Family scripture picture

So, I have this fancy schmancy new camera that is amazing and a fancy schmancy new laptop that is also amazing.  But, no matter how I try I cannot figure out how to get my pictures to work on my laptop.  I load them and they are put somewhere that I cannot access.  I cannot save them at a lower resolution.  I really am at a loss and it is very frustrating.

But, I did finally get this picture uploaded on on the blog.  Woot Woot!  Our primary has asked each family to take a picture of their family doing family scripture study.  We study every day, but it has been hard to add taking a picture to the study time.  Finally, we did it last night.  Sadly, A isn't with us so our family is not complete, but this is what our study looks like much of the time.  The calm toddlers is deceptive, but other than that, this is how we roll at our home.

I love that we study the scriptures together.  We do three days a week of Doctrine and Covenants and four days a week of Book of Mormon.  We are almost done with both, but we will just continue the Book of Mormon reading by starting again as we always do, but we will also read the New Testament.  I am soooooooooooooooo excited about this.  I long to know my Savior more and have my kids know Him more too.  This is a great way to do it.  :)

It would take a while to catch up on all that goes on in a busy household of 8, but a few things include...V cut her own hair necessitating a haircut, C is playing basketball and last Saturday they only had 5 players, so he played all of two back to back games, Little C will turn 2 in 12 days.  Crazy!

We are in the middle of trying to schedule many things.  The planner part of me is screaming in agony that we just cannot get things planned (trying to work with many others).  But, this will all work out too.

I am happy.  Life is good.  I love my life.  I love my family.  I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I love my home.  I love my cars.  I love my relative good health.  Life is good.  I am blessed.

Mom of six

Yep, here I am again...more journaling than posting pictures for posterity.

Being a mom of six means a lot of crying and screaming, at least at my house.  Tonight was even more than most nights.

CK, K, and C are at the temple.  A is in St. Louis.  I was here tonight with J, V, and Little C.  And...there was a lot of screaming.  I think V and Little C are just exhausted.  We had my nephew, E, here today.  They had so much fun and it was awesome, but I think their little bodies were just worn out.  In addition, we ate after CK, K, and C left so dinner was later.  That didn't help.

Sometimes I truly wonder what I am doing being a mom at all, let alone to six kids.  I love each of them so very much and my heart is overflowing with gratitude that I get to be their mom, but I still wonder if I am up to the task.  At the same time, my heart aches that they are growing up.  I am so proud of them and pleased with their choices in life, but the thought of them leaving home is already leaving a non-fillable void.  I am trying to remember "The Best is Yet to Be."  This means that as I lean on the Savior, the years in front of me will be amazing.  Life with children-in-laws and grandkids will be glorious.  I think I will always miss the littles at home, but I will also be grateful that I don't have nights of screaming sometimes.  It is all up to me and my attitude.

I am currently downloading pictures to my computer.  :)  Maybe next post will be more fun!

Follow Up from Yesterday

Here I sit...two days in a row at my computer!  Wowzee!

I still haven't put pictures on the computer...but that will come...hopefully.

As a follow-up from yesterday's post, I just feel so blessed by the Spirit witnessing to me that indeed The Best is Yet to Be.  When I see my failings and I have regrets, I just remember that I am a work in progress and the Best is Yet to Be!

For instance, I regret not spending time with our beautiful Christmas Tree.  Silly, I know, but it was in the piano room and life was crazy and we rarely gathered near it at all.  But, as I was feeling down about this, I remembered that the Best is Yet to Be and I can be better next year.

I also had the opportunity to go to a dear dear friend's son's baptism this morning.  As we waited for the ward in front of him, they played some Mormon Messages.  I didn't do well this year at sharing those on Social Media.  I have a strong testimony of Jesus Christ.  I just didn't share it this year very well.  But, as I again felt regret and remorse, I remembered that the Best is Yet to Be and I know that I can be better.  Not all at once, but little by little.

The Spirit that has accompanied these realizations helps me remember that this Eternal Progression is all because of our Savior.  His atonement helps me to become better and to be more than I ever could be on my own.

What a great way to begin 2016!

I have no doubt of the Lord's tender mercies for all.  I know that includes me and I feel blessed to know this.

So, I may not have any pictures up yet....but...The Best is Yet to Be!  :)

Welcome, 2016!!!

I haven't blogged in a very long time.  I wanted to say forever, but that would definitely have been an exaggeration.  I take so many pictures and I want to post them, but the fact is....I don't.  I hope to be better, but my 24 hours I have been given are very precious and many times the time is used elsewhere.

But, today I am so filled with joy that I had to write and document it.  You see, five years ago yesterday, CK asked me to marry him.  Six years ago yesterday, my divorce was final with XDH.  And, six years ago this month, the Lord showed His tender mercies to me by way of an Ensign article by Elder Holland.  It was entitled, "The Best is Yet to Be."  Wow!  It was so perfect for a gal that was just divorced and looking to the future with faith.  I reread it today and I am amazed at the wisdom therein.

Looking back, I see all the ways I have been taken care of.  I have been and continue to be blessed beyond measure.

Looking forward, I see all the blessings on the horizon.  I see many joys ahead.  I know that there will be bumps in the road and sorrows as well, but with faith I can look forward.

One thing that reviewing this article today taught me is that the life I have now, while not perfect, is not something I should dwell on "what should have been" or "what could have been."  I absolutely hate the separation of our family from each other because four of our children we share with their other parents.  I hate it.  In fact, right now my heart is breaking because A will go back to her other home early tomorrow and I likely won't see her this time for the longest period yet (probably 6-7 months!).  And, K, C, and J are already gone for time with their dad.  But, as I listened to the Spirit while reading this article, I realized that I cannot focus on what I lack, for that is looking back, but instead, I have to focus on the future and have faith in the Lord's knowledge of me and His wisdom for my life.

We have had a great Christmas with all six children together.  Blessings have abounded and my heart has been full.  In fact, a week and a half ago when A got here, we knelt as a family for family prayer.  It was late.  The kids were tired.  The Spirit was so strong at that time, however.  I know it was witnessing the completeness of us all being together.

I do not have many resolutions this year.  I have so much that I want to improve, but I want to allow the Lord to mold me and help me to improve what He wants me to.  I feel that I can do this better by not forcing myself into such a routine that I cannot be flexible enough to listen to the Spirit.  So, I do not know if I will blog more this year.  I do know that I love rereading what I documented before using this medium.  My kids love reading my blog books and looking at the pictures.  Hopefully I can make the time to do this.

For now, however, my goals I began in  December will be my resolutions.  I limited myself to three:

1. Don't complain.  See the good in every situation and embrace it.
2. Drink more water.
3. Take care of pictures (print, blog, organize).  They are just sitting there in digital no-man's land.  That is not why I take them.  

And so, welcome 2016!  I am excited to see where this year will take me and my family.  I am so in-love with CK and I am in awe of the wisdom of the Lord to bring us together.  I had no idea that such happiness was possible.   I have six kids that are my life, my pride and joy, my struggles, and make my calling as a Mom paramount.