I am so good at wasting time. Two hours ago I sat down to my computer to look up a "couple of things" and then I was going to sit down and prepare my Young Women lesson for Sunday. Well, here I still sit at my computer looking at this and that and I just looked at the clock and realized I wasted all my time because now it is past time for going to bed. It's so easy to get caught up in something and get sidetracked.
My lesson for Sunday is "Creating a Spiritual Environment in the Home". There are two aspects the lesson focuses on 1-physical environment, 2-attitudes. To me the physical environment is obvious - that we want our home to be neat and orderly so the spirit can dwell in our home. Some other outward things we can do is have uplifting and inspiring pictures, particularly of gospel centered things - Temple, prophets, scenes from scriptures. What we surround ourself with is a silent sermon and helps direct our thoughts whether we think about it or not.
The second aspect - attitudes - was a little less obvious to me. There's a quote that says something like "if mama aint happy nobody's happy". I think this goes to the heart of the matter - as the mother I set the tone of the home - that's a big responsibility for me. As of late I have been striving to be extra happy and positive in the mornings, trying to wake up before the kids, so that I can be the first one to set the tone for the day. If I'm slow to get out of bed and drag myself to get ready the day tends to have a slow dragginess to it. We really can decide our attitude and how we will respond to things. There is a story in the New Era (June 2007, Doing Dishes) that talks about a young woman who wasn't too keen on doing dishes, but was challenged by her Sunday School teacher to learn to love doing dishes. So every day for weeks she would tell herself that she loved doing dishes while she was doing them. After a while she realized that she did enjoy doing dishes ( I don't think it went as far to say that she "loved" doing them, but
like is better than
hate). I think I need to try this with some of my household chores. I don't have any that I feel strongly opposed to, but there are some that get greatly neglected and always pushed to the bottom of the to-do list.
Listed under the additional resources for this lesson was the conference talk by Elder M. Russell Ballard, "Creating a Gospel-Sharing Home". "Gospel-sharing homes are very ordinary. They may not always be spotlessly clan nor the children perfectly behaved. But they are a place in which family members clearly love each other, and the Spirit of the lord is felt by those who visit." He also talks about praying for missionary opportunities, and for us to "care, share, testify and invite".
One thing that I've been doing with my kids is helping the attitude and feeling in our home. I have been doing "morning devotional" with the kids each morning. We sing a song, pray, recite the Primary scripture of the month and then either read out of the Friend or read a scripture story or do an activity. Most mornings it goes okay, some mornings the kids complain and don't want to do it, most mornings they fight over who gets to lead the music and who gets to pray (I really need to make a chart so it's already pre-assigned).
Charlie really surprised me the other morning, because he's the strongest voice of opposition. He was up before Tom and I was on the couch in the living room, just starting my scripture study and he said, "mom, can we do morning devotional right now". I have to admit that my first thought was "after I finish my scripture study", because I never get it done, I always get interrupted. But I quickly said, "Ok" and we sang a song and he said the prayer and I don't remember what else - but I do remember that he was in a much better mood that day then he is on most days (he is a moody child).
I can see how establishing habits early on is such a good thing. I think that if we set the habits early on while they are young, and usually excited about such things, the habits will stick and will be easier to follow later on when life gets more hectic and less predictable. Charlie is usually the one that reminds us to do scriptures at night. We got in the habit of reading to the boys at night, right before turning out the light. If there is a night that we are late getting the boys to bed they won't go to bed until we've read scriptures - it's nice because it holds us accountable and we usually do it.
Although he wasn't prophet until I was in college, President Hinckley I really feel connected to. I read his biography when it came out years ago - but I need to read it again. His life is one of such faith and devotion. He has worked tirelessly for the church basically his whole life - he gave his all for the church. He had a great vision for the growth of the church, and particularly with the great Temple expansion showed the reality of praying and then going to work to get things done. I think one of the main things I will remember about him is his great optimism. I'm sure there is a great weight to be felt being the prophet, but he never showed discouragement or despair, he was always full of positive words and encouragement and a "can do" attitude. I need to adopt a better "can do" attitude in my life - I get discouraged too easily - I need to remember to just move forward with faith and leave things in the Lord's hands. 
At 13 months old (almost 14) Becca is finally getting her first two teeth on the bottom.
I don't know if I'm not a very good girl mom or what, but I never do Becca's hair, not even for church. I've tried bows once or twice, but she hates them and pulls them right out. I've thought maybe I should try little pig tails or something, but I don't have any small elastic bands. I'm not for pain for beauty and when I think about doing her hair I envision her turning and twisting and crying and it doesn't even make me want to try. I've never given her a haircut yet and it's amazing how cute her hair is when I just comb it. I did try putting soft sponge curlers in it once, but it just gave her pouffy hair, not curly hair.
Charlie has really thick hair and this picture shows what his hair typically looks like, because I only do it when we go someplace. I tried to cut his hair shorter last haircut, but it is impossible to get him to cooperate for more that 1.4 minutes - no exaggeration. He hates hair cuts so much, the hair itches him and drives him nuts. I have become a fast hair cutter, but still not fast enough for him. After last hair cut he informed me that he is going to grow his hair long. He said that even though he will have long hair he will still be a boy - that having long hair wouldn't make him a girl.
Tom took a pair of scissors to his hair the other night. Jeremy said he was right behind Tom following him into the bathroom to brush teeth, but when he walked in the room Tom was holding scissors with a patch of hair missing. They (kids) always cut front and center. I can't remember for sure, but I think Charlie did the same to his hair a year or two ago. I'm sure it's a rite of passage for children - on their list of things to do while yet a child: #13 - give self haircut, in efforts to help mom out. I haven't decided yet if I should give him a haircut to try to "hide" his haircut, or just leave it. I think if I cut all his hair short it will look worse than it looks right now. Tom has a big head and doesn't look very good with his hair really short.
I'm not doing anything
Happy waking up.
What a sweet face! Could there really be anything cuter? Even at 11 months old (the picture was taken in October) Becca is aware of the camera and knows how to cheese it up. This day of the picture Becca was climbing down off of the couch and I wanted to take a picture of her getting off. Well, as soon as she saw that I had a camera she reversed her progress and got settled back on the couch and began smiling for the camera. Notice the drool down the side of her cheek. She is teething, but even as of today has no teeth yet. My kids teethe for months and months before teeth ever show up.
