Untill school starts, I have no idea which direction I want this blog to go in, so I am just going to write from my heart and write about what is on my mind. Today, I am pondering a quote I heard on Sunday which came from, of all places, Alice in Wonderland. It's where Alice is at the fork in the road and she is not sure which way to go. She asks the Cheshire Cat and he says, "Well, it depends on where you want to end up. If you don't know that, then it doesn't matter which way you go." I have really been pondering that these past few days. I've been thinking about it and how it concerns Lindsay and college. I've been thinking about it and how it concerns our family. We have been through a rough 4-5 years and we have let a lot slide. We are actually doing pretty well considering. But we have let some of the most important things fall to the bottom of our to do list....and I never reach the bottom of my to do list, do you? Back when the older girls were little we lived our Stake Title of Liberty close to perfect. The Stake Title of Liberty states, "Families Pray Together Daily. Husbands and Wives Pray Together Daily. Families Read the Scriptures Together Daily. Have Family Home Evening Weekly. Attend Church as a Family Weekly. Fast with a Purpose Monthly. Fathers Interview each Child Monthly. Husbands and Wives go on a Date Weekly." I made this quilt at that time and our life was one of peace. We did very well for several years. Then all heck broke loose (ie: Scott got sick) and slowly we stopped having family scriptures, and family prayer and family home evening became a once a month thing and now its something we do so rarely Annie has to ask what it is. Scott and I stopped praying together. Why? We still believe all of these things are important. We still have testimonies of the gospel. We still go to church every week as a family (although Scott had a hard time coming). I taught seminary all through this time, and we would go to the temple when we could. What happened to the little things? We would start and stop, start and stop. It has been such a struggle. But where do we want to end up? I
know we want to end up in the celestial kingdom together as a family. When Scott got sick he lost his ability to lead our family and it was all I could do to keep our family together. Now that things are better, we have to start again. I have to have a different game plan. So here's my plan. Since we are all never together anymore, I had 3 family prayers today! I'll have 2 scripture studies a day and we'll shoot for 2 FHE's a month, probably on Sunday. I'll try to have mom/daughter dates with each girl once every 6 weeks. Date nights usually happen, so that's good. We need to work on fasting, but I should probably work on that myself first. Lastly we always go to church, so at least we are doing that one! I know my efforts will be blessed and our family will be stronger for us trying to be obedient. Satan will be trying to tear me down every step of the way, but I know I can do this. These are simple things. They don't take much time and yet the dividends will be great. I feel very strongly that I have to do this and that I can do this. My girls need to know my testimony is real and that these things are important.
