In which I shall speak words of wisdom

So I'm convinced that PLANNING is the key to SUCCESS.

And I am equally convinced that sometimes you need to throw the plan out the window.

Because sometimes, when you're making dinner, you notice a couple hot air balloons landing the next block over.

And you have to turn the burner off - and go see it.

And sometimes, when you just got back from a long bike ride, you find out that your HOA is releasing 250,000 ladybugs.


And you have to guzzle your water - and go see it.

And sometimes, your kids are knock-you-down precious and wonderful and perfect -

And you should put down what you're doing - because you need to see that, too.

Easter Countdown - Day 8

He really does live. Again.

Easter Countdown - Day 7

Easter Countdown - Day 6

Easter Countdown - Day 5

Easter Countdown - Day 4

Easter Countdown - Day 3

Easter Countdown - Day 1

Sunday, a palm leaf - Mark 11: 7-10

In which I am happy

Little Prince is growing up.

He'll have you know that he's SIX-AND-A-HALF (don't forget the half) and almost SEVEN. And SEVEN is almost EIGHT and that's HUGE.

I like watching him grow up. I like watching his personality develop and become his own person - even if we clash over it sometimes. I like that he knows what he likes (science) and doesn't like (chores.)

I like HIM. (And isn't that somehow different that loving him?)

I'm especially enjoying introducing him to things that have made me who I am.

Reading the Narnia series with him was an emotional experience for me - how he clapped his hands and exploded in laughter when Aslan came back to life - how solemn he became when Edmund asked forgiveness - whooping and punching the air when the White Witch died. Now he's into Harry Potter, and is fascinated with the intricacies of magic and how Tonks can give herself a pig nose. (So am I.)

I find myself crying over this sharing-of-souls. Although tears aren't a normal reaction to telling stories about Snape. But it's knowing that I'm giving him something he will enjoy the rest of his life. Something that I enjoy. Something that makes both of our hearts soar - frees us from the earth and lets our imaginations reach up toward the sky.

Books. 

There are so many books that have become woven into the very fabric that is me. And to weave them into my son?

...

There are no words.

Yesterday we sat at the kitchen counter for an hour as I told him the fabulous story that is Les Miserables. (I just finished all 1500 pages.) As I unfolded the tale of Jean Val Jean, we listened to that inspired music together - and the tears rained down.

We had deep discussions about the countless moral dilemmas presented in the novel.The bishop lied about the candlesticks - Fantine and the Thenardies' choices - Javert and "all the evil of good." We covered the French revolution, which led to the Egyptian revolution, which led to the Book of Mormon and discussions on kings and absolute power.

Basically, it was awesome.

Because when it comes down to it, I know exactly what I want to give my son.


The world.

I know you are but what am I?

I have a problem.
I have a problem.

My kids repeat every little thing.
My kids repeat every little thing.

Yours too?
Yours too?

What do you do about it?
What do you do about it?

No, what do YOU do about it?
No, what do YOU do about it?

Hey, I asked first!
Hey, I asked first!

No, I asked first!
No, I asked first!

Quit it.
Quit it.

No, YOU quit it!
No, YOU quit it!

STOP!
STOP!

STOP IT RIGHT THIS SECOND!
STOP IT RIGHT THIS SECOND!

MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

In which I prostrate myself before you

I almost said "prostate." Thank goodness for spell check.

Anywho, I'm convinced that alls y'alls are much smarter than me in all things smart. I take every word of advice to heart, and I'm the better for it (I hope.)

So I decided to exploit you further by asking you a semi-deep question.

How do you teach your children to be morally clean?

I'm looking for advice, here, people, so think hard and elaborate.

I want to know how you instill values in them - how you incorporate the scriptures in their lives - how you stand to send them out into the big bad world every day.

And this discussion is not limited to Mormons. Whether you worship Christ, Buddha, Zeus, or just a general sense of right or wrong - how do you do it? And if you don't have children in the home, how do your keep your own spirit of peace?

Since I never ask a question I myself won't answer, I'll give you mine.

• We read the scriptures and have family prayer every night - and we're trying to be better about having prayer in the morning.
  
• We pray over every meal.
  
• We have Family Home Evening every Monday.
  
• Recently we started reciting (one) Article of Faith at dinner every night until we memorize it - once we're done, we'll move on to the missionary scriptures. So far so good.
• We act out the scripture stories a lot. This isn't a set-schedule type thing. It's more spur-of-the-moment-let's-be-Jonah-and-the-whale gig.
  
• When things are getting reallysupercrazy in the house (which happens, oh, several times a day), I sing or play primary songs to tone it down a bit. Sometimes this is more for my benefit than theirs. ("I'm tryyyyyyyyyyying to beeeeeeeeee like JEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUS!"!)
• I always take the kids with me when I'm serving someone. They also write frequent thank-you notes of their own.
• I'm all about blatant brainwashing. Have you heard of the Brite tapes? Awesome CDs on different character values. We won't go in the car without them.
• We also love the Living Scriptures DVDs. They truly bring the scriptures to life.
  
• Just this week we began having a "reverence time." Every morning we read "kid" scriptures (we read the adult ones at night), and then have five minutes of quiet time. They get a chocolate chip at the end if they're reverent the whole time. (It's an attempt to better their reverence during sacrament meeting on Sunday. Because right now, it's non-existent. I'll let you know if it helps.)

My kids still fight and hit and whine and lie occasionally. So, in fact, they're still kids. But the way I figure it, all of our efforts take a half hour TOTAL all day. And the adversary is working 24/7. So I better get going.

So - what do you do?

Ready

Now I just need to prepare my

• patience patience patience
  
• ability to be cheerful while exhausted
• ideas to keep older children occupied while nursing
  
• mommy-dates to ease sibling rivalry
• love of laundry
• energy levels to last until bedtime (or at least til Daddy comes home)
• desire to cook dinner
  

THEN #4 can arrive ....

Saturday afternoon when the chores are done

... make lemonade with lotsosugar, and drink it ALL GONE before you can take a picture of the final product ...

And don't forget to drink up those kiddies while you're at it.

Sometimes

Sometimes, you just need to make a fort.

And sometimes, you just need to make a fire truck.

And sometimes, you just need to enjoy that little person who calls you Mom.

Because we won't always have those times.

Works for me FRIDAY - because I forgot to post this on Wednesday

It's Christmas, in case you missed the constant jingle-belling on the radio, light displays on every store, and gigantic Santa Claus and singing reindeer in the Jones' front yard. It's Christmas. It's true.

We recently had a Family Home Evening about this ever-popular holiday. First question: what is Christmas time all about? Little Prince: Presents!

Hmmmm.

Christmas time is, in fact, NOT about presents at all, and we are making it our goal to change LP's answer by December 25th.

One of the ways we are working to put Christ back into the Mas is by keeping His bed warm.

Nothing makes the Savior happier than loving and serving our fellow man. I know. He said so. So the best birthday present we could give Him would be? You got it - loving and serving our fellow man. (I know! It's like I already gave you the answer!)

Every day this month our family is looking for service opportunities. After dinner, we gather around the nativity and report on our good works. For every act of service, we add a "straw" (in this case, toothpicks) to the manger. By Christmas Eve, the Christ-child should have a pretty warm bed.

The kids are totally into it. LP took a truckload of candy to school, begging his friends to take it so he could keep Jesus warm. Ouro Branco is shockingly sweet with the pleases and the thank yous and the sharing his toys, muttering to himself that Jesus has to keep warm. I'm tellin' ya. Jesus is much more effective than Santa Claus for behavior modification. Jesus is better, because Jesus is real.