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Changing my blog title

I've decided to change my blog title.  I hope u enjoy my posts.  I plan on adding more to it.  Pray for me as I make the needed changes to make my passions become reality

Personal Progress X7

I became pretty excited when I met with my oldest daughter and her young women leaders.  They had just encouraged the mothers to complete the Personal Progress program with their daughters.  The mothers would receive the medallion also.  Thinking this was pretty cool, I decided I was going to do this with each of my girls.  This should be interesting since I have 7!

I had been doing things here and there but with no real plan.  We went to the Stake Personal Progress Recognition night before summer break to support  two girls in our ward.  Each of the girls in the stake who finished the program that year shared a testimony of the goodness it brought to their life.  It was wonderful to see their display of what they did for their 10 hour projects.  We have some very creative youth and it excited me yet again.  My 14 year old daughter informed me that night she would be finished by this time next year.
Yeah!!!!!!!
and then...
AHHHHH!!!!!!!!

I am behind if I'm going to finish with her.

O.K.  so I pulled out a big calendar and set goals for myself.  I planned out when I would do what and put in my calendar when I would finish.  I thought it was very well planned out.
Summer came and went and I got maybe 5 things passed off.  Ughhh!!
Apparently, you can keep track of your progress on the internet.  It's a rather cool system I think.
All you do is:
1.  go to youth.lds.org https://lds.org/youth?lang=eng
2.  go to the right of the screen and click on personal progress
3. sign in or set up an account if you haven't yet.
I'm excited about keeping track of it online.  I can click when I begin a goal and finish it.  I can write in my journal online and then print it if I want.
I love setting goals and then looking back and realizing my improvements or at least my efforts in such.  This personal progress program gives me a focus to do that.  By the time my youngest girl who is two goes through the program I hope to have made some real progress.  :)
So, here I am yet again.  I am going to finish.  I am going to sit down today with my big calendar and get 'er done.  Well, the planning anyway.  Each time I get a value finished I will post it.  I will also let you know how my 10 hour projects go.  I'll probably share some of my journal entries because they will certainly pertain to the "Mormon Momma's" platform.
Well, I haven't shared this blog with the world yet but when I do please feel free to cheer me on!!  I will need the help.  Plus, I'd love to hear your stories about the blessings of the Personal Progress Program.
Right now, my oldest is a little skeptical about me finishing with her.  I don't blame her!! Haha.
Yet, excitement and hope is blazing and by next spring TWO medallions will be carried home to our house.
Love you all!

First Day of School=Father's Blessings

First Day of School = Father's Blessings

I remember when the first time that I sat at my then boyfriend/fiance house listening while his siblings would receive a father's blessing before their first day of school.  I felt privileged to be able to hear these personal and special words our Father in Heaven had for his children.  I felt I got a glimpse of how special they are.They were words of guidance, protection, and encouragement for the following school year.  I remember feeling extremely excited for them to take on this new adventure in their life. I also remember feeling strongly that I would make sure my children had that same opportunity.  The way I did that was by marrying a man who would take his priesthood and father's responsibilities seriously.  Chuck does this and every year I feel extremely grateful that my kids have this opportunity.  

From the beginning when my oldest went to Kindergarten we have recorded these blessings.  I wrote them down in my journal and then later recorded on tape and currently we record it straight to the computer.  We start with our youngest child and work our way up to the oldest and then we end with myself receiving one from my husband.    I also encourage my husband often to ask his father for a father's blessing when there is a change in his life.  

I enjoy these moments of listening to these wonderful blessings even more than I did previous to being married.  It actually can be a little chaotic  right now because some of the kids haven't learned how to be quiet  yet.  So they hang out in the bedrooms till its their turn.  As a mother, I have worries and hopes for each of the kids and so many times they are addressed in the blessing that the children receive. It's a testament to me that Heavenly Father hears my motherly prayers. I usually feel a great relief afterward.  I remember feeling like I needed to be especially mindful of certain children because of the council they were given.  There have been times when I have pulled up the recording to allow my children to re listen to their blessing during the middle of the year because they have forgotten how amazing they are.  It's also a helpful tool for me when I have forgotten how wonderful they are.  :)  

I know people who will receive a priesthood blessing from a family member or home teacher if their father isn't able to do this.  I am glad for them because it is a sweet reassurance that all will be well.  

I just want to thank my husband for being worthy and willing to do this great service.  I also wish to thank my Heavenly Father for this gift.  It's a gift of great peace and possibility for my family.  I pray that my kids will continue this tradition as they have families of their own.  

 I just couldn't resist adding this picture of my wonderful husband who will let his 7 girls dress him up!

Playing "IT" Safe

Playing "IT" Safe

      
   I hope you enjoyed this video.  I thought it was important to think about and apply.
 
What do you mean, Play "It" Safe?  What is it anyway?  "It" to me, for this blog, is teenage romance.
     I know parents of elementary school age children who will take their child and their girlfriend/boyfriend on a date.  I don't care how cute it is; It's very dangerous. It's dangerous because it is putting our kids on the path of climbing a relationship mountain too soon.  My husband says, once the climb begins there is no stopping it.   I remember one of my uncles teasing me when I was in 4th grade that so-and-so was my boyfriend and even asked if I had kissed him. Although, I don't think my Uncle thought he sent that message, I think our society in general encourages children and teenagers into a romantic relationship without even realizing they're doing it.
  When I hear my children being asked who their boyfriend/girlfriend is by adults, I explain that my child is not encouraged to have that type of relationship yet but can  be friends and are to pay attention to the characteristics of the guys/girls they associate with.
     In our family our children hear about the topic of dating and relationships often but they get a formal introduction at the age of 8.  It has been interesting to me the questions that have come up; Is it o.k. to have a crush or puppy love?  Can I get married at 17 because I will have graduated high school.  Why does so-and-so get to do that when they believe the same thing we do?
     I think that the social norm is sometimes difficult to go against but sometimes I think we just don't understand that some of them are hurtful to our children.  Here are two examples that I struggled with:
     1.When my daughter turned 11 I found out she had a crush on someone.  I didn't think there was anything wrong with it.  My husband was the one who made it known that he didn't feel it was appropriate.  I didn't get it.
 
    2. There are many fundraising dances at our elementary school for kindergarten through 6th grade. I thought that it wasn't good to have the young kids with the older kids but I didn't seem to have a problem with the dances for the older age group.  My husband was very adamant about not letting our children go to dances until they were 14 (which is the age they attend dances at our church.).  Our oldest child didn't turn 14 until she was in high school so she sat in the library or I went and picked her up early from school throughout her whole Jr. High Career.  I had an issue with this.  I felt like we were going to turn our kids into social outcasts.  I thought the dances are just for fun, etc., etc.  I decided to follow my husbands decision because he felt so strongly about it even though I was NOT happy about it.  I'm usually the strict one but he was not budging.
   A few months later I was in a bookstore and I felt very strongly about purchasing a particular book.  For those of you familiar with my Faith; you'll understand when I say that it was inspiration.  I read it eagerly and it changed my whole outlook and gave me an understanding that my husband already had.  It is titled, "Unsteady- What Every Parent Absolutely Must Know About Teenage Romance."  by JeaNette G. Smith.  I tell everyone about this book.  I do not loan it out because I refer back to it often.  I feel that her words are sound and makes pure sense.  I agree with the title, Every parent absolutely must know...
     I get it now.  I understand that there is a proper time for crushing.  There is a proper time to encourage our kids to dance and to have exclusive relationships.  My third child who just finished her first year in Jr. High without going to a single dance said to me, "Mom, I'm glad we don't go to dances until we are 14 because all the kids who go to the dances before then think the dances are boring by that time."  That was an interesting thought.
     As parents; of course, make your own decisions but consider the consequences of encouraging romance too soon.  Play "It" Safe and encourage your children to climb the relationship mountain when it is appropriate.