Tonight for Family Home Evening we did a lesson on putting on the whole armour of God, from Ephesians 6. James put on each piece of armour and we talked about how we are strong with God's help when we put on the whole armour of God. We talked about how we can accomplish difficult things when God is with us. Things that seem impossible, become possible with God. The thing with James is that anytime he sees a helmet, of any sort, it means football. So for our activity we played football, the only rule was that before you could hike the ball, you had to share a specific way that you can put on the armour of God. We had a wonderful time! The camera wasn't fast enough to get James in the armour, so Russell is sporting it for us. :)
In The Family: A Proclamation to the World, it states, "Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities." I would say each of those words could also be other specific ways to spell the word: LOVE. All of these things should be incorporated into our families, but each couple needs time and opportunity to spell love those ways when they have time away together.
Russell and I had the opportunity this week, 24 hours without the boys, we has time to talk, attend the temple, go shopping, and even snow shoeing! I thought the snow shoeing would have lasted a little longer, but wow, I'm kind of out of shape. But we had fun hiking as far up as we could breathe, and then attempted to slide down the mountain with what we had on hand: swimming pool donut floaties. Haha, We had a wonderful time! I sure love my amazing husband. And we love the mom who made it possible for my first full night's sleep in months!
It has been amazing to watch my two boys for the last four months as they have become brothers. They share laughs, and toys, and moms lap, and moms time. But mostly what has stuck out to me is how abundantly they share LOVE. It truly amazes me how quickly and fully James became a wonderful big brother to Landon. But I thinkJames has simply been taught by the best example of a big brother that we have. Christ tries to teach us all, but it is only when we become like little children that we can learn from and become like Christ, the perfect and most wonderful big brother.
Although James loves being a big brother, he has struggled adjusting to it all. His tantrums have gotten pretty bad. Between his increasing tantrums and my lack of sleep, I feel like I am reaching the threshold for what I can handle. Yesterday I became very overwhelmed, at times, all I could do was hide away in my room and pray for help. As I did so, I received some great insight. I felt that the Lord did not expect me to not feel overwhelmed and frustrated. What I was experiencing was overwhelming and frustrating. But in return, I was not acting uncivilized, instead I was turning to the Lord for guidance. And that is what makes the difference.
I realized my experience with my second child hasn't been like being a first time mom. I had tribulation that worked my patience when James was born, but I have gained experience from that, and with that hope and confidence. Many of the things I struggled with then are not the things I struggle with now, simply because of the experience I have gained. I am now stronger than I was 2 years ago. The things I face now are different, but they to will give me experience and strength to face different and harder things later.
As I pondered these things this morning I was reminded how beautiful this pattern of life really is. It is part of the plan of happiness.
"We glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
and patience, experience; and experience, HOPE: And hope maketh not
ashamed; because of the LOVE of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the
Holy Ghost which is given unto us."
Because of this truth we can have joy and we can have a good life despite the hardships. Today James and I found this video online and have been jammin' out all day to it.
Here is our little angel... with Hair! The delivery went well and he is a happy, healthy baby! And James LOVES being the big brother!
I am so blessed to have my three boys! They are incredible. Families are what this life is about. The relationships we get to build help us to reach our greatest potential.
As I was watching my new little one, I thought about how the relationship I have with him and James should be an example of the relationship I should have with God, my Father. The amount of love I have for my little ones is simply a beginning of the Love God has for me, and He desires to be as close to me as I am to my little boys. My Heavenly Father is there to love and guide and nurture me, and is the only parent that can do so perfectly. The only thing that keeps us from having that close of a relationship with God is ourselves. It is our choices and our desires that bring us or takes us from God. His arms are waiting for us.
I am grateful for all the witnesses of God and His love that surround us, if we open our eyes we will be amazed and humbled at the Hand of God that is manifested in our lives.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has begun producing New Testament Bible videos that can be viewed and downloaded for free at lds.org/bible-videos. There are some great videos with such a strong spirit of truth manifested in them. This is one of the newer videos and is one of my favorites. I feel that it is very powerful and contains beautiful truths taught by the Son of God.
