Love, Live, Teach. Repeat!!!

I just melt whenever I see this picture of my little Kendrick!  He is so sweet and innocent.  When I look into his little eyes I feel the trust he has in me.  He never doubts my abilities to care for him,  he just trusts that I will do what is best for him.

When I look at my four kids and realize the true weight of my responsibilities.  To say the least I am overwhelmed.  I want so much for them to fulfill their quest in life and to reach their full potential.

Today in Relief Society are lesson was based on a few different talks given in the last General Conference.  Each of these talks were about raising and taking care of our rising generation.

Talk about a heavy responsibility we each hold!  Not, just women who are Mom's but, EVERYONE!  We each have such a huge responsibility within our circle of influence and beyond to be good examples and to help raise a righteous generation.

I feel really blessed in my life (as I'm sure so many of you do also) to be surrounded by amazing children!  I'm blessed to have four in my own home! I also have family and friends who have incredible children who I have had the awesome blessing of knowing and being being apart of their lives.

I love kids and I often say I talk better to kids then I do adults.  I spend most of my day teaching, playing. and  caring for my kids. But, as much as I love my kids I would be lying if I said it was always easy.  I have days that its 5 o'clock and I'm thinking of ways I could justify putting the kids to bed early. I have days where I feel like a complete failure and that no matter how hard I try I'm never going to be the mom I want to be.

This lesson had a great quote in it (actually it had a lot of good quotes) but, this quote gave some very direct answers.  Here it is;

Now, I would ask you to look around you at those you love.  This is what matters most--our families.  I am sure that more than anything, you want this family to be yours eternally.  The account in 3 Nephi can help us bring our children to Him because it gives us a pattern to follow.  First, we must LOVE the Lord with all our hearts, and we must LOVE our children.  Second, we must become a worthy example to them by continually seeking the Lord with all our hearts, and striving to LIVE the gospel.  Third, we must TEACH our children the gospel and how to live its teachings.   
(Sister Lant)

So I'm taking the Logo from the Ragnar Relay (Run, Drive, Sleep. Repeat) and changing it to my Family Logo Love, Live, Teach.  Repeat!!!

It seems so simple doesn't it.  We all love our children (sometimes not our neighbors children) but, for the most part loving little children is not a difficult thing for me.  I love the Lord and I strive each day to love him with all of my heart.  I need to make sure I give my entire heart to the Lord and not save a piece for the world because I know there are days when the world creeps in and I know and I would be foolish to say it didn't happen but, the world gets a hold of my heart.  Sometimes through thoughts of loneliness, worthlessness, and just not being able to live up to my own expectations.  I cannot allow this to happen anymore because its fair to my kids or myself.

Living the Gospel and continually seeking the Lord.  Each day I make a goal to learn something.  To Seek the Lord in all things (even if it is while I'm making dinner and scrubbing the bathroom)  I have found there are lessons in every aspect of life.  I know I'm on the right track but, there is so much more I want to be doing!

Next teaching the gospel and how to live its teachings.  This one at first I thought "I totally have that covered!  We do FHE, family gospel study time, read scriptures, family prayer"  But, then I really started thinking about it.  I started thinking about the way I learn things.  The lessons I best remember and the ones that stuck with me were the ones I saw played out in life.  When I watched someone go through a hard situation and they rose up and met the challenge and overcame the challenge with grace and dignity.  Those are the lessons I truly learned from.  Most of the time I'm positive the person who I was watching had no idea they were teaching a lesson.

Have there been times in my life I have allowed life to get the better of me?  Have I allowed my kids to see me discouraged and downtrodden?  YES, I know I have!  Was I teaching them to rely on the Gospel and to live its teachings?  Did I think of those moments as teaching opportunities? Or did I only rely on the scripture study we had earlier that day to bear testimony of gospel truths?

I'm making a goal to LOVE, LIVE, AND TEACH!  Each and everyday to all those around me!!  I will do my best to teach in those moments of trial.

I am so thankful for those around me who have Loved, Lived and Taught me so much!!  My Family has been a major influence in my life and my parents have been a great example of this to me.  Many of my friends Mom's have influenced my life and the type of Women I wanted to be and become (Sis. Critchfield, Sis. Brown, Sis. Millett, Sis. Ator, Sis. Zimmerman, Sis. Ellis, Sis. VanCottBerge, Sis. Cardon) the list goes on and on I can think of countless Young Women Leaders, School Teachers, and so many others who have Loved, Lived, and Taught!

I am truly humbled by the opportunity I have as a Mom, Sister, Aunt, Friend, Teacher, Crazy lady down the street to influence this rising generation.  I will do my best to stay on track and to always Love, Live, and Teach!