They Are Closer Than We Know

 

I shared a video on my FB page this week where these sister missionaries were talking about how they felt their ancestors watching over them during an experience that they had on their missions.

I testified that I know that our ancestors can help us and are near us helping us through hard things.

Later that day, my kids begged me to take them to this little candy store in the next town over, so I obliged (since it's on the way to the nursery and I wanted to look at plants!)

When we walked inside, I saw multiple things that reminded me of my grandma and great-grandmother.

The first thing we saw when we walked in was a display with my Great-Grandma's last name on it "Holman".

And then we saw a bunch of candy buttons which my grandma often gave to us in bags of candy she would make up for us.

I felt in that moment that my ancestors were sending me a little nudge from beyond that what I had testified of earlier was true and that they really are beside me...even when I am too busy, too stressed, or too sad to recognize their help.  They are there for me.  And I am so grateful for this knowledge.

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Adding Memories to Family Search

 

Our Stake Presidency has declared this weekend a Stake Temple and Family History Weekend.  We have about 6 different family history and temple tasks to complete by this weekend.  Here are instructions of one of them: 

How to add a memory to Family Search:

(from the website)

1. Sign in to FamilySearch.org.
2. In the menu bar at the top of the screen, click Memories.
3. In the drop-down menu, click Gallery.
4. Click the plus sign (+) in the green circle.
5. Drag and drop content from your computer to the screen, or click Choose Files.
6. Each photo still has to be tagged individually, but the amount of content you upload at once is up to you.

To upload a memory from the person page:

1. Click the Memories tab.
2. Click either Upload Photo or Upload document, and select the file from your computer.
3. Click Select from Gallery to add an item you have already uploaded. The drag and drop feature is not available to upload memory items on the person's details page.

Using the instructions below, you can upload multiple photos at the same time:

1. To select a consecutive range of photos, find and click the first photo.
2. Press down the Shift button on your keyboard.
3. With the Shift button pressed down, click the last photo in the range of photos that you want to upload.
4. You should see a list of attachments that are highlighted, ready to be uploaded. Follow the onscreen prompts to finish uploading the photos.
5. To select nonconsecutive photos from a folder, find and click the first photo.
6. Press and hold down the Control button (Ctrl).
7. With the Control button pressed down, click all of the photos that you want to upload. Then follow the onscreen prompts to finish uploading the photos.

Steps (mobile app)

You can upload memories from both the Memories mobile app and the Family Tree mobile app. Here is how you do it from the Memories mobile app:

1. Tap the plus sign (+) in the circle.
2. Tap Add Document or Add Photo.
3. Choose between 2 options:

• Select a file from your device, and tap Upload.
• Use the camera feature to capture the content. Edit the photo, and tap Save.

Here's how you do it from the Family Tree mobile app:

1. Tap on an individual to open the person detail page.
2. Tap Memories.
3. Tap the plus sign icon (+).
4. Tap Add Document or Add Photo.
5. Choose between 2 different options:
   
   • Select a file from your device, and tap Upload.
   • Use the camera feature to capture the content. Edit the photo, and tap Save.

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"Remember Me"-Themed Thanksgiving

 

I hosted Thanksgiving for our family this year.  The last (and the first) time I hosted was five years ago when Guy was baptized.  So it was time.  My children were so excited to host.  They love, like I do, planning parties and being creative and planning special things for their loved ones.  So this was a really fun family thing to do together.  But with Steve working on finishing the basement, and two little babies that we didn't have five years ago, this was a major undertaking which took a lot of work and teamwork!

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Recapturing testimony day by day

Faith and testimony is built day by day.  What are you doing each day to make sure your testimony stays vibrant?  I have been asking myself that a lot lately.

"...once obtained, a testimony needs to be kept vital and alive through continued obedience to the commandments of God and through daily prayer and scripture study."

Hopefully, you all picked up on this quote from President Monson, which I included in my previous post.  It applies to all of us.

Another one I love, from President Lee this time, is as follows (and I take this from the Harold B Lee Manual:

What can we do to strengthen our testimonies?

[The Master said to Peter,] “Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” (Luke 22:31–32). Now, mind you, He is saying that to the chiefest of the Twelve. I am praying for you; now go out and get converted, and when you get converted, then go strengthen your brother. It means [we can become] unconverted just as well as we can become converted."

(And here comes the quote that I really like...) 

"Testimony is as elusive as a moonbeam; it’s as fragile as an orchid; you have to recapture it every morning of your life. You have to hold on by study, and by faith, and by prayer. If you allow yourself to be angry, if you allow yourself to get into the wrong kind of company, you listen to the wrong kind of stories, you are studying the wrong kind of subjects, you are engaging in sinful practices, there is nothing that will be more deadening as to take away the Spirit of the Lord from you until it will be as though you had walked from a lighted room when you go out of this building, as though you had gone out into a darkness.¹⁷

That which you possess today in testimony will not be yours tomorrow unless you do something about it. Your testimony is either going to increase or it is going to diminish, depending on you. Will you remember your responsibility, then? The Lord said, “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself” (John 7:17).¹⁸

These are just some thoughts I have swirling around in my head today...the importance of always building and not becoming complacent about our testimonies.

I've been taking actions lately, small, baby steps, actually, to be a better builder of my own testimony.

One thing I started doing this week is taking about 10 minutes a day to index in the morning.  I figure it is just one more positive thing I can be doing with my limited time to turn my thoughts to good things, to build my testimony, and to bring more of the spirit into my day.

Since I was trying to find the easiest, quickest indexing projects, I ended up indexing records (muster rolls) of people who served in the American Revolutionary War, which I found really exciting.  Normally, in the past the people I have indexed were really strangers to me, but it seemed different somehow to connect with people who served such an important roll in our country's history.

Anyway, just another idea of ways we can all take an active roll in building our testimonies.  Have a great week!

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Do You Know Your Siblings? a Fun Game for Family Night

Do you guys remember playing "Do you love your neighbor?"  I must admit that I never played that until I entered the singles wards and started mixing from people out West.  We never really played it here in the East growing up.

Anyway, yesterday before church I decided we'd play "Do you know your siblings," as a way to pass the time reverently before church started.

I wrote a list of "favorites" on a piece of paper for each child and hung them up. (Including one for mom and dad!) We took turns writing down our best guesses for each other--things like favorite color, food, hobby, etc.

At the end of the list, we wrote down what we thought the person's talents and gifts were and also something we like about that person.

Later on, during our Family Council, we went over the answers. 

Since we each wrote in a different colored marker, we kept track of our correct answers to see who knew the most about the other family members. 

It was a lot of fun and yielded plenty of laughter. And I think each person enjoyed being in the spotlight for a few minutes. Save the answers in a scrapbook or journal for a fun family history document to look back on some day.

Just an idea for a Sunday or FHE tonight!

I am participating in a Family History Challenge this month!  Click here to read more posts about family history and Easter!

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Drawing Pictures of the New Baby

Good morning friends!  I hope you're all enjoying a fresh start to a new week.  On Sunday morning, during scripture study, we talked about how Nephi said he delighted in the scriptures.  I asked the kids how they thought it was possible for him to delight in the scriptures...what was it he did each day to be able to say he delights in them?  I told the children that we need to do the most important things first.  

That's what I try to do each day.  (Lately, after I drag myself out of bed and manage to arrive at some some semblance of wakefulness!) I wake up and say, "What's the one thing I want to get done today?  What is the one thing that if I get nothing else done, I want to be able to say I did?"  And I start with that.  Thus fulfilling my motto of "You always have time for things you put first."  I told them that if delighting in the scriptures is our number one thing...we'd be wise to read them right away, first thing!  That way we'll be sure to get it done.

So this morning, so as not to be a hypocrite, I started with my scripture study (after the kids left anyway), then I wrote in my new baby's journal (something else I've been wanting to accomplish)...and here I am typing up a quick blog post.  

It's been hard to read my scriptures lately, because I've been so tired, but I've tried a few things, like listening to the scriptures while I get ready, etc.  Anyway, every day is a new day.  And my new week is starting in a positive way as I try to put the most important things first.

So!  Yesterday, as I mentioned on Facebook, we had another good Sabbath day together.  Steve was gone basically all day, so it was all on me to keep the peace and help us delight in the Sabbath.

I actually prepared for one of our activities earlier in the week.  By addressing and starting to write in cards we would send to family, it made it easier for us to write Valentine's to our cousins together after church.

The other activity we did that was a lot of fun was drawing pictures of what we think our new baby will look like.  Here's how the pictures turned out:

As you know, we didn't find out the gender this time.  Honor wants a GIRL.

Autumn would like one of each.

Scarlett thinks it's a boy.

Guy thinks it's a boy (I think?)  He colored the face purple, because Honor's face was purple when she was born, because she had cord issues.

The children really took their time drawing these and there was a lot of laughter about how each picture turned out!

Autumn turned her baby boy and girl drawings into puppets, which everyone enjoyed.

So, that was our Sunday for the most part.  When Steve came home (early!) we held family council.

One item of business was that we needed to discuss who we could ask to babysit for us when I go into labor.  We came up with a bunch of names and talked about who would be the least inconvenienced by a last-time request to watch our kids.  The children also talked about who they would like the most (Granny!) to come.

But there was one name that topped the list: GUY!  Guy was lobbying hard to be the chosen babysitter of his siblings while I'm at the hospital.  He kept looking in my eyes and wanting me to "shake" on it.  He told us, "I'll make them food.  I'll protect them."  What a sweet boy...who is growing up so fast!  We're so proud of him and he is such a good protector of the girls.

Earlier in church, I saw that Guy and Scarlett were struggling over something.  I looked over to see this "contract" in his Sunday notebook....requiring that Scarlett put into writing that she will "go to bed when Guy says."  As her new roommate, Guy had to lay down some ground rules I guess!! :)

So that was our Sunday for the most part.  Snow-covered and fun.  It ended with family council and Autumn gave us a lesson on the Iron Rod.  She was so proud and I was so proud to see her being the leader and teaching us.

Have a great week!

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10 Reasons to Hold Weekly Family Council

Last week, I shared how our efforts to keep the Sabbath day holy one hour at a time has gone.

Today, I'd like to talk about holding family councils.

We really didn't hold regular "family councils" until last Spring, I guess, when it was suggested by the visiting general authority that Sunday afternoon would be a good time for family's to hold family councils.

We have long had family meetings when needed...but the term "family council" always sounded so stuffy and top-down to me.  Not exactly my style.  But after this admonishment, and realizing that our family life will only continue to get busier, we decided to implement family councils so that we can continue to stay on the same page as time passes and our situation changes.

Plus, it seemed like a great way to help Sunday afternoons pass with purpose.

Technically, we were advised that family council should be a time for parents to teach family's some principle...however more so recently, it's more of a family planning session for the week, with a little principle or testimony sprinkled in to whatever is going on in our lives at the moment.  And we often discover what principle needs to be taught through our candid discussions at family council.

We have chosen 5pm on Sundays for our Family Council time.  This past Sunday, we did it right after eating our lunch/dinner.  We love to talk around the dinner table.

Steve and Autumn made us this yummy tray of food from stuff they scrounged up in the fridge.  It was a meal that you pick over and dip and just sort of take a long time eating...so it gave us time to chat and laugh.

Somehow we got onto the topic of someone "liking" someone...and Steve and I took the opportunity to talk about how boys act around girls that they like.  We were all laughing by the end of it.  It's interesting having a pre-teen in the house now.  Our conversations have changed a bit and it's fun to talk about new things.

Everyone was interested in the conversation and engaged, so we prayed and went straight into family council.  We talked about what each day of the week would entail, and what needed to be done by the family members.  We also circled around to the "what to name the baby" conversation, which resulted in no real decision, as usual!

I told them that the long-awaited Chipotle was going to open in our town on Thursday and I told them I'd be willing to take them out of school to go to lunch with me at the new restaurant.  Unbelievably, one child moaned and complained because she doesn't like Chipotle.  Um, what??  To which I took the opportunity to inform her that this NEVER in a million years would have happened in my childhood. (My children have it "so hard!!!") 

Anyway, in addition to outlining what I expect of them, I like having some little fun thing to surprise them with, if I can.  And by fun things I mean "fun news"...whether it's announcing that a cousin is having a birthday this week or announcing a fun activity we will do that they had not been anticipating...

In addition to this, Steve gave out "awards", which are basically a verbal pat on the back from Dad for some good behavior or accomplishment...followed by "three cheers" from the rest of the family. (Here Autumn is getting an award for being brave.)

Over all, my favorite thing about family council is that it seems to unify us as a family.  It makes us feel like we are a part of something...working toward a common goal.  All of the kids are included, informed, and asked to give their input about family decisions.  And for some reason, lots of funny things happen at family council....like this week, when Guy came with his shirt stuffed to look like muscles!  I have no idea what triggered this, but it was hilarious.

We didn't have any big decisions to make, but when we were contemplating switching bedrooms in anticipation of the new baby, the children were all able to say who they wanted to room with during our family council.  We took their wishes into consideration, talked about it as a couple later, then announced how the room situation would go at the next family council.

I asked the kids, who are home from school today, what they like about family council.  (Their response to "Do you like family council was a resounding "YES!!") Here's what they said for the why:

1.  "I don't know, we talk about our week and what we're gonna do." (Scarlett)

2.  "I like it because we get to know what's happening." (Guy)

3.  "And it's always interesting..." (Scarlett & Guy)

4.  "Funny things happen." (Autumn)

5.  "Because we get to know about a lot of surprises." (Autumn)

6.  "Like when you told us you were having a baby...and stuff." (Autumn)

7.  "Dad gives out awards." (Guy)

8.  "We get to eat or have treats while we talk." (All)

9.  "Memories" (Mom)

10.  "We get on the same page." (Mom & Dad)

We're no experts, we're just enjoying what family councils bring to our family at the moment.  Do you hold regular family meetings or councils in your family?  Let me know in a comment how that has worked for you!

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New Year's Resolution Art Project

Yes, yes, we can't believe that yet another year has passed, but 2015 was a wonderful year for our family with LOTS of togetherness.  

From our forced home repair/remodel that lasted over 3 months (which had us camping out together in my bedroom), to our many road trips to visit family, tour temples, see the Cumorah Pageant and the new Priesthood restoration site, to running 5ks together, we've had a very special year.  Add to that that we're anticipating the arrival for another baby in our family, and you know we're all pretty much flying high around here.

It's been a year of a LOT of work.  And I'm definitely feeling older (my 20th high school reunion is this year!)  But the work is worth it and I'm sure after I have this baby, I'll be able to feel better physically again!

I had no idea what 2015 would look like when it began...and the same is true for 2016.  Isn't that marvelous?  If we knew the future, life would be so dull.  

Anyway, let's get down to business.  When I woke up yesterday, Autumn asked me if we could do some crafts.  So we brainstormed what we might want to do (such as making NYE decor) and then I went to pinterest and we found a lot of great ideas there...including this one, which I'm sharing with you today!

The idea comes from a site called Buggy & Buddy.  It's an inspirational splatter paint project for kids.

Using a flat canvas board, we taped lines across using masking tape.  Then we painted the background with acrylic paint and then went outside and splattered paint on it (which the kids loved!)

We removed the tape and the next day (New Year's Day) when the paint was dry, we wrote positive, inspirational phrases or bits of our resolutions on the white parts of our paintings.

I love how they turned out and because I'm me, I took pictures of the kids in front of their artwork.

Thanks to my husband for hanging our artwork (I'm horrible about hanging things straight!)  This is a fun project, beloved by all of the family.  If you try it out, let me know!  

And have a WONDERFUL 2016!

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The Book of Mormon Challenge FHE

I mentioned in yesterday's post that I had no idea what we were going to do for FHE yesterday, but that I'd figure it out.  Well, I figured it out by sharing that responsibility with my husband who came home to, "I got dinner, you get FHE!"  

Piggy-backing off of a talk given by a member of the stake presidency during stake conference this weekend, we talked about what it really means to hold fast to the iron rod.

Steve brought a bat up from the garage, which was sort of like an iron rod and had the children try their best to hold on to it with both hands.  Then they tried pulling each other off of it...and things got silly from there...like so, so silly.

It was fun.  We sat down and looked at a picture representation of Lehi's dream and we read scriptures about what the Iron Rod represents. We established that the rod of iron represents the word of God.  We talked about what it means for us personally to hold fast to the iron rod.

After some ideas were offered, Steve challenged each member of the family to read the Book of Mormon on their own.  We've read it twice now as a family and are on our third time around, but now that three out of four children are now readers, it's time they focus on acquiring the word and the habit of reading scriptures for themselves.

Little Honor (age 3) suddenly started singing, "I will go, I will do..."  I guess that she was first to commit to the challenge!

Steve printed out Book of Mormon reading bookmarks to help us track our reading, and so far the children are pretty gung-ho about the challenge.  Previously, we have had little family parties (like our Book of Mormon Party) or taken special trips (such as our trip to the Hill Cumorah Pageant) each time we have finished the Book of Mormon as a family.  The same will be true this time, although this time we'll celebrate each time ANYONE in our family finishes the Book of Mormon on their own...so everyone will benefit.

Among other things, I'm hoping that this boost in personal scripture reading will help increase harmony and cooperation between siblings in our home.  Stay tuned!!

So, just a PS, here.  Scarlett just walked in from school and informed me that she gave away a Book of Mormon to her friend today.  She had asked Steve last night if her friends could participate, and he said yes.  I love my little missionary kids!  Autumn, pictured here, was also excited to show me how much she read today! Stay hungry, children!! :)

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Great Expectations!

I just wanted to interrupt your Monday with this important announcement:  I AM PREGNANT!!

And we are all thrilled.

Our children, Steve, and I have been keeping our little nest egg to ourselves for a while, but now that I'm 18 weeks (I had to check!) I'm telling more people.

The Lord has truly smiled down upon us with the wonderful family He has sent our way, one beautiful baby at a time.  Every child is a blessing--a miracle.  A take-your-breath-away moment, followed by years of work, and lessons, and learning and growing together.

What a blessing it is to be a Mother.  I love it.  I love this plan that God has for His children and for me...for all of us individually.

Can anyone guess our due date??  It's a good one!

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Hot Air Balloons and God's Power to Lift Us Up

Before I turn my blog over for two weeks of celebrating The Family Proclamation's 20th anniversary, I thought I'd share a little something we did as a family today.

Earlier this summer, we were doing tons of crafts.  For one of our crafts, we made paper mache "hot air balloons"!  These hot air balloons have been hanging in our kitchen (and Steve and I are always knocking our heads on them, but we love them.  Well, I love them!)

Just before we made these hot air balloons together, my kids and I witnessed something pretty dreadful together, which we have tried hard to forget about.  I didn't blog about it here, but perhaps I will at some point.  It was  hard thing to go through, but I know it will prepare them to stand for right and for virtue every day of their lives.

Making the hot air balloons together was just a fun way to make a memory together, but for me those hot air balloons came to symbolize our summer together, if for no other reason than that they were cheerful and happy-looking, and they made me smile whenever I saw them.

At some point, I remembered that there is a hot air balloon near where we live, which we have never attended.  So, I secretly put it on our family calendar, and told the children that I had a surprise for them.

As school started, we made important choices to continue to prioritize family time over other activities...and as hard as it was to make that choice over and over again...this is what allowed us to spend the morning together today at this local hot air balloon festival.

Even as late (or early?) as 5am this morning, the kids had no idea where we were going.

But it all became evident pretty quickly when the balloon trailers arrived.  It was interesting that we were all just as impressed with the morning sky as we were with the balloons, but both were very much worth the early wake-up call!  Magnificent!

Neither the children nor I had been to a hot air balloon event like this.  It was fun to get up-close and personal with these spectacular balloons.  

And as I type this I realize what a perfect symbol the hot air balloons are for the experiences that we had together this summer.

Although we had an unpleasant experience, thanks to "the World", early on in the summer, the Lord provided us with an escape.  He gave us a wonderful/unexpected front-row experience at the Palmyra Pageant and a VIP tour of a brand new, beautiful temple...AND a more recent special experience at the Priesthood Restoration site, not to mention many peaceful hours spent together as a family at home. 

The Lord didn't leave us to feel helpless and to wallow in our difficult, but formative, experience. 

Instead, He showed us a way out.  He showed us that no matter what the world chooses, we can always rise above, reach new heights, and see the world in all its beauty from a totally new perspective...from His perspective.

We don't always get to be lifted out of our circumstances in life, but this summer the Lord truly taught us that He is more than willing to come to the rescue at a moment's notice, to make our burdens light.

What a splendid lesson!

There is a God in Heaven. He is powerful and His influence in our lives can be felt and is real.  I'm so grateful for this knowledge.

And because of Him, families are forever and the downsides of this mortal life are only temporary.

I'm so happy and thankful to the Lord for teaching me all of these lessons again.  

Now here are some more pictures of our balloon fun from this morning.  We hope to go again next year!

Ok, stay tuned!  I'll be back with a new post about The Family Proclamation every day for the next two weeks.  

We'll be sharing testimonies of the family under the hashtag #ILovetheFamilyProclamation on social media!  Join us!

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