LINDSEY'S BOOKS

one of my very earliest memories is of my mom reading to me. she read to us everyday, without fail, and dozens of books at a time. i remember sitting on the floor next to her, my baby brother in her lap, and a big pile of library books next to us, and she would read the entire stack- sometimes twice! she wasn't big on playing barbies or trucks or other toys, but she loved to read to us. she definitely passed that love on to me. reading has been one of my favorite things my entire life. i used to sneak away from my chores and hide somewhere in the house with a book. and i can't count the number of times i've stayed up until 5 am because i just HAD to finish what i was reading. when i finish a truly good book, i immediately want to read it again, and when characters i love die or endings don't turn out how i wanted, i will mope for days. i get REALLY in to my books. 

since having kids, i've added children's books to my addiction, and THERE ARE SO MANY GOOD ONES! i could spend a million dollars at barnes and noble and still find more books we need. cue my discovery of usborne books. it was my best friend stacy who first told me about them, and i've been hooked ever since. these books are colorful, fun, full of facts and beautiful illustrations. the quality is EXCELLENT, so they hold up really well, and my kids LOVE them. there are flaps to life, textures to touch, and so many fun, silly stories. those train books in the picture are possibly the most read books in our house... well at least they were until we got All Better a few weeks ago. my kids are both obsessed with that book, and i read it at least 6 times a day.

i can't recommend these highly enough, and i've been buying them for several years now. over a year ago, i attended another usborne facebook party, and the consultant mentioned that i'd be good at selling them, because my passion for them was contagious. i considered it, but decided not to... and then for months and months it stayed on my mind. i really wanted to do it! but i had a long list of excuses, and put it off for months and months. then about 6 weeks ago, i attended yet another usborne book party and decided that i'd waited long enough- it was time to give myself and my love of books a chance! plus, as a stay-at-home mom (which i absolutely love) sometimes i find myself looking for a project to call my own, for something to do on the side that I WANT to do, that i do for myself. so signed up! and it's been 4 days and i am so so glad i did. i'm having so much fun so far, and i really think i can be successful at this! it's fun to have something to do on my own that i'm passionate and excited about.

so all this to say, i'm an usborne books consultant! and i have an official shopping link! i've had a lot of support and encouragement so far from family and friends and i really really appreciate it. and if you need any books, or want to get FREE books, let me know and we can party together! follow me on instagram as @lindseysbooks for all my favorites, and good deals too! 

seriously though, you'll get hooked, i promise :) 

WHEN I NEED TO REMEMBER

some days. man, some days are just so hard. i don't know exactly what makes them so rough, it's some cosmic combination of exhaustion, bad attitudes, clutter, too much tv, to much to get done, and probably a lack of wholesome recreation and ice cream. i try really hard to not to 'create' these days as often as possible. i know if i plan too many errands on one day or miss a meal, it's not going to help, and i do my best to steer clear of these well-known pitfalls. but sometimes these bad days are unavoidable. sometimes we are just cranky and hot and nothing seems to go right. last night, luc fell and split his chin open at the park, so we had our first urgent care visit {which went great, thankfully!} and we got home late and then none of us slept well last night. so today has been the aftermath, and it hasn't been pretty.

there are many coping mechanisms, for days like these. retail therapy is my favorite, but it costs the most. food, namely dessert, is another classic go-to. another one that always works for me, and it's free; when i need to remember how much i love staying home with my babies, and how happy they make me, i scroll back through pictures of them and study their sweet little faces, their bright eyes and perfect little noses, and i remember again how fiercely i adore them and how much i love being their mama. and it gets me through the day.

2015

painting by caitlin connolly

2014 was like two very different sides of the same coin for me. one side wonderful, happy and full of accomplishments, and the other side frustrating and exhausting and really challenging. it was a year of big mountains, and while i am proud of us for making it through, let's be honest- i hate hiking.

i must say- the wonderful parts greatly outnumbered the frustrating parts, and the feeling that comes the strongest now as i look back over the year is sheer gratitude. gratitude for all the help and love we received from our families and friends. gratitude for countless heaven-sent blessings. gratitude that orlando and i had each other and luc and baby sister to keep us smiling. so much gratitude that we made it through. and even more gratitude that we are where we are now.

but looking back, i feel like i epically failed at being grateful during the challenges. i was petty and small-minded and i allowed myself to care more about what i lacked than what i had. but even that doesn't encompass what i struggled with. i'm not sure how to adequately describe what i've been feeling, except to say that i found in myself a 'littleness of person' this year. not sure if that makes any sense to anyone but me, but it's been on my mind constantly the past month.

as i've thought about how i can change for the better, the one thought that has come back to me over and over has been that if i work, really diligently work, on my spiritual health and cultivate an attitude of gratitude in all things, everything else i want to accomplish/be will fall into place. so although the list of things i want to accomplish is long, my goals this year are simple and centered around gratitude and my spiritual growth.

this year i want to:

-live more simply. stop comparing myself and what i have/don't have to others. stop coveting and wanting what they have instead. be content with what i have- or even better, be content with less! it's just stuff and somehow it became way too important to me recently. a big part of this one is our goal to get out of debt this year {minus the student loans} and i want to contribute by spending less and not being grumpy/whiny about it. i want to enjoy it even!

-be a more patient, enduring mother. correct what is important and let the rest go. teach and nurture with the spirit. toddlerhood is fun and crazy irrational, and soon there will be two little niños over here- and my threshold of patience needs to increase accordingly. and i want to enjoy the everyday moments more. i want to be more grateful for this time of my life, to embrace it and enjoy it more fully.

-find a better balance between my roles of self, wife, and mother. i want to thrive in all three! discover or develop what talents and gifts i have, and then use them to find personal fulfillment and bless my family. i want to appreciate who i am and what i have to offer, instead of always wishing i was different, or like someone else.

so i'm going to:

1. start each day with an attitude and prayer of gratitude.

2. keep a gratitude journal. write something new everyday.

3. attend the temple monthly. 

4. personal prayer, 365 days in a row. 

5. continue to make time for personal scripture study.

these are my goals, and i feel promised that if i do these things, i will be blessed to accomplish everything else above. either way, i will come out of this year a more grateful person, and that is someone i really want to be.

OCTOBER

i love october. it's a month of change, and i find that more often than not, i need things to change right about now. usually, we'd be bidding our park days farewell and breaking out the soups and sweaters, but this year is a little different. it was 81 degrees today, so we aren't exactly pulling on the layers, but i feel the change in the air nonetheless, even if it is lacking that crisp chill we're used to.

general conference weekend was a big weekend for me. nothing extraordinary happened, but i was really touched by a few of the messages and i have been putting some of the inspiration i felt to good use, including daily personal scripture study and morning prayer. seeing the difference a prayer to start my day has made, i have no idea how i got through so many days without it. i have more patience, more energy, better mothering ideas, and a more grateful heart.

things just feel really good this week. i got into a kind of negative/depressed rut over the long summer, and i have taken my sweet time shaking it off. i'm sure i can chalk most of this up to hormones and the stress of being a single + pregnant mom for most of the summer, but it sure has been hard to get over. i'm finally feeling like the giant load of stress and worry and frustration i was lugging around is gone, and i am happier and lighter than i have been in weeks. i'm putting on lipstick and laughing over spilled apple juice {instead of crying} and letting go of all the have-tos and trying to just enjoy today. arizona seems to be feeling the same way, as the weather has turned into perfection this week- 77 degrees all day and night- and we have been soaking up every minute of daylight. i watched the cloudy sky split with streaks of the deepest blue yesterday and i had to fight the impulse to throw my arms out and twirl, everything just felt so good- the air, the sky, my soul, luc's grin and dirty knees, baby girl playing kickball in my belly- i felt a peace and contentment i have been missing for too long.

i think that's how it goes sometimes. life gives us trials and times of stress, but to help us through, heavenly father has given us this beautiful earth, personal revelation, and really special people to call family.

and they really do help us through.

to love them and be loved by them is my life's greatest blessing and dearest happiness.

PAY IT FORWARD

this story is a little embarrassing for me, but i would feel completely ungrateful if i didn't acknowledge the incredible, heaven sent kindness shown to me today. plus, i want to remember this so that the next time i see someone in need, i don't hesitate.

today, after story time at the library, luc and i headed over to walmart for a pretty big grocery run. my list was long and luc's ability to sit still is pretty short these days. so i shopped as fast as i could while he ran laps up and down the aisles, climbed the shelves, and in general, ignored my requests to 'stay by mama please.' at one point he ran in front of an elderly woman's cart and she gave me a mean glare and stood there shaking her head at me while i pushed my heavy cart and pulled my limp, fussing toddler into the next aisle. then toward the end, he ran around behind me and was hiding behind the full cart, and for like twelve seconds, i could not find him and i was almost in hysterics. he popped out with a grin on his face, yelling 'boo!' but i seriously thought i had lost him, and my hands were shaking. i scooped him up and didn't let him out of the cart again, which resulted in very smashed bread and grapes, but at least i knew where he was. 

after two hours of this 'fun' i was finally done. frazzled, sweaty, and trying to hurry and finish before luc's 'it's nap time' meltdown began, i hauled us all up to the checkout stand and unloaded the groceries, and picked up all the candy luc knocked down while i was unloading groceries, and then reloaded the bagged groceries into the cart. $150, right on budget. phew! at least that went right. i swiped my card, and it didn't work. hmm, that's not right. payday was friday, so it should work just fine. try again. nope. the cashier was annoyed, but she suspended my transaction and let me move aside to try and figure out what was wrong. after a few tearful phone calls {i'm pregnant and this had never happened to me before, so out of hormones, exhaustion, and embarrassment, i started tearing up almost immediately} i had to tell the cashier i wouldn't be getting anything, there was a bank error that couldn't be fixed today. TWO HOURS OF TORTUOUS GROCERY SHOPPING, DOWN THE DRAIN. i felt completely defeated. i was so flustered and frustrated, i quickly scooped up luc and grabbed my purse, eager to get out of there before i started really crying. 

i was halfway across the parking lot when i heard someone calling after me. i turned, hurriedly wiping the tears pouring down my cheeks, to see an elderly gentleman pushing his near-empty cart after me. he had to have been in his 70's and was struggling to keep up with my speed walking. out of breath, he said, 'ma'am, come back inside, i'd like to pay for your groceries'

embarrassed, i stammered out a long string of 'oh thank you so much for offering, but you don't have to do that. it's way too expensive, i couldn't let you do that. thank you though, for offering, you're very sweet. really, we'll be fine. thank you.' as i inched away, trying to get to my car and hide.

he was unfazed as he walked closer and placed his hand on my arm. 'you remind me of someone. once, i was eating dinner at a restaurant all by myself and i was feeling pretty down and lonely, and there was this young mother with a little boy on her hip, just like you. they walked past my table five or six times during my meal as she chased him around, and each time, she smiled at me and told the little boy to wave hello. she was so kind and watching her and her son really made me feel better. then when i went to pay for my meal, i was told that it had already been paid for, by that same young mother. it made my whole day and i've been looking for a way to pay it forward ever since.'

i shook my head and opened my mouth to protest once again when he chuckled and interrupted me 'i already told the cashier, and gave her my card. it's paid for, you just have to come and get your cart.' i didn't know what to do or say so i just cried harder and hugged him and thanked him a hundred times while we walked inside together. i offered to pay him back, but he said 'no honey, that's not how paying it forward works' and then he wished me a good day and he shuffled off with a smile, leaving me there, crying, next to a full cart of groceries. 

i didn't even get his name, but i'll never forget his gift. i don't know if he knows how much it meant to me, but on this day where everything was going wrong, he changed it all around. i went from defeated and frustrated to humbled and amazed and so so grateful, in an instant. i'm so grateful for his kindness and his example. i'm going to try and be more like him, because you never know how much something little- or big- means to someone else. 

BECAUSE OF HIM

this easter, i'm trying to remember that every good thing i am and every blessing i have, is because of Him. i love my Savior and i know He lives.

because of Him i can be a better daughter, sister, wife and mother
His perfect example of love and kindness is my daily reminder of the kind of woman i want to be. because of Him, i am striving to be better to those i love most dear.

because of Him i can serve others
when we serve others, we are serving Him. so even when it's a challenge to put myself out there and serve those around me, i want to and i try to because i want to serve Him.

because of Him i can love more fully
He opened the doors of eternity for me. because of His sacrifice and resurrection, i can live forever with my family, i can love them forever. knowing that our relationships extend beyond this earth allows me to love without ceasing, to love and give of myself boundlessly.

because of Him i can be a better me
because of His atonement, i can be forgiven and washed clean of my sins. i can start every day anew. i can be better than i was yesterday because i am not burdened by the mistakes i made then. i am clean and i can follow Him.

because of Him i live in this beautiful world
He created this world for me to enjoy. every sunny day is a reminder that He is mindful of me, that He wants me to be happy here.

because of Him i am inspired
His words fill my heart with the Spirit and I am inspired to be more like Him, to follow Him. His loving care for little children inspires me to be a better mother.

because of Him i can get answers to prayers
He is my advocate, He knows me and through Him, i can communicate with my Heavenly Father. my prayers are heard and answered and i receive personal revelation daily.

garden tomb, by j. kirk richards

Tip for YW leaders: the week before Easter, have your girls write a sentence or two for each of the 'Because of Him' headings and ponder them throughout the week. Makes for a great discussion on Easter Sunday!

GRATEFUL IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCES

Could I suggest that we see gratitude as a disposition, a way of life that stands independent of our current situation? In other words, I’m suggesting that instead of being thankful for things, we focus on being thankful in our circumstances—whatever they may be. Have we not reason to be filled with gratitude regardless of the circumstances in which we find ourselves?

-Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Grateful in Any Circumstances

without fail, shortly after general conference ends, i find myself presented with a trial or decision or circumstance that requires me to use what i learned in conference. i think of it as Heavenly Father's way of testing me to see if i was really listening to what He wanted me to hear. earlier this month, elder uchtdorf's talk really resonated with me, and so here i am, trying to be thankful in the midst of disappointment and a few difficult days. nothing major, just the usual things that get me down- only this time, i'm going to try and stay up, because really, there's so much to be happy about and grateful for.

...

i'm thankful for my wonderful hubby. i'm grateful for his sense of humor and for all the hard work and studying he does for our family.

i'm thankful for our temple sealing in the san diego temple. i'm thankful for the reassurance that being an eternal family brings to the hard times in my life. 

i'm thankful to be a mother. i'm thankful for luc and his happy, adventurous personality. i'm thankful for his hugs and kisses and clever mannerisms that keep me smiling. 

i'm thankful for my testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. i love the gospel with all my heart and i know that everything i am and everything i have is because of my Savior and my Heavenly Father. 

i'm thankful for my parents and brothers and dear friends who love and support me, and who have made me a better person. 

i'm thankful for my good health, energetic able body, and clear mind. 

i'm thankful for the opportunities i've had, and continue to have, to learn new things, to be well educated and pursue subjects i am interested in and passionate about. 

i'm thankful for our wonderful experience in cleveland these past three years. we have been immeasurably blessed here!

i'm thankful for sunny days, walks to the park, ice cream, and early morning snuggling, all three of us. words can't describe how thankful i am for the countless precious memories i'm making with my little family. 

i'm thankful that even though some days are rough, the truly excellent days far outnumber the difficult ones. 

BULLYING- STOP IT

i know this is kind of a random post, but the message really touched me.

i was bullied a little in jr. high {weren't we all?} and i remember how crushing it felt to be publicly laughed at. but i also remember how i bullied others. it was my sad attempt at fitting in with the crowd, at trying to deflect the negative attention away from myself. i put others down so i wouldn't feel so bad and so people would like me. it's one of my biggest regrets. i wish i could honestly say i have always been kind, and that instead of being a follower, i stood up for what i knew was right. but i can't. it's something that took me a while to learn, but i'm hoping i can teach my kids to be better, to be kinder. i want them to remember that being kind is more important than being popular. i want them to keep an eternal perspective, even in the middle of the daily grind that is high school.

because as president uchtdorf says: 'in the end, it is the merciful who obtain mercy.'

YW ACTIVITY IDEA #1

i love my calling as the miamaid leader in my ward. my girls are fantastic, funny sweethearts, and teaching a lesson every week has been really good for my personal spiritual study. also, our presidency is new and while they've been getting organized, i've been able to plan a few activities and i'm having tons of fun with them.
tonight i did a personal progress bubble gum 'pop' quiz and it was a hit. and super easy too.

you'll need:
paper
pens
small treat bags {1 per girl}
bubble gum {i got these. for ten girls we went through two whole bags}

and since the purpose of this activity is to help the girls work on their personal progress, they'll need to bring their pp books and scripture journals.

to start, each girl takes a pen, paper, and treat bag. then for each question in your 'pop' quiz, they write a or b on their paper and then take the corresponding gum ball and place it in their treat bag. for example, the question is- which would you rather do?
a. bear your testimony in public
b. sit down with your grandparents {or other elderly couple} and ask about the qualities needed for a successful, happy marriage

if they answer a, they take a WHITE gum ball. if they answer b, they take a BLUE gum ball {don't eat them yet!}

and then onto the next question until you've done all 21. at the end, the girls count up how many gum balls they have of each color and whatever they have the LEAST of {some could have zero of one color even} then that is the value they have to choose their next pp activity from {aka: the value they need to work on most}.

in this activity, the PINK gum balls are substituted in for integrity {there weren't any purple} and we left out virtue completely. you could add virtue if you found another color of gum ball to include.

my girls had to discuss every option {they're wonderfully talkative} and i learned a lot about them and we had some fun debates. then when the quiz was done, they all got out their books and choose a pp activity from whatever value they had the least gum balls of and went to work. it was fun AND productive! {and then they can eat their gum balls of course!}

here are the 21 questions for the quiz. you're welcome to use these or make up your own!

1. which would you rather do?
a. make an effort to stop criticizing and complaining. take BLUE
b. be more selective about the tv programs you watch. take ORANGE

2. which would you rather do?
a. write a poem, story, or article that illustrates a gospel principle. take GREEN
b. be more selective about the music you listen to. take ORANGE

3. which would you rather do?
a. tutor a friend who need help in school. take YELLOW
b. stand up to your friends/be an example of righteousness. take PINK

4. which would you rather do?
a. bear your testimony in public. take WHITE
b. sit down with your grandparents {or other elderly couple} and ask about the qualities needed for a successful, happy marriage. take BLUE

5.which would you rather do?
a. babysit for free. take YELLOW
b. make a new friend. take RED

6. which would you rather do?
a. apologize and do something nice for someone you wronged. take ORANGE
b. talk to your mom/any mom about motherhood. take BLUE

7. which would you rather do?
a. organize a family photo album. take RED
b. sing in the ward choir. take BLUE

8. which would you rather do?
a. learn a new recipe. take GREEN
b. answer a difficult question honestly. take PINK

9. which would you rather do?
a. read the new era cover to cover. take WHITE
b. learn a new subject/skill. take GREEN

10. which would you rather do?
a. help out a family member when asked, even if you don't want to. take ORANGE
b. serve an elderly sister in your ward. take YELLOW

11. which would you rather do?
a. go to bed on time. take RED
b. stay up late to finish a book report. take GREEN

12. which would you rather do?
a. forgive someone who hurt you. take BLUE
b. turn down an invitation to a questionable party. take PINK

13. which would you rather do?
a. teach an FHE lesson. take WHITE
b. help your sister/friend with a new hairstyle. take RED

14. which would you rather do?
a. be cheerful when you don't get your way. take ORANGE
b. buy and wear a modest prom dress. take RED

15. which would you rather do?
a. read your scriptures for 15 minutes daily. take WHITE
b. help your sibling with their homework. take YELLOW

16. which pp project would you rather do?
a. stop an argument. take ORANGE
b. learn a new hobby. take GREEN

17. which would you rather do?
a. listen to a friend. take RED
b. write to a missionary. take YELLOW

18. which would you rather do?
a. get crafty and create something. take GREEN
b. clean your room because you promised you would. take PINK

19. which would you rather do?
a. invite a nonmember to church or seminary. take WHITE
b. do an extra chore at home without being asked. take PINK

20. which would you rather do?
a. sing a hymn to chase away a bad thought or a bad mood. take BLUE
b. make someone new feel welcome. take YELLOW

21. which would you rather do?
a. admit to your mom or dad that they were right. take PINK
b. pray for help in getting along with your parents or siblings. take WHITE

BALANCE

i got back on instagram this weekend. after three weeks without it, i felt both like i'd built some good habits of putting down my phone AND like i was too cut off from what was for me a mostly positive social outlet. so i am back, but only during nap time and after bedtime, that's my rule. a friend suggested i turn off notifications, which has worked wonders for me because there's nothing pressing on my iphone screen, so i don't feel the need to check it constantly during the day.

it's not a new concept, but definitely something i'm always trying to learn a little better: balance.

i need balance between being 100% present for luc and having a social escape every once in awhile
i need balance between my salad and ranch dressing {i eat salad for the ranch dressing}
i need balance between playtime and chore time
i need balance between late nights and early bedtimes
i need balance between eating chocolate and carrots {why can't carrots taste yummier? like chocolate?}
i need balance between a good novel and scripture study
i need balance between laundry and dishes and an episode of sherlock holmes {are you hooked yet?}
i need balance between braving the winter cold and cozy pajama days inside

balance seems to be the magic solution to most of life's little issues, and an incredibly valuable skill i want to pass on to my kiddos. and the best way to pass it on is teach by example, right? phew, looks like i've got some practicing to do.

{braving the cold. twenty minutes of heaven for this kid!}

O COME, O COME EMMANUEL

may the true spirit of christmas fill our homes tonight

INSPIRED

MIAMAIDS

i was just called to be the miamaid advisor in our ward, and you guys, i am so excited! nervous too. i feel like it's my first day of high school again, wanting to be liked and terrified that i'm not cool anymore... but mostly i'm excited. i'm teaching my first lesson on sunday and i absolutely love love LOVE the talk i get to share with the girls- the tongue of angels, by elder holland. it's one of my all time favorites! and i just had to share the coolest blog/printout that goes with it-

print by all things bright and beautiful

i love this quote so much. i am definitely printing one for me to hang in my room, it's an incredible reminder.

happy thursday!

LIVE WITHOUT PRETENDING

i read an essay once entitled 'live without pretending' and the mantra of living life in real time really stuck with me. i liked the idea of embracing the chaos and mess and trials along with those brilliant happy moments of life, and letting yourself and the world see it all for what it is- no shame, no embarrassment, just truth and understanding and a cheerful acceptance of everyday life as it is- wonderful, dirty, fun, boring, hard and happy.

this is not to say that i've mastered this way of thinking. i feel like a failure when my house is messy or dinner is burnt. i get embarrassed when i realize we've left the house and luc's clothes are filthy. i look at other's blogs or instagram pictures and wonder how their lives are somehow so much more glamourous than mine. i am amazed at anyone who manages to accomplish anything more than the day-to-day mothering and homemaking tasks that are endlessly on my to-do lists.

and yet, i love my day-to-day life and wouldn't change much about it. i guess the thing i want to change is the way i think about it. i want to learn to stop comparing, stop judging, stop feeling judged. i want to live without regrets and remorse. i want to be honest and say 'this is hard. i don't want to be anywhere else in the world right now, but this is hard.' and sometimes i might even want to say 'i wish i were in italy right now!' just as long as it's the truth.

i was talking to a good friend recently and we were wistfully looking through pictures of another friend's adventures in china and all over asia and i was wishing that my life were as cool as hers, that i was traveling the world and having these once-in-a-lifetime experiences. i was feeling all sorts of jealous, when a sleepy luc crawled in my lap and nuzzled his tired head in my neck, his chubby little arms holding me tight. and right then i broke down in tears at the thought of trading that ten second moment for a trip around the world or a new wardrobe or a big house or anything else i get jealous of from time to time.

it's easy to remember that you love the ups and downs of your life when the baby is sleeping sweetly or when you've had a great day full of laughter and story time and big slobbery kisses. it's harder to remember when you're scrubbing the sticky high chair for the umpteen millionth time that day {by far my least favorite chore}.

and therein lies the challenge- to embrace all moments, to see value in the mundane, to be honest and let others be honest. to understand more than we judge, to love more than we don't, to feel like our daily efforts are worthwhile.

to look past the dirty laundry and see the joy.

HAPPY WEDNESDAY!

happy wednesday! 

i hope your week is going splendidly so far and that you can find ten things to be happy about, right this very minute.

ten things making me happy right now:

1. my new favorite nail color for spring

2. orlando will be done with finals in TWO DAYS!

3. luc and i are meeting our friends in little italy today for gelato and lemon cake, YUM!

4. the absolute perfection of may weather in cleveland this year

5. how much luc LOVES going to the park

6. the five pounds i've lost in the last three weeks

7. frozen reese's peanut butter cups

8. making fun june birthday and father's day plans for my boys

9. our new goal to read the book of mormon as a family by the end of the year

10. this face:

FAMILY MOTTO

it's a tradition in the johnson family to have a family motto- a scripture or saying that sums up what you want your kids to remember when they leave the shelter of home and go out into the world. my family's motto was 'return with honor' - do what was right and return to our earthly home with honor, return to our Heavenly Father with honor. we were raised to remember it always, and especially as a teenager, when i was invited or pressured to do something i was unsure about, 'return with honor' would play in my mind and it made deciding to do what was right easy, because i knew i wanted to go home without regrets, guilt or apprehension.

last week for family home evening, orlando and i sat down and prayerfully studied the scriptures in search of our leon family motto. it's a big task, trying to sum up everything you want your kids to know and remember in one phrase or scripture. it took us several hours, but we finally decided on joshua 1:9.

i want my children to remember to be strong in the face of adversity, heartbreak, and pain.

i want them to have courage in this big scary world.

i don't want them to live in fear and worry.

i want them to know that their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ is with them always and forever, by their sides, in their hearts; watching, guiding, protecting, blessing, forgiving, and saving.

i think knowing that could make all the difference in how they live their lives, in what they choose to do, in who they choose to become. 

i know it makes a difference in my life everyday.

REMEMBER

"Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling.

It is not something to do if you can squeeze the time in. 

It is what God gave you time for."

-Neil L. Anderson

My name is in Africa on a drilling rig

do you remember this? 

and this?

i was lucky enough to be part of the team that raised awareness and money for charity: water's september campaign 2011. i'm really passionate about this non-profit and i loved helping them meet their goal of buying the yellow thunder- this drilling rig that digs 80 clean water wells a year in ethiopia, africa- that's over 40,000 people who now have access to clean, germ-free water.

they sent me pictures of the rig in action this week and i've been on cloud nine over their amazing progress. i'm so grateful to be a part of this life-changing project!

thanks to everyone who read my blog and supported this non-profit!

to find the yellow thunder on gps or see videos and more pictures of their progress, go here.

I am a Mormon Because I am a Feminist by Dr. Valerie Hudson Cassler

i shared this link on facebook a few weeks ago, but i wanted to post it here as well. i love reading and re-reading these eternal truths.

I am a Mormon Because I am a Feminist 

by Dr. Valerie Hudson Cassler

The Restored Gospel teaches that the term “God” means an exalted woman and an exalted man married in the new and everlasting covenant (D&C 132:19-20). We are taught that there is no God without men and women loving each other as equals. Heavenly Father is not an eternal bachelor; he is married to our Heavenly Mother. In fact, the one who’s an eternal bachelor is Satan.

Second, the Restored Gospel teaches that all will have their male or female body forever. It is not a curse, but a great gift and a blessing that each soul had to prove itself worthy to have. Women readers, your breasts, your womb, your ovaries, are not unclean cursings; they are blessings. And the Restored Gospel also teaches me that I will be married forever, and that I will have children forever, and that the life of being a woman married to my sweetheart and having children forever is the life that will bring me the fullest joy in the eternities—as it has here on earth.

Third, LDS doctrine teaches that men and women are equals before the Lord and before each other. “Equal” does not mean “identical”—for example, there are no two men who are identical, and yet they stand as equals before each other and before the Lord. Can we imagine an understanding of equality that means that a man and woman, though different, can be equals before the Lord and before each other? That is the vision of equality that the Restored Gospel teaches.

what sinus infection week taught me

that one day when my house was clean

sinus infection fiesta 2013 struck our house with vengeance this past week. all three of us got it and, oh, we got it baaaaad. 

for a solid week, i didn't do anything that wasn't absolutely necessary. that means no getting dressed, no laundry, no dishes, no cooking, no sweeping. i nursed luc and orlando and i ate whatever was easiest. we napped whenever luc napped, and orlando and i traded off taking care of luc in the afternoons so the other person could get an extra nap in. we watched two entire seasons of the office {all caught up!}. 

that's it. i couldn't muster the energy to do anything else.

as one would expect, the house got MESSY while we were sick. the dirty laundry piled up and spilled over onto the floor. dirty dishes covered the countertops and the stove. the floors were dusty and crumby. the bathroom floor was covered in wadded up tissues. and that was just the beginning! of course, we were super sick so i didn't let myself feel guilty for letting it all go- sometimes these things happen, and it's ok, i told myself. 

and that's true.

on monday, i finally started feeling better. better enough to get ready for the day, better enough to get out of the house for lunch + a target run, better enough to get up off the couch and play with luc. but you're not better enough to tackle this messy house! i told myself. save that for a day when you are feeling much, much better. 

and save it i did.

yet, i found that the longer i waited to put my house in order, the longer that last little icky feeling lingered. i just couldn't get back to feeling 100% and it was driving me crazy. i'd much rather be really sick and then be done with it then feel a little sick for days and days on end. ugh, it was awful, and i was FED UP. finally, i woke up the other morning, determined to cross everything off my to-do list, live or die. i made my bed, tackled the laundry, washed the dishes, got ready, swept, dusted, and cleaned the bathroom- all before the time luc's late morning nap was over. i lit my candle and sat on the couch to survey my sparkling clean home- and suddenly realized i felt completely better. no more icky sicky feeling, no more headache- completely gone, just like the mess in my house. and i sat there thinking, no wonder heavenly father lists 'house of order, house of cleanliness' in his description of His house. in a clean home there is health and happiness and intelligence and freedom and true relaxation. in a mess, that's all a lot harder to find.

my house still isn't always clean, and there will definitely be times when it will all be completely neglected for a week or two. and that's ok. 

i'm just going to try and remember what wonderful work it is to set it all right again, and breath the clean air.