God gave us Families!

The LDS Women's Conference was beautiful this year. It celebrated the 20th anniversary since the Proclamation to the World in Family was given. Family and motherhood is so important! There is greatness in the values, standards and guides given by modern living prophets who teach the word of the Lord. When this document was received into the world the attack on family values was not what it is today. The core values of a "traditional family" are mocked, outdated, prejudice, and wrong by the word of society. The value of a woman is marked by her position in the work force, her apparel and size and how many accomplishments and recognitions she's received. The base of a marriage has been thwarted and completely derailed. Children are no longer an asset and are a financial burden. Intimacy between a man and woman is no longer intimate. The roles of man and woman are mixed and no longer defined. The rising generation have a world that does not teach them the respect and honor of parenthood. I could go on and on about the negative changes our world has made, however there is also much good! 

Our world provides the greatest opportunities of happiness. Heavenly Father is perfect and he created a perfect plan for us, the plan of happiness. The worlds plan is not eternal, it's temporary and will not last forever. We are blessed to be in families where we learn things that cannot be taught in any other group or situation in life. Learning joy, forgiveness, acceptance, how to cook, how to read, deep love, commitment, devotion, sacrifice, pain, happiness, how to ride a bike, patience....so many important life lessons and skills are learned in the home. We believe the home to be second only in sacredness to the temple (which is the house of the Lord). The home and family must be defended and honored.

I love being a mother! It was my greatest desire and goal to become one. In High School I consider my most favorite compliment ever given to me: "you're going to be such a good mom". Those words meant and mean so much to me! I would always tell people, "I'm so excited to be a grandma someday!" And friends would just laugh and tell me there were stages before that one I had to go through. :). I knew that, but picturing me and my husband as grandparents with kiddos running around and cookies baking in the oven made me so excited for the future. I have learned so much in becoming a wife and mother! Things I never knew about myself, depth of emotions I never thought I'd feel, and a love that is so strong and dedicated to these people I love! I would never change the path I have taken and the choices I've made to be where I now am.

Motherhood is not glamorous. It is not high paid or recognized. But it is a position I am greatly honored to hold! There is nothing in the world that is more important than family. When we sacrifice for those we love we are better able to truly know our better self. There will be disagreements in marriages, fights between siblings, moments of feeling lonely or overwhelmed...but in the end if we can keep our family's strong through principles of forgiveness, patience and love there can be no greater happiness or success in this life. 

I am thankful for the principles we are taught through living prophets and apostles and living scripture. This world is a wonderful place and we are here to keep it a wonderful place. Let's remember the values and principles that raise a society, better humanity and uphold families!!!

The song referenced to in the Conference:

1. Our Father has a family. It’s me!

It’s you, all others too: we are His children.

He sent each one of us to earth, through birth,

To live and learn here in fam’lies.

2. A father’s place is to preside, provide,

To love and teach the gospel to his children.

A father leads in fam’ly prayer to share

Their love for Father in Heaven.

3. A mother’s purpose is to care, prepare,

To nurture and to strengthen all her children.

She teaches children to obey, to pray,

To love and serve in the fam’ly.

4. I’ll love and serve my family and be

A good example to each fam’ly member.

And when I am a mom or dad, so glad,

I’ll help my fam’ly remember:

[Chorus]

God gave us families to help us become what He wants us to be—

This is how He shares His love, for the fam’ly is of God.

Chicken Coop: stage one

Stage One of the Chickens Coop: sides

We have been gathering and gathering free wood and looking at lots of coop structures to begin the process of making a home for our chicks. We were blessed with lots of pallets from a friend and invaded a few construction sites, but still the pieces we had were not enough. So, we paused for a bit. Then one day Mister James commented on how we should throw an old crib out (it's a dropside which are illegal to sale or give away and James was pretty set on just tossing it), and ding a lightbulb went off. I realized it was perfect to be the base structure of our chicks new 'crib.' So we finally got to work and began the great process of breaking up pallets, cutting wood and drilling them in. Stage one took quite some time, no thanks to the 40mph wind gusts blowing us around all day! Idaho weather is crazy!! There was snow, 70 degree sunshine and a windstorm all in one week! We are excited to let these chicks have more space and to have them out of ours ;) They currently reside in the laundry room. Happy coop building!!

Mountain Matt

My brother is amazing!!!! He is a true hunter and a true outdoorsman. Matt is someone who loves to be outside, he fishes, boats, shoots guns, trained an awesome black lab (Chevy), works outdoors for his job and even hunts with a bow! And...he makes his own quils with feathers. He's pretty awesome.

He just sent us a photo of his latest hunt....a huge full grown mature Tom Cat! Look at the size of that thing!!!!!!! He got a bear with his bow a while back...so I pretty much consider him a modern Robin Hood out there. Idaho is his backyard and he has a lot of fun playing in it!!!!

Time Out

This weekend my sweet Sister in Law Paige and I were blessed to attend a women's conference called Time Out For Women. My sweet sisters and mom attended in Seattle. It was a special time to be uplifted and edified by music and word.

The theme was "Living Proof" and we were challnged to make a promise of something we would do after being at this conference. I loved seeing beautiful promises made by women seeking to be stronger all hung up together!

While we enjoyed a great time....so did the hubbies. They watched Interstellar and went shooting with Jane and Chevy. I'd say that was a pretty good trade for the weekend. Except I told them we'll need another shooting date ;). I am grateful for good men in my life!

Paige looked so cute with her baby bump! Pretty exciting that we'll be bringing kiddos into the world at the same time.

The promise I made was after my favorite quote heard during the weekend. Given by Sister Marjorie Pay Hinckley stating to be cheerful and not whine. That is something I live by and will strive harder to exemplify in my life, along with more dedicated prayers. I'm so thankful I was blessed to attend this great weekend it was such a pleasure and delight!!!

Favorite Things

Tonight was the culmination of a lot of work. We celebrated the beginning of the Relief Society in our church ward and it was a special evening. I was blessed by Mister James a great deal and could have never pulled off this event without him!! He was my hero big time today!  

The theme for the the night was "A few of our Favorite Things." And we talked about why RS is so important. The women were invited to bring a favorite dessert to share, and a few favorite things to fill RS Welcome Kits. We must love dessert cause we sure had lots to choose from!

I also put together a copy of the Relief Society Motto to match the invite and feel of the evening and some "brown paper packages tied up with strings" for each woman to take home with them. A lot of time and effort went into the evening and we had a good turn out of our great women. It was quite the party!

It'll be so special for those who are new moving into our Ward to get a special "Welcome Kit" from the Relief Society. I am so thankful for the principles and values this great organization teaches us. There is a great need for women full of charity and who know the joy of womanhood in this world. The Relief Society is a great blessing in my life!! 

Pie and Charms

We did a bit of a belated Pi Day with some dear friends for Family Home Evening last night. Their pies were amazing and it was so much fun to hang out. We finally got around to eating our chicken pot pie and I made my first time ever pumpkin pies for James (his favorite).

Then today we celebrated the great St. Patrick's Day! With the tradition of an early morning bowl of Lucky Charms (only once a year), and golden Rolos. It was a fun day in between all the errands and to-dos.

I got Jane some of my college watercolors out and had her paint a "rainbow." She loves drawing and painting and getting those hands dirty. We then went and got a free mint shake and showed off our greens. I love Holidays and making time for special traditions and memories!!

Chickies

Let the chicken journey begin!!! We have five pecking, chirping and adorable chickens currently residing at our abode in a plastic bin. They have won our hearts and we love all their funny personalities.

James is quite the chicken rooster ;). We've been holding them in hopes to have them "comfortable" with us. I think James secretly wants them to learn tricks and be circus chickens!

We've named them all already with the funny personalities and traits we've seen in them. It's so fun to see them cuddle for sleepy time and follow eachother around their home. I think we are going to like being the owners of chickens. Stay tuned to get their glamor shots and names.

Now we need to get cracking at building them their coop. We've drawn out plans and are trying to gather as much cheap wood as possible to make it as non costly as we can. We are excited for this fun adventure with chickens!