The Houston Temple

Since the Houston Temple grounds are open on Sundays (LDS temples and churches are used for different purposes. Temples aren't open on Sundays), the Bishop encouraged the members of our ward (congregation) to take our families and go walk around. We went last Sunday. The grounds are GORGEOUS! It was such a beautiful way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

 It was cool to see Megan and Jared and Kate standing in front of the temple doors. I was thinking about the song "I Love to See the Temple".

For more information about LDS temples, check out Mormon.org

Katelyn's Blessing

Kate was blessed on Sunday, September 4, 2011. We were so thankful to have so many family members and friends to celebrate the day with us. We are so happy to have this beautiful daughter of God as a part of our family.

Megan's Baptism

I meant to get this posted a lot earlier, but things have been a little crazy around here. Megan was baptized and confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday, September 3. We are so proud of her choices.

Here is her testimony, in her own words:
I know Heavenly Father is real because I can see the beautiful world He made. When we went to Bear Lake, I saw a beautiful rainbow and it made me think of Heavenly Father. I know Jesus is real and He loves me. Joseph Smith is a prophet. He started Jesus's church and he translated the Book of Mormon. President Monson is our living prophet. He tells us what to do.

Megan is getting Baptized!

How did the time go so fast? I swear, just a day ago, she was a baby, and now she's almost 8 years old! (In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, children who are raised in the church get baptized when they are 8 years old.) It works out that she'll be baptized on her actual birthday. I am so proud of her. It's important that she understand the covenants and commitments that she is making, and we have worked hard to help her learn what she needs to know.

For those who are local, you are all welcome to join us.
Saturday, September 3, 4:00 pm
Bear Creek Building (Highway 6 and Cairnway)

Bearing One Another's Burdens - It's Not Just About Carrying Heavy Stuff.

There are times that I don't like being a mother. (Gasp! Did I actually just write that? Am I allowed to admit that?!) I mean, I always love being a mother. I love my kids. I love my life. But sometimes the day to day grind wears me down. A lot. The daily battle of getting the kids to clean their rooms, do their jobs, brush their teeth Every. Single. Day. (multiple times!), be nice to one another. I feel like I say the same things over and over again. I know I yell too much.

This morning started out just like usual:
Telling Jared to go get dressed.
Checking on him 5 minutes later, finding him in his bedroom, completely naked, sitting on his floor playing with toys.
Starting to yell, telling him if he wasn't dressed by the time I counted to 10, he was grounded from everything under the sun. Then, telling him he had 5 minutes to have his room clean before he was in big trouble.
Getting distracted, coming back 15 minutes later, finding him sitting on his floor playing with toys.
Starting to yell. Telling him he has 1 minute to get all his cars picked up.
Hearing the baby cry. Going to pick her up, hoping that Jared would get started on his room.
Coming back 5 minutes later, hearing Megan and Jared happily chatting as they finished his morning jobs together.

Wait. What was that?

When I asked Megan why she was helping Jared with his jobs, she looked at me the way only an eight year old girl can, with exasperation and slight eye rolling, an unspoken"duh, mom." "It's called bearing one another's burdens, mom. It's not just about carrying heavy stuff, mom. Sometimes it means helping your little brother pick up his legos."

Megan will be baptized in a little over a month and we've been really working with her during Family Home Evening to make sure she understands what that means, the covenants she'll be making.

Mosiah 18: 8, 10 (18:5 - 11)

8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are ^adesirous to come into the ^bfold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being ^abaptized in the ^bname of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a ^ccovenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?

Did I mention that there are times that I really love being a mom?

Posing with Kate

Megan wanted me to take some pictures of her and Katelyn today after church because their dresses coordinated (she was disappointed that they didn't have anything that matched).

Of course, Jared had to get in on the action as well.

Megan and Jared were happy to sit and smile, but after 3 hours of church, Katelyn wasn't too happy to pose for pictures. But even crying, she's still really cute.