Creating a Christ-Centered Home

Yesterday after church I got a little grumpy!  Kevin said something that he has said a million times before when  I find myself grumpy, " You set the tone for our family!"  I hate it when he says this, it drives me crazy, why is all the reponsibility for setting the tone on me?  Can't I have a bad day, a grumpy moment?  Then this morning I read a conference talked entitled Creating A Christ Centered Home.  As I was reading it I realized a mother really does set the tone for here family.  It is my responsibility and I shouldn't take it lightly.  I need to be more aware of the things that come out of my mouth, of the anger that may exscape my lips.  My children learn from it, they learn from everything I do or do not do.   In his talk the Elder read a poem that is as follows:

’Twas a sheep not a lamb

That strayed away in the parable Jesus told,

A grown-up sheep that strayed away

From the ninety and nine in the fold.

And why for the sheep should we seek

And earnestly hope and pray?

Because there is danger when sheep go wrong:

They lead the lambs astray.

Lambs will follow the sheep, you know,

Wherever the sheep may stray.

When sheep go wrong,

It won’t take long till the lambs are as wrong as they.

And so with the sheep we earnestly plead

For the sake of the lambs today,

For when the sheep are lost

What a terrible cost

The lambs will have to pay.⁶

 

^{I love this poem it reminds me that what road I take my children follow.  When I use bad langauage my children follow, when I talk in anger my children follow.  When I pray to my Heavenly Father my children follow, when I allow a spirit of serivce, kindness, and love in my home and heart my children follow.  What road do I want them to travel?} 

Eternal Marriage

After a rough start to our day, I decided that I need to read a talk on marriage.  What I have been doing hasn't been effective, it is time to get on the right track.  It is time to let go of hurt feelings, of being defensive, of holding on to anger all day long.  It gets me no where and only bring unhappiness to myself and to all those around me.  I read a talk given by Elder Scott entitled The Blessings of Eternal Marriage.  In it he shared us life and love with his late wife and told about their struggles and triumphes and how they held their  love together.  It was uplifting to me.  In the beginning as he was talking about the things we need to do as righteous partners to make our marriage strong, I kept thinking Kevin needs to read this talk, Kevin could do that a lot better, those are things Kevin needs to work on.  Then it came to me I need to stop fixing Kevin and start fixing myself.  If I try harder, so more love, be more caring and selfless, he will follow my lead.  Its me not him that I need to worry about!  So I made some goals as Elder Scott was talking, I will make this my goal to try harder, love deeper, be more forgiving, more caring, and less selfish. 

- Be supportive of Kevins goals
-Tell him often how much I Love him
- Don't just tell him but show him, give him love they way he receives it not the way I do
-Express gratitude for the things he does do
-Leave him notes expressing to him how much I love and appreicate everything he does for me once a week. 
- Be kind in word and deed.  Do nice things for him, don't be so quick to anger
- when I need a break or feel those angery feelings approaching leave take a breather
- Communicate clearly my thoughts, needs , and emotions I can't get upset with him for not reading my mind.


Kevin and I have a great seven years together.  We have had our ups and downs, and trials along the way and will continue to.  But, I love him and I am glad I choose him.  I need to try harder, work on being more loving, devoted, supportive wife.   So that this will be our end result!

Remember

So this last week has been one of the longest weeks of my life.  Last Sunday my Grandpa Wheeler had a stroke and has went down hill since then.  He has made short recoveres here and there, but all week we have been basically waiting and watching.  It has been an emotional rollercoaster, one I would like to get off of  soon.  If it has been like this for me, just completely draining, I can't imagine what it is like for my poor mom.  She is a rock , she will make it through.  This morning after getting of the phone with her and decided to sit down and listen to a conference talk.  I was drawn to one given by Elder Nelson regaurding finding Faith in our Futures.  The talk began with him talking about his grandson and his future.  How he will grow up, get married, and one day say goodbye to his grandfather, knowing with faith that death is a part of our mortal life.  It went on to say that we live to die, and we die to live again.  They Lord know exactly what I need to hear.  It amazes me how ever present he is in my life!  I needed it because it seems like when we loose someone close to us questions arise, our faith is tested, we become uncertain of what really awaits us all after this life.  I have been pondering that a lot this last week, wondering if I will be scared when it is my time.  Wondering if my Grandpa is scared, if that's why he is still holding on.  Wondering if in that moment all our faith weavers ever so slittly.  However, I keep coming back to the same  thought , there is no way we came here for no reason, there has to be a purpose to our life, a purpose for our trials and ultimately our growth.  Then I get happy for my grandpa, happy that he has reached his end goal, happy that he accomplished what he came here to do, happy that so much awaits him on the otherside.  I hope he realizes that and his faith takes over not his fears.  " We live to die and we die to live again."  That phrases, that thought brings me so much peace, maybe I will share it today!  I know in my heart that when my Grandpa decides its ok to go, it won't be the last time I see him.  Thats why I refuse to say goodbye, it might be awhile before I see that old fart again, but I have no doubt he will be there waiting for me when my day comes.  I feel that so strongly in my heart, my spirit tries so hard to remind me when my faith starts to weaver.  It cries out don't worry, remember, remember the plan, remember why we our here, remember the rewards that await us on the other side.  So I will try my hardest today and everyday to simply remember!