What Active Faith Really Means

Dear Kids,

Brent is giving a presentation on 'Faith' at a leadership forum next week. In preparation for it he shared a story with me about the Von Trapp family - you know the one from 'Sound of Music'. He read the story to me from Stephen Palmer's Blog. Just to paraphrase this post, because he covers it so well, he talks about a decision they made as a family to stay in Vermont, but couldn't find a place to live. So they took it to God. Maria said this about it:

“We set up a small chapel in the broom closet of the inn where we were staying. We prayed around the clock for three days. Each of us — there were eight children, from ages three to twenty-five — prayed for one hour, in rotation. Can you believe it?

“When the morning to leave came, father had gone to get ready for our departure. When he returned, he told us that a local farmer had decided to sell his land and that we were going right up there to look at it. When we got out of the car, we all knew that this was our future home. We bought the property that day.”

This story hit me like a ton of bricks - MAINLY because there are some answers we have been looking for from the Lord... But it has never occurred to us to do something like this.

After Brent read this to me he said, "How many families do we know would do something like this?". Then I automatically looked at him and said, "WE have never done something like this."

So it is time to bump our faith and prayers up to another level. We started this morning, setting an alarm clock and at the top of every hour when the alarm goes off, both of us hit our knees and say a prayer for what we are seeking. Tomorrow we are fasting about it. And then the next day we will continue our 'top of the hour' devotion to God. We have no plans to stop until we receive the answers we are seeking.

We are told to 'weary the Lord' with our prayers, several times in the scriptures. I think the whole point of that is so we ACTIVELY and CONSCIOUSLY turn our face toward God. It is so easy to try and create all the answers from within ourselves... But the Lord is the source for those answers.

Active faith. Remember the power of TRUE active faith. I know there are various ways to show active faith besides prayer, but this has been a great starting point for us to take our faith up to another level. I hope you all know and have ACTIVE FAITH that the Lord can and will move mountains for us and for you.

I love you,

Your Mom

Leadershift = Mothershift

Dear Kids,

We went to a forum tonight with the special guest speaker, Oliver DeMille. He did a fabulous job presenting and motivating for the cause of freedom and liberty. He started out by saying, "I don't know if this will make your angry or not, but we are losing this battle for freedom."

He continued to talk about being an ordinary, PRINCIPLE minded citizen and THAT is the most important thing we can do right now. He talked about reading and being educated. Taking the time to read and educate our minds because we WANT to, not because we are assigned to by someone else. He talked about earning God's trust. He talked about the next generation - YOU - and how the leaders are going to be YOU.

There is a Leadershift going on in the world... the next generation of leaders that are being trained and taught. As he was talking about all of this I had the spirit tell me so strongly, "In order for there to be a leadershift, there must be a mothershift!! The youth will not be those leaders if they don't have those mothers."

That is my role. I must promote not just the cause of liberty, not just the cause of freedom... but I must promote with my heart and soul the cause of mothers. There has to be a mothershift in our society. There must be one, or the leadershift will never happen.

What that means exactly for me, for our family, for you... only time will tell. But I do know that I will take the time necessary to be THAT mother for you. It is hard. It is exhausting. It is frustrating. But it is also illuminating. It is everlasting. It is empowering.

I love freedom. I love liberty. I love our lives! I love being an agent and having free agency, being innovative and powerful. And I love that the Lord has trusted you to me to teach all those things.

I love you,

Your Mom

Motivation For Our Babies

Dear Kids,

This last year and a half, no, probably two years, I have really struggled with keeping my eating correct and under control. We have been under a lot of stress as a family for quite a few years, so many up's and down's... and without realizing it I have been turning to food to help me feel good. I have never been an emotional eater... but I have trained myself to be one.

I have tried over and over in the last 6 months to get the motivation to change my eating habits and take control over my health again. But, to be honest, a huge part of my issue has been this - I know we have another baby to add to our family. My thoughts have been, "Why should I lose weight if I am just going to gain it back again?"... or "I am not worrying about losing weight until after I have our last baby."... or "If I cheat every once and a while (which turns to all the time) then it isn't a big deal."

Last week while I was allowing myself to 'cheat' AGAIN on some cheetos I had a thought hit me across my face, "Having another baby is EXACTLY the reason why you shouldn't eat like this!!" I have taken such good care of myself through the years, and I know that my kids are so healthy, smart and strong because of how seriously I took my stewardship over my body. What a shame it would be to just give up and NOT have the same strength for my next baby.

That jolted me out of my few-year-funk. I can be healthy for my baby. It is through the power of motherhood that I have motivation again. The motivation for our babies can be unlike anything else in this world.

And so, I am eating raw. I started this last Monday. The motivation of losing weight didn't do it for me. The motivation of 'you need to be healthy' didn't do it for me. It is the motivation of knowing that HOW I take care of my body right now will reflect in the body I am able to create for another.

There is nothing else like motivation for our babies.

I love you all,

Your Mom

We Are Going On An Adventure

Dear Gabriel and Natalia,

For some reason this morning I did not wake up with my alarm clock. I woke up at 8:15am to the sound of the front door opening and closing... several times. It was like a dream the first time, the second time I understood it was the front door, the third time I had pulled myself out of la-la land enough to realize that it was the both of you.

I walked out to the living room and looked out front to the sight of you both with backpacks on, crunching on granola bars, in your pajamas and walking in circle eights all over the front yard. Gabriel, you were the leader. Natalia, you were the backseat driver, telling him exactly where he should go. In your minds you were on some kind of trail and conquering the world.

Sitting and watching you was just adorable. Then you came to the door, opened in, walked in and saw me. Both of you smiled really big and said, "Mom! We are going on adventures! We need water."

A couple of thoughts went through my head: First - I am really glad you know your boundaries and stayed in the front yard! Second - It was scary to think that I was out cold for at least 45 minutes while you were both awake. You usually wake up about 7:30, and I didn't hear a thing. Third - I love children's imaginations.

I had to write down this story so I would never forget it. Your day started with a grand front yard adventure. Oh how many more you will have throughout your life. Just keep smiling about it, crunching granola bars and helping each other along the way.

I love you,

Your Mom

I Have Nothing To Complain About

Dear Kids,

Last night in replacement of scripture study together, your dad and I watched '17 Miracles'. The story about the pioneer 'Willie Handcart Company'.

I was telling your dad after watching it and bawling like crazy, how much more tangible and real everything is when you have kids of your own. When I was younger the pioneer stories would actually bore me. I would really think to myself, "Seriously? Do we need to hear this story again?" Even when I became an adult, they were not poignant and real until all of a sudden YOU were introduced in my life.

Have I ever had to watch my children starve to death? No. Have I ever had to watch my spouse freeze to death in the winter cold? No. Have I ever gone with out the modern conveniences that make our lives so comfortable? No. Have I ever had to worry about where I was going to stay the next night? No. Have I ever been afraid of wild animals eating my loved ones bones? No.....

Everything those people went through just astounds me. Even writing it sounds trivial. What even MORE floors me is that on the lips of those who died were sayings like, "If my posterity will keep the faith then it will all be worth it." UNBELIEVABLE that they didn't die bitter and angry that they came on the trek in the first place.

I want to make sure that you KNOW how much I LOVE those people who went through so much, and kept the faith. It is the same with the woman after WWII, when she said, "I didn't keep my testimony during those times... my testimony kept me."

I hope and pray that we all have the fortitude to do what it takes to maintain our faith in God and His Son... even to the bitter end.

I love you,

Your Mom

Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Talia

Dear Natalia,

I have to tell you a story about something you did yesterday.

I was in the living room, which is seperate from the dining room and kitchen. I could hear you in the kitchen saying things like, "No! That is not what I said. I said that you should take the cup out of the fridge"..."You need to listen! Please listen to me better"..."I think it is time for a time out. Are you ready to go?"

So I went in and said, "Talia, what's going on?"

You looked up at me with your big, bright, blue eyes and said, "Mom! Talia is just not listening to me!"

You were giving yourself instructions and then responding accordingly. Oh, I can't even tell you how funny it was... especially because you were very genuinely very frustrated with yourself that YOU were not listening to you.

Ever since yesterday you have been acting a little like Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde, and talking out loud through it all. It was something I had to write down so I didn't forget it.

I love you and all your spunk.

Your Mom

Most Important

Dear Kids,

A while ago I received some of the best advice about journaling. It is from my sister, Kalea. I was lamenting about how hard it is to try and keep track of everything that is going on, all the stuff that comes in and out of our lives on a daily, weekly, monthly basis. I was finding that all my journal keeping endeavors were frustrating because I got so behind on trying to keep up with it all...and anything I was writing was just generalities that it felt like it wouldn't make a mark anyway.

Then she said to me (basically these words), "Andrea, it's not about keeping track of everything that happens. It is about choosing ONE thing that touched you in a day and writing about that."

Ever since I received that advice, my journaling has been completely different, and FUN!

The reason I bring this story up is because the last few days have been exactly that... there has been SO much happening, I don't even know where to start with how to keep track of all of it. So I am going to choose ONE thing I need to share from today. It is seemingly small and insignificant comparatively, but in reality this one moment showed me mountains.

We went to Costco for some shopping as a family. We usually get something to eat after and as we were giving your 'assigned' places (Gabe by me, Talia by dad) - Gabriel, you looked at me and said, "But mom, I must sit by Talia. She is my most important. You sit by dad, because he is your most important."

No matter what I could write about the up's and down's of business, parenting, relationships, new projects, church responsibilities and housing issues we have had the last couple of days, none of them are as important as this story.

Oh how grateful I am that we have that culture in our family that we are the most important. I HOPE and pray we can continue that. There is much that awaits all of us in this life. But, family is everything.

I love you,

Your Mom

Annual Idaho Trip

Dear Kids,

We just got back about 2 days ago from our yearly trip to Idaho. We were there for 3 weeks, and then stopped by a friends house on the way home.

I am not going to make this a touchy-feely post... mainly I want to recount everything we did while we were there, for our memories and realizing how much we got done!

• We stayed at Mesha's house for 5 days. You were all able to play and bond with her family. We weeded the garden, cleaned the house, folded laundry, picked raspberries, picked up messes, watched video's, played games.
• We stayed at Shayla's house a couple of times. We were able to do service for each other. I watched her kids while she and Casey had a night away, and then they watched all of you while Papa and I went to the temple. 
• We did a birthday party for Mom! We showed her video's of all the reasons why all her grandkids love her, one of our many traditions.
• We went to the yearly Chukars baseball game together as a family. That is turning into the time that everyone is always going to get together. We get a special booth because Papa's store sponsors that game and we have GREAT food while we watch and try to keep all our kids contained :-).
• We stayed with Kalea for a few days. We were able to have quite a few adventures because the power went out! Elijah, you were teething the whole time while we were there and a little when we got back. Poor thing. Kalea and I got a little bit of bonding done, she did 'show and tell' with her home, animals and town. 
• We wanted to make soup over the fire from all food storage stuff when the power went out... but couldn't get the fire going and after a couple of hours of ornery and hungry kids (and the soup still wasn't ready or could be eaten because the dog got to it) we ended up feeding all of you cold cereal instead.
• Kalea and I went and gathered a bunch of herbs that I dried at moms and brought back home with me for our natural medicinal cupboard.
• Mimi, Mesha, Kalea, Shayla and I had a couple of days of 'preparedness classes'. Mesha taught us how to make soap (from real pig lard), Kalea taught us all about herbs and how to make a natural medicine cabinet. We made salves, tinctures, powdered herbs, flu remedies, major outbreak natural antibiotic, cough syrup, etc.
• I made 3 batches of raspberry jam that Gabe and Talia, you both helped me pick the raspberries for it! 2 batches were sugar free made with applesauce and the 3rd batch was made with lots of sugar for your dad. 
• My car got fixed. As per always when we make a trip!
• We sang in church together as a family for pioneer day. It was a GREAT arrangement made up the day before we sang by Jonathan and our piano player. I love music.
• We had lots of dinners and lunches with everyone.
• We stayed at Mimi's house for about a week. She helped me 'fight the good fight' toward the end when all of you were losing your mind because you were ready to see your dad and be in your own beds again.
• Watched movies with Papa, because that is how he loves to bond!
• Had a big birthday party for everyone together! Mimi put that all together, and the theme was cowboys. She is always so creative with all of that!
• We talked with your dad a lot over video phone. Talia, you would always say, "I want to see your funny face" to dad because he would make lots of faces at you and Gabe that would just make you laugh. 
• Both Elijah and Talia got roseola. I told you it was illegal for you to get sick while we are away from your dad! He takes the night shifts, not me!!
• We worked in the yard at mom's house to try and help her a bit. We worked in the greenhouse too and almost got eaten up by ants!! But her strawberries are to DIE for, we would go out and pick those almost everyday to eat.
• I got some amazing quality time with all of you by playing legos, going for walks, playing in the yard and working together.
• We went to Wyatt's baptism. It was so adorable how gentle Jeff was with him. So special to see it.
• We got to see Uncle J - and Talia always wanted to play on 'Denise's phone'.
• We went to the sand dunes and Shayla did her best to take pictures, even though there was wind and the kids were distracted by all the fun sand to play with!
  
• Talia, you order Tate around like crazy. It is hilarious to see it. And you play with Esti really well. I am hoping you both can be very good friends in the future.
• Gabe, you and Cody were adorable to see play together. Your personalities compliment each other so well. When I asked you who your best friend was you said, "Cody." 
• Wren and Paden just wanted to be around Elijah and take his binky the whole time. It was awesome.
• I got to spend time with all my nephews and a couple nieces. I hope they all know that I love them so much and adore all of them. It is amazing how many cultures come out of just one family... BUT the most important thing is that ALL OF US PARENTS are trying to raise our children to the Lord. I love knowing that no matter what home I went into, the Lord and the gospel was put first. All of them had family prayer and were teaching their kids about the love of the Savior.
• There were a lot of melting down moments, laughing moments, crying moments, touching moments... This is why I keep a journal! I should have written so many more things down in detail to remember! Luckily we have pictures, so that always helps.
• We went to go see my grandma and grandpa Karford. My grandma just couldn't get enough of Elijah! She couldn't hold him because of her arthritis, but wanted to so bad. She is amazing with babies.
• Then we spent a couple of days at Shawna Fillmore's house before coming home to dad!

All in all, it was a great trip. It always fills my bucket to be around my family. It is amazing how much it helps me put everything in perspective about life and what I am doing with my time... and how I am teaching you.

I hope you have amazing memories, most of which are still yet to come, about our time up in Idaho.

Love you,

Your Mom