what I have learned from a child

My kids surprise me quite a bit.  Today Rachel told me she had a talk to give next week.  So right after church she came to the computer and wrote her talk.  I thought it was quite wonderful.  She is almost 11 and yet she surprised me with her insights.  Here is her talk:

Jesus Christ Is Our Savior

Once when Elder LeGrand R. Curtis Jr. of the Seventy was a child, he and his sister were playing in a small boat on a river. At first their adventure was fun, but as the boat drifted farther from the shore, they realized they were floating toward dangerous waters downstream.

The children began calling for help. Their father heard them and raced to the boat to rescue them. He saved them, which was something they could not do for themselves. He did this because he loved them.

 This story reminded me of a time when one night I prayed for safety. After my prayer I went to sleep and had a dream I was by myself on a cliff having a picnic. I was done cleaning up when a bag of grapes fell from my basket and started to slip off the cliff and I reached for them. I fell and I was so scared so I acted fast and grabbed onto a branch on the side of the cliff.  I was calling for help when I could not hold on any longer.  I then dropped. Just then a hand grabbed me.  At first I was scared because it suddenly happened.  But when I looked up I saw a man.  He looked familiar.  After that I woke up.  When I woke up I was thinking of the dream I had.  I was first thinking of the grapes.  To me it could have been the scriptures or a picture of my family.  Next I thought about the man I saw.  To me, it could have actually been Jesus saving me.  This made me say another prayer telling Jesus Thank you for answering my prayer of safety. 

Sometimes we make wrong choices and do things that spiritually take us away from Heavenly Father. Our Heavenly Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to save us. Jesus Christ suffered for our sins so that we can repent and return home safely to live with Heavenly Father. The Savior did something we could not do for ourselves. He was willing to do this because He loves us. In the name of Jesus Christ amen.

I didn't even know she had that dream.  Normally she shares her dreams with Don or myself.  But it is usually a really scary dream that wakes her up and she can't get back to sleep.  I am grateful for Rachel.  She is so sweet.  

Yesterday I told the kids if they cleaned their rooms I would take them to play at the McDonald play land.  They cleaned quickly and we were on our way.  As we were playing Rachel saw a girl from school that she knew.  She is a sweet little girl with developmental challenges.  She is very tiny for her age and hard to understand.  She has bright red hair and she looks a little like Strawberry Shortcake.  Rachel took her by the hand and played with her the entire time.  Rachel DOES NOT judge people by the way they look.  Last year Rachel was good friends with a partially blind girl in her class.  Most of the other kids thought this girl was annoying.  Rachel is amazing.  She really is.  I am thankful for her example.  I want to be more like her.  It was so sweet to see how she interacted with the girl at McDonalds.  They played on the play area.  They played air hockey.  They had a great time and it warmed my heart to see that she was showing love just like the Savior would have.

To continue with school or not?

Such a hard thing for me.  I am trying to figure out if I should take a break or keep going.  I don't even know if I want to be a teacher.  I am stuck in a pretty hard spot.  I told my mentor that I was going to take a break from school but he wanted to talk to me first but we have not been able to connect yet.  I had finished two of my four classes.  The other two were ones I have not really studied for.  I kind of checked out around Thanksgiving and haven't checked back in yet.  AND that isn't good.  My term ends March 1st and I didn't study for one of my classes but had to take the test anyway by the 25th of this month.  I signed up for it to take on Tuesday and actually passed it. I couldn't believe it....especially since I took the pretest 3 times and didn't pass any of them.  Before taking that test I was 100% sure I was done for the moment.  I have my AA degree and have been with WGU for a year and a half.  I still have until 2017 until I graduate with my teaching degree.  PEOPLE....that is a long time to be in school.  FOR ME ANYWAY. 

Anytime I even start to think about it I almost break into tears.  School is so hard for me.  I am not a great student and it feels like I am in medical school.  I am juggling quite a few things which becomes more difficult but at this point I told my mentor I would stick with it for now and see what the future brings. 

All I have ever wanted was to just be a mom.  To some that may sound lazy.  I don't consider myself that at all.  Working full time and trying to be a part of the life of five kids and going to school is exhausting.  It is something I never imagined I would be doing at this stage in my life.  But I guess we don't always know what life will throw at us and so I say to ALL.....get an education while you are young and before kids if you can. 

I am a hard worker and I continually get compliments at work.  I get calls constantly from people wanting me to work for them.  I know I am good at what I do (and I don't say that to brag).  I just don't like the school work and the intense amount of time it takes me to get it.  SO yeah maybe I am dumb.  But I am a dumb hard worker.  :)

Today

The younger three kids LOVE to earn money.  And when they want to do something special we tell them they have to figure out a way to make their own money in order to do what they want to do.  So just like they did last time, they decided to make cookies and sell them.  Don made them some business cards a while back but he couldn't find them on the computer in time for them to pass them out with their cookies.  But he did end up finding them and he printed them off and they colored them to brighten them up a bit.  They even have a business name but won't mention it here.    Their card is super cute.  I don't know how to get it on here but trust me....it is way cute.  Don free handed it and he did an awesome job. 

The kids made peanut butter and chocolate chip cookies to sell.  Rachel even made up a song about their business name and her and Mayah were singing it to all of us.  Very creative on her part.

After the kids helped with the cookies I drove them around to people in our ward.  They charged $5 a plate (a bit spendy) but how else were they to make enough money to go to the movies right?  That first night NO ONE said no.  The kids were so excited.  They made some fresh cookies the next day and went out again.  Only a few people said no but that was only because one person didn't have any money on him and another person had children with allergies.  The kids made a total of about $80.  After taking money out for ingredients and paying tithing they had about $63.

So today was the day they would get to spend their money.  Ethan wanted to take Don to see the Lego Movie.  They had Caleb join them.  The girls and I went bowling and out to lunch.  It was quite a treat.  They used their hard earned money and involved us.  Such a fun time.  DANG..the movies are expensive and after lunch and bowling and the movies...they are out of money. 

I love that the kids are learning to work for what they get.  I love that they are business minded.  Great lessons are being taught and they get so excited.  Now we just have to make sure we don't keep going back to the same houses.  They will surely get sick of us. 

We forgot to take the camera with us.  What a great day.

And happy birthday to George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.  Wish we had a president like that today.

Amazing....some people are quite amazing

I have been following a blog of a girl who has had some very hard things happen in her life.  LIKE HOLY COW hard.  So hard that I wonder how I would react if the same types of things happened to me. AND she is so amazing.  I know she has a lot of followers and I can see why.  I know she is blessing many lives and she is using her trials to uplift and benefit other people.  Her ability to express herself is quite a blessing to so many.  To put herself out there and tell her story (a very personal one) must have been a challenge but some of the things she talks about are so eye opening.  It has blessed my life and I know so many others.  Here is an example of some of the things she has blogged about.......

There are voices all around us... telling us how we should feel.  They tell us who they think we should be.  I heard many, during this time in my life, that tried to bring me down.  Some tried to put me down. Opinions about how I should be feeling.  People telling me how I should be moving on... or how I should grieve.  Some told me I should be moving on quicker, while others said I should slow down. None of those voices really mattered.  Heavenly Father knew what path I needed to find on my journey and only he had the true answers of where I should be. 
   I was alone that day in my own personal grief.... but I was not forgotten.  Every single person has their own story.  Everyone of us has our own personal path of pain.  Not one of us have a hand book on what comes next and how we should handle or make decisions in it.  What is right for one... is totally wrong for another.  
    One area of counsel that I have never gone wrong in is following the voice of the Prophets.  They speak to us with no agenda.  They volunteer their lives to speak the truth.  They care about each of us and our relationships.  They care about how we are living our lives and handling our grief. 
    During the trial I had some visitors come to my home. They asked if they could come and spend some time with our family on a Sunday afternoon.  These men, who work along side the Prophet every day, sat in my living room to see if I was ok. One of the first things they said was, "President Monson has asked that we come and see how you are doing... and let you know that we have been praying for you." 
   They didn't have an agenda... they didn't come to get the gossip.  They came to show me that I wasn't alone.  They were sent by the leader of the Church, that I knew with all my heart was true.  I didn't know it was true because of them... I knew it was true because I felt it in my heart... and I knew that Heavenly Father's spirit was so strong when I was there.  They came to comfort me and help me REMEMBER that he was not very far away... he knew right where I was... and I was not alone. 
   I know that their counsel is true.  I know that when I listen to all that they teach me, I can feel of joy here on earth. I believe that when we follow the words that they teach, we can remain unmovable and true to our faith even when the pains of this world are more than we can take on our own. 
    We are all going to get knocked down. It's not about if you get knocked down... It's what you do when you get back up.   Whatever pain has brought you down, find a way to land on your knees... and while you are there pray for the courage to one day learn how to stand again. It may take years to let it all go.  It may take a life time to find peace. It may take a thousand prayers to find relief from your pain.  All pains in life are covered by a loving Father in Heaven who knows how to heal us.  Some pains might take time to heal, some might never leave you while you are on this earth... but even through our pain we can find joy... if we have faith in Him.
   The world will tell you that you are not enough.  They will make you feel like you are not measuring up in any of the things that you do.  And most of the time, we listen. We allow the world to tell us that being a "stay at home Mom" is not a worthy title.  The world will whisper to you that your potential is worth so much more than sitting at home and changing diapers. Voices are every where.  Every magazine you read, every commercial you watch... Voices.  Speaking to you.  Make sure the voices you hear are the ones who are speaking words that are worthy of your time.  Don't let the world's whisperings pull you away from the path that you want to live. 
   All of us walk our own road.  No one has ever been exactly where you are. In this moment right now... no one else has felt what you feel.  That fact can feel overwhelmingly lonely and hard.  It is a truth that sometimes leaves us questioning where to turn and what to do next.  Those moments that you feel like you have no one to call, and no one to tell you who to be.... just be YOU. You are the you that he wanted you to be.  He has the power to heal the you he still sees inside.  And He will.  He is the one who has walked your path ahead of you.  He has seen the darkness.  He has seen the hurt.  He walks a few steps ahead so he is prepared on just how to find a way to wipe the tears from your eyes, and sew the holes in your heart.  
   You were made to be you.  Only disappoint the ones who can't find the goodness inside of you... the spirits who look for all that is wrong with you.  They will bombard you until you lose sight of yourself.  Voices are every where. Listen carefully. Listen to the ones who lift you up.  Surround yourself with beauty... and as you do you will find your own. Listen to the voices who bring you to stand.

It is kind of long but I lOVE LOVE what she says.  If you are interested in reading her story and how she has handled it go to 

 http://themomentswestand.blogspot.com/2014_02_01_archive.html

She is sure to bless your life almost daily in something she says or how she says it.  She is truly amazing in every way.
 

The funny things that make me laugh

Caleb is funny.  Yet so very very quiet.  Today at school the drill team was doing a fundraiser.  You pay $6 and you can send 2 cupcakes and a heart balloon to someone along with a message.  Well...Caleb received one but doesn't know who it was from.  It has such a sweet message inside.  It read:  Hi Caleb! Did you know you are awesome?  You should! You brighten my day seeing you. You are so spunky and kind and smart.  Never forget your worth! You're the best! You are loved.  Love-A Friend.  The word loved was underlined.  NOW...I do not think it is the gushy kind of love they are talking about.  I about cried when I read this note.  Someone out there really made Caleb's day.  Someone out there is amazing.  Someone out there has built him up a bit.  He knows it isn't that kind of love...but a love that only a friend gives.  A love that comes from someone with a Christ like life.  Caleb and I talked a little about the balloon and note.  Normally the seniors deliver the messages and have lipstick on and and give out kisses along with the special delivery.  HE was SOOOOOOOOOO glad they were not the ones to deliver his.  A freshman girl brought his to the classroom and just left it.  He told me he felt his face turn bright red.  And then some kid said HEY....what about the kiss?  Then the girl explained that only the seniors could do that.  He was so relieved.  It was embarrassing enough for him.  Then Caleb and I went to pick up Zachary from a friends house.  We talked about who could have given him the message.  He told me who he wished it was and then said if it was her he would probably faint.  LOL.  I told him he would be 16 in less than 6 months and could ask her on a date.  He said NO.  He doesn't want to go on any dates because he doesn't think he would know what to say.  It was hilarious when he said I could write him a script.  He said he could wear an ear piece and I could talk to him through that.  So we sort of set up a scenario and I said:  Tell her she looks good in red.  And then....being his funny self....he said:  "she looks good in red".  We both busted up laughing.  Oh it makes me sad to think Caleb only has about 2 years left at home.  That isn't very long.  Time goes so fast and I don't think I am ready for it.  This is one great kid.  That girl was right when she said he is smart and kind.  But my favorite part was when she said NEVER FORGET YOUR WORTH.  If all teens could realize that and if they could see how we see them and how their Heavenly Father sees them and their potential....what a difference that makes.  I have never ever been so pleased with the youth in our ward.  We have been in a lot of wards and BY FAR the youth that are Calebs age are absolutely amazing.  They have built Caleb up and have accepted him and included him and they just love to have fun....at activities and dances and camping trips.  I just love them. And so does Caleb.