Personal Creed

On Sunday we  had a lesson that seemed like a great way to apply the gospel in my life and not just talk about it. That's what I love about the lives of the prophets and  general authorities. It's the gospel in action. Sort of like life time resolutions instead of goals for just this year. I like it because it focuses on not just "doing" but also "being", or doing something that would lead to being something.  I started writing my personal creed this week but promptly lost the rough draft so I'll have to start again.  There will be at least one sentence that has to do with this concept:

Good mother are available, great mothers are engaged, happy mothers enjoy their children.

This is beautiful so I'm sharing it with you.

From the Life of George Albert Smith

When he was 34 years old, George Albert Smith made a list of resolutions that he called his “personal creed”—11 ideals that he committed to live by:

“I would be a friend to the friendless and find joy in ministering to the needs of the poor.

“I would visit the sick and afflicted and inspire in them a desire for faith to be healed.

“I would teach the truth to the understanding and blessing of all mankind.

“I would seek out the erring one and try to win him back to a righteous and a happy life.

“I would not seek to force people to live up to my ideals but rather love them into doing the thing that is right.

“I would live with the masses and help to solve their problems that their earth life may be happy.

“I would avoid the publicity of high positions and discourage the flattery of thoughtless friends.

“I would not knowingly wound the feelings of any, not even one who may have wronged me, but would seek to do him good and make him my friend.

“I would overcome the tendency to selfishness and jealousy and rejoice in the successes of all the children of my Heavenly Father.

“I would not be an enemy to any living soul.

“Knowing that the Redeemer of mankind has offered to the world the only plan that will fully develop us and make us really happy here and hereafter, I feel it not only a duty but also a blessed privilege to disseminate this truth.”

Those who knew President Smith declared that he truly did live by his creed.

For the full lesson click here.

Bodies and Babies

       Last night at Family Home Evening Zach gave a lesson on bodies and babies in preparation for the new addition to our family. He spoke about why it was important to come to earth to obtain a body and how we should treat the new baby when she comes. At one point during the lesson Zach asked the boys, "Who doesn't have a body?" to which Gabe replied enthusiastically, "Satan!" And then the follow up question, "And why not?" David's response made me giggle over on the couch.


 "Because it got sucked up by the machine in China!"


What!?! Where did that come from? Do you even know what China is? Perhaps we should be cutting TV time down from one show to zero. I don't even remember how Zach responded, but needless to say, our three year old needed a little course correction. I love being a mom, its so amusing sometimes. 


David also says to me last night, "Mom, you're my favorite person in the family. Do you know why?"  
"No sweetie, why?"
"Because you're having a baby"

Happy Birthday Mom

Zach's mom happened to be out here for her birthday this year so we got together as a family to celebrate. Joy made a lovely dinner (which she hardly ate any of) and we watched the CES fireside on the television. After that  it was cake and presents. Unfortunately it didn't turn out to be anyone else's birthday. 

Proudly displaying Haley's sticker gift

A garden stone to put in one of her 13 gardens. 

Home made cheesecake to celebrate

Happy Birthday Mom!

Miss Manners

I asked this little girl inside of me to be polite and wait till after my shower last night and Zach gets home late tonight to arrive. So far so good. What a considerate baby. I hope this is a sign of things to come. The shower was held by some good friends and family and was adorable. Zach has asked more than once- is there anything that isn't pink? And yes, there is. There is also a lot of the pink frilly stuff too though.

Yummm.... cake balls

The hostess with the mostess- My "other" Amber and Zach's sister Tina

Bibs and diapers- useful for any baby

She'll be one well dressed little girl. That is, until she grows out of all this shower stuff. 

Too cute

The adorable aftermath

Gone till Sunday

Remember this guy? Well he left yesterday to drive to Seattle Washington for job interviews at the national MLA (English) conference. Nothing like a 13 hour drive to warm you up for the firing squad. The drive was on the heels of teaching his first day of classes for the semester. He's arrived in one piece though and seems to be doing fine. From what he tells me, his students didn't seem all that broken up about Zach having to cancel the second day of classes either. Wish him luck!

Here's his stand in. Zach's mom flew in yesterday to be here just in case the baby decides to make an early entrance into the world. I'm happy for the company even if I don't go into labor and the boys are loving having Mimi around. I think Dad misses his other half though. My phone has been a lot busier with her here the past 24 hours than it is usually. Who can blame him? Everybody loves mom. 

WWF- Winter Wresting Fun

My four boys need SOME way to get their energy out when we are cramped indoors. This week has been fairly mild but a few weeks ago when I took these pictures it was cold. David is the craziest of the three, just throwing himself around when he wrestles with Zach. I just stand on the side lines, cheer, and take pictures. No trips to the ER- yet. 

Happy 2012

Don't you like her sparkely shirt?

 We got to spend New Year's with all of Zach's west coast siblings- Tina, Jeannette, and Ben. It was lots of fun. Jeannette and her husband James drove down from Idaho with their dog Doc and slept in our guest-room (soon to be nursery-room) And just for the record- I was "Dominionated" twice that night. Not my best game night.  

Happy 2-0-1-2 (Can you see it?)