Memorized Sayings

I found that if I memorize sayings 

to say to myself in tempting situations 

that it helps me stay good.  

(A lot of my sins are thought sins.)

Here's one for ANGER:
"I am not going to gain anything by getting angry.  If I get mad I am going to pay a price I don't want to pay.  I can't assume the worst or jump to conclusions.  I can reason this out."

Here's one for EATING:
"I am not going to nourish my body by eating junk.  If I indulge, I am going to pay a price I don't want to pay.  I can't ignore my body and stuff my face. I can find something healthy."

Here's another one for EATING:
"I'll drink water for my thirst,
and eat fruits and veggies first.
I'll eat whole grains if they're seen,
and for protein-beans and lean.
I'll eat slowly and stop when *meet,
and choose fruit if I want sweet."

(*meet meaning satisfied or enough)

Plants and Children

Sometimes this blog just turns into my parenting analysis.

Lately I have been growing a lot of little plants in my kitchen window.

As I take them outside to plant in my yard, I have to consider what their needs are-

Some need a lot of sunshine, some need very little.

This last weekend, my mom commented that my middle children (one in specific)

needs a lot of attention from me.  

I started giving her excuses for how I didn't have time to give them all one-on-one time each day.  

She pointed out that some of my children didn't need it as much.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized that children are like plants.

I make sure they all get fed every day, but am I giving them attention or SUNSHINE?

Especially the ones that need a lot of sunshine to grow well?

So, with the work load I carry with taking care of so many children and 

the house and the yard each day,

I found my best one-on-one time is working with them.

It kills two birds with one stone.

Athletic Myriam

Myriam ran the Wellsville Mile yesterday and did great.

Her time was 7:47- which is the exact same time Sadie got in 4th grade!

She has been so excited for it and practiced every day.

She is also a star little soccer player.

It is her first year officially playing on a team...

but she's had plenty of neighborhood and recess experience.

She shocked us at our first game by scoring 3 points and being an incredible defender.

Donny calls her "The Brick Wall."

She's such a tiny little thing, but she is a tough woman- she can really push herself.

I went over to watch her play at recess and it was just her and the boys.

I had a flashback of myself- I loved playing soccer with the boys at recess in Elementary School.

I thought, "Yep- she is my daughter."

I am a Mother!

This mother's day, I went to bed feeling a little guilty.

(Like most mother's do- we realize all day how much better we should be doing)

The biggest thought I kept having is that being a super mom is not being able to DO

a million things, but to be able to truly LOVE of your children.

I think I have to stop DOING so many things 

in order to take the time to really observe and enjoy who they are.

I really have been blessed to raise some choice spirits!

(I love to dejunk... and dejunking my time has to be done regularly

in order to have the things I value most be my greatest focus.)
"BRIDLE ALL OF YOUR PASSIONS that ye may be filled with this LOVE" (Alma 38:12)

I also have to "PULL OUT" and look at them-
When I do, it is so easy to love their cute faces.
Just look at this cute face-

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