that's how we roll!

Accident last night:

2012-02-04T14:25:00.007-07:00

We went to Missy's basketball game last night. (They won!) Christopher and Nicolas wanted to ride with Chris on the way home.
We almost made it home safely. We turned onto Woodland Hills and I felt prompted to go slow. I didn't know why, but I just let off the gas and watched my speed. We came upon a hill and I noticed a silver pickup truck. I was looking to see if I could see the 2 BYU stickers in the back window. Sure enough, they were there. I screamed..."Is that dad's truck?" Chris was standing by the side of the truck and there was a horse shaking by the back of the truck. I woke the kids up with that shriek and Em and Sam burst into tears and bolted out of the van as soon as I pulled over. I looked in my rearview mirror and saw the boys in the back so I knew that they were ok. I know why I needed to go slow now, I could have made things worse trying to slow down to check on them, if I was going the speed limit. I could have lost control of my own van. I just wish that I would have mentioned my prompting to the kids. I want them to know that we receive promptings all the time and we may not no why, but we need to follow them regardless.
I ran and hugged Chris then headed to the back of the truck to check on the boys. Nicolas was crying hysterically so I checked him out and Em got Christopher. I told Chris that I was going to take the kids home so that we weren't on the main road. We were seriously a stones throw from home. (ok a smidge more than that. 1/4 mile maybe)
So we come in the house, Emily is still bawling, and holding Christopher. Samantha is doing the same, but with Nicolas. Emily is trying to get Christopher to respond to her and says "he won't talk to me". So I take him and I put him on the couch and look for a flashlight. I run downstairs to get the neighbors, but they are not home.
I go back to the couch and we all kneel down in prayer. I offer it and I thank my Heavenly Father for preserving my family and keeping them safe. We are all bawling now.
I still can't get Christopher to respond, then we notice the 2 huge goose-eggs on his forehead. I call my neighbor and visiting teacher Sis. Riddle, she is a nurse, to come check him out. She says he needs to be seen, so we head to the hospital. He is still daized.
I call Chris as we're leaving to let him know and I call my parents to let them know. I also called Lexi, but I couldn't talk long. She and Rob show up at the hospital, which was comforting.
The nurse asks us who was in the accident and who needs to be checked first. She looks at Em. We start laughing because Em was just upset and crying, but looks like she might have been in the accident.
They check the boys out and decide Chris needs a CT scan. He is starting to act normal now. Nico is just soaking up the attention. A teddy bear, a juice, and tv.
Chris gets there and we are about ready to go.
We get home and I text Bri. funny thing is...she couldn't find her phone, so she accidentally called mine looking for hers. I call her back thinking she is replying to the texts about the accident, but she wasn't and had no idea it even happened.
We, well, Chris, woke the boys up every 2 hours during the night. When Andrew woke up this morning he started crying and I went in to get him. Nico started throwing his arms and legs all over the place and I asked him what was wrong. He said,"I moved my arms and my legs and now I am going back to sleep." I think he had enough of being woken up.
Crazy side note: We just paid off the truck this week, but I hadn't called to take comprehensive coverage off yet.

A New Temple

2012-01-22T08:21:00.002-07:00

So excited about the New Temple!

I know the blessings found here are worth every sacrifice!

Lindsey

2012-01-10T15:54:00.000-07:00

Camille

2012-01-10T15:51:00.000-07:00

Nico

2012-01-10T15:27:00.004-07:00

BROTHERS

2012-01-10T15:22:00.001-07:00

Bri

2012-01-10T15:14:00.002-07:00

Bubba

2012-01-10T15:10:00.003-07:00

There is something really wrong with this picture!

2012-01-10T15:08:00.001-07:00

He is such a nut!

Christmas morning

2012-01-10T13:11:00.017-07:00

Camille--Mini Miss pageant

2012-01-10T13:08:00.000-07:00

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!

2012-01-10T12:58:00.002-07:00

Sweet baby...

2012-01-10T12:51:00.000-07:00

Andrew at 21 months

2012-01-03T15:36:00.002-07:00

Wow!!!

2011-09-28T07:04:00.002-06:00

It's only 22 minutes. 22 Minutes of time to hear a powerful message from an Apostle of the Lord.

http://lds.org/general-conference/watch/2011/10?lang=eng&vid=1180453706001&cid=7

Cruise!

2011-06-14T16:24:00.003-06:00

We had so much fun!! Grandma Marble took her family on a cruise to Mexico.
We don't have many pictures, the camera was too big to carry around with everything else we had to take.
The first night at the Hotel, we walked in and Nicolas said,"I thought this was a hospital, I was going to be like WWHHHHAAAAT."

We have some pictures of Catalina Island.
Chris took the kids parasailing and I stayed on the boat with Nico and Andrew. We could see them from our room though so that was pretty fun to watch.

After parasailing, we rented golf carts and rode around the island. So, so fun!!!
The boys were obviously exhausted when we got back to the ship.

Family picture on Cruise!!

2011-06-10T14:11:00.000-06:00

Andrew and his blue truck

2011-06-10T14:00:00.001-06:00

Andrew is getting so big! He even makes the truck noise. So cute!!!

Miss Salem Pagent

2011-05-28T14:26:00.002-06:00

Jordan was in the Miss Salem Pagent.
She did such a GREAT job. Camille was her Little Miss too! What a fun night!!!

SISTERS

2011-05-28T10:38:00.000-06:00

Lindsey & Camille

Last day of School

2011-05-26T13:18:00.000-06:00

Karsyn,Camille and their teacher Miss Steiner:

Lindsey, Quincee and their teacher Mr. Hartman

Lindsey and her pirate

Baylie, Sam and Skyler

Emily and Haley

Brianne ROCKS!

2011-05-25T14:17:00.000-06:00

Brianne is such an amazing girl. I am so happy for her and I know that her future is only getting brighter and brighter!!
I love that girl!

Brianne's Graduation!!!

2011-05-24T07:52:00.000-06:00

Christopher's Graduation

2011-05-19T10:30:00.003-06:00

Christopher and Brianne's last day at school.

Christopher and his teacher Mrs. Burgi

The program

His diploma

I like this quote:

2011-05-18T18:38:00.001-06:00

"There are times in our lives when we are on narrow roads. At those times, we are fools if we try to maintain our usual speed."~Unknown

I like this quote too:

2011-05-18T16:46:00.002-06:00

“Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one. The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort.” ~Rick Warren

Father & Sons

2011-05-18T16:40:00.000-06:00

Nico & Lex being NERDS!

2011-05-11T08:12:00.000-06:00

Mother's Day!

2011-05-08T09:47:00.006-06:00

I love Mother's Day!! I have beautiful children that I am thankful for and a wonderful husband that supports me in my decisions.
I have learned to relax about Mother's Day. I used to think that if my family didn't do anything for me that they didn't really care about me. But how could that be true. I know it's not, so if nothing special happens on Mother's Day-it's not personal. However, I did get some pretty cute gifts this year, here are some of them:

Rob and Lex got me this cute picture and wrote me a sweet card!
The mom in this reminds me of my own mom a little bit.

It says, "The Love of a Mother comes nearer to being like the Love of God than any other kind of love."

Lindsey made me this heart with one of my most favorite scriptures on it. 2 Nephi 4:34

Camille made these flower pens at school and she made a potted flower at Achievement Days. So cute!

Nico picked this for me. How sweet is that? Picked it and brought it to me all on his own. He also had a pot of grass that he got from Primary. It didn't survive. I have a new garden in the back of my van.

Emily wrote me the sweetest note. It means so much to me when my children write me thank you notes. I love them!!

Christopher also had a pot of grass from Primary...unfortunately that didn't survive either. I sat on it during church...ugh...mud everywhere. Oops! super funny!

Family photo

2011-05-07T07:40:00.000-06:00

From Danette's camera:

2011-05-06T07:20:00.006-06:00

These are from my camera..

2011-05-05T09:29:00.006-06:00

These are not from Melanie's camera. They are not edited. They were taken by one of my girls.

Reception photos

2011-04-29T18:22:00.001-06:00

The band:

Oops! I got Chris the wrong set of shoes. At least it wasn't 2 left feet:

Me helping Lexi get ready:

Lexi,Rob and Elder Dahlquist:

Decorations...

2011-04-29T14:33:00.000-06:00

Rob & his Dad

2011-04-29T14:32:00.000-06:00

Family...

2011-04-29T14:22:00.000-06:00

More Family...

2011-04-29T14:20:00.000-06:00

More & more Family...

2011-04-29T14:19:00.000-06:00

The kids having fun...

2011-04-29T14:17:00.000-06:00

The candy...

2011-04-29T14:15:00.000-06:00

The cake...

2011-04-29T14:06:00.000-06:00

Mr. & Mrs. Dollar

2011-04-29T09:52:00.000-06:00

She's getting married today...

2011-04-28T11:10:00.001-06:00

All of these Gorgeous pictures are done by Lexi's aunt Melanie!!! GREAT JOB GIRL!!!

More Wedding photos with the boys

2011-04-28T11:05:00.001-06:00

More wedding photos with the girls

2011-04-28T11:04:00.000-06:00

More and more photos

2011-04-28T11:03:00.000-06:00

still more photos

2011-04-28T11:02:00.000-06:00

and still more

2011-04-28T11:01:00.000-06:00

Alexis' Bridals

2011-04-26T11:11:00.000-06:00

Thanks Melanie!!!

His Sacred Name - An Easter Declaration

2011-04-24T13:22:00.000-06:00

Kind of a funny post

2011-04-22T10:46:00.002-06:00

I may have to retract this later-I don't know this person's political views-however,
everyone knows that I think Donny Osmond is the coolest celebrity out there.
But I think it is a little known fact who I believe to be one of the coolest female celebrities out there as well....(besides Julie Roberts)
Jamie Lee Curtis. I know, I know, I am going to get a lot of slack for this, especially from my husband. (good thing he doesn't read my blog) I think she is so pretty, she is so fit and she is also very funny. I have seen her in a few movies lately and I find her very entertaining.
Anyway...

Another picture of Alexis and Robert:

2011-04-22T10:41:00.001-06:00

This one is my favorite one of all.

I think he is SO cute!

2011-04-13T10:39:00.000-06:00

Birthdays, birthdays and more birthdays...

2011-04-10T23:06:00.000-06:00

April is a big month for birthdays!
We had a big celebration!
Nacho night/dance party/Birthday party.
We made a BIG cake, the top was for Andrew, the middle for Christopher and the bottom was for Jordan. It took 7 cake mixes to make it. We hd lots of fun and everyone got involved in the decorating-including Chris!!

Samantha and Lindsey made modeling chocolate and then made the flowers and football.

P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DUSTIN!! WE LOVE YOU!!!

More of the birthday celebration:

2011-04-09T23:52:00.002-06:00

The kids were all having a great time dancing around.
Marlin was being crazy! He had Camille up his shirt, using her hands, he was being a character...

Party pictures...

2011-04-09T00:22:00.000-06:00

More dance party...

2011-04-09T00:08:00.000-06:00

My baby is ONE!

2011-04-08T00:04:00.000-06:00

Somebody loves blackberries...

2011-04-06T07:30:00.000-06:00

Andrew

2011-04-03T12:34:00.001-06:00

Rob and Lexi's engagment photos:

2011-04-03T08:33:00.006-06:00

More of Rob and Lexi's engagement pictures.

2011-04-03T08:22:00.002-06:00

Another great talk!

2011-03-20T20:51:00.004-06:00

Teaching the Doctrine of the Family By Julie B.Beck

This generation will be called upon to defend the doctrine of the family as never before. If they don’t know the doctrine, they can’t defend it.
As I meet with young single adults around the world, I ask them, “Why does the First Presidency care so much about you and provide so many resources for you?” These are some of the answers I get: “We are future Church leaders.” “We need training so we can stay strong.” “Our testimonies are strengthened in our seminary and institute classes.” “We need to meet other great Latter-day Saint youth.” “We are the hope of the future.” I have rarely heard, “So I will someday be a better father or a better mother.” Their responses are generally about self, because this is the time of life they are in.

Nevertheless, parents, teachers, and leaders of youth need to teach the rising generation the doctrine of the family. It is essential to help them achieve eternal life (see Moses 1:39). They need to know that the theology of the family is based on the Creation, the Fall, and the Atonement. They need to understand the threats to the family so they will know what they are fighting against and can prepare. They need to understand clearly that the fulness of the gospel is realized in temple ordinances and covenants.

The Theology of the Family
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we have a theology of the family that is based on the Creation, the Fall, and the Atonement. The Creation of the earth provided a place where families could live. God created a man and a woman who were the two essential halves of a family. It was part of Heavenly Father’s plan that Adam and Eve be sealed and form an eternal family.

The Fall provided a way for the family to grow. Adam and Eve were family leaders who chose to have a mortal experience. The Fall made it possible for them to have sons and daughters.

The Atonement allows for the family to be sealed together eternally. It allows for families to have eternal growth and perfection. The plan of happiness, also called the plan of salvation, was a plan created for families. The rising generation need to understand that the main pillars of our theology are centered in the family.

When we speak of qualifying for the blessings of eternal life, we mean qualifying for the blessings of eternal families. This was Christ’s doctrine, and it was restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. It is recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 2:1–3:

“Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.

“And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers.

“If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming.”

This scripture is talking about temple blessings—ordinances and covenants without which “the whole earth [is] utterly wasted.”

“The Family: A Proclamation to the World” was written to reinforce that the family is central to the Creator’s plan. 1 Without the family, there is no plan; there is no reason for mortal life.

Threats to the Family
In addition to understanding the theology of the family, we all need to understand the threats to the family. If we don’t, we can’t prepare for the battle. Evidence is all around us that the family is becoming less important. Marriage rates are declining, the age of marriage is rising, and divorce rates are rising. Out-of-wedlock births are growing. Abortion is rising and becoming increasingly legal. We see lower birth rates. We see unequal relationships between men and women, and we see cultures that still practice abuse within family relationships. Many times a career gains importance over the family.

Many of our youth are losing confidence in the institution of families. They’re placing more and more value on education and less and less importance on forming an eternal family. Many don’t see forming families as a faith-based work. For them, it’s a selection process much like shopping. Many also distrust their own moral strength and the moral strength of their peers. Because temptations are so fierce, many are not sure they can be successful in keeping covenants.

Many youth also have insufficient and underdeveloped social skills, which are an impediment to forming eternal families. They are increasingly adept at talking to someone 50 miles (80 km) away and less able to carry on conversations with people in the same room. That makes it difficult for them to socialize with each other.

We also face the problem that we read about in Ephesians 6:12: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Public policies are being made every day that are antifamily, and the definition of family is changing legally around the world. Pornography is rampant. For those who create pornography, their new target audience is young women. Parents are being portrayed as inept and out of touch. Antifamily media messages are everywhere. Youth are being desensitized about the need to form eternal families.

We see how this can happen when we read the words of Korihor, an anti-Christ: “Thus he did preach unto them, leading away the hearts of many, causing them to lift up their heads in their wickedness, yea, leading away many women, and also men, to commit whoredoms” (Alma 30:18). Satan knows that he will never have a body; he will never have a family. So he targets young women, who will create the bodies for the future generations.

Korihor was an anti-Christ. Anti-Christ is antifamily. Any doctrine or principle our youth hear from the world that is antifamily is also anti-Christ. It’s that clear. If our youth cease to believe in the righteous traditions of their fathers as did the people described in Mosiah 26, if our youth don’t understand their part in the plan, they could be led away.

Teaching the Rising Generation
What is it we hope this rising generation will understand and do because of what we teach them? The answers to that question as well as the key elements of the doctrine of the family are found in the family proclamation. President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008) said that the proclamation was “a declaration and reaffirmation of standards, doctrines, and practices” that this Church has always had. 2

President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994) said, “This order … of family government where a man and woman enter into a covenant with God—just as did Adam and Eve—to be sealed for eternity, to have posterity … is the only means by which we can one day see the face of God and live.” 3

The rising generation need to understand that the command to “multiply, and replenish the earth” (Genesis 1:28; Moses 2:28) remains in force. Bearing children is a faith-based work. President Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985) said, “It is an act of extreme selfishness for a married couple to refuse to have children when they are able to do so.” 4 Motherhood and fatherhood are eternal roles. Each carries the responsibility for either the male or the female half of the plan. Youth is the time to prepare for those eternal roles and responsibilities.

Parents, teachers, and leaders can help young people prepare for the blessings of Abraham. What are those blessings? Abraham tells us in Abraham 1:2. He says he wanted “the right whereunto I should be ordained to administer; … to be one who possessed great knowledge, … to be a father of many nations, a prince of peace, and desiring to receive instructions, and to keep the commandments of God, I became a rightful heir, a High Priest, holding the right belonging to the fathers.”

Where are these blessings Abraham received? They come only to those who have a temple sealing and marriage. A man cannot become a “father of many nations” without being sealed to his wife. Likewise, Abraham could not hold the right belonging to the fathers without a wife who had the right belonging to the mothers.

The stories of Abraham and Sarah and of Isaac and Rebekah are found in Genesis. Abraham and Sarah had only one son, Isaac. If Abraham was to be the “father of many nations,” how important was Isaac’s wife, Rebekah? She was so important that he sent his servant hundreds of miles to find the right young woman—one who would keep her covenants, one who understood what it meant to form an eternal family.

In Genesis 24:60, Rebekah is blessed to be “the mother of thousands of millions.” Where do we find those kinds of blessings? They are received in the temple.

The story of Isaac and Rebekah is an example of the man, who has the keys, and the woman, who has the influence, working together to ensure the fulfillment of their blessings. Their story is pivotal. The blessings of the house of Israel depended on a man and a woman who understood their place in the plan and their responsibilities to form an eternal family, to bear children, and to teach them.

In our day we have the responsibility to send “Isaac” and “Rebekah” forth from our homes and classrooms. Every young man and young woman should understand his or her role in this great partnership—that they are each an “Isaac” or a “Rebekah.” Then they will know with clarity what they have to do.

Live the Hope of Eternal Life
Parents, teachers, and leaders: live in your homes, in your families, in your marriages so that youth will develop hope for eternal life from watching you. Live and teach with so much clarity that what you teach will cut through all the noise youth are hearing and so that it will pierce their hearts and touch them.

Live in your home so that you’re brilliant in the basics, so that you’re intentional about your roles and responsibilities in the family. Think in terms of precision not perfection. If you have your goals and you are precise in how you go about them in your homes, youth will learn from you. They will learn that you pray, study the scriptures together, have family home evening, make a priority of mealtimes, and speak respectfully of your marriage partner. Then from your example the rising generation will gain great hope.

This I Know
We are preparing our youth for the temple and for eternal families. Many threats are coming to them that can discourage them from forming an eternal family. Our role in this is to teach them so they don’t misunderstand. We must be very clear on key points of doctrine, which we find in “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.”

This generation will be called upon to defend the doctrine of the family as never before. If they don’t know it, they can’t defend it. They need to understand temples and priesthood.

President Kimball said:

“Many of the social restraints which in the past have helped to reinforce and to shore up the family are dissolving and disappearing. The time will come when only those who believe deeply and actively in the family will be able to preserve their families in the midst of the gathering evil around us. …

“… There are those who would define the family in such a nontraditional way that they would define it out of existence. …

“We of all people, brothers and sisters, should not be taken in by the specious arguments that the family unit is somehow tied to a particular phase of development a moral society is going through. We are free to resist those moves which downplay the significance of the family and which play up the significance of selfish individualism. We know the family to be eternal.” 5

The gospel of Jesus Christ is true. It was restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. We have the fulness of the gospel this day. We are sons and daughters of heavenly parents, who sent us forth to have this earthly experience to prepare us for the blessing of eternal families. I bear you my testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ, that through His Atonement we can become perfect and equal to our responsibilities in our earthly families and that through His Atonement we have the promise of eternal life in families.

The Family Is Eternal

“The family is not an accident of mortality. It existed as an organizational unit in the heavens before the world was formed; historically, it started on earth with Adam and Eve, as recorded in Genesis. Adam and Eve were married and sealed for time and all eternity by the Lord, and as a result their family will exist eternally.”

Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” in Dawn Hall Anderson, ed., Clothed with Charity: Talks from the 1996 Women’s Conference (1997), 134.

To Teachers

“Your chief interest, your essential and all but sole duty, is to teach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ as that has been revealed in these latter days. You are to teach this gospel using as your sources and authorities the standard works of the Church and the words of those whom God has called to lead His people in these last days.”

President J. Reuben Clark Jr. (1871–1961), First Counselor in the First Presidency, The Charted Course of the Church in Education, rev. ed. (1994), 10; see also Teaching the Gospel: A Handbook for CES Teachers and Leaders (2001), 4.

Using “The Family: A Proclamation to the World”
• Hang a copy of the proclamation in your home or classroom.

• Encourage youth to keep a copy of the proclamation in their scriptures.

• Link key statements in the proclamation to lessons taught from the scriptures.

• Study and refer to the proclamation in family home evening.

We have a theology of the family that is based on the Creation, the Fall, and the Atonement.

We are preparing our youth for the temple and for eternal families.

Among the threats to the family is divorce, which is on the rise.

Parents, as well as leaders and teachers of youth, should teach the doctrine of the family to the rising generation as found in the scriptures and the family proclamation.

Random favorites

2011-03-20T20:23:00.000-06:00

I'm so melancholy...you know...sad...

2011-03-19T18:38:00.002-06:00

I'm just sitting here thinking about my family and friends that I miss.
So...If you are not here at my house-right now-I Miss you!
Just sayin.
I love you all!

Don't get pinched!

2011-03-17T20:10:00.001-06:00

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!! I used to color the milk green and serve green potatoes, but my kids didn't find that too appetizing.

A funny side note, Chris wore a blue and white striped shirt to work. We went to meet him for lunch and Christopher brought him a green shirt so that he wouldn't get pinched.

Side note: I noticed the snowflakes in the windows...I think it's time to take them down and put up flowers for spring.

Please tell me you've had a day like this...

2011-03-17T07:33:00.005-06:00

5:30am-We get up for scriptures.
6:00-scriptures finish, fighting begins.
6:15-fighting continues.
6:30-still fighting...
6:45-someone is going to get hurt.
7:00-wait, what...my girls are fighting. NO way.
7:15-stop the fighting.
7:30-still fighting.
7:45-fighting, fighting, fighting.
8:00-fighting.
8:15-oh, that's right, their fighting.
8:30-leave for school. Fighting in the car.
8:40-talking to Samantha about fighting. Getting no where.
8:45-You need to go to school. You're late.
8:50-We'll talk later-you have to go.
9:00-"Get out of my car, or I will kill you."
9:00-Sam, "Oh wow!" gets out crying.
9:00am til forever-mom feeling guilty for harsh words towards daughter.

Bad day.

My only consolation: When I told my mom and dad about this, they couldn't stop laughing because they couldn't believe something like that came out of my mouth. I went and saw them in the evening and they were still chuckling about it even then.

A Talk to READ!

2011-03-13T16:14:00.002-06:00

Gordon B. Hinckley, "The Blessings of Family Prayer", Ensign, Feb. 1991

The Apostle Paul declared to Timothy:

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

“For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

“Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

“Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.” (2 Tim. 3:1–4.)

There needs to be a new emphasis on honesty, character, and integrity in our time. Only as we build again into the fiber of our lives the virtues that are the essence of true civilization will the pattern of our times change. The question that confronts us is, Where shall we begin?

I am satisfied that it must begin with recognition of God as our Eternal Father, of our relationship to Him as His children, with communication with Him in recognition of His sovereign position, and with daily supplication for His guidance in our affairs.

I submit that a return to the old pattern of prayer, family prayer in the homes of the people, is one of the basic medications that would check the dread disease that is eroding the character of our society. We could not expect a miracle in a day, but in a generation we would have a miracle.

A generation or two ago, family prayer in the homes of Christian people throughout the world was as much a part of the day’s activity as was eating. As that practice has diminished, the moral decay discussed by the Apostle Paul has ensued.

I feel satisfied that there is no adequate substitute for the morning and evening practice of kneeling together—father, mother, and children. This, more than soft carpets, more than lovely draperies, more than cleverly balanced color schemes, is the thing that will make for better and more beautiful homes.

There is something in the very posture of kneeling that contradicts the attitudes described by Paul: “proud … heady, highminded.”

There is something in the very practice of father and mother and children kneeling together that evaporates others of those qualities he described: “disobedient to parents, … without natural affection.”

There is something in the act of addressing Deity that offsets a tendency toward blasphemy and toward becoming lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.

The inclination to be unholy, as Paul described it, to be unthankful, is erased as together family members thank the Lord for life and peace and all they have. And as they thank the Lord for one another, there is developed within the family a new appreciation, a new respect, a new affection one for another.

The scripture declares: “Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things.” (D&C 59:7.) And again: “In nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand.” (D&C 59:21.)

In remembering together before the Lord the poor, the needy, and the oppressed, there is developed, unconsciously but realistically, a love for others above self, a respect for others, a desire to serve the needs of others. One cannot ask God to help a neighbor in distress without feeling motivated to do something oneself toward helping that neighbor. What miracles would happen in the lives of the children of the world if they would lay aside their own selfishness and lose themselves in the service of others. The seed from which this sheltering and fruitful tree may grow is best planted and nurtured in the daily supplications of the family.

I know of no better way to inculcate love for country than for parents to pray before their children for the land in which they live, invoking the blessings of the Almighty upon it that it may be preserved in liberty and in peace. I know of no better way to build within the hearts of our children a much-needed respect for authority than remembering in the daily supplications of the family the leaders of our respective countries who carry the burdens of government.

I remember seeing on a billboard a statement that read, “A nation at prayer is a nation at peace.” I believe this.

I know of nothing that will so much help to ease family tensions, that in a subtle way will bring about the respect for parents which leads to obedience, that will affect the spirit of repentance which will largely erase the blight of broken homes, than will praying together, confessing weaknesses together before the Lord, and invoking the blessings of the Lord upon the home and those who dwell there.

I have long been impressed with a statement made by a man long since dead. James H. Moyle wrote to his grandchildren concerning the family prayer of his own home. He said: “We have not gone to bed before kneeling in prayer to supplicate divine guidance and approval. Differences may arise in the best governed families, but they will be dissipated by the … spirit of prayer. … Its very psychology tends to promote the more righteous life among men. It tends to unity, love, forgiveness, to service.”

In 1872 Colonel Thomas L. Kane, the great friend of our people in the days of their distress in Iowa and at the time of the coming of the army to the Salt Lake Valley, came west again with his wife and two sons. They traveled to St. George with Brigham Young, stopping each night in the homes of Church members along the way. Mrs. Kane wrote a series of letters to her father back in Philadelphia. In one of these she said:

“At every one of the places we stayed on this journey we had prayers immediately after the dinner-supper, and prayers again before breakfast. No one was excused … the Mormons … kneel at once, while the head of the household, or an honored guest prays aloud. … They spend very little time in ascriptions, but ask for what they need, and thank Him for what He has given. … [They] take it for granted that God knows our familiar names and titles, and will ask a blessing on [a particular individual by name], … I liked this when I became used to it.”

Oh, that we as a people might fully cultivate this practice, which was of such importance to our pioneer forebears. Family prayer was as much a part of their worship as were the meetings convened in the Tabernacle. With the faith that came of those daily invocations, they grubbed the sagebrush, led the waters to the parched soil, made the desert blossom, governed their families in love, lived in peace one with another, and made their names immortal as they lost themselves in the service of God.

The family is the basic unit of society. The praying family is the hope of a better society. “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found.” (Isa. 55:6.)

Can we make our homes more beautiful? Yes, through addressing ourselves as families to the Source of all true beauty. Can we strengthen society and make it a better place in which to live? Yes, by strengthening the virtue of our family life through kneeling together and supplicating the Almighty in the name of his Beloved Son.

This practice, a return to family worship, spreading across the land and over the earth, would in a generation largely lift the blight that is destroying us. It would restore integrity, mutual respect, and a spirit of thankfulness in the hearts of people.

The Master declared, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” (Matt. 7:7.)

I give you my testimony that if you sincerely apply family prayer, you will not go away unrewarded. The changes may not be readily apparent. They may be extremely subtle. But they will be real, for God “is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Heb. 11:6.)

May we be faithful in setting an example before the world in this practice and in encouraging others to do likewise.

I have another blog...

2011-03-07T18:55:00.002-07:00

I know I am long overdue on this blog. I will update it soon.
I have a new blog that is all about my weight loss journey.
It will have fun healthy recipes that I have made and my weight loss progress.

I am doing this blog with my friends Andrea and Jill.

Check it out!!!

www.happyvibrantandalive.blogspot.com

See ya there!

Lexi made cupcakes...

2011-02-28T20:05:00.000-07:00

If you know Lexi, you know that she LOVES peanut butter. We have a yummy frosting recipe and decided to see if we could make peanut butter frosting out of it. We did it. It was so yummy!

Lexi is ENGAGED!

2011-02-28T20:02:00.001-07:00

Lindsey's photo shoot.

2011-02-21T19:53:00.000-07:00

Jordan and Lindsey had a makeup and photo shoot.
Super cute and super fun for Lindsey!

More of Andrew

2011-02-20T19:56:00.001-07:00

It looks like these are after his first haircut.
He is so cute.
I really don't have a favorite child, he is just changing so much I can't help taking pictures of him all the time.

Well, I do have a favorite child...but it changes all the time. From moment to moment which one is my favorite at that moment. They will all say they are. :)

Andrew

2011-02-20T19:19:00.000-07:00

Happy Valentine's Day!!

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Lindsey made the cutest cake. She used a cookie cutter to put sprinkles on the cake.
She is so creative!
We made yummy cookies and took some to Grandpa and Grandma.

Sleeping baby...

2011-01-21T11:06:00.001-07:00

I think he is so cute when he is sleeping!!

SWEET BABY.

Christopher (5 1/2)

2011-01-21T10:59:00.002-07:00

Photo shoot with girls...is he a missionary or a gangsta?

Nicolas (3 years old)

2011-01-21T10:51:00.001-07:00

Photo shoot with the girls. He went Gangsta on us.

Andrew is 9 months old

2011-01-21T10:43:00.002-07:00

The girls had a photo shoot with the boys, I thought they had some pretty cute pictures.
Andrew's hair looks really red, but it's not. It must be the lighting.

Samantha's birthday

2011-01-15T21:11:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Samantha-You are officially a teenager.

Sam had some of her friends over from school and they watched Despicable Me.

We are lucky to have such a sweet girl in our home. Samantha is very sensitive to the Spirit. She is kind and loving to her siblings. She is willing to serve them and she thinks about them a lot. She bought Emily a bag because she know she would like it. She bought Camille a pillow pet because she was the only one that didn't have one and she bought Nico a Build-a-Bear because he was the only one that didn't have one of those. She is just so thoughtful and I love it.
She is still the best singer EVER!!

Christmas

2010-12-25T12:44:00.000-07:00

CHRISTMAS

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Christmas Eve activities

2010-12-24T12:18:00.001-07:00

MORE Christmas Eve activities

2010-12-24T12:12:00.002-07:00

MORE Christmas Eve activities

2010-12-24T12:02:00.000-07:00

Christmas Eve activities

2010-12-24T11:51:00.000-07:00

The kids were trying to make gingerbread houses. They didn't work, so they made a reindeer instead.

More of Camille's Baptism...

2010-12-11T07:53:00.000-07:00

A visit with Santa...

2010-12-10T09:55:00.002-07:00

We took the kids to see "Tangled" and Santa...
The kids didn't even know what to ask for, how cute are they?
We told them we are going to get food storage...who wants the wheat?

Andrew is 8 months old...

2010-12-08T09:51:00.001-07:00

He is such a happy baby.
He is on the verge of crawling, he says mamma. (kindof)
He weighs 21 lbs.
And BOY DO WE LOVE HIM!!

Camille's baptism!

2010-12-04T09:33:00.001-07:00

What a GREAT day!

Mille was baptized. She was so excited. "Grandma" Orton made her dress. Grandma Green and Grandma Marble bought her the cute silver shoes and headband. The cousins all sang. Both Grandmas gave talks. The spirit was present. A beautiful day for my baby girl. Thanks everyone-near and far-for making this a special day for her.

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HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

2010-11-02T13:04:00.006-06:00

We had a great Halloween. First, we had a carnival at the Anaya's house. That was a lot of fun. There were games and prizes and food. Samantha won a super cute cake in the cake walk. Maybe I can find a picture. The only really bad weather so far this year was during this party. A really fast storm blew in. Whitney and I and some of the kids were outside during it. Then it started hailing and thundering and then lightning. We both went nuts for second and started yelling at the kids to get inside. We were on the sports court and there where high metal poles. There was also a tent with poles. So, Lindsey started running but she slipped and hurt her knee. I ran back out to get all of her prizes. By the time I got back in I was drenched! I was out there maybe 3 minutes.
We went upstairs to watch Daniel open birthday presents and Christopher was just looking at me with this super sad face. Every time I caught his eye he was looking at me with that same look on his face. Sad, scared, and full of love.
I went over to him to see what was wrong and he started crying and gave me a big hug. He said he was really worried about me out in that storm. He thought I was going to die.
Cute addition to this story: last night during his prayer he thanked Heavenly Father that I was safe. Then when his prayer was over he looked at me again with that same look. Then he put his hand on my cheek and just stared at me. He said, "I love you mom." AHH!
Then we went to our ward Trunk or Treat. We were there for a whole 30 mins. You can see my friend Kaye giving the kids candy. So funny. She gave Nico and Christopher handfuls. They were happy. There are no pictures of the boys. Oops! Nico was spiderman, but didn't wear his costume. Christopher was Iron Man and didn't want to be wearing it.
After that we went to Belli's house for pizza. YUM! The kids went around the block and trick or treated while we visited inside.
It was a great night.
Lexi and Bri hung out with their friends JaNae and Delite. They were the characters from Alice in Wonderland...obviously...
The funny part about this story is that JaNae had her costume picked out first and the other 3 girls figured theirs out based on hers and didn't tell her. They showed up at the Trunk or Treat and totally surprised her. It was GREAT. They came to Belli's for pizza too. Way fun!
If you look really close, you can see my cousin Nic and his little girl Riley in the corner of the pictures. CUTE!