Harbors of the heart

http://youtu.be/rx68QrrIhqc

I love this song. I want to be my life theme song.

Easiest Yummiest Pumpkin cookies Ever!

Okay this is what you'll need: 2 boxes of Spice cake mix, 1 big can of pumpkin and a bag of chocolate chips. Mix. Drop by spoonfuls on cookie sheet, bake at 350 for about 12 minutes.

Seriously that's it and they are so "fall-y " and Delicious.

VoM

The Virtue of the Month is one thing as a mom I do to promote the peace, sanity in our home. Yet most importantly making the Gospel a constant in our home. Each month I decide (yes, me) on a principle our family should work on. I then find a picture (This month is the Leper thanking the Savior) and quotes or excerpts from a talk. I frame and display the picture and quotes in our kitchen/family room hoping it will sink in somehow.

However, knowing the mere show of it may not be enough I also place the article and activities in a folder. I encourage my children on Sundays to read the article and/or do the activities. And we try to bring it in to our conversations.

The Article this month is from a talk by President Thomas S. Monson The Divine Gift of Gratitude. Both the activities and talk I found on LDS.org. The church website has it's own page of Gratitude where resources abound to teach our children.

A Better Me

By LaRee A. Minor

This is the year that I’m going to be good,

And do all those things I’ve been saying I would…

Instead of just dreaming, and never proceeding -

I’m going to do what I should!

This year I’ll become a better me-

The Better Me I’ve been wanting to be.

I’ll set some goals and work faithfully

To become the person I was meant to be.

My physical’s body’s a good place to start-

So I’ll exercise – then I’ll have a strong heart.

I’ll plan a good diet- and then abide by it-

This time I am going to be smart!

I’ll keep our home clean, and I’ll make it serene,

To please my dear mate, who says I am his Queen.

From floors to the ceiling - I’ll make it appealing,

A castle that’s fit for my King.

And I’ll serve my neighbor, as taught by the Savior;

Of others’ needs I will become aware.

My talents I will share.  When needed I’ll be there…

I’ll show them I really do care!

For Spiritual growth – I will strive to obey;

And reading the scriptures will show me the way.

With Saints I’ll assemble, I’ll frequent the Temple

And pray to my Father each day.

Yes, this is the year I determined I’d try

To meet all my goals – and to reach for the sky.

I vowed I would do it, and then I stuck to it!

My Banner is flying on high!

This year I’ve become a Better Me -

The Better Me I’ve been wanting to be…

I’ve met my goals, and now I will be

A much Better Me for Eternity!

Gratitude

This month the virtue our family will work on is Gratitude, lest you think I'm a month early, I'll tell you why. My sweet mother-in-law passed away recently. She will be greatly missed. She was an integral and important part of our family. Although we will miss having her so close, we will choose to remember and be grateful for the time we had. The trips, Sunday dinners, Family Home Evenings, the many acts of service she performed on behalf of our family. How grateful we are for her. As Dr. Seuss in his wisdom said: "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened" (However I do think that crying is okay and part of the healing process. ) As family we will remember the joy. Thank you LaRee your love will stay with us, and make us smile

Why blog?

I never thought I would become a blogger. Yet lately I've felt compelled, to start one. I'm not sure why, but I think I used to think of blogging as a chance to say "Hey look at me!" I'm this and I'm that. Well maybe that's part of it, we're not supposed to hide our light under a bushel, right?

I think perhaps there's another reason and that is community. I want to share some of my insights, particularly as an LDS mom but I also want to learn from you. It's like doing laundry outside and talking to your neighbor over the fence yet 21st century style. ( I do go outside to talk to my neighbors alot, I just don't do laundry outside).

C.S. Lewis states, "We read to know that we are not alone" Maybe that's why we blog. We need to know that we are not are not alone trying to figure out to do this life thing. Or motherhood thing. Or whatever. We are not alone. We're in it together. I hope to get the hang of it and become a real blogger, so bear with me as I learn in our blogging community.

So Happy Blogging!