President Benson's thoughts on Mothers

I saw this quote earlier this week and it has stuck with me, so I thought I'd share it.

“Thinking of the example of his own mother and that of his beloved and faithful wife, Flora, President Benson has offered ten specific suggestions for mothers as they guide their precious children:
1. Take time to always be at the crossroads in the lives of your children, whether they be six or sixteen.
2. Take time to be a real friend to your children.
3. Take time to read to your children. Remember what the poet wrote:You may have tangible wealth untold; Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold. Richer than I you can never be— I had a mother who read to me.
4. Take time to pray with your children.
5. Take time to have a meaningful weekly home evening. Make this one of your great family traditions.
6. Take time to be together at mealtimes as often as possible.
7. Take time daily to read the scriptures together as a family.
8. Take time to do things together as a family.
9. Take time to teach your children.
10. Take time to truly love your children.
A mother’s unqualified love approaches Christlike love (see Ezra Taft Benson, To the Mothers in Zion, pamphlet, 1987, pp. 8–12; see also Ezra Taft Benson, Come, Listen to a Prophet’s Voice, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1990, pp. 32–36).”
Thomas S. Monson, “Memories of Yesterday, Counsel for Today,” Ensign, May 1992, 4–5

While I never "knew" President Benson while we was Prophet (I'm a convert for those that might not know), I have loved learning more about him and the counsel we have received through him from the Lord. He truly was a Prophet of God.

Pay it Forward gifts

We got our Pay it Forward gifts about a month ago. We were super excited to open the box and find 2 super hero capes and some cards.


Meghan and Jase love the capes; Jase especially loves the Batman side of the cape.




I love the birthday cards (because I wish I had the stuff to make them and the time). I wish I had taken a picture of them...

Thanks Ginger for a great gift!

A summer without diapers?

Meghan is really showing signs of potty training. For the last few weeks she recognizes when she is starting to pee or poop and then attempts to take off her pants and diaper and get on the potty chair. She is always done before we get her undressed, but not this weekend.

Saturday I was talking with Joe in the new media room (can you tell this is my favorite room now) and I realized that Meghan was quiet (usually means she is into something that she shouldn't be). Well, I come out and she is on the potty chair, with a little pee on the floor, lots in the chair, and none in her diaper! Woohoo and she did it all on her own.

I was so excited that I forgot to take a picture.

Now, this morning, she tried to do the same thing, but didn't make it to the chair in time and went on the floor, by the box of diapers, but I'm still super happy that she is trying. I'm thinking this next weekend we'll really work on it.

Will Meghan be day trained when Jase is (he had 3 accidents this weekend...)?

Here is a cute picture of Meghan trying to dress her legs with her shirt...silly girl!

Home renovations, part 1

This last week I took off as vacation from work, so I could paint the "back" room of our house. Not many people have seen this room as it isn't one we would show on the home tour.

When we bought our house 3 years ago, the "back" room was an office, sky blue in color with a built in desk, and cheap carpet that smelled like cats. The first thing we did was put down new carpet to get rid of the cat odor. Then, we decided to pull out the built in desk top and move it into the large dining room for a family desk, computer area. That was the extent of our work in the "back" room.

It was finally time to do something with the room. I decided that we were going to make our guest room a little nicer by painting it green and the wood trim and built in cabinets and bookshelves white. But before we could primer and paint, we had to do some patching to the walls and repair to the ceiling. The ceiling had sprung a leak before we closed on our house, so the actual leak was fixed, but the ceiling was less than appealing to look at (or stand under). The seams of the drywall (the only room in our house that has drywall) were showing, and the water stains were atrocious.

I forgot to get some before shots, but here are some midway through patching shots:

I patched and sanded all the walls; Joe helped with the ceiling some (actually he did most of the ceiling work; patching, sanding, and painting). I did the cut-in and the trim work. All-in-all it took a week and a half to complete (from emptying the room of its contents and placing everything in the living room and dining room, to patching and sanding multiple times, to 2-3 layers of primer, and 2 layers of paint). The last coat of paint went on the walls Wednesday morning. Wednesday afternoon I steam cleaned the carpet (thanks Maren!). Wednesday evening we moved the futon, TV, and all the rest of our "media" to the new media room (well, everything but the computer stuff).

Here is the final product:

It would be nice to be able to have the freezer in the basement, but the wiring in the basement doesn't allow it currently (although we do still have a free breaker in our box). Plus the stairway is narrow and steep...

Meghan loves the carpet (this is the only room in our house that has carpet).

Jase loves being able to get away from Meghan and hide out. I love that the TV is no longer in the living room, and that we don't have the noise competition for the computer, TV, radio, and everything else. The TV can be on and when I'm in the dining room or living room, I can't hear it. Which means I can listen to some relaxing music (like U2, Sugarland, or Mozart).