Kyle and Shantelle Avery

Such a wonderful couple and amazing wedding!  Love you guys!!!

So glad I could be there!  :)

Happy Marriage!!

The girls

I reject the notion there exists such a thing as Working Moms VS. Stay-at-Home Moms.

I reject the notion there exists such a thing as Working Moms VS. Stay-at-Home Moms.

We are all working moms.  Where we work and what we do varies, but mainly we all have a common end goal –to provide our families with necessities, comfort, and love. 

I’ve heard many a times about how mothers and fathers love their children unconditionally.  Some do, many don’t.  Love takes effort.  Have I seen mothers who spend most of their time at home not love their children?  Yes..  even despise them.  Have I seen mothers who spend most of their time somewhere else not love their children.  Yes, unfortunately.  However, I have also seen mothers no matter their situation who love their children more than anything and do what it takes for their happiness.

This isn’t about whether one is better than the other. This is more about whether or not the work that we do is out of love, or possibly our own selfishness. 

 

Since all of us are valuable daughters of God, he loves us as his daughters.  He expects us to love each other as sisters.  He also expects us to love his sons and daughters that he loans to us in our earthly experience.  He expects us to take great care of his most precious gifts, his children.  Mothers should be anxiously concerned about their children, as well as fathers.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints encourages fathers to be the main providers for their children.  However, The Church also states that mothers need to help in that role.  According to The Church of Jesus Christ, a mother’s role is to nourish her children, and fathers need to help.  What does that mean exactly?  Well, it’s up to you.  But let me give you some encouragement and hopefully some helpful information.

 

First of all, I am grateful to be a mother.  I love my children so much!  I am grateful for the gift Heavenly Father has given me.  I know that all of us have different family lives, some with many children, some with few, and some with none at all.  Heavenly Father loves us no matter who we are and desires to give us the best gifts.  Some have to wait longer than others.  Some have the challenge of all-at-once, which would be me.  We are all challenged in different ways according to our desires, abilities, and life choices or situations.  We are also all blessed according to our desires, abilities, and life choices.  I want for everything to take care of my little precious gems to the best of my ability.  I realize I have many choices and opportunities in my life, even currently.  Life is full, if I take it.

Because I have chosen to allow my husband to earn the money, I have also chosen to do the nourishing.  Do I help provide for my children?  Absolutely!  Does my husband help nourish the children? Definitely!   One way to help provide is to find a profession and do the work it takes to fulfill that profession.  Rather than a profession, however, I have chosen to spend that valuable time in the home.  What exactly do I do and how do I provide?  I plan, I clean, I care for my children, I love, I discipline, and I shop.  You get the point.  In other words, I have more time to spend in family planning.  Because I can plan carefully and execute hopefully the same, I use the money more wisely, love more fully, and make the home our “haven” on earth.  Yes, I said “haven.”  It is the “Bubble from the world.”  You know, that world that uses and abuses.  Let’s examine this further.

I work at home.  I plan.  I do everything in my power, especially as of late to make sure the money my husband is earning and working hard towards is spent wisely.  I keep a budget.  I discuss the budget with my husband.  Not an easy task, I assure you.  I try to put off things that I want now.  I plan when I can get those wants.  Sometimes it’s not for several months or years even.  Is it worth it?  Yes!  I feel a greater satisfaction when I can spend my money well than when I can spend a large quantity of it or when I incur debts for my purchases.  I feel more grateful for what I have and take better care of them.  My husband feels better about what we can do together to provide for our family.  Because the responsibility is on his shoulders, he feels the need to excel in his profession and in his knowledge.  I help support him and make him a better man by allowing him to do his role as Father and Provider.  I also plan what groceries would be best for my family.  I try to plan what would be healthy to eat and how we can best use the food we buy, which hopefully results in working bodies and less waste.  I plan out our schedule.  I feel this makes our family a little more efficient, a little more orderly, and hopefully a little more joy in the small or great moments of our lives, because we aren’t surrounded by chaos; at least, not all the time.

I also do cleaning work at home.  By keeping things clean, perhaps I can keep the family healthier (hopefully cutting the doctor bills) and less rushing around trying to find things that are lost amongst piles of stuff.  Perhaps it helps the kids do better with their school work.  And hopefully, a clean home helps children to have the comfort they need and deserve, as well as the comfort I need and deserve.

Honestly, the thing that takes the most work is love.  Children need love.  Children need direction.  They need discipline.  They need comfort.  They need choices.  Love is probably the most essential life element, especially for children.  Food is essential, shelter is essential, but there’s probably no point in living if you don’t have love.  Love brings us joy.  Without joy, what’s the point? 

Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy. 2 Nephi 2:25

Why does love take so much work?  Love is more than just a feeling.  Love comes from effort.  As Christ taught, we need to have charity –the pure love of Christ.  Did he just tell everyone he met, “I love you” and walk away?  He showed them he loved them.  He served them.  He wept with them.  He taught them.  He spent valuable time with them.  He focused on the individual and met their needs.  He was kind.  He was meek- having all power, yet only using it for good.  He was patient and long-suffering.  He allowed others to make their choices and then to experience their consequences.  Yet despite that, he also, even (and especially) currently, is willing to take upon himself our burdens and the eternal consequences to our poor choices if we turn to him.  He is the model of pure love.  Is that the kind of love our children need?  Yes.  Is that the kind of love our husbands need?  Yes.  Our neighbors?  Friends? Enemies?  A resounding yes!  It takes our every effort to love.  Children need to grow and flourish.  As we provide for them it is so essential to nourish and shower them with love. 

What exactly do I want most out of life?  To see.  To see the small moments.  To see the big moments.  To see my children grow and discover.  To see them give and receive love and light.  And especially, to see the workmanship of God himself!  How do we see it?  By being there.  By creating time for life itself to happen.  It’s beautiful.  It’s joyful.  I just try to drink it in -to feast upon it! 

Why have I chosen to be in my home most of the time? So I can experience joy.  I might miss it if I am too tired, too busy, too grumpy, too fast-paced.  I indeed have been given the greatest gift available to mankind –my responsibility to be “Mother.”

I say this with every love and care.  Do what you need to for your own family situation.  In so doing, just remember, work in the home is the greatest work you can do.  In the end, your efforts will not go amiss.

Happy Birthday Ashlyn!!

 My Beautiful 3 year old Princess

Daddy got home early from work and we opened presents

then ate some cake, before heading out to a Luau!

Baby Doll from Grandma and Grandpa Hymas.

 At the Luau party for Brett's work, 

the kids got to jump in bounce houses, 

eat dinner,

and watch a Luau show.

They also had snow cones,

but we missed it, because they packed up early.

However, luckily at that point there was a lady giving away free pop,

so that prevented any fits from the kids.

Thank you lady.

Though I didn't realize until later the pop had caffeine, so the kids were wired for a while.

It was a late night..

 

At one point of the show we (the girls) got to go on stage and do a dance.  

We enjoyed that.

Hopefully Ashlyn had a good birthday!  :)

I had fun!

T-Ball Isaac

Isaac's first T-ball game.. his "home-run" moment.  

He was so proud of himself.

Really it was just the end of the inning,

so he had to run it.

But in his mind he hit a home-run.  :)

Warm sunny days..

The kids next to their body drawings.

Looks just like 'em!

Enjoying my Ashlyn hugs..

 Enjoying the weather as well!!  Ahh.. nice and warm!

 The kids love to help the flowers grow.

 

 

Helper Daddy fixing Isaac's training wheels.  Hopefully

he'll be able to learn to ride without them soon.  :)

 

Isaac will have his kindergarten graduation in a few days and then it will

officially be summer break!  

Boo hoo.. my little kindergartener will not be a kindergartener anymore.

Diva Ashlyn

Our Christmas

 This year we got an Elf from Grandma and Grandpa Hymas 

for the 12 days of Christmas.

Every night the elf, named Trevor, got into things,

then he would hide the green bag for the kids.

One night he hid in the tub after having a beach party with Barbie.

On Christmas Eve we lit candles and read bits of Luke 2.

Then we watched a movie about it.

The kids were pretty eager to get to bed and very excited, 

as you can see on Elizabeth's face.

On Christmas Eve night, me and Brett finished up painting the train table

Brett made for the kids.

Luckily the baby slept well that night, so I was able to help finish it up.

This is what it looked like before the finishing touches.

And this is the finished product.  :)

It was fun to help Brett with one of his projects this time.

Kid's perspective..

Little cubbies built into the legs..

 All set for Christmas,

with Santa's stockings and all.

Isaac was pretty determined to get up early on Christmas day,

but then he ended up getting up later than usual, like around 8:15ish.

What the kids did first thing after getting up.

They were pretty excited.

 Can't see it too well, but we had the virtual fireplace going on

our computer with some Christmas music.

We also had the window open as it was a nice snowfall outside.

What an awesome Christmas!

It was pretty funny when the most excited each of them got 

was over the oranges they received in their stockings.

Elizabeth even screamed with excitement.  :b

This was the beginning of the present opening.

Elizabeth thought it was a good idea to wear her leotard for such an occasion..

 This was the end.  After Ethan's nap he was able to open

the rest of the things he got (after we had lunch).

It was nice because after each present the kids opened, 

they played with that thing for a while.

So it took us a few hours to get through all the presents.

Little Mr. Ethan hung out, watching the excitement.

Here's some of the things the kids got.

 All in all it was a good Christmas day,

even though Mommy ended up getting sick through the last half.

But Daddy was nice enough to let her have a nice nap.

And here's Mommy and Daddy's cute little early Christmas present.

-Our little Ethan boy.  :)

Christmas, We're Ready For Ya

 Isaac had his little Kindergarten Program tonight.

He looks pretty thrilled.  :b

The poor guy was rather sick today, so I don't think he felt good

as he was up there.

It was cute though.

We enjoyed it.

Last Saturday we took the kids to see Santa.

Luckily at the Springville Theatre, 

Santa likes to make a visit and usually no one is there, 

so no lines to visit.

(And I'm pretty sure it's the real one that comes every year.)

 When we got there, all the kids were scared to go up to him.

-So baby Ethan got to go first.  :)

Then the kids warmed up real quick after that.

 Isaac told Santa about the "reindeer" we saw on the way up to see him.

They ran right past our car and turned down our street,

so Brett told the kids they were checking out our house before Christmas.

Santa was so glad Isaac found them because he said he lost 3 reindeer and now

they were found.  :)

 Isaac said he wanted a Rescue Bot for Christmas.

Santa was a little confused until Daddy hinted that was a Transformer..

Elizabeth was a little nervous at first, but when they got to talking

about her sparkly boots, she was thrilled to talk.

 She told Santa she wanted a pet monkey for Christmas.

The poor girl had to be shot down as Santa told her 

he would probably jump out of the sleigh on the way to our house.

My Cutie Girl

Ashlyn didn't want anything in particular from Santa.

She just softly answered that she would like a present.

My Sweet Angel

We're all surprisingly calm in this picture.

Usn's

 We've got our snow..

Now we just need Christmas.  :)

(Elizabeth enjoying the snow)