Update on Testimonies

We did our own little testimony meeting for Family Home evening this past week just like I wanted to, and it went great! My kids actually bore their sweet little simple testimonies on their own. I feel so much better knowing they felt comfortable enough to do this in front of their family at least!

It was such a great night. I have gotten so much out of this class that will help me in my family. 

Loved this week in my class!

I loved Elder Bednar's talk, More Diligent and Concerned at Home.  He talks about three ways we can become more diligent and concerned in our homes and I got some great advice that I felt was tailor made for me and my family! First is expressing love and showing it at home. We are good at that one. Maybe it is easier because I have all girls, but we are pretty affectionate and tell each other we love you all the time. The next one was Bear Testimony and live it. This was so great to know that our testimonies need not be lengthy or eloquent. What a load off. What we don't do is bear testimony at home very often to our kids or vice versa. I had an epiphany! My girls are super shy and quiet, they would never entertain the thought of going up to the pulpit to bear their testimonies in a sacrament meeting. They rarely even speak at church in front of anyone and I have one daughter that won't even participate in the primary programs because she won't speak in front of anyone. I think in a family home evening coming up, we will have a testimony meeting. What a great way to get them used to bearing their testimonies but starting small in front of just our little family. I bear my testimony occasionally and make sure they are paying attention when I do, but I never bear testimony to my husband and Elder Bednar mentions that as well. It is also important that we live what we are testifying to. Another key that I don't think about very often. It may seem dumb as I usually bear testimony about some doctrine or principle I am already passionate about, but sometimes the spirit moves you to get up and share something, we need to remember what we said and take that direction into our lives. Living what we testify about is vital. The last one he says is Be Consistent, which is just smart. Any parent knows that you need to be consistent to make habits and grow and learn. I loved this talk.
This is the first class I have taken that has flown by! I never want it to end. I know it is making me better every week.

Marriage

I have learned and grown so much this past week in my class. One of the best things I read this week was by President Spencer W. Kimball, "the spouse . . . becomes preeminent in the life of the husband or wife, and . . . No other interest or person or thing shall ever take precedence over the companion spouse."

Covenants

I saw this and it was very fitting for what I studied this week. We studied Covenants and Ordinances. I know that I have to live worthily to obtain the blessings of the covenants I have made in the temple, and at baptism. If I can make sure I am doing all I can to keep those covenants, it will be easier for me to help my family make and keep covenants. 

An FHE among the stars

We have beautiful California nights out here and we spend our family home evening in the dark under the stars on the trampoline this week. It was so great to just sit there suspended and teaching our girls about the kind of young women we want them to grow up to be. We watched a video about the Young Women leaders that found a purse at the end of a dance and how they wanted to identify it's owner so they opened the bag. They learned so much about this young girl and her devotion to the gospel and serving others. I loved sharing this with my girls and how they can show others what their values are.

I love them . . .

I had the wonderful opportunity to go on a hike today with my brother's families and my kids. It was such a nice day! While walking the trails for a little while alone today, I realized how fantastic it felt to be out in nature with everyone I love most in this world. I felt such an awesome responsibility to these three kids in which the Lord has entrusted me with. I am charged with the duties of teaching them the gospel, nurturing them, and keeping them safe. I fear a day when my influence on them will no longer be felt. I am trying to cherish these days where they love me and genuinely want to be around me. 

The cousins!

Better Late than never??

I haven't blogged in quite awhile!! It is 2015!! I am taking a Family Foundations class at BYU-I and I have chosen to keep a blog about marriage and family for the semester, so this should be interesting. 

It is only the beginning of the semester, but I have learned so much in my studies already. I cherish my family and the blessing of eternal marriage so much more. It is so vital to our eternal growth and progression. 

I am adding this photo I took at the temple. I have been making the temple more of a priority in my busy life and it makes a huge difference.