This past Tuesday we had a progressive dinner for the youth. Appetizers at my home, caroling down the street to another ward member where we had dinner, then caroling back down the street to my neighbors house, also in our ward, for dessert. Besides not a lot of people being home and one guy telling us to keep it down his kids were sleeping (!!??!!) the kids had fun.
I am so thankful for the Young Women's Program. While the boys work on getting their Eagle in Scouting, the girls work on their Personal Progress books. In this book are requirements having to do with the values we are teaching them.
Emry's working on a few things simultaneously right now. Some are big others are small. For instance 2 of her goals are saying a morning & nightly prayer, & saying something kind to her siblings every day. The great thing about daily goals are they become habits.
To complete the entire book will take a few years, so if she keeps going I can't even imagine the young lady she will become.
I walked into the kitchen a few days ago to see Emry studying her scriptures as part of one of her goals she is working on. Even though I grew up in the church, seeing her sitting there, reading the Bible on her own accord almost broke my heart. I do not take it for granted. She also taught us a lesson Monday night (family night) on avoiding temptations in life. Who raised this girl? Oh yeah, that would be ME!
O.K. let me come back to reality. I get upset at my kids, they can be selfish and immature, lazy? uh yeah! But they are good kids. They love each other and they love our Savior Jesus Christ. They're going to mess up but I know they know what it means to Choose The Right. My job right now is just helping them be strong enough to make the choices they know they should.
Sounds like you have kids with a good head on their shoulders!
ReplyDeleteYou are a lucky mama!
ReplyDeleteAs are you, happy kids aren't by accident.
DeleteThis is something I wish I'd been more a part of when I was growing up. It was difficult because we moved around so much and it warms my heart to see the kids with genuine smiles and having wholesome fun. Kids are growing up waaaaay too fast these days and this makes me happy to see! You're a wonderful mama =)
ReplyDeleteI love all the opportunities our church has for young people. It is a great way to stay busy and make friends :)
ReplyDeleteYou are part of such a wonderful community. It must have melted your hear to see Emry doing that, how inpiring!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your new calling. I wonder if I will be in when Gwyneth gets closer. Marie, this is all great. I know exactly how you feel. To see our kids do these things, it gives so much hope that they are learning there is something more important than self. Way to go Emry for having the motivation to want to grow her testimony of the Savior. Love you all tons too and thinking of you so much right now,
ReplyDeleteShauna xoxoxxo
Such a wonderful girl. May God richly bless her in her spiritual journey with the Savior in the Holy Spirit.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing what we can learn from those younger than us!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful.
ReplyDeleteThis Young Women's Program sounds great.
You're building wonderful foundations for them to root their lives on and I think it's fabulous! Kinda sad a guy said to keep the caroling down though because caroling is rare anymore and so special when it happens!
ReplyDeleteWhat a joy it is, when a child learns to put God first and takes initiative to read and pray on their own. :) Well done mama. :)
ReplyDeleteI admire how all this is done in such a structured manner and the entire community is engaged.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you are doing a great job as a momma love!
ReplyDeleteI totally forgot about that - I am Methodist, but we had our youth fellowship night on Friday night - they were so fun!
ReplyDeleteLove raising kids with a heart for the Lord!.... what a blessing!
ReplyDeleteI confess, my kids would be the ones in bed at 7pm...
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