i pray to know.

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family home evenings around these parts aren’t exactly monumental. as in some weeks it is just the fact we ate together, or a quick read of a story from the friend and thank goodness for those less than five minute videos from the mormon channel. so when an idea for a real stellar (i like to pretend it will be) lesson comes to my mind – i have to jot it down. otherwise no matter how stellar the idea, my brain won’t hold it for later use.

in church during our relief society lesson we were talking about the simple ways we can strengthen our testimonies. the teacher shared a story about a person who had been struggling and wanted to know how to move forward. the advice they were given was to pray for the knowledge of knowing that our Heavenly Father loves them. that in fact that prayer will be answered based on the fact that we know we are children of God and He loves us all. Simple enough right? Praying to know something that seems like simple yet is life changing knowledge. and IT hit me. we need to talk with our kids about this. i want to make sure they know that they can PRAY to know and He will answer them.

so i made a little color/note sheet for them. thank you rhonna designs, always there for my last minute creating needs. i shared my experience, bore my testimony and shared experiences. and guess what? they listened. i was feeling pretty dang good about this idea. i talked a little bit about what we can pray to know : like how to be a better anything, if the scriptures are true, if our prayers are heard and answered…just a few.

 

i passed out their note sheets. the first i walked by and read was Harrison’s. his first line “to learn more about star wars”. and there you have it.

kadence wrote “to know how to have a good day”

ethan wrote “to be faster”

lucy wrote “to know how to be a better sister”

benson colored the whole sheet and told me “i want to eat more chocolate”

 

i couldn’t help but laugh. reality keeps it well, real. and trying to raise awesome humans is not an easy task. IMG_1272

graduation.

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a few weeks ago we were lucky enough to attend the graduation services at BYU-I. my younger brother and younger sister graduated. so proud of them. it’s an incredible accomplishment.

sometimes i forget that as everyone around me grows older, i do too. wait, im not in my twenties still?  like being around all these youngsters graduating college. most of us, we aren’t the same age. most of us are in totally different seasons. might as well grab my glasses from sliding down my nose as i smile at them, remembering when.

as i walked throughout the I Center and around campus, i couldn’t help but notice all the young families i saw. dozens of women with children toddling hand in hand, babies closely held in wraps and carriers. binkies attached, backpacks packed with emergency snacks and entertainment. lots of hustling and moving about to find their seats, to find their loved ones on screen. i won’t lie, at first glance i thought to myself “is this worth it? won’t you be in the hall the whole time?”.

then i saw the husbands. the husbands with the babies. because the moms were graduating. i mean it was a sight. incredible.

fast forward a few hours, enjoyed the inspiring hopeful messages, pass the giving of the diplomas and onto the gathering of all the graduates with their friends and family. that is where i witnessed some incredible moments. just little moments in time. celebrating milestones. young couples graduating together, with kids in arms together. moms with their grown children around her, she the graduate.  both my siblings worked, started businesses, met and married their forever love and my sister is pregnant with their first baby ; all while working towards their college graduation goals. AMAZING.

bottom line; i was blown away by the commitment, endurance, accomplishment of these people. of these young moms. i was a young mom once. in survival mode and didn’t even attempt to add school onto my teetering plate. inspiring women. we really are capable of doing hard and difficult tasks. and guess what doing them well too! and these women are raising awesome humans. it was privilege to witness them.

when i was taking too many pictures

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over the course of the last several years i have often thought –

“i am taking too many photos” or “don’t post this” or “stop it, enough”

 but then facebook memories became a midnight thrill. yes, midnight. facebook reminds me of days gone past. photos of my children as wee babes. funny moments. tender moments. crazy moments. and that is when i think “i didn’t take ENOUGH photos”.

you know what i mean? like who i was worried about when i thought “i am taking too many photos”. too many photos of my favorite humans?! too many photos of what our lives are made of?! pish posh.

turns out my heart aches each night i look thru my days pictures on my phone and notice i didn’t take any. that happens now. it didn’t use to. in fact some days i took 100’s. HUNDREDS. and now i am lucky if i find a few. 

so I’m prepping for remembering and taking oodles ~ dare I say, too many pictures of our days.