“Repentance and Forgiveness in Family Life”

The good things in life take time.  That's why family takes so much work.  That is why marriage takes so much work.  Something that is very important though is that we do it all with love and selflessness.  There will be times when we want to scream, yell, kick, and scream some more.  The best thing you can teach your children is patience.  Well, I should say one of the best things.  It's important for you children to know that people get into arguments, but that doesn't mean you have to stay upset with them. Teach your children to repent of things that they may have done to another family member or friend.  Teach your children to forgive once that apology has been given.  It will help them to love more in life.  

"Only through repentance do we gain access to the atoning grace of Jesus Christ." -Elder D. Todd Christofferson

Repentance is one of the first principles of the gospel and is essential to our temporal and eternal happiness. It is much more than just acknowledging wrongdoings. It is a change of mind and heart that gives us a fresh view about God, about ourselves, and about the world. It includes turning away from sin and turning to God for forgiveness. It is motivated by love for God and the sincere desire to obey His commandments.

https://www.lds.org/topics/repentance?lang=eng

"Faith in Family"

Because this is my own personal blog I am entitled to put whatever I want in this blog.  For this post I will be bearing my testimony on why I believe raising a family in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is so important.

I know that our Heavenly Father has put us in families because there is something that we need to experience with the individuals in it.  I know that with my family I would not be the person I am today. I know that had I not taken a strong hold to the gospel I would not be as strong as I am now in the church.  I love being a member of this church.  I have seen many blessings come into my life because of being a member.  I know that I am with the family I have no because I need to be an example and missionary to them.  That is something that is so hard for me right now because I have a brother who is suffering from depression, and so many more things that I can't even begin to explain.  Over a month ago my husband and I had a greta missionary opportunity to teach my brother and his girlfriend.  It was really hard because he knows he needs to go back to church, but the words and spirit we brought to him have not been enough to get him there.  It's hard when you know you need to be a missionary to your family, and they push you away.  I don't think he's really pushing me away, but his pride is getting in the way of the help provided for him.  That being the spirit.  I have another sister that doesn't even claim being a member.  She was baptized, but just says she doesn't claim the practice.  The interesting thing is that she takes offense to what people say about the church if it isn't correct.  My next sister is a saint.  I have been working with her for years and years.  She has finally gotten herself to a strong place.  She is active and keeping herself involved a great amount.  I love her and am so proud of her strides.  My youngest brother has a hard time sticking up for what he knows is right.  He doesn't have close member friends, so he falls when his non-member friends do things he shouldn't.  He is making strides though.  He has a new girlfriend who is very active in the church.  This will be good for him. My parents go to church every Sunday.  They are good in that sense, but we all struggle with something.

I know that if my parents would have brought the spirit into our home more as children all of my siblings would be in a better place.  It is so hard to see the struggle in all of my family members when all they need to do is go back to church.  I know that raising a family in faith will bless the lives of everyone in the family for the rest of their lives.  

“Parenting with Love, Limits, and Latitude….”

It is so hard for children to understand why there are rules when they are younger.  Something that my mother said to me is that as a parent one of the hardest things you will have to do is tell your children no.  I always wondered that, and to think about it more it's because of the disappointment in the child's eyes.  Now, you think about it.  Think about a child who wants to ride their bike down the street, but gets told no, and runs away without explanation.  This is when the child thinks that the parents are unfair.

As we parent with love, limits, and latitude we will see amazing blessings in our lives.  I know as a parent-to-be in 4 short weeks I will have plenty of practice for this.  Children need to have things explained to them.  They need to know they "why" of situations.  When you are explaining things to them do not do it out of anger or frustration.  The child is already upset enough with being told no.  Let them know you love them as you're explaining to them.  Let them know that in life they need to be protected, and there will be more opportunities ahead.  

“Equal Partnership Between Men and Women in Families”

Some days I think to myself, "I don't want to do the dishes, I don't want to fold the laundry by myself, I don't want to go to school, I don't want to clean the house, I don't want to be here alone (until the baby comes)," and I can think of so many more things that I "don't want to" dos.  Then I think about what my husband does throughout the day.  He gets up between 6am and 7am to boost his day with a work out.  He then showers, and eats the breakfast I make for him.  He then leaves at 9am to go to his work meeting.  By 10am he is driving to his area to walk from door-to-door to sell pest control for 5 1/2 hours, and then gets an hour long lunch then goes back to walking door-to-door for another 5 1/2 hours.  I couldn't imagine myself doing that same thing every day.  I also couldn't handle all of the rejection that comes with it.  My husband returns at night around 10pm on average.  Sometimes it's later, and sometimes it's earlier.  My husband works 9am-10pm every single day except for Sundays, and on Saturdays he works 9am-4pm.  

When I want to complain about the things I have to do in a day, I'm sure my husband would jump at the opportunity of switching places.  There is so much home that I have to take care of, but there is so much financial and stability that my husband has to take care of.  I couldn't ever repay my husband for all that he does in a day for our growing family.  All I can do is provide him a clean home, food when he needs it, love, support, care, and nurturing.  My husband is one of a kind.  

Have you thought about how you can support your husband or wife in their role in the family? Have you thought of ways you can serve your spouse? Have you recognized all the work that either role does in the day? Each role is crucial to our Heavenly Father's Plan.  

A husband and wife complete the necessary functions of one another and to return to our Heavenly Father's presence.  A father is to provide, preside, and protect over the family.  A mother is to care and nurture for the home and family. Both roles can aid to each other's help which creates a well-balanced home.  Think of what you can do to help your family.  

This is my husband relaxing for what few minutes he can at night.  

Part of the team that my husband works with out on a Saturday for some fun

We went out to eat for some time together.  

Our new baby niece of 4 months stayed the night with us, and my husband spent what time he could with her before and after work.  

“The Warm, Happy Marriage: Cold, Hard Facts to Consider”

Work: make sure the dishes are done, vacuum the house, make three meals a day, do the laundry, feed the children, get the oil changed, make the grocery list, go to the grocery, fill the car up with gas, work 12 hours a day, walk door to door, get yelled at, spend maybe three hours a day with my spouse, do homework, prepare the babies room, and so many more endless "work" things that need to be done.

Yes, I am comparing marriage to work, but this work is worth much more than any pay I could ever receive or that my husband could ever receive.  Please watch this video link provided.  This is a great example of what mothers do for their families. Fathers do so so so much of what mothers do as well.  Both roles do a great job to show endless power, dedication, love, and care.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWcJZ210AaM

Do you love your mother? Do you love your Father? What are some of the things that you see your parents have done for you, and in return how great of work have they put into their marriage?

“Foundational Processes for an Enduring Healthy Marriage”

Marriage takes work and time.  There's no couple out there that will ever tell you that life has been so easy being married, and no problems have ever occurred.  If someone tells you that then I want their number so I can have a little bit of that fairy dust their taking as well! 

Marriage take a lot of work.  There's no denying that.  There's so much that falls in the lines of "good things don't come easy," and it's very true.  Think of all the good things that have happened to you in your life.  Have they come easy, or have you had to work for them? I know that every aspect of my life has a bit of work involved with it.  

My husband and I are expecting our first child in four weeks.  Preparation for a baby takes a lot of work, and preparing to be parents takes a lot of work.  Even when our child gets here there will still be more to do for him. 

Preparing for marriage took a lot of time and work.  I got married at 20 years old.  I am going to be 22 this year.  All the years before then there was much preparation from Young Women's, college dating, and examples around me.  Marriage requires you to be selfless, and loving.  When you can forget about yourself and completely love and care about the other person, you will see miracles and blessings flow into your life.  

These are just a few photos of the work that has come through our marriage

“The Eternal Family: A Plain and Precious Part of the Plan of Salvation”

There is nothing greater than our Heavenly Father's Plan for us.  We are His sons and daughters.  Without family there is so much that we are missing.  Let me remind you that there is nothing restricted to blood here as a family. 

 I consider my best friend's family to be my family as well.  Of course, the traditional family lies with the mother, father, and their children.  I love to ad in my extended family.  WIth me being married just over a year and two months, with our first baby (boy) coming in August, family has taken on a whole new meaning for me.  I love my little family, and I can't wait for my little family to grow.  It is comforting to me to know that I will have my family for eternity, and that I will never have to live without them.  That is the beauty of our Heavenly Father's Plan for us.  

Here are some pictures of my family:

This is my family: we have a few nieces and nephews not pictured here, but because of the covenant my parents have made, we can be together forever.  Some of my sibling are inactive though. 

This is my husband's family.  

And here is a picture of our little tot growing inside, 32 weeks along (no pictures to be seen of him yet!). 

I love my family and the opportunity to live with them forever.  This upcoming week my husband, father, mother, and I have the opportunity to go to the Louisville temple to seal my father to his parents forever.  We are so humbled and excited!

According to Daniel K Judd, "From the beginning, God organized the human family and revealed that marriage and family relationships are intended to be eternal." (Judd, 2012 pg. 337). He goes onto say, "Each of us experiences periods of creation, such as the beginning of a marriage, the birth of a child, beginning a new school year or semester, receiving a new church calling, starting a new job, or beginning any other important process."

These inspiring words can be our direction through this life.  We have to recognize our dependence upon our Savior and Heavenly Father.  Challenge yourselves to reach out to your family and/or be a missionary to someone this week.