Family Home Evening

Our schedule this semester has been nuts. Between Will and my classes and Belle's dancing the only time we had together as a family was Friday night, Saturday and Sunday. Will's Monday class has ended and Belle's dance class is over, so we only have two nights a week not together. It has been so nice. It makes a big difference. Anyway, we completely let Family Home Evening slack during that time. It has been nice to once again have time to sit down together as a family and talk about spiritual things and do activities together. Last week Belle taught us a lesson all about Moses. She prepared it all herself, and it was very cute. This week she was in charge of telling us a scripture. She wanted Dad to help her find a scripture about Moses. I guess we are very into Moses lately! It was awesome to me to see the insight that a five year old has as she shared her thoughts about what the scripture meant. Her thoughts on it were from an angle that I had never thought of before and they seemed spot on. It made me think once again that we do not give children enough credit for what they do understand.
Belle is a spiritual giant to me. Her faith is incredible. And she is so intune with the gospel and the way the Spirit speaks to her. I trust in her promptings from the Spirit. Not long ago when we were in the car I had a feeling that we needed to say a prayer. I told Belle this knowing she would understand because she is really open to listening to promptings from the Spirit. I asked her if she wanted to say it because this girl loves to pray. She always wants to be the one to say the prayer. So she started to pray and then stopped and said, "Mom, if the Spirit told you you needed to pray, then you should be the one to say the prayer." And I thought, she's right. I love her thirst for the gospel. Everyday she asks me spiritual questions. And sometimes they are so incredibly indepth. I know I didn't even think about things to that level when I was her age. I tell her all the time that she will be a leader someday, and I really believe that. If that girl can hold on to her goodness, to her faith, she will lead many people to good. She has a powerful example, and I always try to remind her of that. Children are like adults. Everyone has strengths and flaws in different areas. All those years of struggle with Belle...I never guessed it would turn out like this. Not that it is perfect. There are definitely still the stubborn moments, or disobedient moments, and time out still applies, but I can't believe how spiritual she is and what a sweet little helper and good little buddy to me Belle is becoming. I am so grateful for both of my darling daughters. I love my role as a mother. Nothing has brought me more joy.

Here's Will and Belle making yarn ball ornaments for our Family Home Evening activity tonight.

They look really weird right now, but let's hope that after they set up and the balloons are popped they will look all right. Either way we had fun, and that's all that matters, right?

Gratitude

What a beautiful time of year. Tonight we went out on a walk (Belle rode her bike) and enjoyed the Autumn air and the incredible colors. The trees and sidewalks were covered in bright yellows, reds, and oranges. The clouds in the sky mirrored the vivid fall colors from the sunset. It made me feel so happy to be enjoying that moment. We came home and Will had made pumpkin soup and we had hot cocoa. It's days like these that make me grateful for my life.

The girls playing in a leaf pile a few days ago

Will and I were talking today about following the Spirit. About living life with a passion and not just day to day. I am grateful for the amazing life that following the Spirit has brought me. I feel a joy that keeps growing with the passing of time. Being here now in the place I am has enabled me to grow in who I am. It has allowed me to feel free to explore the real me, not just the person that the culture tells me to be. I have found deep passions within myself that had been stifled for many years. I cannot express how grateful I am to  have a life so full of promise for the future. I am enjoying the life that is mine right now and excited for what I feel the future will bring me by following my dreams and passions and living close to the Spirit.