Goals and Roles

I am such a "To-Do List" person.  Lately I have been asking myself if each thing I do is really helping me in my roles.  So, I set goals this week in each role, then created my to do list from those goals.
I have really liked the analyzing of this.

Here's my goals in my role as a mother:
1- Love my children
2- Nurture their bodies and spirits
3- Teach them to love and serve each other

Do you know that the hardest thing for me is #1= Loving them?
I have noticed that I don't feel love when they are not obeying.
I have been pray for love WHEN they aren't obeying- that doesn't come naturally.
I  have also noticed how often I do not listen to them because I am doing something on my "to do" list.
I need to check my projects and programs to make sure they don't get in the way of loving people.

NURTURING THEIR BODIES

(I learned to let them eat fruits and vegetables freely-

just like Adam and Eve could eat in the garden of Eden)

NURTURING THEIR SPIRITS

(We took them to the Brigham City Temple Open House

and then the older ones went with my mom and Sophie and Andrew

 to the temple dedication)

LOVE AND SERVE EACH OTHER

(This was a cute moment on a neighborhood walk)

Fasting and Prayer

Over a month ago, our cousin, GABE STOUT, was in a motorcycle accident.

My sister, Sophie, texted our family and invited us to join in fasting and prayer for him.

I felt really strongly about fasting for him and many of my children were willing to as well.

We were anxious each day to get updates by email about his recovery.

He was a great example to my kids of working so hard 

by pushing himself to go the extra mile which accelerated his recovery.

The Lord blessed him with miraculous healing.  

We were so grateful to be a part of a miracle.

His advice to our children the day he got home from the hospital

was to always make safe, wise choices so we can live a full life.

Just a few days ago our cousin, Jaxon, fell off a ladder and broke his jaw.

Our fasting and prayers went from one cousin to the next.

In both instances, I have been so impressed with the parents.

They were constantly at their child's side showing such devotion and love.

We sure love Jaxon and hope he has a great recovery as well.

Singing for GG

When we visit Grandma Milligan in the assisted living center,

the only way we can keep the kids under control is if they sing to her.

Here's a few videos I captured of the children singing to her.

Packer enjoys singing to her as well- I just don't have one of him yet.

(They have a hidden motive- they get a piece of candy from her nightstand if they sing)

We love visiting her.  She is angelic- we call her "Celestial."

She is so full of love and gratitude.

She is very prepared to meet her maker, yet patient until that time comes.

Wholesome Recreational Activities

BOATING

This summer we got to go boating twice- 

Once with my family and once with my high school friends.
I loved getting out and knee-boarding with Emily-
it felt so fun to play again!

The most memorable experience with my family was when 

Sophie and Donny and I were on the tube with the babies

and we all accidentally got dumped.
We could either join the babies crying or laugh-

We were with Sophie, so of course, we laughed!

CAMPING

Donny planned a fun family camping weekend at Tony Grove.

My family was way supportive and came and joined us.

Kimala and Casey were in town and came as well.

Donny treated the kids to a lot of little camping trips 

near our house all summer long.

The kids got hooked on fishing.

Packer's Baptism

 Packer Donald Anderson was baptized on Aug 4, 2012

By his father, Donald Anderson,

a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

 Packer was named after President Boyd K. Packer,

a member of the quorum of the 12 apostles.

He is one special boy. 

He has a great heart.

The Johnson extended family came to support him.

Aunt Sophie gave him this poster frame.

Packer is excited to be a cub scout now.

We love you Packer.

You are a great son and brother.

14 Year Anniversary

We just celebrated 14 years of being married.
We created a timeline of major events that have happened each year
and took our kids on a car trip to some of the significant places.
Here's a timeline summary and a few pictures of our tour.

1998= Married in the Salt Lake Temple
1999= Went to BYU, lived in Provo, Mollie taught Math in Payson
2000= Hired into CES, moved to Canada, bought our first home
2001= Teaching and Volunteering and SADIE was born
2002= Moved to Logan and MYRIAM was born
2003= Donny taught in Brigham City, Mollie was primary president
2004= PACKER was born, Motherhood Crisis for Mollie with 3 children
2005= Donny got Master's Degree from USU
2006= HUNTER was born and Donny transferred to Logan High
2007= Built a house in Millville, Mollie ran 1/2 marathon- biggest baby gap
2008= Donny called to be in the bishopric and HOLLAND was born
2009= Donny published his book, Mollie learned to crochet
2010= Great Grandma Milligan moved in and BENSON was born
2011= Focus on Learning- Everyone classics, Donny astronomy, Mollie organ
2012= Focus on Health- Whole Foods, Exercising, Tennis

I am so thankful to Heavenly Father for giving me Donny as a husband.

He has provided such a rich and fulfilling life for our family.