Proof

I have proof that angels do indeed exist.

My husband has traveled for the last two weeks and the combination of a traveling husband + 4 kids + being 35 weeks pregnant has proven to be difficult. When he left again this last week I found myself in tears kneeling in my bed pleading with the Lord that he would give me the strength to make it through.

I am overcome with emotion right now at the literal angels who have helped me through the last two weeks and the answer to prayer that has been poured out upon our little family.


In the last two weeks we have been the recipients of 3 dinner invites, 2 lunch invites as well as some beautiful flowers dropped on my front step and today I came home to some AMAZING cinnamon rolls.

I can't begin to explain the joy and thankfulness that has filled my heart. Sometimes being far from family is lonely and hard but for the first time in years I feel like part of a family. I am so grateful for the amazing people that fill my life here and I am thankful that they were all close enough to the Spirit to follow quiet promptings that led them my way these last few weeks.

I also had a testimony building experience at McDonald' s of all places the other night. I had taken the kids there for dinner to meet up with a friend. Little did we know that two other families that we knew would show up as well. When it was time to go Morgan could only find one of her shoes. I searched and searched but could not find it anywhere. I was not about to go get my pregnant belly stuck in the tubes looking for it so I had just decided to give up and put the kids in the car. Abby came up to me and said, "Mom, we should say a prayer." I told her that it was ok and we just should go but she went and knelt down on the ground behind the shoe case and said her own little quiet prayer. She stood up and came over and said, "Mom, I said a prayer I know we will find it." Just then one of the wonderful husbands of one of the families that was there popped his head out of the tube with Morgan's shoe in his hand. Abby's face lit up as she knew her prayer had been answered.

It was such a special reminder to me that even in the most minor of circumstances even in McDonald's if we just show a little faith and ask for help our Heavenly Father is anxiously waiting to help. And even in your darkest moments when you find yourself in tears and are not sure how you are going to make it through, he is there as well. And even though he can't literally be here by my side he will send his angels that come in the form of everyday amazing friends to do as he would if he were here to do it himself.

So thank you to all you wonderful people who have been an answer to my pleading. Thank you to my friends who I consider family. Thank you my Heavenly Father who I know hears and answers my prayers. Thank you to my daughter who was an amazing example to me. My prayer is that I will always strive to be on the Lord's errand and follow the promptings that may seem so little but most likely are a much bigger deal to the one you end up helping.

Conversation

Tonight I had a conversation with my little ones that put a much needed smile on my face.

We began talking about the baby and I told them that he would be coming in a few weeks. I asked if they had any ideas for names and then told them they should guess when he would be born and how much he would weigh.

Morgan started by telling me we should name him John Shianko (shy-ain-co). This made me laugh out loud. Where in the world does she come up with a name such as John Shianko?

She then told me he would weigh 68 pounds! I don't know about you but a 68 pound baby with no epidural does not sound like much of a party.

The other kids made their suggestions and all were fairly on track. Ethan however wants to name the baby Moses and call him Mose.

I then started to explain to them that they may have to go to a friends house in the middle of the night depending on when the baby decides to come.

Abby made me laugh so hard when she started describing how the night would go. She said we would all be in the car in our pajamas and dad would go and pound on someones door and say, "Hurry, Hurry Brook is having concussions!". I said, "Do you mean contractions?" She paused and thought and finally said, "Oh yeah, contractions, not concussions, that would not be funny being hit in the head over and over again."

What a great way to end my night!

Scripture Study

We have tried and failed many times to have consistent scripture reading with our children. We have tried to read at dinner we have tried to read after they are ready for school we have tried to read at night. They all work for some time but none have ever really stuck. We have also struggled with reading the actual scriptures or trying to read the children's picture version. Knock on wood I think we have actually found something that is working for our family.

A little while ago my mother in law asked if we wanted an old set of illustrated Book of Mormon books they purchased when their kids were growing up. I told her yes and then they sat in our basement. There are 16 books in the series and I am so glad I finally pulled them out. We had a FHE about why it is important to read the scriptures and really involved the kids in getting their input on how long we should read for and where we should read and how we should handle bad behavior during scripture time. Making them a part of the decision making process really helped them want to join in.

Now we wake each morning to Ethan saying, "C'mon, it's time to read scriptures." Really...could there be a better way to start your day than to hear that come out of your child's mouth?

We finally made the decision to wake each morning at 7 and we read for 20 minutes and finish with a prayer. These books have been amazing for my kids. They are way more in depth than the regular picture scripture book from the church. They use much of the same scripture phrasing that helps them get used to different wording. The pictures are big and colorful and really help them stay engaged in listening to the stories. In the back of each book is the full text from the actual Book of Mormon if you ever want to read right from the actual scripture.

I'm not sure where you could find these anymore but I am so glad we have them. They seem to be the perfect mix for my kids ages right now. I have also been amazed that we have seemed to be even less rushed in the morning. I actually have had time almost each day after the kids are finished getting ready to sit down and get a few minutes in of my own scripture study each day.

So....if you have young kids and have struggled to find a pleasant and effective way to incorporate scripture study in your home I suggest maybe trying to track a set of these down. Thanks Diane for passing them on to us...they were just what we needed!