prayer

What 3 blog posts in 1 week!? Of course, one of them wasn't done by me and the other only contained pictures...but still.

Just wanted to share something funny. Last night Sweet Girl (6) was saying family prayer. She tends to make them more of a personal prayer said with the family but it's good practice. Today we are going to church to do a bit of organizing in the library. We told the kids about it last night at dinner. They will be eating dinner and watching a movie while Webby and I (hopefully) get the work done quickly.

During her prayer she said, "Pray that we will be able to watch "Megamind." Pray that we can have a picnic. Pray that we can wear pants." At which point Sweetie Heart and I busted up laughing. She stopped praying for a minute but continued as we tried to contain our laughter. I wasn't mocking her. It just seemed so unrelated. After the prayer, she looked at me quizzically and said, "What's funny?" Webby gave her a hug and basically said he understood what she was saying. I didn't get it. She was praying that they could wear pants to the church instead of a dress, which we do for church and other events at church.

Here's another cute one.

Did you catch it?

Love that kid!

Reading and Reflections

This is a guest post from Webby

I love this picture.

Here we see the power of connection between teacher and student, transcendent of subject, building on a legacy of trust and service.

Elder Johnson, as with his companion, and countless, yet numbered unto God, other Missionaries have profoundly influenced and blessed our family. Through their devoted service, whether scrubbing our basement walls, showing forth the love of God by sharing a story with one of His daughters, or encouraging us to consider and work for the eternal welfare of ourselves and our neighbors; the will of Our Father in Heaven is manifest.

Sweetie Heart, 2 in this picture, is now 9 and has a strong, increasing desire to serve as a Missionary in due time; with such wonderful influences as the many Missionaries we have been privileged to serve and share time with, it is easy to understand – if you haven’t recently had Missionaries to your home to eat a meal and share testimony of the Savior, I implore you to do so, and promise blessings if you will. The other day, Sweetie Heart brought this picture to Mama, which inspired a search resulting in this discovery: last fall, Brother Johnson, now a soldier, still serving in the way he has undoubtedly been directed by the Lord; returned to his beautiful family from a time in Iraq – here is the link to pictures that shared this happy news with us. How grateful we are to see him with such blessings as an eternal companion and children. Without being name specific, we have prayed much for the welfare of him and his family. We are grateful for the abundance granted us, and for those who serve to preserve such as we enjoy – may we all strive to give more freely and more freedom to all.

Next guest post: Service coordination between Vermont and Zimbabwe.

Pictures

Not much going on...or maybe too much going on to tell you all about it. So for today here are some pictures.

32 weeks

Parenting On Track eBook Review

I am honored to be ask to give a review of Vicki Hoefle's eBook, Real Parents. Real Progress, (available for download for your Kindle, Nook, ipad or as a pdf) that will launch on November 17th!

First, I was excited to hear that Vicki was writing an eBook! Vicki is incredibly down to earth and honest about parenting. She shares her own struggles and mistakes and is an amazing person and resource. She is down and dirty and very, very honest.

The basic layout of this book is great. It gives a basic overview of each chapter of the Parenting on Track Program, asks you a question and then breaks the page before beginning stories from real life parents using the program on the next page. I love that the question is right there, begging you to look for the answer within yourself without feeling rushed to keep reading. At the same time, you feel compelled to keep reading because you want to hear how other families answered the question.

This book is inspiring. As a mother, a wife, a home manager and (everything else that I am), it can be difficult to balance it all. I am continually looking for inspiration from other mothers and Parenting on Trackers to give me a shift in perspective. I love reading about their successes, aha moments and even failures. It inspires me to tweak what I am doing. It helps me see where I am slipping up. This book puts it all together for me.

This book gives even those who have not taken the Parenting on Track classes encouragement to be better, to do better, to raise thinking kids. However, it is not an inexpensive replacement for the program. There is no replacement for the Parenting on Track Program. If you are looking for a great book of encouragement for parents, check out Vicki Hoefle's new eBook, Real Parents. Real Progress . If you are looking to start your own Parenting on Track journey look at the home program!

Done List

There is so much to blog about but I am just too tired to think of much. So this is what you get. A few weeks ago a friend said she was throwing out her "To Do List" and was instituting the "Done List." I thought that was a great idea! So I've been writing down all the stuff I've done this week.

Done List for the week

• Walked 5.5+ miles
• picked up Webby's car from shop and paid bill
• 7 load of laundry washed, dried and put away
• cleaned bathroom, including: shower, tub, sink, toilet, floor
• made granola bars
• made cookies
• attended parent teacher conference
• went to grocery store
• arranged a babysitter
• took Little Man to story time
• took 2 naps
• attended the Fun Run at the school
• dehydrated apples
• helped the girls sort and change over too small and winter clothes.

Not too shabby when you look at it that way. That's not mentioning cleaning the kitchen with Sweetie Heart each night and making a few breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Some days I did a lot more than other days but it all balances out.

The month of June is a big one for us. Webby and Sweetie Heart have birthdays 3 days apart! We had a great time celebrating both of their births. Webby also took Little Man (formally know as Squeak) on his first Fathers and Sons Camp out. They both had a really great time! Little Man was entertaining for all. He really does love being out of doors. He's all about 'side?' and 'go?' He loves it. We've been gardening at a friend's house and he just loves digging in the dirt, as well as throwing it, laying in it, rolling around in it. Dirt is fun! I am becoming more relaxed about being dirty. We went berry picking and Little Man had the best time. When I handed him a berry to eat he rubbed it on his chin first feeling the seeds. I told him to bit it, which he was hesitant to do. But once he tasted it, he was hooked. And there was a whole field FULL of berries for him to pick and eat. He now comes into the kitchen when he is hungry and asks, 'bewwies?"

new photos

For my dad and everyone else who wants to see how cute my kids are!

Dance

As a part of PE they did a dance unit. All the kids helped to choreograph the dance. Sweetie Heart is the one in the neon green, which happens to be Sweet Girl's outfit.

New Job

Pics and stuff