Official Bagpiper

Donny got his full bagpipe outfit this week.

He got the "Anderson" family tartan (color/pattern), pin, and badge.

The kids were so excited to see his "skirt" when they got home from school.

He is such a diligent practicer! 

(4am at the church every day... afternoons, evenings, etc)

He is so self-driven.  

He made a goal to play "Danny Boy" at his grandma's grave on Memorial Day.

He has now added to that list many other favorite songs of deceased family members

and is excited to play at a lot of their graves.

Here is my grandpa Delmar's favorite song- "Finlandia"- or "Be Still My Soul"

Here he is on Memorial Day Weekend.
He did such a wonderful job.
He learned a tribute song for each grave we went to.
My favorites were for Delmar since Anneli was there
and Lenore since Ken was there.
Of course, the main memory behind it all was for his grandma GG
who died this last winter.

Reverence Smiles

Last Sunday, I had quite a wrestle with all my 4 youngest kids during sacrament meeting.

As my mom would say, "we looked like a zoo."

My kids were so irreverent and I was trying to stay calm and kind.

After about half way through, I grabbed them all by the hand 

and pulled the whole row off and marched them home,

mouthing to Donny on the stand that I was DONE!

A few of them I didn't even allow to come back for primary.

Donny's advice after church was that I go back to the smilie chart.

We used to do this when our girls were little, but I had forgotten.

(I often expect my younger kids to do what my older ones do.)

So, this week I was prepared and it went AWESOME.

Every 5 minutes, I give them a smile or a frown for how reverent they were during that time.

I also mark if they sang the songs.

Each smile is rewarded after church at home. 

(apple slices or 1 T. of dad's peanut butter shake are what we use!)

If they get 3 frowns, I take them out for a time out in a nearby classroom.

I was a much happier mom this week and I thought 

I would share for anyone else who has this same frustration.

WHEN PERFORMANCE IS MEASURED,

PERFORMANCE IMPROVES!

Sphere's and Laws

These two men (my dad and my husband)

are my favorite people to counsel with.

They are great listeners and so wise.

I recently asked each of them why some blessings are withheld 

even when we are being so obedient to so many commandments.

They helped me understand something so profound and so simple.

Each sphere has it's own laws and blessings... 

(D&C 93:30- "All truth is independent... D&C 88:34-40)

There are separate laws for other spheres that have to be obeyed to get those blessings.

This might explain why such faithfulness in so many areas 

doesn't translate to other areas of life.

(Some things do translate where laws overlap)

For example, even though I may be obediently going to church or reading my scriptures,

I could be unhappy if I am not being grateful...

Because a grateful person is a happy person.

Or, even if I am going to the temple and serving in the church,

I could have a weak marriage...

because marriage is a sphere with it's own laws.

Here's the advice Bishop Edgley gave Donny and I 

on the day he sealed/married us in the temple:

(He calls it "Achieving A Celestial Marriage")

-Be as kind and gentle at home as in public.

-When at home, focus on each other

-Be flexible, adaptable, and long on patience

-Have a sense of humor- it isn't as serious as it seems

-Use a happy list to pick each other up when one is down.

-Take each other's counsel

-Pray together daily

-Be quick to admit wrong, even if you aren't

-Praise and compliment one another in public and private

-Show love and affection to each other

-Hold Hands

My Packer Boy

The year Packer was born was one of my hardest years ever!

He was my third child and Donny was gone a lot and I struggled.

At least Heavenly Father sent me an angel baby.

His middle name is Donald, after his father,

and they are similar in nature.

They are both kind-hearted and generous.

I have always had a special love for Packer and 

he has been such a great helper to me- 

he is aware of other people's needs and jumps in to help.

He has been so down lately- always in trouble, unwilling to help.

Essentially, he didn't have the spirit with him much.

I have been so worried about him and he is only 8!

After listening to General Conference this month,

one of the speakers commented about the power of a mother's prayer.

I realized I could pray a lot harder for him.

(I even put his name on the prayer roll in the temple)

I can almost SEE a protectiveness around him...

 turning and softening him as a result of PRAYER.

He is more submissive.

I also feel like Heavenly Father has given me ideas on 

ways I can be more effective in nurturing this little plant of mine!

One of the biggest changes was increasing his responsibilities.

(Responsibility increases maturity)

I believe he was wasting his time in idle things because he didn't have enough work.

He is now working more by my side- cooking, cleaning, folding laundry, etc.

and it duals as great one-on-one time.

Spring Break at Home

Who says spring break has to be far or expensive!

We had quite a great time here at home.

At the beginning of the week, we asked everyone 

what they wanted to do and then we planned it all in.

They wanted to have a lot of free play,

so they jumped on the trampoline with blankets until it started raining.

We played games and had picnics at the park on a sunny days and

basketball at the church on one rainy day.

I wanted the garage clean, so they all chipped in and helped,

then dad took them fishing for the afternoon.

We had a night of camping nearby 

(so mom and the 2 youngest could go home to sleep at night- 

it was a win-win!)

We repaired all the bikes and put training wheels 

on one of them for Holland- she is in heaven!

We took them swimming a couple of times-

once at the local swimming pool, 

and once near grandma's house at the end of the week-

where extended family joined in with us.

(Grandma had some passes, so it only cost us $3-

which was the total expense for the week-

WHO CAN BEAT THAT!)