Less Is More

Sadly, shamefully, I was so tempted to not go to church today. I had some pretty "good" excuses too but I am so glad I went because I truly feel like the adversary was trying to keep me from hearing what I really needed to today. The kids were extra tired and busy today but I think the things I was meant to hear most were at the times my kids weren't so distracting :)

I've had a whole mixture of thought processes that have led me to this decision lately but I have just felt the need to truly "hibernate" with my family. Poor  but also lucky at times  Stuart has to still venture out to school and face the COLD  mainly literally  world. Life seems to get busy even with two small children who aren't even in school. I have been thinking about how nice it is having them at home with me and being their main influence. AND to not have to venture out in this bitter weather every morning if I choose not to. That I have every ability to limit how chaotic extra stuff can get. I told Stuart a while ago that I don't even know why I feel spread thin. That there have been busier times and life will only get much busier as they get older. Hopefully my thought process makes sense.   Anyways, the lesson we had  today just reassured me of my decision and how lucky I am to even have this option.  How important my role is as a wife and mother to literally help make (or break) our home. It's so easy with young kids to get overwhelmed at times with trying to discipline and give all your effort and attention to mulitiple human beings. To make sure they are not only alive but providing all that they need to thrive. I am just so glad they are still young so that when I fall so much shorter than where I want to be that they are still there to love me and forgive me. Never felt remotely nervous about teenagers until recently. :/  

On a side note, Kohen just got his new movie in the mail the other day. We try to reinforce only church things on Sundays in order to help keep the Sabbath day holy. Today he finally got to watch it. He memorized the first two Articles of Faith a few months ago but number three is probably going to be a little tougher so I ordered this dvd a few weeks ago to help him continue his good work. He really likes it and feels like it's his special movie. Don't tell him, but I don't feel like it was my best purchase. Not awful, but not great.

Tonight after dinner and baths we decided to draw pictures of "church things" which quickly turned into pictures of animals but when I didn't draw a gorilla very well it turned into drawing our dream house ....according to Kohen. It was fun and actually something we've never drawn before. He would tell me about things he wanted and I would draw them. They were all outside things like a dog. A fence so the dog wouldn't run away. A swing...well maybe 6 swings so that everyone has one and some extras. A tree...an apple tree to be specific. Miley voiced her little opinion on this one too and said, "Apple...mmmm" while nodding in approval. A tree house. Clouds, a sun, grass, ...the necessities.  A pool with "a little pool like Gramma and Papa's house with a jump thing" a spa and a diving rock  Then he decided it wouldn't be complete with out family. And according to Kohen's picture, apparently my whole family and my brother's dog and his Nanny and Papa Rupp are all going to live there too. What a great excuse for a very big house :)

 I also talked to Kohen about what would happen if he were on fire and of course told him to Stop, Drop and Roll. Maybe it's different now? So much has changed since my childhood After I showed Kohen, Miley got the biggest grin on her face and decided it looked like fun. Which of course turned into a kissing the baby/wrestling session.