Scout Campouts

With 4 boys ages 9-14 Scouting takes a large, almost elephant sized portion of our lives. Right now we have 1 Cub Scout, 1 Eleven Year Old Scout, 1 Life Scout, and 1 (almost) Eagle Scout. Campouts, fundraisers, Pinewood Derby, Blue and Gold Banquet, Merit Badges, sewing on merit badges, and planning how to obtain said merit badges are commonplace topics and events in our home. Just this last weekend Jeff went with Tate and Quinn on the District Camporee. He is a great sport to go and endure (and I do mean endure) these campouts almost every time.




As you can see we have quite a few 11-13 year old boys in our Scout Troop. There are even a few who didn't come. This is one of the few overnights the 11 year olds get to go on, so Tate was thrilled (he is on the front row, far right) Quinn was a good sport about Tate intruding on his scout trip (he is to the left of the boy in the scout shirt and green scoutshorts). Jeff is on the back row, far left.

Campfire...need I say more?At this campout there were different tasks the boys had to perform as teams, here Tate is with part of his team-I'm sure he is following the counsel of these older and wiser scouts!

Quinn with his team at another task.

This is what happens when they get home-after the mom enforced shower that is.

Coming Events...

We are happy to announce Kiefer will be awarded his Eagle Scout award on April 30th. It's great to finally have him reach this point, it has been a long, almost painful process. He is a great kid, but slower than molasses. I don't think of myself as being on a snail's pace, and so it's been a struggle to figure out how to motivate him. I still don't really know the best way. In truth I think at this point it's something he has to figure out for himself. Why is it the years from 14-18 contain such crucial, life changing decisions and responsibilities? They have no clue about how much of an impact these years have on their futures, everything from choices in colleges to being eligible to go on a mission hinge on the decisions they make in these turbulent years.



It's a wacky thing when the craziest time in a persons life is one of the most defining times. How do they get through it safely? That's all I really want. I want each of my children to emerge unscathed from this turbulent roller coaster ride. I know that's not possible, but can we just make sure the dings they get aren't life altering? I don't want his 9th grade math grade to determine what college he gets into. I don't want a moment of wanting acceptance to mean they can't serve a mission. Most of all I don't want some lack in my parenting, some oversight, some miscalculation, to mean they didn't learn what they needed to make it through. There's so much to teach and so little time.



In just 4 1/2 years Kiefer will be on a mission for our church. That's all the time I have left? That can't possibly be right! And yet, I know the time for most of the teaching has already passed. The time that he has left in our home is really just time for him to refine who he is. Time for him to decide what is important to him, and time for him to decide what direction he'll head in.



I know it's not all lost with one misstep, and I am thankful there is always a bridge back to where we should be. I just wish with all my mother's heart that none of my children ever needed that bridge. And I'm thankful I can teach them about that bridge, and introduce them to the bridgemaker, our Savior Jesus Christ.

An Easter Message To Share

This is a beautiful way to remember what Easter is truly about. I was touched and inspired by Elder Holland's talk in General Conference. I was inspired in a whole new way when I watched this video. Maybe because it is Easter Sunday and today I am teaching the Primary children about how our families will be resurrected together because of our Savior. **If this video doesn't work you can also find it at http://www.lds.org/

Sticks and Stones...

Remember that old rhyme we would chant as children on the playground? We all know it's not exactly accurate, words can hurt so much more than sticks and stones. Especially when spoken to children. What we are told we are forms our self image and shapes our vision of who we can become. They teach us to reach for the stars, or make us wonder why we should even bother trying, we'll never get out of the hole we are in. We know as parents that our words of love and kindness soothe away the worst hurts, and that words said in anger can create wounds in our children's souls.

Words are powerful. Use your power for good, not evil! Join the Special Olympics cause to ban the use of the R-word from our everyday language. Often spoken in Jest, often spoken without even a thought, often spoken without regard to who may hear and feel the pain from this word in their heart. They hear this word and think of their sweet son, or darling grandchild, or a wonderful friend, and know how unjust this term is.

I have found a blog I really enjoy reading, and she posted about this here she is much more eloquent than I am, go have a read for another perspective! And then go to the special Olympics website and join the pledge