A Sunday Morning Treat

This past Sunday, I did not have any morning meetings (which only happens once a month for me), I always enjoy these mornings with my family. I decided to watch Music and the Spoken Word as I was getting ready for church. The music was nice, but the message was great! It was a idea I have been thinking about a lot lately. Not only regarding my children, but also regarding my calling in Young Women.

Goodness is its Own Reward

We live in a world were awards seem to be freely given and freely received. In fact, sometimes the award becomes such a strong incentive for good work and behavior, that it overshadows the more subtle rewards that might be enjoyed along the way.

Especially with today's youth, awards are often larger than life motivations. Children work busily to complete their household chores with the hope that it will earn them a special treat from their parents. Meanwhile the satisfaction of a clean home goes unnoticed. Teenager's bring home a stellar report card, but can't recall what they learned in school that day. In their pursuit of good grades, they've somehow missed the thrill of gaining and applying knowledge.

Prehaps we unintentionally reinforce this attitude by expressing love or approval with expensive gifts, when little children are often quite pleased with the packaging-or even just the visit. We may deprive our young people of the most enduring rewards if we fail to teach them that goodness is its own reward. We feel good when we are doing good.

Indeed, the means can be just as fulfilling as the end if our motivation for acheiving our personal goals are not just the awards that dangle infront of us. We make more lasting progress and feel more contented when we learn to enjoy not only the reward but the path that leads to it. Some young people long to graduate or secure a high paying job, only to find that their "dream" is not as satisfying as they thought it would be. "What comes next?" or "Is this all their is?", maybe their unspoken feeling.

If, however, we pay attention to the more understated moments of success along the way- the times we completed a difficult task, the mornings we arose early to exercise or study, the people we've helped - we begin to understand that the true reward is what we've become, not what we've earned. The Proverbs teach, "To him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward" (Proverbs 11:18). Intuitively children seem to know that. They just need to be reminded that while a prize is pleasing, a sense of doing right is the truest joy.

I totally agree with all of this, I just have a hard time implementing it! This has inspired me to try a little harder!

Holden

On Sunday, Holden saw me stretching my back. He asked Ken what I was doing, and Ken told him that Josef was hurting me, and he should come and give me a hug. Holden walked over to me, hugged my leg, put his head against my belly and said, "Josef stop it, Josef stop it!"
It is nice to know that someone is trying to help me!

Fishing

Ken got some fishing poles for his birthday in January. He has big plans to fish with his boys. On Saturday, we went to Farmington Pond to "fish". It was a beautiful, and they boys were really excited. It took a little time for Ken to figure everything out, and he realized he needs some heavier weights. Wilson and Holden held the poles for about ten minutes, and then moved on to throwing rocks into the pond. Needless to say, no fish were caught, maybe that has something to do with all of the rocks that were flying into the pond!

Garlic Harvest

Last Fall, I planted garlic. Tonight Ken and I dug up the garlic, and hung it cure. The curing process takes 3 to 4 weeks. It will be interesting to see how it all works out then. All I can smell right now is GARLIC!!!

Holden

Holden did not take a nap this afternoon. At about 4:45pm he went in his room, I went to check on him and this is what I found....

Determination

It is amazing what a 2 1/2 year old can do after watching his 4 year old brother.

Picnic in Idaho Falls

Cub Fun

Bear World Drive Thru

Bear World Rides

Bear World Petting Zoo

Puppet Fun

Spaceship

Wilson was trying to make a spaceship in Holden's room. He kept aksing to use the cushions from our sofa, finally I told him he could use the pillows from my bed. After watching each pillow leave the masterbed room, I decided to check out the spaceship. This is what I found....

Wilson's New Haircut

More Water Fun

Holden and his LEGO's

Water Fun

Bees Game

Last night, we went to a Bees Game with the people in Ken's office. The boys had a great time. Holden loved Bumble the Bee. He came by at the beginning of the game, and from then on Holden was looking for him. At some points he would yell, "Bee where are you?". Ken "took" a picture of the boys with Bumble, but for some reason it is not in the camera???? It was a fun night! Wilson and Holden both got Bees t shirts, Wilson put his on at the game, Holden wasn't interested. Last night when we got home, Wilson asked if he could wear his shirt tomorrow. This morning when he came in my room, he was already dressed in his new shirt!