A New Goal

So the way that the Young Men in our Ward pass the sacrament is pure chaos. They all get the trays and every one of them heads to the back of the chapel overflow and randomly pass the sacrament as they move forward to the front of the chapel. There is absolutely no order and it's distracting . . . really distracting. They don't work together and it's a train wreck that I can't look away from. For instance, say my family is sitting in one row. One deacon will pass it to the first person in my family and then instead of another deacon catching it on the other side as we pass it down through our family, that same deacon will run around the pews to retrieve his own tray until there is just a mess of deacons crashing into each other as they race around the pews. Chaos. I keep meaning to say something to the Young Men's president, but then I always forget about it by the time the meeting is over.

But I don't want to forget about the sacrament. I want it to be meaningful. I don't want to go through the motions of taking the sacrament. There are sacred covenants associated with the sacrament that I want to remember (as I've promised to do). So I'm committing right now to stop watching the deacons and just focus more on the covenants I've made so that I can show the Lord that it means something to me. It means everything to me.

"In renewing our baptismal covenants by partaking of the emblems of the sacrament, we do not witness that we take upon us the name of Jesus Christ. [Rather], we witness that we are willing to do so." (Dallin H. Oaks)

Celia's Blessing

Elliot gave Celia the most beautiful blessing this afternoon at church. I'm so grateful for a husband who listens so closely to the Spirit and the beautiful blessings that the Lord has in store for our sweet baby girl.

Attention Deficit Mom

. . . sorry Sweetie, this house will never be clean again.

Raising Children

I'm Right

Anniversary

Elliot and I celebrated our 16th anniversary yesterday. Elliot is big on patronizing restaurants that aren't chains, but all I really wanted was to not have to make anymore decisions for the day. But this is usually how our pre-dinner conversation goes:

We ended up at California Pizza Kitchen (a chain) and I decided (ugh).

Happy Anniversary Sweetie . . . we'll figure it out eventually and I wouldn't want to know it with anyone else.

Go Home

Mother

Discipline

Don't you love it when you punish your kids for saying something that you just said to them the other day?

The more I study the Family Proclamation, I can't help but focus on my responsibilities as Mommy of this group of rascals. I am so grateful that they are mine and need to remember that my efforts will be magnified and blessed if I am doing what is right. I found a lot of comfort from the talks that I've read this week. I loved this one from Julie B. Beck:

"Mothers need not fear. When mothers know who they are and who God is and have made covenants with Him, they will have great power and influence for good on their children." (Julie B. Beck, "Mother's Who Know," General Conference, October 2007)

Sometimes I get so scared having to raise my babies in this increasingly evil world, but if I am being the GOOD influence on my children that I need to be, there will be nothing to fear!

Sacrifice = Investment

Distracted

I can't even wrap my mind around doing homework right now.

So True

Treat It Differently

Fourth Child

Elliot has to go back to work this week! Wish me luck!

Look Comfortable

Seriously though, I don't know why they leave Daddy alone when he's cuddling with Baby Celia, but if I sit down and get comfy for a snuggle, I have the whole passel of kids on me.

There is just no way to stay awake with a sleeping babe on your chest.

I guess we'll re-read those General Conference talks next month . . .