It's Time to FATTEN up!!

Think of your favorite food.....  I have many, so it's not hard.  Some days it's a sweet treat, others it's something salty.   For instance, the other day I made Fried Ice Cream.  I ate a good size portion, but it was soo good I had to have a little more, and of course when I was putting it away I had to have another taste tester just so I'd remember how good it tasted.  I thought I was stuffed at this point and couldn't eat anymore.  But within only a few hours, I was ready for another helping:)  After another round of deliciousness I thought I had wore out my taste buds so I wouldn't EVER want to eat it again.  To my surprise the next day, my desire was back and it tasted so yummy again.  In fact, it tasted so good I ate it the next day, and the next day until it was gone.  Although, I had filled up on it over and over again- and thought each time I had had enough- and told myself I would never eat anymore- it didn't work- that darn desire kept coming back to me.  And even though it would get to a point where it didn't taste so delicious after I ate so much, the next day it always tasted just as good as it did the first time I put it in my mouth.  Long story short- this is how I feel about the gospel.  The more I feast upon it the more I want it. If I just make the effort or take the time to really taste one bite of it, to savor the goodness it brings to my soul, the desire will keep coming back to me to have another and another. Yeah, maybe if I eat enough I might get my fill of it for one day- but I'm always ready for more the next.  It's kind of like a cycle- the more you put into it, the more you desire and get out of it.

Alma 32:42 says, "And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst."

I went to Nauvoo for a 3 month study abroad program through BYU back in 1999.  This was the year the Nauvoo temple was announced by Pres. Hinckley that it was going to be built- it was so exciting! Anyways, my older sister went with me and we loved it.  It was in the bitter, cold winter, so we stayed inside A Lot and ate all sorts of tasty treats with our friends.  We each of course gained a good 10-15 lbs. during those 3 months.  At the end of our stay we had a t-shirt made that we thought was funny, but I don't think many others found the same humor in it that we did.  The front of it said something like, "We got Fat in Nauvoo," and the back said, "Feast upon the words of Christ" (2 Nephi 32:3).   Along with the extra pounds we were packing we felt our spirits had been filled and fattened up as well.

Kids today are faced with so much more than we could have ever imagined.  I remember when I was in college and was a very young mother the Internet had just surfaced.  The big thing was to keep computers in a room in your house where the screen was visible and no privacy.  Today kids and teenagers have access to the Internet anywhere, anytime in the most public and the most private settings.  As parents, to a degree, we are not able to shield them from the world around us like we could in the past.  Children today have to learn- and learn early, how to make good choices.  A lot of times the choice is in their hands to avoid the evils of the world. I believe we can give them a home of peace and safety from the world, but we also have to teach them of the evils they may encounter and how to withstand them. 

 Our children are faced with so many choices!!   Pornography, drugs, alcohol, smoking, cussing, bullying, steady dating, chastity, honesty, etc, etc, etc....   Pres. Monsen said, "Our decisions determine our destiny."  We have to give our children the tools they need to make good choices, to make wise decisions. We cannot let a day pass by that we are not actively teaching our kids values, and gospel truths.  We have to seek every opportunity available to provide spiritual experiences, and teaching moments.  We have to help our children  to feast upon the gospel daily. They need to learn and feel how the Holy Ghost speaks to them.  That will be their greatest tool in warding of the evils of this world. The way we do this is to stuff them full with as many opportunities to feel the spirit as we can.

  Before we can feed our kids though, we have to feed ourselves.  I know when I am hungry- I am not a good person. I have very little patience and love to give- I focus mostly upon myself! If we are spread to thin to feast upon the gospel for ourselves, we need to SLOW down.... prioritize! Think back to the reason we are here.  Our test is the test of getting back to our father in heaven-not the test of the biggest house, the cleanest house, the most decorated house, having the most "toys", the best dressed, or most athletic children.  Our kids don't need that- they need us- they need our time-they need our guidance about how to make good choices.

If my spirit is starving- how well will I be able to spiritually feed my ravenous kids. It is so important to FEED your spirit! When your spirit is fed, it will be able to guide you in ways to best teach your children.  It will inspire, and guide you to provide the lessons and experiences needed for your family.  I often pray for the wisdom I need to teach my children when those teaching moments arise.  We need to always be looking for and providing teaching moments and making a big deal of them. Make a big deal every time your child recognizes the spirit, every time a prayer of theirs is answered, every time they are protected or blessed. Make those moments important.  There are also Many, Many things we can do for ourselves and our kids to provide meaningful learning moments and not just hope that they happen.  Following are several ways we can feed our own spirits and those in our family. 

Ways to get FAT
 (click on any of the colored words to go to that LINK)
 

•    Lds.org  has so many resources I could spend years on there.  Take some time to just browse around and learn what it has to offer.  I often like to just go with it and teach my kids random things that pop out at me when I see them for FHE or scripture study . 
•  Mormon Messages- My kids love to look at the Mormon Messages on Lds.org.  We watch one every day after we read scriptures.  It's nothing I plan out, I just click on one and it presents a good way to talk about different topics.  
• Listen- I love to listen to past and recent General Conference talks during the day and try to play them once in awhile when my kids are around and on Sundays.  I have a stereo/cd player hooked up to my cabinets in the kitchen- I hook my Kindle up to it so anything I play can usually be heard in the whole upstairs.
• The Mormon Channel is amazing- it has so many different things you can listen too! One of my favorites is the Conversations- there are a bunch of informal conversations with famous people in the church, church leaders, and people with great stories to share.
• If you have a tablet or smart phone you can usually have the scriptures read aloud to you while you get ready in the morning, do dishes, or fold laundry. 
• Meaningful Scripture Study made easy--I've recently discovered a way to make scripture study easy and enjoyable with my boys. Several months ago I had the idea come to me to teach from the scriptures according to lessons they are learning in church.  I love the scripture stories and I want my kids to know them.  I thought instead of reinventing the wheel and pulling out all the lessons on my own I would just teach what the church has already found valuable.  I figured as adults we are always told to study the lesson before the upcoming Sunday so we are prepared to participate.  I decided this would be a great way to teach my children also.  For the most part we have done scripture study on a daily basis with my kids as they've grown.  We have tried so many different ways and haven't found one that has really worked as well as this.  I like to go off the lessons, because they pull the story out for you and help you teach a moral with it.  I know my kids participate a lot more in Sunday class and have the confidence that they can answer questions.  We've had to have the talk about not being know it all's or annoying though. It could also be done as a review so the you would teach the previous weeks lessons during the study time.  I've really liked knowing what my kids are learning about. We read in the am with my boys this way and when the girls wake up later I read a picture bofm with my girls(mostly Kinnli). 
• Pandora- I love to go to Pandora and put on LDS Hymns of Worship- there are so many beautiful songs and piano pieces.  I usually leave it playing all day as background music. Part of my daily ritual after I have gotten the kids out the door to school, or when I'm awake and ready to get going is to first put a new Scentsy in my waxy melty thingy to make my house smelly goody and then second  I turn on Pandora on to the LDS hymns of worship station.  I love this station- it plays such a huge variety of good music.  There is a lot of piano and instrumental music, there are many LDS singers, many hymns, and there are even a few famous singers like Celine Dion. Having this music playing in the background often helps me keep a positive perspective as I wade through piles of laundry, dishes, and poopy diapers.
• Motivational Speakers- There are so many conferences with motivational speakers that are offered.  There are conferences for women, families, youth (EFY), and even one just for girls (Time Out for Girls). There is a Time Out For Women - I think there needs to be a Time out for boys and Dad too!  Going to church every week gives us a drink of the gospel and that can keep us going, but it rarely fills our spiritual cups to the brims.  Going to these conferences is a great way to gain new perspectives, receive answers, and learn skills of survival not only spiritually, but in many aspects of the world like budgeting/meal planning/food storage/parenting/house cleaning and organizing.  I recently went to a conference at Thanksgiving Point- called "Celebrating Trials".  Jon Bytheway, Hank Smith, and Meg Johnson spoke.  It was such a neat, and a spiritual fattening experience.  For about 8 yrs. now my mom has taken me and my sisters to BYU Education week each year at BYU Idaho.  This is something we always look forward to- it has been a way to fill our cup.  The problem is that by the time it comes around every year I'm pretty darn thirsty.  I'm finally learning that I don't have to wait for this one yearly event- there are so many other ways to fill my cup.   There are so many motivational speakers that have CD's and books out. I like to look at them all on the Deseret Book website, but I try to buy them "new" or "gently used" for a couple bucks less from Amazon cause I'm a cheapo.  Buying, Borrowing, and Sharing with a group of friends is always a good way to expand your library.
• FHE- Lately, I have been trying to do more with having the kids help with the lessons for Family Home Evening.  One of the best ways to do this and kill two birds with one stone- is to use their Duty to God, Personal Progress, or Faith in God requirements.  Help them choose an objective, and do it, then teach and share it with the family.  Often times you might have to cushion it with a little bit more by adding a story or your own thoughts and testimony.
• General Conference: Don't just watch General Conference- if you are able to- go and attend it.  Get conference tickets from your stake and go to a session.  Have father and sons go to the priesthood session or visa versa with mom and daughters attending the relief society session.  
• Go to the Christmas Devotional, visit Temple Square lights, go on the SLC temple tour.  The church offers many different programs throughout the year that are free or very cheap at Temple Square.  Check it out monthly and see if there is something you can take your family too.  This year we are taking our family to Savior of the World in December to bring to life the real meaning of Christmas.  I love The Forgotten Carols and want to take my boys to that next year. There are so many wonderful opportunities and experiences out there- that can bring the spirit into their hearts! 
• Visit the temple often- not only for yourself to do sessions, but take your kids on the temple grounds.  Talk about the beauty and the spirit there.  Tell your kids this is how the Holy Ghost feels when you are making good choices. It's also a good idea to have "The Birds and Bees Talk" with your kids near the temple. Teach them that their body is like a temple.  Teach them of the importance and sacredness of this act when done in the Lord's way-after marriage.  Take your kids to the temple when they are old enough to do baptisms for the dead.  Help them to find and bring their own family names.
• Have a prayer list- we have a white board on our fridge on it I have things I need to buy like a grocery list, all the phone numbers my kids need to know to call me, Josh, or our nearby family, and most importantly a prayer list.  We add and take off names frequently of people to pray for that are ill or going through hard times.  My kids never forget to pray for these people- we talk about them often and it has been neat to watch how prayers have been answered in different ways.  It has helped my children to be aware of other's needs and also the power of prayer. 
• Load up your prayers-  whenever it is Josh or my turn to pray at family prayer my kids know they are in for a lengthy one-especially mine.  I like to load my prayers up with all the things I hope and pray for my kids in my individual prayers.  I like to say how grateful I am for them, I like to ask for blessing that are way down the line- but things that they should be preparing themselves for now.  For instance, missions, temple marriage, good careers, and that they will be prepared to lead and guide a family.  I like to have them hear me pray for them individually about the things that they need help with (if it's not too personal), I believe it strengthens them to know they are being prayed for and what my hopes are for them. 
• Use your spare time -Kaden Loves his music- it's not bad music, but it's not necessarily spiritually uplifting music.  It's the same music I  listen to on the radio.  But I have finally realized after 12 yrs. of being a mother to him that I have very little time left to teach him before he leaves my house in 6 yrs. from now. Although he is only a tweenager right now, he already acts like he is a teenager..  Always tired, a bit sassy, very hormonal, very busy, caught up with friends, and sports--he thinks girls are cute, and yada yada yada.  I am aware that my teaching moments are VERY limited with him.  He is kind of at the age of "he is, who he is."  It is so true that, kids absorb the most when they are little.  The first several years of life are when the core of who they are is formed. Now, Kaden really is a great kid, but sometimes he is hard to read and I worry if I have taught him enough... I worry about what tools I have given him to make the best choices in his every day school life.  I worry that I might not have given him that fat supply that he needs!  Anyways, back to the point of Kaden's music- I try to play inspiring music, conference talks, or motivational speakers audio recordings whenever my children are around.  I listen to them for myself throughout the day, but I try to purposefully play those things when they are around.  I spend about 40 minutes in the car taking my kids and my sisters kids to school every morning.  It has become some of my favorite time of the day, because I have been playing Jon Bytheway's Cd's- he is hilarious! We've also listened to a couple LDS historical fiction books on cd that the kids have loved. It gives my kids and my nieces an opportunity to fatten up, and also provides moments that I can talk to them about what he is saying.  There are so many great youth speakers, and books out there that have audio CD's to listen to that we can probably do this all year.  At first Kaden fought me on listening to them, because he wanted His music.  I just had to tell him he can listen to his music on his time, but when I'm around we listen to my choice.  He doesn't fight me on it anymore and I think he seems to enjoy it.  Even on the 10 minute jaunts that I run him here and there, we listen to it.  My younger boys love it and ask to listen to it- they are still in the absorbent ages, hooray! The point is even if it isn't easy to change things up, keep trying!
• Catchy Phrases- A couple tricks that I have learned from others in the past are that every time my kids leave me, I tell them to remember to "Choose the Right". CTR such a simple phrase, but as a parent I see how loaded it really is.  No wonder the church makes rings out of it.   When my kids are about to make or have already made a choice- another phrase I love to ask them is, "Will Jesus be happy, or Satan be happy?" This makes them stop and think about their decisions.  I want them to realize that every choice they make is making one of those two happy. Almost every Sunday I have to say this to Kinnli because she always says, "I don't want to go to church." This has been a simple way to explain to her why we need to go to church.
• My Promise- When my kids think I'm mean because I won't let them do something I remind them of the promise I made to Heavenly Father.  I tell them a quick little story about the day they were born.  How I held that sweet spirit fresh from heaven.  How I promised my Father in Heaven I would do everything in my power to raise my baby the best I can, to keep them safe, and to teach them all they need to know so that someday when they leave me they are prepared to be they can be their best. I remind them that I don't want to break that promise and I need to do what I feel is right. (The story always changes a little bit each time I tell it to them, but they get the point.)
• Missionaries- I take every opportunity I can to have the missionaries eat over at our house.  This is a great time for your children boys and girls alike to get a up close glimpse of missionaries, ask them questions, and be taught a little mini-lesson by them. It's fun if you prepare a little something to do or talk about with them as well.  One of the evenings we shared together I had some left over Harry Potter Jelly Beans from a fear factor game we had played with other couples. The missionaries were great sports and tried them along with my kids- it was a hoot to watch their faces as they tasted beans such as vomit, soap, rotten egg, popcorn, pear, etc.  never knowing what they were going to get.  I told the missionaries they better not pass it on that we fed them puke at our house. 
• Living Scriptures VHS tapes
• Read a book at bedtime- tennis shoes among the Nephites/ wholesome classics(morals)
• Picture-Hang Favorite picture of Christ and the temple in bedrooms
• Service-Find service opportunities for them- Adaptive sports(kids with special needs), shovel driveways, rake leaves, etc. 

As a mother more than anything I wish I could just reach my hand inside my heart and grab a hearty handful of my testimony and somehow put it inside of them, but I can't. I want to feed my children all that I can so that someday they can say "I know my mother knew it" like the 2000 stripling warriors as they courageously went to war.  So at very least I want them to know I know it, so that can rely on my testimony if needed as they venture out into the world of war and sin that lies ahead of them.  And hopefully, sooner than later, they can not only say they know I knew it, but they can say they know it for themselves!

Feed your spirit and feel of the deliciousness it brings. Share the feast with your family.   Now is the time, more than ever that our spirits need to be FAT!

   Our youth need to be strong- they need to have an ample supply of fat storage to pull from in the times that lie ahead and the trials they will face in days to come. Take every opportunity to feed your children.

I'm sure there are so many other ways and ideas to help bring Christ into our daily lives.  Please  share your ways in a comment below. 

Freeze Frame

If only I could freeze this frame of my life for an extended period of time.  I'm so grateful for each one of my kids and the stages of life they are in right now. It seems like the past 12 years I've constantly thought, "If only I can make it just a few more (years, months, or weeks) then my kids will be older and it will be easier."

 I've always been so anxious to get all my babies here that I never felt really content.  And being that I have 6 kids I've been pregnant half of those years- which I really struggled with.   I'm not a good baby mom from about the age of newborn to 1 yr.  I struggle with being so depended on.  Out of 6 kids I've not had luck in getting a content baby. A couple of them were super colic and that was hard! I must've spoiled all of them because they ALWAYS wanted to be held and carried around no matter what I was doing.  I remember trying to clean toilets with a baby in a sling around my shoulder.  With most of my babies being super CHUB most tasks at hand were not easily accomplished.  I still wouldn't change that though- I felt like loves and cuddles were way more important than a perfectly clean house.  I love the sweet, cuddly, innocence of a baby, fresh from heaven. I think my favorite part of that stage was holding a sleeping baby!

When my babies started becoming mobile- I loved it!!!  So many mom's say how hard it is for them when their kids get mobile, but that is my favorite.  Babies seem to blossom once they enter this stage.  It's fun to watch their curiosity, and personalities come out.  They become so much more content when they can explore.  I don't even mind the messes- I think it's cute and love to take pictures of the trouble they get into.  I love when they start saying words and communicate their understanding of the world around them. 

I finally feel content with all the stages my kids are in- in fact I love the where they are each at in life.  I love the range of ages I have from a teenager trying to figure out how to talk to girls to my 1 yr. old who is just trying to learn to talk at all.  I am really enjoying being their mother and wish I could just freeze them right where they are at for at least a few years.  I don't want my kids to grow up!

Kate has finally arrived at the stage of ease!  She has become so fun and sweet.  She is happy, she takes great naps, she loves to play and explore.  She is 18 months now and developmentally is a lot like a 10-12 month old, but by the time she is two she should be caught up so I'm not worried.  Right now she pulls herself up to furniture, but doesn't walk.  She loves to explore by crawling.  She is very content to play with things she finds laying around on the floor. Which is also a bit hazardous with all the small items my kids have, I'm glad we have 14 pairs of eyes to help watch her. Her favorite toy right now to play with or should I say in is the "Toy-let."

Kennadi is the sweetest, cutest, 2 year old ever!  For being such an onry, miserable baby for the first year and a half of her life she is so opposite now.  I can't get enough of her!  There is no terrible twos about her.  She potty trained herself in October and rarely has an accident.  She loves all things girly- especially babies.  She loves life and loves her siblings.  She says and does the cutest things. 

Kinnli is my sweet and spicy.  She is my introduction to what girls are like.  She's very inquisitive and thoughtful.  She thinks through the details of things.  She never stops talking or eating.  She brings the word "drama" to life. In general she has an aura of happiness about her.  She has finally for the most part grown out of the Darla(off of Nemo) and Angelica (off of Rugrats) stage- she loved to mall animals and be the mean boss of the littles.  For the most part she's pretty sweet, but having a little bit of spice will hopefully be to her benefit as she grows up.  She loves animals, painting nails, doing make-up, and playing with friends.

   Kale and Kam I can pretty much wrap up together, because they are going through the same stage since they are so close in age (15 months).  They are full of energy, always on the go.  If they have to sit still they fall asleep.  They love to create works of art, build for hours with legos,  run around tirelessly, wrestle non-stop (until someone gets hurt and then it becomes violence and war).  For the most part they are the best of friends!  They still love mom and dad and aren't afraid to show it. They listen to what we tell them, and don't throw a ton of attitude our way. 


Kaden is a tweenager, soon to be a teenager....  It has been fun to enter this new stage of life with him.  He passed me up in height and weight this year, his hands and feet are the same size as Josh's (11 shoes).  He loves junior high, the girls, and school dances.  He loves to sleep, he loves Kate, and basketball.  He just started voice lessons-I'm excited to hopefully see his confidence build.  It's fun to see how he his turning into such a wonderful young man. 

I wish I could freeze this frame of my life and enjoy it a little bit longer- I don't want my kids to grow up anymore.  I'm scared these years are going to pass by too fast!!