One Amazing Home Teacher

I copied this quote from Tallie's page.

" May I ask that you join the conversation by participating on the Internet, particularly the New Media, to share the gospel and to explain in simple, clear terms the message of the Restoration. Most of you already know that if you have access to the Internet you can start a blog in minutes and begin sharing what you know to be true...perhaps now, more than ever, we have a major responsibility as Latter-day Saints to define ourselves, instead of letting others define us."

-Elder M. Russell Ballard

We've been asked by our Stake President to do 6 things.
1. Pray together each day
2. Read scriptures together every day
3. Eat one meal together each day
4. Go on a date every week
5. Have FHE every week
6. Go to the temple every month

Classic things that are very important. We have a great home teacher. On Sunday he asks us, "How can I help you?" A normal question, but instead of taking "nothing" for an answer he sits quietly and smiles at us until we give him a real one. We finally come up with, We aren't every good at having family night. So he says, okay, "What time will you have family night tomorrow?" We pick 7:00. He keeps going, "Who's going to prepare the lesson?" Spencer will. "Okay great, I'll ask you how your family nights have been when I see you next month." After he left Spencer and I were speechless. He totally pulled the missionary commitment pattern on us, and we didn't even notice! What an great home teacher he's being by committing us to work harder.

Amendment

I have to amend the last post I made about being a mom. Spencer read it and was nearly offended. He says I do lots of stuff for me. I work, and go to school, and scrapbook, and go out with friends. So that got me thinking about how many mom's don't have the option of staying home with their babies and I started to feel bad. So I quit my job, (not that I work often, but once a week is still time away from Aliah) and I tried to drop out of school, but it just wasn't gonna happen because we would then have to pay back our grant money and we've already paid the bills with it. (Not that I go to school for me either. I do enjoy it, but I'm finishing because Spencer wants me too. I do think it's a good choice though.) I just had to get it out there that staying at home is a much better choice if you can, and I'm thankful for Spencer for helping me to see that.

Is there life outside of Motherhood?

One of Stephanie's resent blog posts said something that really caught my attention. She said, "Eventually I'll think of something to post that doesn't have to do with my children." And my first reaction was, "well what else is there?" I haven't stopped thinking about this post, which I'm sure she didn't intend to be thought provoking, for days now. I've been racking my brain trying to think of something I did that didn't have to do with Motherhood. I couldn't think of a thing, can you believe that! Going out with girlfriends to lunch and such doesn't really count because we've got four to five little kids between all of us that still demand our attention. It took until tonight when I started scrapbooking for me to realize I do still have a hobby! What a relief! Mothering is great and wonderful, but wow it's nice to do something just for yourself sometimes. And while it's true that I'm scrapbooking pictures of Aliah, it's still MY thing you know.

Christmas Eve Laughter

This Christmas Eve was the best ever! Aliah loved opening presents and was laughing harder than she's ever laughed in her whole life. Spencer and I were in tears laughing with her. Here's the first present she ever opened by herself. She loved it so much. I'm glad that she knew the present was inside the box and not the box itself. At least we didn't waste any money buying her things she didn't care about. She new the presents were inside and loved everything so much!