The Honesty Under Pressure Award:

I just recieved this in an email and thought it would be good to share. Here is the link for a few more tips also, http://powerofmoms.com/articles/228/1/Monthly-Value-July-The-Value-of-Honesty/Page1.html

This is a motivational way to get children to evaluate their personal honesty every week. On Sundays (or whatever day you most often get your whole family together for a meal) ask, "Who had a situation this past week where it was a challenge to be honest?" Have an "award" on hand to give to the person who remembers the best incident of being honest. A piece of construction paper or colored card with a neatly printed H.U.P. (Honesty Under Pressure) will do nicely as the award. Let the child (or adult) who wins put it on his bedroom door during the week until it is awarded again the next week. After a couple of weeks of "getting used to," you will find that children are thinking hard about their behavior of the past week in hopes of winning the award. And it is this kind of thinking and recognition that strongly reinforces honesty.

Most of us have felt that our world is caving in on us at one point or another in our lives. I am feeling that way right now in fact. It seems that nothing is going right or well, nothing makes since and everything leads to a dead end. So, that being said, I found this quote to be applicable.

"Jesus Christ is not our last chance, He is our only chance. He will show us the way because He is the way."

-Sherie Dew, Saying It Like It Is

Helpful Websites

Over the years I have really enjoyed reading Richard and Linda Eyre's parenting books. They also have a website that I find helpful...

http://www.valuesparenting.com/

Their daughter has also started a great website for moms...

http://www.powerofmoms.com/

Linda and Shawni (Linda's daughter) have also written a very cute and helpful book on mothering called, A Mother's Book of Secrets.

Enjoy!

Blessings and Miracles

Well, it's been over a month since my last post. The past month has been a difficult but great one. There has been so much that has gone on, but the biggest most life changing thing happened to our family on April 24, 2009. I will start by saying that my son is alive and doing great! This is the first time I have written the experience down because until now it has been too difficult for me to write.

We were in Boise, Idaho judging the Mrs. Idaho America pageant. I was in a judges meeting and my husband had taken the kids to the hotel pool. My meeting was right down the hall. We heard someone yell "call 911" and I knew immediately that it had to be my kids at the pool. I ran down to the pool so fast to find my oldest son, 5 years old, lying lifeless and blue on the side of the pool with my husband trying everything he knew to revive him in a panic.

Amazingly one of the other judges was a dentist and knew CPR. At the same time she came to give the CPR my husband gave him a blessing and to our amazement he started to breath again. The relief was like nothing I can describe yet I was still in a panic because I didn't know if he would ever make a full recovery. Just as he started breathing the paramedics arrived and gave him oxygen. This must have upset my son because he yelled, "No" and then whacked one of the paramedics. I have never been grateful to see my son hit anyone until that moment. I knew with the 'hit' that he was a least somewhat back to normal.

He was then taken to the hospital in the ambulance. He spent the night there on oxygen and around 10:30 at night he woke up and we knew for sure that there was no brain damage because he could answer all of our questions. What a relief that was. He remembered everything! That made me feel very sad.

I don't think I realized the full severity of the incident until the next day when the judge that gave him CPR told me, "he was gone." Then, the next morning, my son woke up and told me that when he 'fell asleep' he went to Heaven. He said there were a lot of colors and he saw Heavenly Father and that Heavenly Father had given him the choice to come back or not. He can't remember why he chose to come back but I'm sure glad he did.

This whole experience has been such a difficult thing for me to deal with, while at the same time it has taught me so much and been an absolute miracle! It is actually feeling really good to write it down.

I have so much to write about the lessons learned from the experience but I have written enough for today. (My pregnant brain can only process so much info and then it's done! :)) If I feel I can write more about it I will later.

Before I go though I just have to say that the people in Boise are some of the most wonderful people in the world! I can't believe how much people helped us!

Spirit of Our Religion

"The man or woman who enjoys the spirit of our religion has no trials; but the man or woman who tries to live according to the gospel of the Son of God, and at the same time clings to the spirit of the world, has trials and sorrows acute and keen, and that too, continually. This is the deciding point, the dividing line. They who love and serve God with all their hearts rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks; but they who try to serve God and still cling to the spirit of the world have got on two yokes - the yoke of Jesus and the yoke of the devil, and they will have plenty to do. They will have a warfare inside and outside, and the labor will be very galling, for they are directly in opposition one to the other."

-Brigham Young

President Uchtdorf

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf—"The gospel is the way of discipleship. As we walk in that way, we can experience confidence and joy, even during times of peril, sorrow and uncertainty. We live in a time when many worry about their livelihood. They are concerned about the future and doubt their ability to resolve the challenges that confront them. Many have experienced personal misfortune and sadness, they hunger for meaning and purpose in life. Because there is such a great interest in these issues the world is not bashful in offering numerous new answers to every problem we face. People run from one new idea to the next hoping to find something that will answer the burning questions of their souls. They attend seminars and buy books, CDs, and other products. They get caught up in the excitement of looking for something new, but, inevitably, the flame of each new theory fades only to be replaced by another new and improved solution that promises to do what the others before could not. It’s not that these worldly options don’t contain elements of truth, many of them do. Nevertheless, they all fall short of the lasting change we seek in our lives. After the excitement wears off the hollowness remains as we look for the next new idea to unlock the secrets of happiness. In contrast, the gospel of Jesus Christ has the answers to our problems—to all of our problems. The gospel is not a secret, it is not complicated or hidden. It can unlock the door to true happiness. It is not someone's theory or proposition. It does not come from man at all. It springs from the pure and everlasting waters of the Creator of the universe who knows truths we cannot even begin to comprehend, and with that knowledge He has given us the gospel—a divine gift—the ultimate formula for happiness and success,” (April 2009, Sunday Morning Session, General Conference).

Thank You Week

I've been wanting to get my kids involved in some service type activities but never know what to do. I found a book at Deseret Book called, 52 Weeks of Fun Family Service, and it has some good ideas. Some of the ideas are a bit out of my comfort zone, like the "Sing to Seniors" week because my husband and I sound like hungry, dying alley cats when we sing and I don't think that would be of service to ANYONE. However, this week is "Thank You" week. This we CAN do (or at least I thought we could do it). You just make a list of people that you and your children would like to thank (church leaders, teachers, friends, neighbors) and then have them draw pictures (if they are really young) and then write a little note. Then you can make a thank you tree. You cut out leaves and write things you are grateful for on each leaf and then glue or tape them to the tree. I think it sounds like a cute idea but when I suggested it to my 2 oldest kids I was met with 2 temper tantrums about how there is no one they want to thank and they will not draw a picture or write anything to anyone. I love this idea and hope it works for someone! :)

The Power of Women

So, I wasn't out of my first trimester until last week. I thought it ended at week 12 (you would think I'd remember by pregnancy #4) but I kept feeling bad so I asked a friend and she said her doctor said it actually ends at week 14... that was last week for me. I am starting to feel more energy and motivation. I just hope I can keep it going throughout the pregnancy.

I just found a great quote from Sheri Dew in her book, "Saying It Like It Is"

“We are here to influence the world rather than to be influenced by the world. If we could unleash the full influence of covenant-keeping women, the kingdom of God would change overnight.”

How do I upload a video

I have tried to upload 2 videos today but it's not working for me...any ideas?

D&C 42:61

"If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things--that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal."

I love this scripture. My husband and I just got done reading a lecture from Hugh Nibley about laying treasure up in heaven rather than on earth and it was fabulous. It is really important that we have the desire to learn the mysteries of God because this will bring us peace and joy here on this earth.

The Ulitmate Career

Well, my brain is still having a little trouble thinking and focusing but C.S. Lewis' seems to be working fine...

"The homemaker has the ultimate career. All other careers exist for one purpose only-- and that is to support this ultimate career."

-C.S. Lewis

Be Inspired to Keep Things Clean

If you're anything like me you might lose enthusiasm in cleaning your house or certain rooms of your house. One thing I have found that is helpful is to have a "pretty" room. Have you noticed that if a room looks really pretty when it's clean you will be more likely to clean it and keep it clean? This is true for me (not all of the time of course).

Sometimes, even if the room looks good it can get boring. If this is the case try rearranging furniture, pictures, and nick-nacks.

I like to keep neutral base colors in the house so that I can change the accent colors when I feel like it. This will give the room a new feeling for very little cost, time and effort. I am always on a very tight budget but there is still a lot you can do with very little. Paint and spray paint are two of my best friends. I paint everything when it starts looking old and tired or even if I just need a change. Another thing I hope to do eventually that doesn't cost a lot, is buy a couple of sets of curtains. You can get curtains for pretty cheap at places like Wal-Mart, Target and Ikea, or you can make you own. You can then change your curtains with the seasons or whenever you get the urge.

And of course there is painting the walls! I love painted walls. This is such a cheap and relatively easy way to change the whole look and feel of a room.

I really find that when things look good I am more inspired to keep them clean.

My Thoughts

I just can't seem to get my thoughts together now that I'm pregnant...does anyone else get this way during pregnancy? I am very disorganized, can't think, can't spell (I'm not the greatest at spelling as is so you can imagine how bad it gets). When I first started the blog I had so many things to write and say, now I can't remember ANYTHING!!! I hope it gets a little better in the 1st and 2nd trimesters. So, I'm sorry that I have been so inconsistent.

Parenting

Set standards years in advance. Begin early in your children's lives to prepare them to

* Dress and act modestly
* Abide by the Word of Wisdom
* Avoid entertainment that is degrading in andy way, regardless of how it is rated.
* Avoid substance abuse
* Avoid pornography
* Use proper language
* Be morally clean

Daryl Hoole, "The Ultimate Career"

Good Book

This was left in my comment box by a mother...

"I love the book, I am a Mother by Jane Clayson Johnson. It's not so much a "how to" parenting book or tips on how to raise your family. It is more a quick read that arouses the divinity of Motherhood. It really connects to the spirit of the job. I just wanted to pass the goodness along. enjoy."

Thank you for sharing Team Hancock!