follow-up. I completely failed to get up at 6 to exercise. I couldn’t fall asleep until after 11. Woke at 3 with a pounding headache. Got up with zuzu at 4 since I was waiting for the Advil to kick in. So yeah – 6 a.m. didn’t happen. 8:30 did happen. Oh Glorious Sleep. I still need to hop on that treadmill today. If I think getting up at 6 might kill me… wait until my blood pressure really does. Exercise I will. sigh…
This was me yesterday…
telling Jimmy on messenger… “I’m tired of being the bad guy.”
saying no to going to a birthday party
saying no to wii (all day long)
saying no to treats & yes to healthy foods (grumble, grumble from the tots)
saying no to movies (half the day long)
getting little people to work first – play later
being firm – being tough
and my kids aren’t even teenagers yet
(see – I’m trying to practice now)
i am not tough. but i have to be. and it’s a hard thing.
anyways… Jimmy’s response was this:
oh – I laughed. This week we all saw Wreck it Ralph. When I was complaining sharing my feelings about being the bad guy, I didn’t think anything about Wreck it Ralph. Now – The Bad Guy Affirmation makes no sense right. “Huh?” we all say … but it makes sense by the end of the movie. Mostly – I just laughed at the connection.
It’s okay to be tough. (see how I have to keep telling myself this). Honestly I’m about to croak because being firm and doing what is right for my kids is making my life harder right now. Hopefully the detox problems will simmer down and we can live a happier more peaceful life (like when everyone is asleep).
Anyhoo… another thing I love is this by LaRee Florence:
“We have a motto in our family that resolves most of the “But everybody’s doing it!” issues. When my children complain about being left out of a midnight movie showing or about not being allowed to wear the latest offensive fashion my reply is, “Extraordinary people don’t do ordinary things.” I can say we have consistently sought to make the most of our circumstances and I have found that it helps to have goals that elevate rather than settling for the typical.”
I really love this for hard decisions that need to be made – especially for teenagers.
Sorry – this just keeps going today… then I saw this book on my friend Julie’s Instagram:
Encouragement for doing what is right for our family in the long run.
We . Can . Do . Hard . Things .
While watching the Hobbit, I had a few favorite lines that taught great principles. Here are a few…
Gandalf talking to Galadriel. “Why the Halfling?” She asks.
“I do not know,” Gandalf answers.
“Saruman believes that it is only great power that can hold evil in check.
But that it is not what I’ve found.
I’ve found it is the small things, every act of normal folk that keeps the darkness of at bay —
simple acts of kindness and love.
Why Bilbo Baggins?
Perhaps it is because I am afraid, and he gives me courage.”
1. choices that each of us make as individuals & as a family can strengthen the good in the world.
2. choosing to make courageous choices serves as an example to others … to give them courage to do HARD things for right!
(Hurrah for Israel by Kelly Clark Price)
I love this story about this Valiant Cheer of Faith & Courage:
“‘September 14th, … President Brigham Young left his home at Montrose to start on the mission to England. He was so sick that he was unable to go to the Mississippi, a distance of thirty rods, without assistance. After he had crossed the river he rode behind Israel Barlow on his horse to my house, where he continued sick until the 18th. He left his wife sick with a babe only three weeks old, and all of his other children were sick and unable to wait upon each other. Not one soul of them was able to go to the well for a pail of water, and they were without a second suit to their backs, for the mob in Missouri had taken nearly all he had. On the 17th, Sister Mary Ann Young got a boy to carry her up in his wagon to my house, that she might nurse and comfort Brother Brigham to the hour of starting.
“‘September 18th, Charles Hubbard sent his boy with a wagon and span of horses to my house; our trunks were put into the wagon by some brethren; I went to my bed and shook hands with my wife who was then shaking with a chill, having two children lying sick by her side; I embraced her and my children, and bade them farewell. My only well child was little Heber P., and it was with difficulty he could carry a couple of quarts of water at a time to assist in quenching their thirst.
“‘It was with difficulty we got into the wagon, and started down the hill about ten rods; it appeared to me as though my very inmost parts would melt within me at leaving my family in such a condition, as it were almost in the arms of death. I felt as though I could not endure it. I asked the teamster to stop, and said to Brother Brigham, “This is pretty tough, isn’t it; let’s rise up and give them a cheer.” We arose, and swinging our hats three times over our heads, shouted: “Hurrah, hurrah for Israel.” Vilate, hearing the noise, arose from her bed and came to the door. She had a smile on her face. Vilate and Mary Ann Young cried out to us: “Goodbye, God bless you!” We returned the compliment, and then told the driver to go ahead. After this I felt a spirit of joy and gratitude, having had the satisfaction of seeing my wife standing upon her feet, instead of leaving her in bed, knowing well that I should not see them again for two or three years’” (Orson F. Whitney, Life of Heber C. Kimball, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1967, pp. 265–66).
Jimmy and I hope to raise children who will RISE UP and stand for Israel. I created these priesthood themed prints to hang in my boys’ room. Hopefully they will read them and be inspired.
for after all…
unrelated to having a calm voice… but part of our life nonetheless.
we have:
3 more sleeps until Jimmy and I head out on an overnight anniversary date.
7 more sleeps until Max’s 5th birthday.
14 more sleeps until Christmas.
21 more sleeps until the new year.
wow.
My goal today… and wow – today is already a doozy so I’m going to need this LIGHT. Liza was up all night with a fever and barfing. Tru woke and was back in his room by 7 after scratching my hand so badly and refusing to go potty. Sometimes I wonder if my children will ever learn to obey. sigh… Grant me the patience and wisdom to deal with my blessings.
Back to LIGHT. Yesterday the scriptures were on my mind all day… the importance of helping our children know the scriptures, love the message, and live the gospel. The word of God is stronger than any other word. I am so grateful.
And a scripture to assist with my morning… LIGHT – It’s a good thing.
Watching ZuZu Girl play with the Nativity Blocks is JOY.
We’re going to try out some diffused JOY and see how we like it.
Making gifts for others is JOY. Hopefully I’ll squeeze some of that in amidst my daily gifts of service to the fam (which hopefully won’t go awry today!)
I’m still not there yet this morning… but I figured it would be better to make efforts instead of staying curled up crying in bed. Some days this mother feels like all of her efforts to help her family go awry. This was not our best morning. But I guess that means it’s only onward and upward from here. As the kids left for school I called out, “Make it a great day!” and realized I needed to take my own advice.
today i am working on a few fun christmas projects.
today hannah has her research recital.
today my dad has eye surgery. happy thoughts for him.
today max wants to go to the dinosaur museum.
today zuzu slept in.
today i feel joy.
today i hope my kids don’t fight.
today the ornaments might actually stay on the tree.
today i spend time with my littles. with joy.
today i like positive affirmations.
today is cold which means i can wear my hoodie.
yes!
happy tuesday the 4th
My friend Katie shared this quote by Barbara Bush on facebook today. I LOVE it!
Yes, what happens in our country affects us each and every day … but in the end, TRUTH WILL PREVAIL … our success as a family depends on our personal righteousness. Oh how I want us to BE STRONG.
These are the latter days. Heavenly Father knew things would get tough so he gave us tools to be faithful. This year our family has been focusing on Temples – and building a little temple fund to donate to the Church. I hope my children realize that the Temple strengthens us with might … to do right … no matter what is going on around us.
It will take strong people to battle those in the tall and spacious building. I’m excited for our 2013 Family Theme: Armed with Righteousness.
This is a perfect time to teach our kids about being courageous for all that is virtuous and true. I feel an urgency to focus on this even more than we have. These are desperate times. Satan is a booger and is fighting hard. But we can fight harder because GOOD is stronger…. it’s eternal.
Teaching spiritual preparedness, temporal preparedness, hard work, sacrifice, faith in Jesus Christ, optimism (i know – you’re doubting my optimism after that last Presidential Election post of mine). But there is more we can do to teach our little barnlings to be STRONG in righteousness.
I love this challenge for myself as a mother.