Why do I do what I do when I know what I know?

So, a story of my sweet daughter. Well, first a little background. For those of you that don't know, Russ is coaching football at the high school this year. This week they started some late practices so Russ doesn't get home until the kids are in bed. For all you moms out there, maybe some can relate to me that bedtime isn't the most pleasant when your husband isn't home to help. It makes for some bad mommy moments for me for sure. Well, we've really been struggling with our family scripture study when bedtimes are just crazy. So, last night I was at my end and hurrying my kids along to have family prayer and happy thoughts so I could rush them off to bed. Well, my sweet girl said "Mom, we forgot to read scriptures." In the chaos of the moment and the boys wrestling and the baby crying I just said "No. No scriptures tonight. Just get to bed." Then she said, "But PLEASE Mom, we need to read scriptures!" What could I say to that? So, we read scriptures for a few minutes and they went to bed. The kids were happier and more obedient last night and I was more patient with them and all was well.

So, it got me thinking about the simple things in the gospel that make us happy and that we know will bring happiness. Prayer, scripture, temple, family home evening, etc. Why does it seem hard sometimes to do those simple things when we KNOW that our lives will be better and we'll receive blessings and happiness? I couldn't believe I was telling my daughter we weren't going to have scripture study because I was tired and grumpy, when I knew that we would all be happier if we did. The gospel is so simple. It was a good moment to remember that obedience to the little things brings the spirit and blessings into my life. How grateful I am that I have good kids to help remind me and keep me focused. And, when we put these simple things first, everything else in our lives balances out so we feel like we have time to do all that we need to do and we're happier in the meantime.

"When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives. Our love of the Lord will govern the claims for our affection, the demands on our time, the interests we pursue, and the order of our priorities. We should put God ahead of everyone else in our lives." Ezra Taft Benson

Quotes of the Week

So, I thought since I'm such a quote freak, I'd leave some happy quotes every week...some uplifting, and some happy pointless movie quotes...So...enjoy.

"Patient endurance permits us to cling to our faith in the Lord and in His timing when we are being tossed about by the surf of circumstance. Even when a seeming undertow grasps us, somehow in the tumbling we are being carried forward, though battered and bruised." Neal A. Maxwell


MOVIE QUOTE:
"I want my two dollars."
"Sorry man, I don't have a dime."
"I didn't ask for a dime."

If you know the movie, you can leave it in the comments...if not...answer to come next week...

The Twin Falls Temple Open House

Last fall our Stake President asked all of the families in our stake to make this summer the "summer of the family." He wanted us to plan something that would bring our family closer together and strengthen us spiritually. After praying about it, Russ and I decided to focus on the temple. We centered family home evenings for the last months on different aspects of the temple. We truly felt the Spirit prompt us with ideas to be able to teach our children in ways they could understand and learn to love the temple and start gaining their own testimonies of it. Our desire was to help prepare our children to attend the Twin Falls Temple Open House as the highlight of our summer. We took our children last week and had an amazingly beautiful experience. They were so excited to be able to go inside before it was dedicated. It was wonderful to see them remember things and understand things we had talked about. What a beautiful experience to be able to be with our children for the first time in the temple and to reflect on the things of eternity. I have a testimony of the temple. I am grateful I have had the opportunity to make personal covenants with the Lord. I am grateful to know that I can be with my family forever if we keep the covenants we have made. Without my family, there would be no true happiness. I know that my Heavenly Father loves me, and I know that my Savior, Jesus Christ, died for me that I might live with Him again someday. I am grateful for the gospel-for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and for the plan of happiness that it holds. My life is truly blessed.

Our Happy Annual Lagoon Trip!

Every year we take our family trip to Lagoon. We camp next to the park and stay for two days. As soon as we get home our kids are asking how long until we get to go again. This year we had a Belnap family reunion there as well, so we got to play with cousins and even Grandma Great came to Lagoon. We had two wonderfully tiring days of fun, rides, food, and play...Always good times...

Playing on the Lake

This is the gi-normous great Payette Lake in downtown McCall just a few minutes from our house. The kids got to go out and tube with their cousins. Sometimes we forget to stop and play when we live in this beautiful place, so it's happy when we can enjoy the goods around us!

Brock is 7!

He wanted a Scooby-Doo party this year. He had a friend party and it was so fun! The "birthday phantom" stole the presents and left clues. They had to play different games and follow the clues to the presents. At the end, they had to find the presents and the phantom (nicely played by Russ in his "disguise") in the van. Good times.

Brock and Rach played tee-ball this summer together. Brock loves baseball and did awesome this year. It was about 3 weeks after Rachel got her cast off. She has had a particularly hard time since the surgery with new things and being involved. She would play in the outfield if Russ stood with her, and she wouldn't even try batting the first few games. So, the third game she decided to bat and smashed it off the tee. She ran her little heart out, sort of limping and lumbering around the bases. Every time she got to a base she'd jump on it with both feet and give me a big thumbs up. The first time I saw her cross home plate I just sheered and cried at how well she did when it was hard for her. My brave little girl making baby steps...it made me appreciate the simple things we take for granted like seeing a kid run the bases...



Brett watching Daddy base coach. Cody was always somewhere off with friends on the playground.

This was all Brock's idea. He told me we had to have "last day of tee-ball pancakes" and he told me how to make them. I love this kid!