to your LDS local cannery to can food.  Here is another great site to buy food storage.

Homemade Baby Wipes

I make my own baby wipes, which saves a lot of money.  I spend about $0.75 per pack verses $2.50 in the store.  Plus if I run out I can take about 2 minutes to make another pack instead of running to the store. I only go through about one pack a week since I only have one in diapers now, aahhh... the luxury.

You need to first purchase a tubberware container that will fit a half roll of paper towels.

Then you cut the roll in half (or have your husband do it if your wimpy like me).
Bounty brand works best.  Then take out the tube.

Next you measure 2 1/2 cups of hot water.  Add 2 Tablespoons of generic baby bath (generic helps keep mold from growing and it's cheaper) and 2 Tablespoons of vegetable or baby oil.


Mix together and pour over a half roll in the container. 

Put the lid on and turn upside down for about 5 minutes and there you have it, homemade baby wipes!

You can just reach into the middle of the roll where the tube used to be for the first wipe and they will dispense just like regular wipes.

They are a bit thinner than some you buy in the store, but work great! Plus I have often thought some from the store were too thick and a bit of a waste.

Enjoy!

Garage Sale Season Has Begun

Saturday was my first day of garage sales for the season.  For those who don't know I am a CRAZY garage saler.  I look forward to it and count down all winter long. 

Here is what I got.  All for $28

bookshelf, office chair, thread holder, candle, books, 6 shirts, 1 pair shoes, bath toys, plastic rocking horse, 10 yards of material, rags, baby doll, and a ball.

*the things in bold are ones that were specifically on my list. 

I'd say first day was a success!

I usually don't spend that much every week but I have been wanting a book shelf for months! So I am very excited.  Without the book shelf I would have spent $12. 

A Few Garage Sale Tips:

1. Don't be afraid to bargain! I offered about 1/2 price and got it with everything but the book shelf.  The book shelf was already such a great deal I just went for it otherwise I knew the next customer would have it.  So don't be too greedy if it's a larger item that's already a great deal.  Most people just want the stuff out of their house.

2. Make a list of what you are looking for so that you don't just end up buying random things you don't need.  I almost always buy more than is on my list but I keep it to a minimum and only buy things I would use.

3. Again, don't buy junk! Just because it's a good deal doesn't mean you have to get it.

4.  Look for neighborhood sales and get there early.  I spent all morning Saturday in one neighborhood.  I got there 10 minutes late and it took me almost 15 minutes to find a parking spot!

5. Find ads for sales on Craigslist and local newspaper.  You can also just follow signs around town.  

Buying used saves more money than anything you can do (I mean thousands of dollars if you compare!).  Good luck and I hope you find some awesome bargains!