Trust in the Lord

Mosiah 7:33 But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and

put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage.
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2 Nephi 22:2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also has become my salvation.
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2 Nephi 4:19 And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless,
I know in whom I have trusted.
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Alma 36: 3 And now, O my son Helaman, behold, thou art in thy youth, and therefore, I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day.
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2 Samuel 22:3 The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my
salvation, my high tower, and my refuge,
my saviour; thou savest me from violence.

Yea for summer!

I am COUNTING the days until school is out for summer!

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I can't wait to have my three treasures home.

To let go of the schedule and PLAY!

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Waylon also gets out of school next week (big grin)

He is teaching summer school, but his days are much shorter.

I LOVE having him around more.

In our house, summer is spelled F-U-N!

Ordinary Days

These ordinary days will make up most of my life.

I know I need to make the most of them!.

It isn't always easy, but I know that taking time to enjoy the small things in life TRULY makes me happy.

Being happy is a choice. Sometimes I do not choose it and instead feel like the circumstances and events around me push me towards the unhappiness. That is not true. We always have a choice.

We can choose to laugh to cry or scream about spilled milk, being late or one of the million things that may not go the way we had hoped or planned.

I love when I can laugh about it.

I am trying to do that more.

"Stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunshine."

--Gordon B. Hinckley (pictured below)

I love this man. He was our beloved prophet for many years, I loved his optimism, his constant ability to look up instead of down.

 Here (Below) is Gordon B. Hinckley with his dear wife, Marjorie Pay Hinckley. (she is absolutely one of my hero's) Absolutely. For my bridal shower, I received her book, "Glimpses into the heart and life of Marjorie Pay Hinckley"

 This was such an amazing book. I have read and re-read it. I love her spirit.

Her thoughtfulness. I love her love of being a mother.

I love her love of the gospel. I love how she makes things uncomplicated. She has passed on, but when I think of who I want to be like, I HOPE, one day, to be more like her.

This is the book, I just finished reading.

I have read Stephanie's blog for quite a while and I love it. I love her.

She is so strong. She has so much faith. She is a fighter.

This book was Ah-mazing! I love this book because it teaches me to never give up. I love Stephanie's REAL story of her accident. She didn't always have good days. She went through many AWFUL things. But I guess that is the point, we all have hard things we have to go through, but our Savior is there. He is.

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I love how she described struggling with the changes to her body and appearance.

As a woman, I struggle with LOVING my body all of the time. But I know it is a blessing. I know I can do so many things and I know that it isn't what is on the outside but truly what is on the inside. Stephanie is one of the most beautiful people I have ever met (although I technically haven't met her).

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Read it. I know you'll love it. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you will love it.

Four words that make ALL the difference.

I BELIEVE IN CHRIST!

My faith truly is part of who I am and all I do.

I love the peace, hope and clarity the Gospel brings into my life.

to learn more, visit: www.lds.org

Encouragement

Laundry tips

How I have managed to make laundry more enjoyable

(and done!) the best part.

 My kids each have a basket at the bottom of their closet.

One of their jobs each morning is to make sure ALL of their dirty clothes are in the basket

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that the basket makes it way into the laundry room.

Easy for them to do, teaches them to keep things clean, to work, and makes laundry so much easier for me.

 Everyday (besides Sunday) I do a batch (or two or three) of colored clothes.

We buy LESS clothes and wash more.

I do whites as needed once or twice a week.

So, I just have to bring the dirty clothes basket from the Master Bedroom,

dump them all in and press start. (which I LIKE!)

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As clothes come out of the dryer I put them into the appropriate basket.

When all of the loads are done, I set the baskets in my kids' doorways so they can do them after school.

Usually I don't have to remind them.

They see them in the doorway (and the can't get in their room without moving it or stepping over it)

and usually just do them.

Then all I have to do is Mine and Waylon clothes, towels and dishtowels.

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Another reason I LOVE this is my kids can do it ALL on their own.

We have this thing in our house called Wii Currency. They earn 45 minutes of Wii each day by doing their dirty clothes, making their bed and getting ready for the day

 (getting dressed and brushing their teeth)

If they misbehave, they lose their Wii time (in 15 minute increments usually)

They can also EARN Wii time by doing jobs.

They earn 15 minutes for each job.

Besides cleaning the bathroom (because that is hard!), for which they earn 45 minutes.

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So, very often, my kids beg me to do the clean clothes and many other chores.

I love it because it helps them LEARN how to work for what you want, that work is not always easy, but it is rewarding. And that work is necessary.

I LOVE making things simple and efficient.

It makes it so much more enjoyable.

I AM A MOTHER!

A few years ago I read this book. AMAZING.

The book talks about the joy and craziness of being a mother.

It talks about her decision to stay at home with her kids.

But, my very most favorite part of the book is when Jane Clayson Johnson discusses the "I am just a stay at home mother" response.

I have heard many people say that. I am sure I have said it too.

Being a Mother is the greatest gift.

So, she suggests, when asked what you do.....you respond by simply stating: "I am a Mother."

{Of course she says this better than I ever could}

Awesome book.

I love that it celebrates motherhood.

It is truly awesome.

What do I do?

"I am a Mother."

{insert smile}

Dedicated to my treasures: Michael, Olivia and Isaac

You make my life. I love being your Mother.