I had the opportunity to give a talk in Relief Society.

The subject that was given to me was

Facing Challenges in raising Children,

also

How to handle them with Love.

I laugh at her when she gave this talk to me, and then thought "this will be a great reminder or maybe a start for me.

Here are some key points

Now this is not all of my talk I didn't want to bore you all with it.

1. Our communication

Our Communications reflect in our countenance. Therefore, we must be careful not only what we communicate, but also how we do so. Souls can be strengthened or shattered by the message and the manner in which we communicate.

2. Personal Revelation

Personal revelations Sisters can help create strong homes and families as they act on personal revelation. “The ability to qualify for, receive, and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life,”Sister Beck continued. “Qualifying for the Lord’s Spirit begins with a desire for that Spirit and implies a certain degree of worthiness. Keeping the commandments, repenting, and renewing covenants made at baptism lead to the blessing of always having the Lord’s Spirit with us. Making and keeping temple covenants also adds spiritual strength and power to a woman’s life. Many answers to difficult questions are found by reading the scriptures because the scriptures are an aid to revelation. … Daily prayer is essential to having the Lord’s Spirit with us.”1

3. Be a good Example

If each and every one of us who are parents will reflect upon the responsibilities devolving upon us, we shall come to the conclusion that we should never permit ourselves to do anything that we are not willing to see our children do. We should set them an example that we wish them to imitate.” (Journal of Discourses, 14:192.) L Tom Perry

4.We can do hard things

Uchtdorf said Forget not to be patient with your self. Stop comparing our weaknesses to their strengths. This drives us to create expectations for ourselves that are impossible to meet. As a result, we never celebrate our good efforts because they seem to be less than what someone else does. Remember we to are learning how to become better parents. And yes things are tough “ but we can do hard things.

5.Be Patients

A celestial home is difficult to achieve in this world, particularly at this time. It requires that we know what we are aiming for and then that we toil endlessly toward that target, Remember we must keep our sights on heaven and remind ourselves constantly that our goal is a celestial home—and that although all the powers of confusion and darkness gather against us, they shall not prevail. With our own best efforts and the blessings of the Lord we cannot fail.

6. Discipline with love

Sisters remember to counsel with the lord as will as with your husband. It is important in disciplining and teaching children that the parents be unified. Whether your style is strict or permissive is not as important as that the discipline is “consistent.” Both parents coming from different family systems will find this consistency often difficult to generate. Parents need to support each other and come to some agreements on how severe and how discipline is to be carried out. Inconsistency, leads to confusion for the child and they quickly learn to run from one parent to the other to get what they want. They quickly learn to manage their parents. This often leads to contention in the marriage, as one parent will feel unsupported and let down and both parents are often frustrated. Learning to be consistent and unified in correcting our children is not easy, but an important necessity in order for our children to grow into righteous adults. It is essential in your relationship as husband and wife. Remember we are all children of our Heavenly Father and he also chastens all of us on occasion. He is consistent and does not over-react. His corrections, even when firm, are consistent and motivated by His love for us. (D&C 121:43)

If you don't want to read all of it please please read this last part.

We must remember our children are not really ours. They are spirit children of our Heavenly Father. They have his Spiritual DNA and have the potential to become like Him. Let us make sure that we remember who they are and what great potential they possess, as we discipline and nurture them. They are given to us to rear, and nurture and love. Those relationships with them are eternal. Let us be parents and not cheerleaders and coaches, but mentors and teachers filled with charity towards them as we help them become their best possible selves and embellish their talents and personalities. Let us not stifle spiritual growth by over-reacting and becoming tyrants and dictators, but let us be firm, yet loving and building and nurturing, not tearing down and degrading. This is easier said than done. It is not easy when you are sick, tired and stretched to breaking and their behavior is less than perfect and they need correction. It is easier in those moments to command like a policeman or drill sergeant than to act Christ-like with firmness, but full of love and patience. Remember you are talking and interacting with a child of God and you have been trusted with this great stewardship of being their parent.

I'm really glad that I was given this opportunity to study on this topic.

I hoped it helped I know it helped me.

Bear Lake

This is the third time that we went to Bear lake. We had such a great time Loved LOVED loved it.

We spent most of the time at the lake no naps expect on Grandpa lap.

We found the PErFeCt spot right under a tree.

Miss McKenna loves her Grandpa.

She was making sure that Grandpa was having fun all the time.

Thank you Grandpa for making this possible this year. We LOVE you

Tanner was so great he Loved playing with his cousins. Pushing them around in the Boat that is.

I think he was one of the first person to get into the water.

He was also the person to get me and Dad wet. Love that boy.

Mr. Mason He was always barking orders, Making sure the sandcastle was made right, so he could crush them.

Miss Emma was right there taking the orders from Mason.

Emma found something for the castle I hope it not to big!

Debbie looking great and sporting this great hat. I seriously want that hat.

The beach was so fun one of the best part of it was the shells. You could pick them up by the handfuls.

But one of the best things I liked about this place is the view loved the view.

P.S. this is not posting the way I wanted it to. it looks so different on the draft page oh well.

Please share.

I'm preparing a talk for Relief Society and found this

" Show us your response"

Members are invited to submit video of General Conference Experiences.

What a great idea here is where you can go

http://lds.org/church/news/members-invited-to-submit-video-of-general-conference-experiences?lang=eng

or you can just click here.

I would love to hear some of the things you do to prepare for General Conference.

Last year we made Conference packets, and Cinnamon rolls.

I like this idea Conference Socks

http://ptskjohnson.blogspot.com/2011/09/conference-socks.html

Please share even if it's small.

Reading.

I asked the girls to go and clean there rooms I heard nothing for a while so I quietly went up stairs.

To my delight I found them reading.

My girls have no problem reading they would do it all day if I let them.

There are some children like this count your blessing,

But there's some that don't take a liking to reading, I have one.

Mr Tanner is one of those that HATES and I mean HATES to read.

I did the book club he loved it only because all the other kids thought it was cool.

I think I read most of the books to him, which that was fine but he's in 3rd grade.

I think he should be reading them by himself.

We do sight words, he does great.

We do Fry phases still does great.

Comprehension is great above average.

It the reading out loud that gets him.

We are getting a tutor for him he'll start on Monday.

What I'm wondering have you guys had this problem if so what have you done?

I would love to hear from you.

OK now granite Mason is not reading he is more playing with the stickers,

But he LOveS his books too.

Taking it to the extreme.

My McKenna Like to take some stuff to the extreme.

We have seen pictures of her dress style they haven't changed.

Here is something else we can add to the list doing hair and buckling up.

The hair bow Rob took a picture of .

The buckling up was while I was driving. I had to pull over and take it.

I didn't think I was that bad of a drive!?!?

Dirty Dash 10K round two!!

On your mark get set go...

I love this run why you ask.

You don't have to worry about what you look like.

there is a quote that I read in

"Run Like A Mother"

"I keep running until I no longer feel beautiful doing it."

I try to run like that, but the more you run the more you feel better right?!?!

Will not in this run you get muddy the first step you take to the last step you take.

Where in the world do you get to do this.

I flow down this slide. I was trying to slow myself down by putting my feet on the slide but as you can see that didn't work.

Our team name this year was

"Don't be last"

and we didn't we ran I mean did the course in 1.30 mins not to bad.

Loved the lady and the race see you next year can't wait.

Happy Birthday to Mason!!

WOW I was just looking back at my post and noticed that I forgot to post about my sons 2Nd Birthday.

for your birthday we had Spaghetti with meat balls. That he got all over the kitchen and I mean all over as you can see.

Then we made a cake for him, he wanted to help so I let him I wanted to freeze the cake to I could put the frosting on but he wanted it NOW. Oh well maybe next year.

To my son Mason the boy that is a little boy that loves to wrestles, get messy, growls, find bugs.

Play with foot balls run around screaming and never wears his shoes paints on the wall and pulls your sisters hair, gets into your brother stuff when he is not home.

but also Gives some of the best hugs says he sorry with a loving kiss. growls at anyone that messes with the family.

Always loves to play, loves to dance, and pat you on the back when you feel sad.

He will always make you smile when ever he rolls his eyes, while playing peek-a-boo,

and is one of the best snuggles when you are sad, and when every you need some one to say I Love you he is your man.

Happy Birthday little man

Happy Birthday little man

We love you!!!