more…

As each floor gets clean enough for a tour, I will add a tour:

I must admit, Christmas is the only holiday our family has solid traditions on.  This year, while looking through Mary Jane’s Farm, a magazine gifted to me by my lovely friend, I got some ideas that I believe will be yearly traditions for us.

We learned from Mary Jane’s farm that the traditional shape of the pretzel represents Folded Arms…perfect for celebrating our Freedom to Worship in America…

…For the Fourth of July!

So for our big holiday….we made hard and soft pretzels Thursday night.  Here is the assembly line for HARD pretzel nibbles.

Apparently, rolling pretzels is JUST so much FUN!!

Next, you par boil them for about 30 seconds for hard and longer for the soft ones, a step which Riley the Man did!

Friday night our church group had a camp out, Rawl enjoyed giving rides to others in a wagon and they made rocket launchers.  Milly made friends so quickly running with the bug collecting possy, and Hazel was a perfect tag along.  I snuck home at night time to actually….get some sleep while Riley held down the fort in the tent….they woke up at 5:00 a.m!!!

Saturday Rawl helped make the breakfast tattling that he knew how to use the cheese grater for the potatoes…and he does.  After naps for everybody except mom who got sleep, and yummy Watermellon snacks in harmony with July Fourth, another family from our church invited us for a barbecue and firework watching.  We made a red and blue berry icecream from Mary Jane again, to bring.   Rawl was a blast watching his eyes grow ten times bigger with each firework.  I sat in a puddle of sprite and thought my water had broke!  ~  The can wasn ‘t tipped over or anything, but the puddle which doused my whole seat smelled spritey….phew!

Sunday morning we shaped our soft pretzels and ate our hard pretzels.

”

H” is for Hazel!

“R” is for Rawl

….And “M” is for Milly!!!

Let me know if you are interested in the recipes, otherwise I won’t bother.   Lots of fun, perfect for ONE time a year!!!!

We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.

Article of Faith Number #11

A highlight of Minnesota is the lovely splashings of lakes and groomed parks scattered like dandelions blowing in the wind across the green state!  This particular lake is free and one of my new friends from our church ward invited me.   It is fabulous as it goes like 50 feet or so at a shallow rate, and parking is free.  My new kindly friend invited a few other families, and it was a good time.

Two weeks later or so I invited all out again, and everyone hopped along and came.  This time we got some nice nibbles on our toes and fingers from tenacious fish, and Rawl borrowed toys from neighboring children, which I watched moms take away from him.   Should have been me I suppose but he was playing nicely and was just kinda joining their group, so I didn’t object.  I knew it could be much worse!

This pitstop is also awesome for a woman about to pop any day now, when I got my hair and ears wet as I dipped in last time, I thought I’d died and gone to heaven.  :)~

There is a strange yellow light that almost has a green tint to it, making the 9:00 p.m. sky brightly eery.  It has to do with the tornado watch weather…now the sky is turning a hint rosey-brown.  The air has a pulling muggy feel, that keeps our bread tender soft and turns our crispy cookies into a melt in your mouth crumble affair.  The last trimester is setting in and these last six weeks seem to stretch in a looming laugh on the horizon, I have to exercise at night (not hardly as likely)…or I am in pain all day long.

My Minnesotan white siding house with gabled windows and cheery red door is day by day becoming all the cozier; a tidy and orderly simplified, organized, fresh air happy haven, except in the bathroom where the potty puddles on the toilet back are growing along with the side boards accumulating dust and hair.  I sweep through the house each night like a little white tornado to awake each morning to clean empty corners in each room, the pillows straight and the counters empty and clear with the sunshine of our yellow dining room with new table and chairs….but…as of yet the white tornado skips over the bathroom every time.  The tub has frequented a few hot lavender bubble baths and the dental floss, rubber bands and barrettes all have their own little homes there in the cupboard, quite satisfactory.

Last night, I had to chuckle when Milly asked “Can I sneak a piece of chicken?”  The night before I had to laugh when Hazel confided to us that if our unborn child, ‘Baby Bean’ turns out to be a boy…she’ll die; and although Rawl leaves terrible first impressions to whomever he meets of a nightmarish disobedient fire-cracker, he’s been making his bed on his own accord every morning, saying his prayers with the slight hint of my song, “Ere you left your room this morning…did you think to…(pray)”…. and he starts praying….he’s getting dressed and brushing teeth like a machine, giving me a very violent high five for all of the above, and teasing and hitting in very minimal levels.

We all enjoy our laundry ’shoop’ and now, each child has their own bucket which they take to their room where they stuff each clothing item in the right shoe box in their drawer…no we aren’t folding now and I am loving this new system.  Baby Bean shakes my belly like an earthquake and the kids can’t wait to go to the zoo.  I got a library card and we’ll try to go rowing as a family again tomorrow if the wind doesn’t thwart our plan again.  Riley’s clothes take up more room in our closet than mine and Christ is my triumphant Savior each new day.  We finally started reading scriptures as a family again at night and saying family prayers, so we are off to a good start here in the little Minnesotan home with a happy red door.

The last little while that Riley and I spent with our family were truly treasured times.

This was such a sweet outing taken with our Balling parents:

We enjoyed feeding pizza to the seagulls, playing in the sand, exploring the visitor’s center with the children delighting in each thing they saw, buying kites and hunting for Buffalo in the rain.

(Buka brought these great sand diggers and Bubba had the super fun idea of throwing pizza to the birds who in many instances caught it mid-air).

The last trip we took to Monticello the children ‘helped’ Grandad build his tree house for Elena, and while Riley and the kids went fishing I got to spend some quality time talking to my mom and cutting out material for Eirene’s picnic quilt.  Mom and Dad, Sariah and Elena also made it possible for Riley and I to spend the night away!  :)

(This lake is an ideal one for grand kids—they all caught fish!)

It was nice having some last campfires in our backyard that family were so nice to come join us in, and our last little hike was a real treat for me with all my siblings joining and contributing in a barbecue and last campfire…its hardto explain just how much this meant to me and how much fun I had.

I was so glad too that Riley’s brother Ted and his wife Aundi could come back from their trip so we could have one last hoopla with the Ballings all there and it was so fun for me to see Riley joking and having fun with Kayla, Mom and Kristie, and having stimulating and interesting discussion with Ted, and I enjoyed my sisters in law’s company so much, as well as everyone else’s.  Buka made the cutest cake for Hazel on her birthday and helped make it a very special day for her with a special table cloth and a bunny that sang happy birthday, as well as giving her new favorite yellow outfit that Kristie helped to choose.  While Buka helped watch the kids, I sewed Hazel’s yellow haired doll a new yellow dress. (Hazel’s favorite color is yellow.)

(We played a game of yellow rover (instead of Red Rover) where the kids had to run through and break a yellow streamer, and my favorite moment was when all three kids were smiling, holding hands, running all at the same time, of course once they broke through, Hazel fell down, and then there were tears, but this is a great snap shot of Riley catching Hazel in a hug on her turn.)

Then it was a real help to have so much support for our move, Riley’s folks hosted our kids at their house both for our flight out to Minnesota to find a home…

(Riley and I enjoying the water in Minnesota)

…and his parents watched the children later while Riley studied and visited, and I could get back and pack/clean and work on my couch.  Miriam came to help me cover my cushions which for some reason was so important  to me that I could have new couches in my new home that I worked like a mad woman at all my moving tasks to have a few moments for decorating-couch upholstering–before I left.  Then Miriam helped on moving day too with the last minute cleaning which was a huge support, while Eirene nobley watched our kids. Ben and Allan were an immense help moving our things into the truck.

…Then it was goodbyes for all, hugs, love, tears, and I cried saying goodbye to the mountains while the kids said they were just excited.  The trip out was wonderful as I got to spend time with my parents, and Riley’s Dad was an immense help in the moving truck switching off driving with Riley.  The Balling’s amazing work ethic had us unloaded from the truck by noon, and Rawl enjoyed Bubba (Grandpa) pulling him down the moving truck’s ramp in a wagon.  Mom called Dad a ‘Machine’ the way he got all our food storage from the back yard, organized and dusted by me, mightily transferred into our basement while Riley and his Dad got lunch at the grocery store.   My Dad was dripping with sweat and as pleased as punch at his manly efforts.  The children enjoyed a last magic carpet ride from Grandad, and after a trip to the park, and icecream from Bubba, it was a welcome goodnight and a sad goodbye!

We are so thankful for all the immense help, we couldn’t have done it without you all!  We are so thankful for all these last memories, and most of all, to be missed and loved by all of you means the world to me!  We love you and miss you so too, and wish that God will be with you till we meet again!  May we be as Ammon in the Book of Mormon when he meets with his four beloved brethren who were all busy doing missionary work while they separated, and may we like them, all joyfully embrace when we meet again and rejoice as they did that each of us have been on the Lord’s errand, and have all grown in the Lord during our time apart!  :) (Alma 27:16-20)

I decided to type this journal entry as it appears in my journal.

In life we make many decisions, and though prayerfully, often times we do what we feel is best and the Lord opens doors when the decision is right.  As the decision pressed on my mind, whether to move to Minnesota before or after our baby’s birth I would find myself crying in fear, not knowing what could possibly be best as both decisions had large benefits and large drawbacks.

After I had been praying sometime about whether we should move to Minnesota before or after the baby’s birth, I finally realized what the desires of my heart were.  First, and most poignant, I realized how very important it was to me to have everyone be able to visit me and see the baby and to come to the baby blessing.  To take my mother in law up on her wonderful offer to watch the kids while Riley left for the bar and enjoy the tranquility of less stress and maybe just some time with baby and I; to have my mom so close and ready to come in the chance Riley wasn’t there for the birth.  To lounge on the beach of Bear Lake a few times, to go out to Monticello for a few trips.  This family time, love and support I realized was the top priority of my heart.

I realized secondly, whether selfish or not, that my projects came second priority.  I had made a map of getting my foam suits sewn for Emergency Preparedness so that I could move my family to such a cold climate with more faith that we’d never freeze.  To then treat myself to covering both my couches, and then to knit during my last trimester wool mittens.  I would have my packing all done on a slow and steady basis to relieve stress and physical strain.

Thirdly, and sometimes these considerations were volatile, but the issue of money, and cheaper rent here, somewhat of an income, and a cheaper birthing plan.

After realizing these three priorities I talked to Riley about them, and he realized he too wanted to stay through till after the birth.  His top priority was in taking the bar without distraction and it brought great peace to him in knowing that if I was to go into labor while he was taking the bar, that I would be fully taken care of by both moms.

Secondly, Riley’s priority was spending time with family and he really wanted to invest a good chunk of time to this priority before we left for far away.

So after making this decision and letting it rest with us over a week or two, I prayed about it in our nightly prayer.  We told the Lord that we felt really good about this decision and that it brought us great peace.  My dear friend from Canada had recently told me she could come visit if we stayed later and this was the final kicker for me and I was ready to take the decision to the Lord.

I prayed and told the Lord that this was our decision, and that he would fill us with peace if this decision were right for us.  I asked that if there were considerations we weren’t considering that He would bring those to the forefront for us.

Well, as it turned out, our decision went back to the drawing board.  That next night a friend gave us a new bed.  We were thankful to move Hazel out of the crib, Rawl up a notch to the top bunk, and give Milly the new bed, to prepare for baby coming.  Well, that night, though Milly was initially excited, we were up for a series of tantrums, that night, every night that week, during every meal, and at every turn.  I began to wonder if Heavenly Father hadn’t given us this experience as I had asked for considerations we should equate with our move.  All this was incited by one small change, the change of a bed.  I began to feel I couldn’t bear all the changes at one time with on top of it all, a child dealing with multiple life changes who had a very difficult time with transitions.  This last year I have been so happy, healthy, stable and pro-active.   I have tried to prepare myself for the challenges ahead, including my own shift in hormones, but have looked at things in a fairly optimistic light.  This occurrence put me in touch with reality in my own capabilities.  So over the next couple weeks, I began to consider seriously moving sooner.  Finally I was ready to ask the Lord if this bed experience was indeed put in our path to help us fully consider the outcomes in a realistic light.

I began to have fear again, knowing it may be a long time till I got a confirmation of the Lord, and just not knowing what would be best was scary.  I also wondered if I was blowing this bed consideration out of proportion, when no matter what we chose, the transitions would be difficult.  The enticements of staying were working on me and I began to become edgier and edgier.  One morning as I woke up with a feeling of unrest and fear, I realized that the Lord would answer in His time, but that He couldn’t answer at all until I had faith.  So I mustered up some trust in Him and in His time table.

Surprisingly, the Lord just wanted me to demonstrate a particle of faith, because that morning as I was about to mop the floor, I felt a peaceful feeling that if I went now to my bedroom to pray, that the answer would be there for me.  I wondered if this could be just my own thoughts or what, but I obeyed and went to my room.

I told the Lord that I had changed my decision.  At first as I prayed I felt good about both decisions.  I remembered I had made a decision and as I prayed specifically about my decision, the Lord put a huge realization into my mind.  Up until now, I realized that the priority which should be the very highest, was hardly pervading on my list.  That was opening the door of opportunity wider that Riley could be there at the birth, as with plane and travel time, moving to Minnesota would give us two more day and nights that he could be near by.  As I prayed I pictured my husband at our births and how lovingly he embraced our babies for the first time.  I realized it was my responsibility to sacrifice and do all I could do humanly that Riley could be there, and that the Lord could see that sacrifice and if it were His will, bring the baby at a time that Riley would be there.  As I pictured Riley hugging our babies, a warm feeling of peace came and told me that this decision to move early was best.  Secondly, I felt the second priority needed to be in creating the atmosphere that would best lend itself to a feeling of welcoming, peace and anticipation for this new born gift that will soon come.  Hence I felt that leaving sooner as hard as it would be in most respects, was the best option for our family.

The next Sunday when Riley fasted, he told me that he too felt this decision was right.

The decision to move even earlier yet came when I realized if we were going to go earlier to help transition time, that we needed a month to unpack and a month to just live with different surroundings if we are all going to be able to become more emotionally stable before baby came.  I also want to be able to homeschool this year, but know that if we can’t reach a state of stability it won’t be possible if I or the children aren’t ready, then we won’t be able to go that route. I began to feel quite selfish in this but as I prayed again about it, to see if I was just being selfish and needed to bend for other important needs, I felt the Lord sanctioned my judgement and although I wish we were just better at change and adjustment (certain women and girls of our family) I feel that if we prepare in the best ways we can and move forward with faith, then this can still be a joyful time amongst all the sad good byes and scary hellos.

My heart does break to say good bye to family, friends, and missed opportunities.  Thank you for all your love and support and know how much it means to us!  :)  God be with us all till we meet again, each time we part!

Simplicity at its best:

My best days are often those in which I….stay home. I simply do my chores, teach and share joy with my children, and cook homemade food. I use the internet as a functional brief tool to share or to receive. The phone may or not be used to connect with a loved one.

Simplicity on the Horizon:

My little family and I… are packing our bags to go to Minnesota. We will most likely be down-sizing and up-sizing at the same time…baby number four. As I pack, I am trying to widdle down to what we use. This is the hardest part for a fourth generation pack rat…a homeschooler and providential living junkie, with the thought “We may use this.” Or “This may come in handy.” I know there is a balance in it. I want to remain wise and prepared, but simple and to the point. For me, it’s a time to keep life simple. I usually like variety, but for now I’m choosing a rotating 20 or so meals that we can avoid pickiness conflicts and make meal time easier in brain work. I am going to have a song in my heart and on my lips, of hymns and folk ditties that make me feel happy that I will sing through my days of change and transition. I am having so much fun authorizing myself to get rid of any clothes that I don’t love and feel simple and happy in, and providing the children with but one week of clothing, enough to make it till the laundry is done again.  (In photo below I am organizing and simplifying my curriculum for home-school.)

The Process of Simplicity:

Our world is like an all you can eat buffet, where in one feels almost compelled to try every food available; stuffing oneself silly to the point of vomiting, enjoying nothing truly. With all the enticements, it is so difficult to be satisfied with what we should be grateful for, and to even realize what our true needs and desires are. My sister studied a wonderful book and presented her findings at a church function once called Personal Family Home and Enrichment, now called “Relief Society Meetings”. Talking to her I realized when I unpack my boxes on the other side of this move, there will be those things I still need to let go of. Simplifying is not easy. Simplifying must happen over and over especially living in an obtrusive inundating world. Simplifying is a skill, a simple wonderful skill that can be learned by others who share their gifts on how to simplify. For one resource, Lindsay from Passionate Homemaking gives 12 simple steps, “Tips for Maintaining a Simple Peaceful Home” with links at the end of the post for various simplifying helps.

*She mentions here the helpfulness of setting basic simple routines; at our home, we have Monday Movie day, Tuesday Computer, Wednesday Montessori, Thursday Outdoor Adventure, Friday Fun Day, Saturday Hodge Podge.  The kids call this the ‘fun-ness of the day.’  For me the chore list is Monday Upstairs, Tuesday Downstairs, Wednesday Bathroom, Thursday Errand, Friday and Saturday laundry and outdoor chore.  Our day begins with a morning breakfast devotional (short memorized scripture, hymn and scripture story) and ends with family prayer with a short passage of scripture….if we keep on track.*

What Simply goes around, Simply comes Around:

My mother taught me that when we let go of something unselfishly, then if we become in need of it again, the Lord will bring it back to us. I found this to be remarkably true when I shared a toddler bed, and when in need again, found a free bed frame in front of someone’s home, free mattresses at a garage sale, and another toddler bed was recently given to us so that we actually got more than we gave.  This principle is put so beautifully in this scripture written by the prophet Samuel whose job it was to prepare the people in the Americas for Christ’s coming. Helaman 14:31 “He hath given unto you that ye might know good from evil, and he hath given unto you that ye might choose life or death; and ye can do good and be restored unto that which is good, or have that which is good restored unto you; or ye can do evil, and have that which is evil restored unto you.”

Guiding Principles:
Here in are snippets from two phenomenal talks by Apostles for the World; from the first impressionable talk, I now ask myself if a resource is good, better, or best when deciding whether to keep it. Keep the best and shed the rest. From Apostle L. Tom Perry’s talk, I have learned that I can do with-out, and in so doing, find a fountain of joy and peace.

Good, Better, Best

By Elder Dallin H. Oaks

“Some uses of individual and family time are better, and others are best. We have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best because they develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strengthen our families.”

Let Him Do It with Simplicity

By Elder L. Tom Perry

“One of the challenges of this mortal experience is to not allow the stresses and strains of life to get the better of us—to endure the varied seasons of life while remaining positive, even optimistic….

…I remember a particular period of my life when I was under unusual stress. There were troubles with my employment, and at the same time, my wife was diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. This was one of those times when it felt like the adversary had mounted a frontal assault against me and my family. On days when the stresses and anxieties of our tumultuous life were about to get the best of us, my wife and I found a way to relieve them.

We drove to a place just a few miles from our home to get away for a few moments of relief from our troubles, talk, and give emotional comfort to each other. Our place was Walden Pond. It was a beautiful little pond surrounded by forests of trees…Walden Pond was our special place to pause, reflect, and heal. Perhaps it was partly due to its history—its connection to the efforts of Henry David Thoreau to separate himself from worldliness for a period of years—that Walden Pond offered us so much hope for simplicity and provided such a renewing escape from our overly complex lives.

It was in March of 1845 that Thoreau decided to move out on the banks of Walden Pond and spend two years trying to figure out what life was all about. He settled on a piece of property owned by his good friend Ralph Waldo Emerson. He purchased an old shanty from a railroad worker, and tore it down. From the lumber from the shanty and the lumber from the woods, he constructed his own cabin. He kept meticulous financial records, and he concluded that for a home and freedom he spent a mere $28.12. He planted a garden, where he sowed peas, potatoes, corn, beans, and turnips to help sustain his simple life. He planted two and a half acres of beans with the intent of using the small profit to cover his needs. Small profit indeed: $8.71.

Thoreau lived quite independent of time. He had neither a clock nor a calendar in his little cabin. He spent his time writing and studying the beauties and wonder of nature that surrounded him, including local plants, birds, and animals. He did not live the life of a hermit—he visited the town of Concord most days, and he invited others to come into his cabin for enlightening conversations. When the two years ended, he left his cabin behind without regret. He considered the time he had spent there a proper amount of time to accomplish his purpose—to experience the spiritual benefits of a simplified lifestyle. He also felt he had other life experiences ahead of him. It was time to move on and explore other opportunities.

From his experiences at Walden Pond, Thoreau determined that there were only four things that a man really needed: food, clothing, shelter, and fuel. I would like to expand on each of these four basic needs of life, as well as the spiritual benefits of a simplified lifestyle.

The first requirement is food…“The Lord has commanded you to take good care of your body. To do this, observe the Word of Wisdom, found in Doctrine and Covenants 89. Eat nutritious food, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep. When you do all these things, you remain free from harmful addictions and have control over your life. You gain the blessings of a healthy body, an alert mind, and the guidance of the Holy Ghost. …

“Any drug, chemical, or dangerous practice that is used to produce a sensation or ‘high’ can destroy your physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. These include hard drugs, prescription or over-the-counter medications that are abused, and household chemicals” ([2001], 36–37).

We do not want to harm our mortal bodies, for they are a gift from God, and part of our Heavenly Father’s great plan of happiness is the reuniting of our immortal bodies with our spirits.

Another basic necessity is our clothing. A simplified life that brings spiritual blessings requires the wearing of simple and modest clothing. Our dress and grooming send a message to others about who we are, and they also affect the way we act around others. When we are modestly dressed, we also invite the Spirit of the Lord to be a shield and a protection to us.

Worldly trends in women’s fashion are always inviting extremes. With their latest styles many fashion designers appear to be trying to make two or three dresses out of the amount of fabric necessary for one. Mostly, they are taking too much off the top and too much off the bottom of women’s clothing, and occasionally they scrimp in the middle too. Men’s fashions are also adopting extreme styles. In my day they would be called sloppy and inappropriate. I believe very casual dress is almost always followed by very casual manners.

Many of you are trying too hard to be unique in your dress and grooming to attract what the Lord would consider the wrong kind of attention. In the Book of Mormon story of the tree of life, it was the people whose “manner of dress was exceedingly fine” who mocked those who partook of the fruit of the tree. It is sobering to realize that the fashion-conscious mockers in the great and spacious building were responsible for embarrassing many, and those who were ashamed “fell away into forbidden paths and were lost” (1 Nephi 8:27–28).

President N. Eldon Tanner once cautioned us with these words: “Modesty in dress is a quality of mind and heart, born of respect for oneself, one’s fellowmen, and the Creator of us all. Modesty reflects an attitude of humility, decency, and propriety. Consistent with these principles and guided by the Holy Spirit, let parents, teachers, and youth discuss the particulars of dress, grooming, and personal appearance, and with free agency accept responsibility and choose the right” (“Friend to Friend,” Friend, June 1971, 3).

Now let us turn to Thoreau’s third requirement, that of shelter. Newspapers are filled with reports of the current housing crisis. We have been encouraged at almost every general conference of the Church I can remember not to live beyond our means. Our income should determine the kind of housing we can afford, not the neighbor’s big home across the street.

President Heber J. Grant once said: “From my earliest recollections, from the days of Brigham Young until now, I have listened to men standing in the pulpit … urging the people not to run into debt; and I believe that the great majority of all our troubles today is caused through the failure to carry out that counsel” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1921, 3).

One of the better ways to simplify our lives is to follow the counsel we have so often received to live within our income, stay out of debt, and save for a rainy day. We should practice and increase our habits of thrift, industry, economy, and frugality. Members of a well-managed family do not pay interest; they earn it.

Thoreau’s final necessity was fuel. We have been hearing a lot about fuel and energy—about their high cost and limited supply, our unsafe and unpredictable dependence on their suppliers, and the need for new and sustainable sources of energy. I leave the discussion of these complicated issues to leaders of government and industry. The fuel I want to discuss is spiritual fuel.

The Lord has given us a beautiful plan about how we can return to Him, but the completion of our mortal journey requires spiritual fuel. We want to emulate the five wise virgins, who had stored sufficient fuel to accompany the bridegroom when he came (see Matthew 25:6–10). What is required to maintain a sufficient store of spiritual fuel? We must acquire knowledge of God’s eternal plan and our role in it, and then by living righteously, surrendering our will to the will of the Lord, we receive the promised blessings.

As Elder William R. Bradford taught at this pulpit: “In righteousness there is great simplicity. In every case that confronts us in life there is either a right way or a wrong way to proceed. If we choose the right way, we are sustained in our actions by the principles of righteousness, in the which there is power from the heavens. If we choose the wrong way and act on that choice, there is no such heavenly promise or power, and we are alone and are destined to fail” (“Righteousness,” Liahona, Jan. 2000, 103; Ensign, Nov. 1999, 85).

Just before Thoreau died, he was asked if he had made peace with God. He replied, “I was not aware we had ever quarreled” (in Mardy Grothe, comp., Viva la Repartee [2005], 181).

In our search to obtain relief from the stresses of life, may we earnestly seek ways to simplify our lives. May we comply with the inspired counsel and direction the Lord has given us in the great plan of happiness. May we be worthy to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost and follow the guidance of the Spirit as we navigate this mortal journey. May we prepare ourselves to accomplish the ultimate purpose of this mortal test—to return and live with our Heavenly Father—is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Memories of a disorganized mind: I remember when I was a teen ager, mourning the fact that I always lost things.  My brain felt like the most jumbled disorganized place in the world.  My Dad tried to get to the bottom of it…psychologically…I must somewhere in my subconscious be punishing myself by loosing things.  My mom took a more practical approach by having me listen to Stephen Covey.

(Note: To date, I spent at least 2 hours at my parents house upon preparing to leave, perusing through the house for socks and such.  Well, what got left?  A whole bag of dirty laundry, and a sweater of my son’s.  So forgetting things comes naturally and attempting organization a work in progress. )

Change: Slowly, I started learning some steps to organization.  As a young missionary for my church, we were given ‘blue planners’ which missionaries were to use to plan each half hour of their day.  Planning sessions were held with a fellow missionary team member once a week. These inventories and planning meetings began with a prayer and a companionship inventory, and continued with making calls to set up appointments and planning weekly service and teaching.

Well, planning now takes a big part of my life, mainly because my brain hasn’t much improved…I have an artist right sided brain.  If I give myself a general plan, my brain can think much more clearly, even though often I get things done later or in a different order then I planned; yet the plan still saves me from waking up each day feeling like I am in a fog and am a human pin ball that will bounce to any given place at any given impulse to my brain!  My friend Melissa from New Zealand, helped me to organize chores around certain days.  She probably talked to me about it for months before I stopped doing all my major cleaning, just on Mondays!  Also, I organized my homeschooling so I had some direction to make thinking easier each new day!  See Mama’s Homeschool’n and scroll down a little for organizing charts…I often shuffle the days around but still the plan helps me to be far more effective.

Re-concerted efforts: Well, somewhere over the years since I have been home, I have forgotten about all the prayer I did as a missionary as we planned.  Has my life become any less important?  No!  So I want to thank Lindsay from Passionate Homemaking, for reminding me not to cruise right into planning, but to slow down, spend some time being grateful for all the blessings of the last week, and using prayer, pondering and scripture study to prepare your mind for the holy spirit’s promptings.  See this post:  Taking a Weekly Planning and Prayer Retreat.

I love her post because it reminds me that the Lord will guide me in the simplest of things….what to eat… even what to wear, where to go, who to call or visit, etc.  Thanks to Lindsay, also I will be making thank you notes, and gratitude, a bigger part of my weekly life. Also thanks to my sister Eirene who gives old fashioned little love cards with thank you’s for the simplest things in life.

The Holy Ghost to help me: I am making goals to plan each Sunday in such a worshipful manner.  But I also would like to pay tribute to the Holy Spirit who guides me when I fly by the seat of my pants, and also helps me when my plan needs to revert to plan B, when my plan isn’t His plan.  (Such as making dinners for someone and bagging my normal routine.)  I was given the Gift of the Holy Ghost at my baptism by an ordained (or John 15:16) and worthy priesthood leader, my own father, (who was given the same priesthood as had Jesus’ disciples, as has every worthy male in His Restored gospel to bless their families) and this Gift of the Holy Ghost is my most precious and helpful gift I can use each day if I am worthy of it.  I am currently working on Remembering Christ through the week at my most hardest points, as I have found at those crucial moments I am forgetting Him.

(Each Sunday I re-covenant to remember Him during sacrament meeting by listening to the prayer over the bread and water and partaking of the sacrament with a repentful heart. The prayer promises we can receive the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost for guidance, comfort, peace and protection, if we fulfill our promise to always remember Christ. )  About Baptism and Gift of the Holy Ghost, see Preach My Gospel; down load chapter The Gospel of Jesus Christ, pgs 63-65; About Jesus’ original ordination and authorization to preach, and baptize, and how that power was lost, and restored in our modern time, see Preach my Gospel, dowload chapter 1, The Message of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and see pages 32-35)

I believe by more concerted planning, that this gift of the Holy Ghost I was given at baptism will be added upon, enhanced, and empowered!  :)

Progress: I have officially had two ‘worshipful’ ‘retreats’.  I loved feasting on those things to journal and be thankful for through the week.  I loved studying my scriptures before planning.  It added a spiritual dimension to my planning and even better, to my week.  I find that I have been doing the idea of this for a while, but in smaller chunks at once, and on different days.  I think it is ideal to get done at one time. When you dedicate a portion of time to prepare your mind for the spirit to guide your choices, there is an element of sacrifice that enhances all that you do during the week.

Further organization: Lindsay provides a wealth of planning sheets to help the unorganized unproficient such as myself.  These are all kept together in one notebook binder.  In times past, I made myself a binder, inspired by Candy from “Keeping the Home” and her amazing “Home management binder.”  Candy recently did a fabulous post, a peek into her binder.  You can also easily locate this post from a side Menu called “Home Management Binders, click on her “Mine“ and also see about 20 other sample management binders from different people which she links to so you can help yourself design just the right fit.  Lindsay’s notebook can be linked from Candy’s blog. Lindsay did a video tour of hers as well as provided printable downloads of helpful master lists, and cute and free organization print outs.  See “Building a Home Planning Notebook. Lindsay suggests tackling one section of your notebook at a time!  This is ESSENTIAL if it is going to work for you.  It took me about 1/2 a year to finally master the simple morning routine of getting ready and having a worshipful daily breakfast devotional and clean up, and I consider this still one of my greatest accomplishments.  I am trying to establish a solid and consistent night routine that includes brushing teeth, (currently children only brush at morning) and includes family prayer and scriptures. (Currently my husband does individual prayers with the children and reads some scriptures while I am off taking a break or usually tidying.) Our nightly routine needs some sharpening and bettering. In organization, currently I am working on one section of my notebook, “Homeschooling”.

My Binder: Here is my binder. I found lovely pictures from old magazines I had from the Ensign (A family magazine geared for applying scriptures to challenges we face each day–a $10 investment well worth it for our family as we get a new magazine each month and we also obtain the children’s Friend.  Available for the teens is the New Era.)  Each month is chalk full of powerfully inspirational and applicable helps and lovely pictures for personal and family improvement. Click here for ordering information. I love this woman filling her lamp with oil for it reminds me to keep my priorities aligned each day. The pictures of my Savior remind me how much I need Him daily.

Temporary Hiatus: Unfortunately, currently I am not even using my binder…it needs re-vamping and I have reverted to older habits of keeping all sorts of different information in different places.  So soon, when I do not have too much on my plate, (such as moving and preparing for a baby) I will get it all in one notebook to make my life much easier and eliminate wasted time in searching.

Here is my hodge-podge teacher-style planning notebook. What a mess! Ha, ha, well it is working for me for now…and you have to do what works for you! However you work your planning, I want to emphasize how rewarding it is to check your planned agendas, or even to write things down AFTER accomplishing them…when I do this I feel so accomplished as a fruitful mother, it helps me realize how much I am actually doing (yes I will often put down seemingly simple tasks such as reading a story to the children)which helps me see I am doing wonderful things with family, home, etc! Recording even simple or ‘mundane’ accomplishments brings satisfaction as well as provides a memory hook that I can look to later and remember.

Encouragement: If you don’t take a chunk of time to plan, I do pray that you pray often and let the Lord guide you daily, for He still has a master plan for you! I am still at the stage where if the idea makes it to the paper I am on a roll, and wow! I usually do get it done when I do write it, but I believe just praying and trying to obey can really help you in your own life’s style and flavor, mission, happiness and fulfillment!

Yesterday I was so glum to step on the scale at my midwife appointment, and find out that I weighed the same as I did when I delivered Hazel, Milly and Rawl!  Kinda like the feeling I had when I weighed myself after having Hazel and found I weighed the same as I did when I delivered her!  Not even a loss of seven pounds!

I had a great time painting ceramics with my sisters and daughters for a girl’s birthday treat last night, but I was so sad when I got home.  This morning, even though I woke up from a lovely dream, the same sad feeling came back into my heart, discouragement, sadness, dis-like for my body, sad about the future and very fearful!

Then as I put on my aerobics video, the Lord implanted feelings from the Holy Spirit.  Why should I slacken my strength because of my enemy?  (Satan, see Nephi’s lament 2 Nephi 4:29)  Why should I do anything but love my body and all it is doing for me with all these changes?  Why not send anything but an inner hug and appreciation for every bit of me!  Why should I let these changes alter my focus on my kids and how much I love my children, and be steady for the complete challenge they will offer me today rather than a general feeling of dread and sadness?  Why should I forget that I have a baby from God growing within me?

And right then and there, I basically said “Get thee hence, Satan, (Moses 1:16) Get out of here you dirty rascal, you won’t get me with this because I have God to help me right through, to be my arm of safety, to give me love when it doesn’t come naturally and to give me hope instead of fear.

And P.S….Riley and I think midwives can measure bellies just fine to determine baby size, and the scales can be thrown out and distributed to the neighborhood dump~

And P.P.S.  If I could blame this on anything….it would be on my friend’s recently given to me bread recipe, nine grain, and my heaven with plenty of butter! ~