1-28-12

After watching our movie last night, the boys didn’t get into bed until 11pm. I went to bed shortly after, and Jacob must have come in after I had fallen asleep because I don’t remember it. Since the boys didn’t go to bed until 11pm, they didn’t get up until 9:45 this morning. Actually, they could have gotten up earlier, but that is when they came into our room. I’m guessing it wouldn’t have been more than a half hour that they were up because Teagan immediately wants milk and Easton wants green beans. They both need me to get those things for them. It was really nice to be able to sleep that long. I appreciate mornings of that nature.

After I got up and got the boys fed, I got ready for Stake Women’s Conference. It was from 8:30 to 3, but I figured I’d go before lunch and catch that class and then make it to a few more after lunch. The class I went to was taught by my stake president, Wayne Tew, and his wife. I seriously don’t think I have ever known and loved a stake president like I have President Tew. I got to know him better from meeting with him for my temple divorce. He’s just a sweet man who is so much fun to be around, and everyone absolutely loves him and his wife. He and his wife taught a class on Raising Royalty in Righteousness. He said this: “Despite our children’s agency, we need to approach child-rearing with faith and hope that our children will choose to live righteous lives.” Sometimes I feel a sense of hopelessness when I think of the fact that my children have agency that could potentially lead them onto paths I have taught them not to take. I sort of feel like what does it even matter what I teach my children if they later choose not to accept it? Which I know is not a good attitude to have, but I sometimes look at Laman and Lemuel and realize that Lehi did the best he could and got Nephi but still ended up with two wicked and rebellious sons. President Tew pointed out that we shouldn’t assume that any of our children will make wrong choices or fall away. He also gave 7 steps that we should be doing in our homes to establish the foundation that our children need to withstand the temptations of the devil.

1. Family Scripture Study

2. Family Prayer

3. Family Home Evening

4. Attend the temple and let your children know of your love for the temple.

5. Show love and affection of your children.

6. Show love and affection to your spouse and be sure your children know how much you love each other.

7. Have an open dialogue about gospel principles in your home.

I felt very happy sitting in this class and knowing that we do all of these things. I do think we need to work more on talking about the gospel in our daily lives and being sure that they boys know that it is who we are and not just what we learn about in the scriptures and in church.

His wife talked about the importance of The Family: A Proclamation to the World and how we need to read and live by it and teach it to our children so that they know what a real family is and don’t grow up thinking it’s like The Modern Family, that show on tv that shows families of every kind – gay, divorced, you name it. I think we will learn about the Proclamation on Monday for FHE.

After that first class, we had a fancy lunch with silk table linens and fancy silverware and a harpist and violinist playing classical music. They really went all out. I went to another class on pornography, then a cooking class, and then I headed home. I came to an empty house, and I figured that the boys had gone on a bike ride or something. Easton came in about 25 minutes later, running up the stairs to find me and say hi. He was so excited to tell me that Jacob had taken them on a bike ride, and then they rode to the desert to go exploring. He said they found rocks and  bunch of other garbage that my sweet husband convinced them was something awesome. He said it was so much fun. Teagan came upstairs later and told me about rocks and sticks and sands that they found and said that Easton found treasure. I love my husband for taking the boys out to do fun things that they absolutely love doing. Who takes little boys exploring in the desert and makes rocks into magical findings? Jacob does, that’s who. I’m glad that he has a great dad who taught him to be a great dad, and I love that he loves the boys so much. Makes it so easy for me to love and appreciate him for just being good to me and those boys. He’s wonderful with children, his nieces and nephew included, and I think it is one of his best qualities.

We spent the next couple hours just hanging out at home, having a good time with each other, and I prepared my lesson on the Holy Ghost for Young Women’s tomorrow. Around 6pm we headed over to my sister’s to watch a UFC fight, so the boys got to play with Sadie Face and we got to hang out with Bec and Jud and Joe and his date Samantha. I love my family, they are the best.