Lets get real.

I had an epiphany a few weeks ago.  I was upset that I never seemed to be achieving my goals. And I really mean never!  I married this wonderful man who constantly sets and ACHIEVES goals! All of them! Yes, some take longer than expected but he always does them!

And he married me. Haha. The person who never successfully completes a goal.

Needless to say, I was frustrated at another goal not achieved. I had tried everything, reminders, post-its, cute worksheets, cute forms. All sorts of things to help me get motivated or keep track of the daily things to do.  None of it ever worked.

Then that epiphany came! It struck me that I was only setting goals that I had been guilted into making. All my goals had been things I knew I should be doing, I just didn't want to. You know them. Exercise, reading scriptures, making better meals for my family, playing more with kids. You know, all the things that your community thinks is important, so you do too.

Now, don't get me wrong, all of these are important goals and things to work on, and if you do GREAT! I'm proud of you, really. There just is a way to be realistic with these types of goals.

You see, they weren't what I really wanted to do. What I really want to do, is write, to sing, to play the piano, to read! And I had never set goals that I honestly really wanted to do. When you pick a goal like that the motivation is already there because you already want to do it!

So while exercise is great and important, I should not set a goal to go running every day when I HATE running! Nope. Bad idea. I will, and have, failed every time I did that. But instead do something that I am interested in. Like Kick-boxing! YES! I love kick-boxing!

I guess what I'm trying to say is don't set goals just because you feel like you should. Set goals for something that you REALLY WANT TO DO! You will have a much higher success rate, and will feel more rewarded when you achieve your goals.

-Cherstin

Ten Things I Love About Motherhood

These are in no particular order.  I guarantee that there's more than these ten.  This is just what came to my mind today.

1. Witnessing Life - I get a front row seat to watch little lives unfold before my eyes.  I get to watch my children experience things for the first time.  It's fascinating!

2. I get to watch my favorite shows and read my favorite books again and instill the love of these to my children.

3. I get to watch Joe in action as a father.  He's so wonderful and unselfish.  He knows how to handle situations in ways I never would have dreamed of.  I fall in love with him over and over again as he goes about being the best dad for our children.

4.  I get to have second chances.  There's the aspect of getting to relive my childhood through my children, but that's not what I initially thought of.  Instead I was thinking of all the mistakes I make as a mom.  My children forgive me so readily.  Over and over again they offer me a second chance to be a better mom to them.  This offering comes without hesitation.  I'm so thankful for their loving forgiveness toward me.  I hope they feel that I'm offering them the same opportunity,

5. Being a mother has offered me a special gift.  It has helped me to realize the things I used to take for granted like a full nights sleep without being interrupted.

6. Knowing that I have three best friends forever.  We may not always get along, but I know we are always there for each other.

7.  Hugs and Kisses and the newly acquired High Five that Jacob has recently adopted.  We need each other.  We love each other.  And even those of us who are entering the tween years love the affection that comes from this special bond that will last forever.

8.  Getting to tell them stories about my childhood.  Really my life as a child wasn't very fascinating at all.  But they love to listen and I love to share.  It works out perfectly.

9. Learning about things that interest them.  There are so many things that I have learned because they are interested in a certain topic or game.  My children keep me well rounded.

10.  There's never a dull moment.  I'm often tired, worn out and wondering if I'll ever get a chance to have some time all to myself - like go into the bathroom and complete my business in private. However, I know that someday when they've grown up and moved on, the house will be quiet and I will yearn for these busy, loud and jam-packed days.

Motherhood is what you make of it.  I hope I can look back and say that I've given it my heart and soul.  I'm far from perfect.  How grateful I am for this opportunity to learn and grow from my biggest blessings - my children.

-Angie Center

Japanese and Chinese folk tale

Adapted by Elisa Pearmain from a Japanese and Chinese folk tale

   Long ago there lived an old woman who had a wish. She wished more than anything to
see for herself the difference between heaven and hell. The monks in the temple agreed
to grant her request. They put a blindfold around her eyes, and said, "First you shall
see hell."

   When the blindfold was removed, the old woman was standing at the entrance to a great dining hall. The hall was full of round tables, each piled high with the most delicious foods — meats, vegetables, fruits, breads, and desserts of all kinds! The smells that reached her nose were wonderful.

   The old woman noticed that, in hell, there were people seated around those round tables. She saw that their bodies were thin, and their faces were gaunt, and creased with frustration. Each person held a spoon. The spoons must have been three feet long! They were so long that the people in hell could reach the food on those platters, but they could not get the food back to their mouths. As the old woman watched, she heard their hungry desperate cries. "I've seen enough," she cried. "Please let me see heaven." And so again the blindfold was put around her eyes, and the old woman heard, "Now
you shall see heaven."

   When the blindfold was removed, the old woman was confused. For there she stood again, at the entrance to a great dining hall, filled with round tables piled high with the same lavish feast. And again, she saw that there were people sitting just out of arm's reach of the food with those three-foot long spoons. But as the old woman looked closer, she noticed that the people in heaven were plump and had rosy, happy faces. As she watched, a joyous sound of laughter filled the air.

   The people in heaven were using those long spoons to feed each other.

   We need to be able to rely on each other. We need to serve others, and we need to be able to accept service from others. Every part of the Gospel plan revolves around this--God asks us to ask Him for help; He tells us we cannot make it without the Atonement of Christ; He tells us we cannot make it without help from those around us; He tells us we cannot make it without helping those around us. We are each given special ways to share with those around us, and we are each denied special ways so that we can ask others for help.

   Let us not forget that learning to serve others and have the capability to do so is not the only task we need in order to feast at the Heavenly Banquet. We must also be able to ask for help from others, and receive it gracefully.

-Carson