I tried today

 

This day definitely did not go like I planned.

I tried to be totally patient with my kids today.
I failed...

I tried to eat completely nutritious food all day.
I failed...

I tried to be on time to every appointment today.
I really failed at that one!


A couple of days ago I had the opportunity to hear T.C. Christensen (a cinematographer/film producer/director extraordinaire) speak. He talked about a film he created called "Ephraim's Rescue," about an inspired man whose efforts saved hundreds of handcart pioneers on the trail. During one point in the movie (based on true events), a woman asks Ephraim if he is a Holy man. He responds by telling her that he has too many faults to count. She then asks, "Then how can you do so much good?" He answers, "I try."

T.C. went on to explain that in all of his research he found that Ephraim was not, in fact, perfect. He did have many faults, but he helped many wonderful things happen because he tried.



Today was not a perfect day. Not by any stretch of the imagination. I could spend several hours describing all of the mistakes I made today, and there are probably many more I didn't even know I made, and more yet to be made... but I tried.

I was fortunate to find a few quiet moments of reflection today. Becoming distracted by the faults, errors, and to-do list of the day was all too easy, but I tried to bring my thoughts to a higher place. As I did, I found peace. Peace in knowing that my Heavenly Father knows my efforts, that He knows my heart, and that He loves me. Peace in knowing that even though I fail more than I would like, my Father sent His Son and He will never fail me. I can't imagine what life would be like without the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

They say the path to hell is paved by good intentions. If that is true, I hope the path to Heaven is paved by sincere efforts. I am so grateful for a Father in Heaven who blesses me for my efforts... not just for the outcomes that I so often hope for and never seem to reach. It gives me hope, and gives me the courage to keep trying!

I will end with this beautiful quote...

Deficits: too many to count- and that's okay
Deposits: Keep trying!!!

Balance: Richly Blessed!

I see the light!

This is one of my very, very most favorite songs.

Just listen and try not to get the chills!


You can even read it and get the chills!

I see the light of the temple at night
As it shines, it reminds me,
I must prepare if I hope to go there,
But I need someone to guide me.

Please teach me about the temple.
Please show me how to prepare.
And all of my life I will try
To be worthy to enter there.
Please teach me about the temple.
I want to know so that someday I may go.

See?!? It's just. plain. beautiful.

This song was written for the dedication of the Mount Timpanogos Temple. Which my son happens to be able to see shining at night from his bedroom window.

Every time he sees it, he wants me to sing this song. It is his favorite part of his bedtime routine.

Well, we had a bittersweet moment a few months ago. We have lived next to an empty field for the past 9 years, and we found out that we were FINALLY going to have neighbors! We also found out that the neighbors house was {maybe} going to block our view of the temple.

We LOVE our new neighbors... but I was a little sad that we might be saying goodbye to our sweet nighttime ritual...

I needed a PLAN!

So here's what I did...

Ta-da! With just a few simple steps, my son now has his own personal glowing temple... sans view! Yay!! My daughter also loved it, and of course she needed to have one too. Nighttime ritual saved!!!

The bonus is... my son can still see the real temple from his bedroom window... but now we all have a couple extra reminders to stay focused on this beautiful, incredible gift from our Heavenly Father.

We love the temple!


Deficits: I actually can't think of one right now... and I'm not going to try too hard because they're normally terribly easy to find!
Deposits: Temples! How beautiful they are!! <3

Balance: Richly Blessed!

Tales from a 4th grade Spelling Bee

My daughter loves to read. And by "loves" I mean she reads about 500 pages a week. This may not impress you- but I feel pretty darn lucky if I can squeeze in even a tenth of that, so it impresses me! This affinity for reading can sometimes be a challenge. It is really hard to pull her out of a book when she should be doing other things (like chores, or sleeping, or eating) but by and large it is a really good thing.

One of the benefits of her insatiable appetite for books is that she has also become a pretty good speller by osmosis, so I was not surprised that she wanted to enter the Regional Homeschool Spelling Bee this year. I printed out the Scripps study lists for her and reminded her to study almost every day. I told her that in order to do well, she would have to study- so she did. She studied...

Well, at least she studied a few times. Over a two month period.

I probably don't need to tell you that she was feeling a little stressed on the day of the Spelling Bee. I probably don't need to tell you that she was tempted to give up. I probably don't need to tell you that I spent the better part of the day flip-flopping about what would be the best course of action....

****So let me just step onto my soapbox for one minute-

I believe in letting our children experience the consequences of their actions so they can learn from their choices. I also believe in teaching our kids the importance of keeping a commitment. I also believe that force is the least effective way to teach important life lessons. 

And now let me step shamefully off that same soapbox-

Because I am also a human and a hypocrite. As many beautiful things as I believe, I am at the very least tempted to cave into some of them every.single.day. And sometimes I don't have a choice- something has to give.****

Sorry 4th grader, the lesser of all evils this time was force. (or at least a LOT of coercion).
But only because I really wanted her to learn so many important life lessons... like when you commit to something, you follow through- even if you're not as prepared as you want to be.

For a while, I thought the life lessons had backfired. She ended up getting 6th place and she was ecstatic! "I didn't even think I would make it to the top 10!" she said through her HUGE smile.

I was torn between:
"Wow! All that reading is paying off. You're a great speller! Good for you!" and...
"You lucked out this time, but you're not always going to be able to just show up and do well without putting in the work..."

I opted for the first one... usually the "kind" version of honesty is more effective than the "brutal" version... and THEN, guess what happened?!?

"Mom, I was only ONE spot away from getting a top 5 seat!" she said, "I was only THREE spots away from getting a medal!! Just think what I could have done if I had studied every day!! I might have gotten FIRST PLACE!"

Ok... so that pretty much summed up the life lesson- no brutal honestly required. She saw her potential and what steps she needed to take to reach it. BINGO! At the end of the day that's all I ever want her to learn. That is what all the other life lessons are there for! To help our kids to reach their potential... in work, in education, in relationships, in the Gospel...

I have to admit that on occasion it can be a little frustrating the see that potential wasted (for lack of a better word)... HOWEVER, in reflecting on this experience, I can't help but ask myself, "What am I doing to help my children see their potential and the steps they need to take to reach it?" Would option 2, as true as it may be, have helped her see what she could achieve, or only where she fell short?

I love this quote!

DECISIONS DETERMINE DESTINY!
-Thomas S. Monson

In our house we say, "DAILY Decisions Determine Destiny."

...because it really is the small decisions we make on a daily basis that prepare us for those "Spelling Bee moments." But those small decisions can't take us where we want to be if we don't keep the end in sight! Sometimes I fool myself into thinking that a Spelling Bee medal (or a Science Fair ribbon, or an ACT score) for my kids is my goal as a mom/homeschooler. This was such a good reminder to me that there is nothing I can do to push my kids into their potential, but there ARE things I can do to help them see it and want it! THAT is my end goal! That is what my daily interactions with my kids SHOULD be! I want to lift my kids, to help them see a small part of what they can become, and to encourage and motivate them to keep working for more!

I'm still a human and a hypocrite- I will still fail (multiple times a day), but I always love a new perspective- especially one that inspires! I'm so happy to relieve myself of all the pressure of being a super-mom and focus on what is most important! Here's to potential!!


Deficits: humans, hypocrites, and plenty of untapped potential
Deposits: Perspective that simplifies! Better goals to work toward! A lighter heart & bigger Smile!

Balance: Richly Blessed!