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.

Being CREATIVE. .. especially as a Mom.

This message speaks directly to my heart. I struggle and worry often as to whether the time I spend creating (sewing, crafting, blogging) is of value or if I should be doing something more important with my free time. I keep going back and forth between giving in to my crazy love for sewing or stopping it all together to pursue what I think are loftier goals. Watching this video
helps me realize there is value in all sorts of creation.

And, for those who see the subject (creating) and think it doesn't apply to them, because they don't paint, draw, sew, craft, play an instrument, or other ways the world views "creativity" it does. From where I stand I see that imagination and creativity permeating every part of our lives. Jess is a really talented artist, husband, and businessman all due to his imagination and ability to create. My mom is extremely creative in how she cares for people and helps them over come problems in their life.

And, one of the most creative people I know is a mom my age and a dear friend. Some ways she has inspired me with her constant creativity are through:

-Amazing family home evening lessons to teach her children on a weekly basis. She really puts tons of effort and planning into creating these. And, has a whole cabinet full of the different lessons and all the stuff that go along with them. (ie. Lesson: Putting on the whole armor of God. Activity: Having kids shoot Velcro darts at a unarmored Velcro body where they of course stuck, and then shoot that same body with all it's laminated and cutely colored armor on, where it won't stick. I was there for that lesson it was a riot! She also gave the dads aluminum foil to make "real" custom fit armor for the kids.) That takes major amounts of creative energy.

-And, last year around Christmas their family had a dinner patterned after a dinner the Savior would have had when he was on the earth, including sitting on the floor, unleavened bread, figs and olives with her little kids and husband around Christmas time. Not to mention the annual Christmas Talent show.

.-Darling Kid Parties: ie. A 5 year olds movie party, where all the little girls got to where boas, star glasses and walk down the red carpet (red dollar store table cloth). Complete with a concession stand ran by dad, real paper money, and lots of treats! Another one was a cute Pirate party where the kids got to walk a ballet bar which was the Plank of course to get their party treats.

-And, her wealth of knowledge if full of creative ways to motivate, teach and impact her children. Like a jar in her pantry with fun ideas to ward off boredom. Another idea I've adopted and has worked great for us is: "Morning Cards". I laminated cards with pictures of a made bed, toys box, toothbrush/hair brush, a child saying prayers etc. And, instead of telling the kids over and over, did you do....this, this, and this? I just ask them to do all their cards. The sweetest part of that has been walking in on them saying their morning prayers, they still only pray out loud and it's so sweet to see your 3 year old praying all by himself.

This friend has just been an inspiration to me by how much time and imagination she invests into creating experiences for her family that enhance and make her home a wonderful place. I always thought being a mom was a pretty repetitive and predictable job, but I've learned it can be as fun and exciting as you want it to be.

Flying our Family Flag... Any Ideas???

A friend of mine is making a family flag, Jess and I want to do one too. How fun for a kid to get the job of flying the family flag each Monday for Family Home Evening. I had another friend who did something similar, but they would sing a family song every Monday that said all the things that defined their family.



For Example our flag would say somethings like:

LARSENS

• Like to Have Fun! (Our Family Motto.)
• Love the Gospel
• Are Cheerful
• Speak Kind Words
• Make Time for Family
• Find Joy in All Things
• Work Hard
• Love to Serve Others and Each Other
• Make Lemonade out of Lemons

Do any of you have family mottos? Or did you do anything like this with your family growing up? I'm looking for more ideas... what would your family flag say to describe you?

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.

Be of Good Cheer

"To be cheerful when others are in despair, to keep the faith when others falter, to be true even when we feel forsaken—all of these are deeply desired outcomes during the deliberate, divine tutorials which God gives to us—because He loves us. These learning experiences must not be misread as divine indifference. Instead, such tutorials are a part of the divine unfolding." --Neal A. Maxwell, "Be of Good Cheer", Ensign Nov 1982

"We Thank Thee Oh God for a Prophet"

"Could any people have a greater blessing than to have
standing at their head one who receives and teaches the will of God concerning them? How thankful we ought to be, how thankful we are, for a prophet to counsel us in words of divine wisdom as we walk our paths in these complex and difficult times. The solid assurance we carry in our hearts, the conviction that God will make His will known to His children through His recognized servants, is the real basis of our faith and activity. We either have a prophet or we have nothing; and having a prophet, we have everything."

First Presidency Message “We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet”

Yesterday was President Hinckley's funeral services. I really enjoyed hearing the sweet talks and especially the tribute to him after the services. One of his children said that "he never took himself too seriously" and that President Hinckley was not a worrier but a persistent optimist who liked to tell jokes at the dinner table but "never at the expense of others". Tonight as I was surfing around on the internet reading different things about his life, I found this great article about him and his wife. It's a bit lengthy but worth the read. Here's an excerpt:

A couple of years ago, when somebody asked President Hinckley what he would wish for his wife, he said, "That we might live together for as long as the Lord wills and that when the time comes for us to move on, that we might go together or very close together, without one lingering a long time after the other. We've lived together for a long time. I hope we'll continue to move on together."

Recently, while standing at the pulpit together in a church area conference, President Hinckley discussed the years they had been together and began to weep.

"Has it been that bad?" said Marjorie.

How wonderful it must be for him to be reunited with his sweet wife.