Larsen's "Title of Liberty"

I am so excited about my Family Home Evening tonight, I have to share.

A cute fam shod in President's Choice Aluminum Foil (Shield, Helmet, Sword).
Flag: A Polka-dotted pillow case.
Pole: Old witches broom for a flag.
Fabric Markers.
Bible and Book of Mormon

Today while I was studying I had a strong feeling that our family would be blessed by having a defined GOAL, and a STRATEGY to get there.

As a family we are studying the heroic stories of Captain Moroni, Helaman and the Stripling Warriors (Awesome stories, especially the 2060 brave young boys, fighting for the freedom of their families and attributing their strength and faith to their Mothers who taught them about God. READ it HERE.)

Truthfully, I never really enjoyed these stories like I do now that I am not only reading but, explaining the stories verse by verse to the kids (ages 3 and 5). The other day Ky came up to me and handed me a drawing explaining it was an "epistle" from her to me.

And so, tonight for Family Home Evening we are going to "Strategize" just like all the great Captains of the Bible and Book of Mormon do in war. With Satan waging a war against all of us, including my sweet little ones I feel like it's time that they help mommy in the battle to fortify our family (Family Prayer/Scripture study, and Family Home Evening). They are diligent warriors in the fight for clean teeth, always reminding me even when I'm too tired and wish they would forget just this once and go to bed, teeth unbrushed and all, but they don't forget much at their age. So, what better way to help our family remember the little things that matter most.

In conference Elder Bednar told a story about raising his kids and trying to do the small things. He said things didn't always go as planned, instead there was a lot of:

"He touched me", "She looked at me" and "Dad, He's breathing my air!"

I loved this story because it really hits home, so much of what we try for doesn't go as planned. Elder Bednar goes on to say, if he asked his grown boys what they remember most about family prayer, scriptures, and family night it would probably be that the CONSISTENCY of always doing it. I can see how this would be such a invaluable lesson. And, I want my children to be able to fall back on knowing how to be consistent in living the gospel too, especially later in trying times when they are on their own.

Hold a true friend with both your hands. - Nigerian Proverb

They say the Lord answers prayers through other people.

This has been so true in my life. When I was young there was only me, my mom, and my brother Chris for family. Occasionally there was my grandma around but that was the extent of our immediate and extended family. So, you can imagine how grateful I was my for "Aunts" who were really just my mom's childhood friends.

When my mom was 13 her mom left her and her brother in a motel down by the beach (Santa Monica, Ca) and never returned. After a month or so the motel manager regretfully asked the two kids (ages 11 and 13) to leave. From there my mom became really close with a group of about 8 other kids who also had no family and together they formed their own family. For awhile they just lived together under the Santa Monica pier and did what they could to get money and support themselves and their younger siblings. My mom said she used to stand on the boardwalk and tell people she lost her lunch money, and some times she'd get caught and someone would say, "didn't I see you here yesterday?"

She tells these stories fondly because while she didn't have a traditional family she had been blessed with wonderful friends, the forever kind. These friends still keep in touch and have been a support to one another over the years much like a family. She says the Lord answered her prayers through good friends.

I too feel like Heavenly Father has been mindful of me and answered some of my most tender prayers through a good friend. As a child I was blessed with friends who loved me and took me in when I needed a safe place. And, as I got older I had friends who not only shared their homes and families with me, but their faith too. And, it changed the path of my life forever. There have been many times when I have wondered where my life would have ended up had I not have met these great friends in highschool and their parents who took me into their homes like I was one of the family.

In college, my friends were more like sisters. They taught me who I was and who I wanted to become. Getting to BYU was no small thing. There was hurdle after hurdle, followed by miracle after miracle. I assumed these miracles took place because the Lord really wanted me to break the pattern in my family and be the first to get an education, but now I think it had more to do with meeting these wonderful girls who changed my life and who I am forever. They taught me about love and charity, about the Savior and being a daughter of God. Without those experiences I wouldn't be the mother or wife I am. I'm so thankful for the Lords hand in my life, carefully guiding me and for these wonderful people I've met along the way.

I'll never forget how loved I felt on my wedding day when I was surrounded by my 10 bridesmaids, 8 of which had traveled over 15 hours to be there with me, standing in as my family.

Now again the Lord has filled my life with good friends. The kind that make you better for having been in their association. I feel so blessed for knowing these women, for their patient friendship, for their example of motherhood, but most of all for their unconditional love.

I was reading a talk given by Sherri Dew (CLICK HERE) about the influence of women on the world. It's a beautiful talk, and I couldn't help but reflect upon the good women that have influenced my life.
I'm so thankful for these earthly angels who have helped me along my way and I'm thankful to the Lord for answering my prayers, sometimes even before I know what to ask.

Strategy: Fail your way to Perfection

The thought often crosses my mind: Who's big idea was it too let me be in charge of these precious little ones, anyhow? But, as I've stepped back and really ponder it, I realize just how perfect this plan is (at least in the long run).

We get to try our best, succeed and fail -sometimes all in one breath, and be humbled time and time again. (ie. KY-ANNE! Leave Bridge Alone for the 300th time!" Just then, I realize she's just saved him from some major catastophy. [Humbled], "I sorry Honey, I thought. . .")

In the same token, our kids develop divine qualities such as: compassion, patience, and forgiveness as they endure the inadequacies of their very human parents.

And, together we all become more like our Father in Heaven who is perfect and Happy and we get to be Happy too!-At least this is the pep talk I give myself at the end of the day. I'm surprised at just how I want to rip my hair out strand by strand in hopes of forgetting about the toothpaste all over "my baby", not my Finley-baby, -worse, my MacBook-baby, or how about the water spilling over the bathroom sink onto the floor all in the name of an unauthorized tea party, the purple marker all over the slide on Kys bed, the dozen half eaten apples that decorated the floor when I woke, or the shampoo poured in diliberate little puddles around my bed (this all happened: yesterday. Here's an excerpt from one of my favorite talks, you can click the link below to read the whole talk.

"I was recently at a park where I met a group of women. They were bright and had obtained advanced degrees from respected universities. Now they were devoting their considerable gifts to planning dinner that evening and sharing housekeeping ideas. They were teaching two-year-olds to be kind to one another. They were soothing babies, kissing bruised knees, and wiping tears.

I asked one of those mothers how it came about that she could transfer her talents so cheerfully into the role of motherhood. She replied, “I know who I am, and I know what I am supposed to do. The rest just follows.” That young mother will build faith and character in the next generation one family prayer at a time, one scripture study session, one book read aloud, one song, one family meal after another. She is involved in a great work. She knows that “children are an heritage of the Lord” and “happy is the [woman] that hath [a] quiver full of them” (Ps. 127:3, 5). She knows that the influence of righteous, conscientious, persistent, daily mothering is far more lasting, far more powerful, far more influential than any earthly position or institution invented by man."

Julie B. Beck, “A ‘Mother Heart’,” Ensign, May 2004, 75

Metallica meets the Children's Song Book!

Disclaimer: Long Post ahead. Labor Stories, Tantrums, Meltdowns. (Stories from the Trenches.)

And, so went the ending to our night. After our really fun Halloween Party-Part 3, with great effort I put my well sugared, overtired (great combo) kids to bed. Then I went to nurse Fin in her room, directly above the kids room where Ky was having an all out screaming match with her brother. I couldn't quite make out what was being said, so I decided they were singing my praises.

When this strategy could no longer keep away the angry throat welling up inside, I decided to sing, rather than storm down the stairs, promptly provide each kid with a good spank and perhaps a muzzle.

In the end I settled on "[Singing my] favorite hymn . . . with vigor and vim." I'm not sure what 'vim' is, but I took it to mean Metallica meets the Children's Song Book. I choose my favorite "A child's prayer". There was something about belting out a children's hymn, rocking a little baby, and 2 screaming toddlers in the background that brought humor to my heart. Fin must have found the combo soothing because she fell fast asleep.

Hooray for the Children's Primary Songs that bailed me out once again. And since this blog is the only journal I keep, I just want to add my testimony that the hymns are inspired and I love them. I find that good music in general softens my heart and helps me feel the Spirit. I'm thankful for the atmosphere it brings to our home.

The kids and Jess and I sing together just about every night. None of us sing well. Me being the worst, and I'm not trying to give myself airs. When I was little my mom told me the truth, "Honey, your tone deaf." Alrighty then. If you can't trust your mom, who can you trust.

Music helps me in my role as a mother. More times than I would like to count I have found myself singing, "Do as I'm dong" because it helps me make good choices when I'm frustrated with the kids. I figure I am their primary example of what a parent is like. How we parent will most likely influence how our children will parent later in life, whether we want it to or not.

I also sing when I'm scared. For instance, Labor. Yes, I sing straight through labor. All three times. With Ky, Jess held my hand and sang right along with me. "I love to see the temple..."and "Families can be Together Forever". Cheesy, out right weird, I know. I can't imagine how odd it must have seemed to the nurses flinting about. They probably thought, "Singing during labor is weird but, What's a temple?" Couldn't we have at least picked more normal songs.

When I was getting my epidural with Fin. I was so focused on not moving that I didn't notice I was singing until Dr. Lepert started singing along. Of course he didn't know "A child's prayer" so he chimed in with "I feel pretty, oh so pretty..." We sang it together and the next thing I knew it was all over.

I love to sing. And, before I had kids I prayed so often to have a pretty voice, by the time I had a baby so I could sing to him or her, that I really thought the Lord would bless me with one. As I look back now it makes me giggle. Maybe he didn't bless me with my wish so I could learn that the "Tone Deaf" of the world could also find joy and blessings through singing.

Oh, what do the simple folk do.. .

. . . to perk up when they are blue"
- Camelot Musical

I suppose I not so much blue as suffering from the daily adjustment to the monotony of my life. I look at today's "to-do's" and find myself doing alot of self talk, 'this is your life, embrace it', 'find the extrodinary in the ordinary', 'bloom where your planted' and then I find myself stubbornly asking 'but, is this it?'

And, then I remind myself that I have every possible blessing, all I'm missing is a tragedy to help me recognize them. I was reading the blog of a close friend tonight and she had journaled about a truly heartbreaking experience and I felt shame for my discontent and sincere gratitude for my happy life.

Kim Baker gave a fantastic lesson a few months ago about sharing the gospel with others. This being so dear to my heart, I paid close attention. What stood out most to me was when she talked about sharing our testimony through our example. That if we walk around acting put out, overwhelmed and tired all the time as mothers, we are not sharing the right message. (For the record, she said it much more eloquent than this.)

I guess the point to this rambling is that I hope to be a light unto the world, not a soggy rain cloud. And, tonight I was able to re-adjust my perspective again and I wanted to commit my new cheerful outlook to paper or cyberspace, so I could look back and remember, when the time comes again that I can't see the forest for the trees.

"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through ^aChrist which ^bstrengtheneth me."

(Philippians 4:10-13)

Finley's Blessing

Finley Nina Larsen

We blessed Finley in my mom and dad's branch in Shelby, Montana. The blessing was lovely and among the blessings she was given she was blessed with the gift of being self sacrificing. I can imagine that just in how she's such a peaceful and patient baby. She of course looked just lovely in the blessing gown her sister and cousin wore just a few years before. Grandma Maureen made this lovely gown for all the girls to be blessed in when Ky was born.

It seems so long ago that Ky was born and blessed. In fact it really doesn't seem like there was ever a time that Ky wasn't around. I can't believe how lucky I am to have all these little ones. After Kyanne I thought, I how much I would love to have more babies but, if she's the only one, I'm still the luckiest mom ever! And, now I have three, and they're perfect and sweet.

I am so fortunate to have the gospel in this life, a beautiful marriage and three sweet babies on top of that! It just makes me want to kick my self for ever complaining a day in my life.

My Three Cuties!

“When God wants a great work done in the world
or a great wrong righted, he goes about it in a very unusual way. He doesn’t stir up his earthquakes or send forth his thunderbolts. Instead, he has a helpless baby born, perhaps in a simple home and of some obscure mother. And then God puts the idea into the mother’s heart, and she puts it into the baby’s mind. And then God waits. The greatest forces in the world are not the earthquakes and the thunderbolts.
The greatest forces in the world are babies.”
-E. T. Sullivan

Learning to "Be Still"

Being able to stay home with my children is a blessing I thank the Lord for daily, usually while I'm rocking one of my precious little ones and reflecting on the beauty of my life. But, then there's that time that comes nearly daily, when I don't really have anything pressing. No deadlines, no one counting on me to accomplish something, and no one waiting in the wings to say, "Good Job" if I do.

And, at these moments, I'm unsure of what I "should" be doing. Because, melancholies like me find a list of "shoulds" comforting, not stifling like the Cholerics of the world. Sometimes Mo is like my Yoda, with her profound words of wisdom that seem to permanently penetrate my heart. One that has really made an impression as of late, was to change all the "shoulds" that plague my life, with "coulds". "I should bath the kids before church, so we don't look like the frazzled family we are" to "I could bath the kids before church," etc. The odd thing is, that while the "shoulds" plague my life, I feel lost without them. It's uncomfortable to have down time, or time without an agenda.

Last night while I was feeling this way, I recalled President Hinckley saying, "take time to Be Still". So, I sat on the couch, something I rarely do, and just watched my little ones giggle, play, and rip at each others hair. And, I'd love to report that it was some amazing moment, but really it was just uncomfortable, like when you have a naggy itch that you can't reach. Being "Still" is challenging, but I can see the benefits, and so, I will keep trying to take time out, breath and just "Be Still".

A little child shall lead them by the hand....

Today while waiting at the doctors with Kyanne, she made a comment about "her toys at her old house", she was not sadly reminising or demanding she have her old toys, she just was mentioning them. And, I realized, she remembers the things she loves, doesn't know if she'll see them again, and she's still happy. Practically everything that's familiar beside Bridge, Dad, and Mommy are 3 hours away in our "old house" until we take possession of our new house in June. This was just a reminder to me to "be cheerful in all things." Sometimes as adults we get caught up in what is "ours" and what we "deserve". Entitlement seems to plague our very wealthy society, and I'm thankful for Ky's small reminder that all things come by the hand of the Lord and what it means to be "as a little child."

"Jimmy Bridge"

Sometimes Bridgey reminds me of an old man, wise and patient. Much like the great man he was named after. Grandpa Bridge passed away a few weeks ago. Little "Jimmy" as we sometimes call Bridge went with me to visit grandpa in the hospital a few hours before he passed. When we arrived he held my hand, and squeezed like always. In more usual circumstances he would follow this with a kiss and "Hello Daughter". That was my favorite part. It made me feel like a real part of his family, something I treasure.

"He made me feel special and loved". These were the words repeated countless times at his funeral. I imagine this is what people said of our Savior when he was on the earth and what is still said of Him today.

What an honor for Bridge to carry on his Great Grandpa's name.