An "ah ha" moment

I have been visiting my mom. We have had a wonderful time so far and it has been wonderful visiting my family. I love visiting her ward. They are so kind and and it is a beautiful ward building. All the talks in Sacrament were outstanding. I was so touched and had so many thoughts running through my head. Some of what was spoken goes along with what I have been studying for my Relief Society lesson in August. One talk was about the foundation that had been laid in order for Joseph Smith to be able to access to the information he had that led him to the grove. Facts that I knew but still presented in a way that really got you to think seriously about the hand that our Heavenly Father really has in this gospel. The other adult talk helped me see that even though I have struggled with the choices some of my kids have made I need to continue to teach and give opportunities for the spirit to be in my home. I am often reminded of this as of late. I think the Lord is hearing my petitions to Him and letting me know that I need to "stay the course". I really felt the spirit during the whole meeting. It was in Relief Society during the lesson on "Testimony" that I had my "ah ha" moment. A testimony is testifying of what you know! In wondering where I went wrong in giving my children their testimonies I realized that it was not my duty to give them a testimony. My duty is to give them the knowledge they will need to attain a testimony. Why had I not realized this distinction before is beyond me. I have given them the opportunities they need to attain that knowledge. They have to decide how to use it and attain their own testimonies from it. My responsibility as a mother is to teach them the components of a testimony and give them opportunities to feel the spirit so that the spirit can testify to them and build on the knowledge they are gaining. I think what has been happening to my children is that at a certain age when they become acutely aware of the world that they become more interested in the knowledge that the world has to offer them and they begin to hold on to those ideals as correct principles. It is so important as a parent to keep trying to get them to turn back to the knowledge that the gospel brings. Some of the kids have found that distinction and a few are struggling to understand it and some I know will come back to it. The Lord has blessed me as a mother with wisdom and understanding so that I can see and hear when He is teaching me. I KNOW the gospel is true and hope that by the way I live my life my children will see the joy the gospel brings me. I am so excited to teach next week and share about the the joy of womanhood and motherhood. I am so grateful for other teachers who take the time to study and learn so they can pass on the knowledge I need to strengthen my testimony!

Ten things I am loving right now...

1. Thursday nights at the water front.

2. My adorable husband and wonderful father of my children

3. My great teenage children that did a really hard thing and lived to tell about it!

4. My young children's sense of amazement of all the creepy, crawly things I won't touch.

5. My beautiful flowers that are blooming all over the place!


6. Beautiful summer days at the park.

7. My adorable grandson who brings joy and laughter into my life with his adorable smile and love!

8. My crazy kids who keep getting a hold of my camera and putting the most interesting images on it for me.

9. My favorite place to be in the world - the coast!

10. Summer craft projects that keep the little ones busy for hours and hours.

What do you love right now?

Trek

Noah waiting for us to all load up and leave.

This was at one of our breaks. I love how the light is coming through the trees.

This was at our highest point. I think David said we were up over 3000 feet. We are looking back down at base camp.

Coming down the mountain the last day was pretty amazing. I did not realize how steep it was going up until we had to pull back so much coming down so the cart did not run away.

Here we are all back safe and sound reunited with the little girls. Chloe was the happiest I think because we are going home!

How to post about the trek - hmmmm.... I took only about 250 pictures and way to many to post here. I could go day by day but really there was so many things and I don't want to wait each day to post it. So I guess I will summarize as best I can the most exciting and fun thing I have gotten to do with the youth to date. I have gone to many, many girls camps and other youth things but this really takes the cake. Partly because I got to share it with David. Partly because as a Ma I got to experience the same hardship and trials right along with the kids. It is way different than just observing or teaching. I had a prayer in my heart the whole time that I would get to know our Heavenly Father in a way that our pioneer ancestors had. I think I got that privilege. It was not easy pushing and pulling the handcart. We were on some pretty steep mountain terrain at times. The kids were to have a hand on the cart at all times and Ma and Pa's could walk beside or help when needed. I was compelled many times to get on and push. Sometimes, because there was no room for me to push, I was pushing on the back of one of my girls. The thought came to me that it was like the angels that helped the pioneers up some of their steeper mountains. One girl even said that - "I feel the angel on my back". The women's pull was amazing! I thought at the time the most difficult thing to do on the trek. When the young men came down from the top of the mountain to help it was wonderful! The part we had to pull up was probably the steepest of the whole trek. I was so worried that someone would get hurt. A couple of kids got scraped up and twisted an ankle but nothing serious. But in reality, the hardest part for me was the day we walked 14 miles. We had come to a river crossing that was supposed to be very easy. As it turned out the water at the point of crossing was to high for the carts to get through. There was some talk of turning around and going back a couple more miles to a place to cross across the highway. The youth were pretty good about the waiting but there were many who were tired and just wanted to get some food and lay down. I was thinking it but never said anything. As I was standing there to waiting to find out what we were going to do the thought crossed my mind that as well planned out as this event was there were things that happened that were not planned. The priesthood had to come up with another plan and that is how it is in real life. We do not always get things the way we want it and we have to improvise or do it a little differently. The different way is sometimes the lesson we are supposed to learn. As part of the new plan for this unexpected turn of events it was then decided that the priest age boys could cut a path down to the river at a point a little farther up and we would be able to cross but be in the water a little longer than I think they had planned. A call went out for the youth to help and running past every few seconds were boys excited to go cut down some brush. Then we made our way down. It was so real as to what the pioneers would have had to do. It was amazing to watch the priesthood working together to get us safely across. I don't think the leaders could have planned something this amazing. I know the Lord was watching out for us as we did this. I watched it happen many times as things had to be changed to make it safer for us. I was beat that day when we came into camp. I felt as if every bone in my body was going to break from exhaustion. Then we were told we could only have 4 oz. of flour and some water and we were to make a pancake for our dinner. Now I knew that later on we would get some real dinner. But at that moment I could feel for those who only had that much food for the whole day. It was something I will never forget. The next day we did another river crossing and this one was a little harder because of the current. In order to get everyone across safely the priesthood stood at places in the water to help guide and catch anything (or anyone) that might fall in the river. There were about 5 priests that went back and forth and helped carts across. The crossing itself was not as bad as I thought but when we had crossed I had David take the cart on and I stayed by the bank of the river just watching those boys go back and forth helping pull the carts. I was reminded of the what happened at the Sweetwater crossing so many years ago. I was so touched! We have amazing youth in our stake! I watched as the smallest to the biggest one of them all pulled together to help and get through this experience. I am thankful that Heavenly Father allows us these experiences so that we can grow and learn. This was not the hardest thing I have ever faced in my life but for some of the youth it was. I hope they learned that they can get through the hard trials and come out on top.

And the winner is.....

David witnessed as Taylor pulled the name out of the bowl - Aundrea won the apron! Thanks again to all my wonderful friends - I will be thinking of you as I am out on the trail and you are getting nice hot showers and warm beds to sleep in:) Look for post next week about the trek!!!

Friends-Apron giveaway

I spent some time last week with some very dear friends. We get together every so often and craft together. One of us tries to come up with a project or something we can work on - sometimes we end up just sitting around and talking. These two friends mean a lot to me. They are probably the two women I share the most with. We have been friends for a very long time. Our children have grown up together - although I kept having children so mine are still growing up. Saturday morning I spent time with my "stamping" friends. That was fun to sit and create with them. Saturday evening I spent time with other friends for a "girls night". It was so fun to laugh and play and connect with these beautiful young mothers. All whom I consider friends. I also think of my sweet sisters as my friends. We are connected on a different level but I turn to them and enjoy their time and energy like my friends. I think of us as the best of friends because of our family ties. The miles separate me from some of my friends but I do think of them and try to connect through email or cards and letters in the mail.

I have thought of how my connection with all these women started. As do most of my friendships, I met them through church. We are "sisters" in the gospel. The friendship I developed with my sisters in my family have helped me be a better friend to my "sisters" in the gospel. The gospel was our first connection. I have many friends all over because of our many moves and ties to church. We served in lots of different wards so my friends cross ward boundaries. Some of my friends are older than me, some much younger. I love how when you serve in the church you usually become friends with those you serve. Age is not an issue. Even though I may not agree with some parenting styles or other things my friends might do - the gospel connection keeps us on common ground. Now I do have friends outside the church. Some of these women have been outstanding examples to me as women who live their faith and are dedicated to their families. Some I have tried to share the gospel with, others I didn't. My connection to these ladies is a little different. I don't share some of my deepest feelings with these friends - I guess I worry about being judged or coming across to "churchy". I shouldn't - because they are great examples to me and I do value their friendships very much.

I love my husband and family and find great joy and fulfillment with being a wife and mother. But I am so grateful for friendships. My friends have many many times lifted and supported me in ways no one else could. Sometimes it was by listening other times by serving. Sometimes just knowing they were there to call or lean on was all I needed. The Lord really has blessed all of us with the gift of friendship. To all my many lovely friends, thank you for being who you are. Thank you for each of your special gifts that you give me and thank you for all the smiles and laughter I have shared with you! I am a better woman, mother, and wife because of my many friends!

So to honor my friends (this is everyone) I want to do an apron giveaway! I recently made the most adorable apron - and it is in keeping with the 4th of July theme - and I would like to give it away to one of my friends. I would post a picture but as usual can't find the camera when I want it - so just trust me - you will love it! All you have to do is leave a comment on this post and you are entered to win. On Monday evening - the night before we all leave on the trek - I will enter all the names and do the drawing at FHE. I will announce the winner Monday night. You will get the apron when I get back from trek unless you live across the street or down the street from me:) All I ask is you let me take your picture in the apron so I can post and show off one of my adorable friends! If you live far away I will mail it to you and you can take a picture for me! Love you all -

The best day ever

This morning during breakfast Autumn said to me "This is going to be the best day ever!" I asked her why she thought that, to which she replied, " I get to paint whatever I want all day! I get to eat whatever my mom lets me eat! We get to go to the concert today! And, we are going to do fireworks tonight!" I just love her attitude. We really had a great day and as I carried her up to bed I asked her "So, was today the best day ever?" To which she replied, "I thought the fireworks were going to be the ones that go way up in the air and go pop." I said, " That is going to be tomorrow night down at the river" "Oh" she said, "then tomorrow is going to be the best day ever!" I think every day is the "best day ever"!