Well, I need to get back to keeping this family record. Life is so very full.. but this is important to keep a record of the moments.. the little moments.. that we so soon forget.. This is where I want to keep them. And it just seems that I only make the time to record all the big stuff... which is important too...but I really want to remember all the little things.. because in reality they are the big things.
So.. in that effort I offer up a snapshot of our family life 2012.. not great but a start.
All in all it has been a great new year so far. WE feel enthused and happy as we plunge forward into this new year. Steve and I seem to be working more from the same page .. much more of the time.. We have read a couple of books together and have some great plans that we are putting into motion for our boys. We have come a long way in learning about intrinsic motivation.. and how that works and how important it is. Hooray! It feels right.
So we are putting into place a basic set of family laws. They have always been there but its nice to get the boys input and put it all in writing. It is helping. But we still struggle .. and we will keep trying.
We are about ready to introduce the family economy... in which our boys will earn money and will begin to be more independent and learn to manage their money. Yay!
Eric is looking at the final stretch before those mission papers go in. He will meet with the stake pres and bishop this week and hopefully all will go well. He needs to be on his way. He is working away, saving his money, and I believe I see the Lord preparing his heart for missionary service. I am so excited for him to begin!
Joseph is finally caring about his school work a little more. What a relief and he is finally taking charge of a few other areas of his life. I so want this for him. This has been a TOUGH year with him... and it makes me sad ..all the wasted opportunities... and missing out on just simply enjoying him before he leaves our home. :( He just had his wisdom teeth out... and the night that he had them out he made a special point of coming to me and telling me "thanks Mom for taking such good care of us.. I love you." Wow... I just about fell over. So, some of the warm feelings are coming... and I am so glad because we love this boy !
Jonathan big stuff happening in this boy's life. I don't even know where to begin. He has a raging social life... so many good friends and he loves them and they love him. The day he had his wisdom teeth out he had 6 girls come to visit him two different times.. (they came in a group) He also has a little girl friend, Maddie Condie.. we don't approve of the pairing up idea and have let him know.. It has been a little (alot..let's be honest ) nerve racking to see him fall for this darling girl and see them spend so much time together. But, we've kept things cool, counseled him... and it turns out that they together decided that they would see each other every other weekend and go to every other dance together... sort of be each other favorite but date others...good plan I say! We love Maddie.. truly and honestly love her. It has been fun to have her in our home... and see how sweet and caring she is toward Jon. He is doing great in school and is loving life to the max and growing into a fine young man...so proud of him.
Michael.. is rapidly moving toward becoming a teenager boy... he grew two inches over night I swear and his voice is getting lower.. and he is exhibiting that normal emotional nesss... that comes with this time... He is still super sweet but is flexing his muscles to get some respect around this place :) I love him... I am working on listening to him more.. we need to get closer...I need to know him better!!! He has always been a little quiet..but I think he is opening up more and I must be there. He works hard in school and we are so proud of him...! He has cute friends.and they are so nice. He plays an online cool game called minecraft with his best friend Ryan on speaker on the phone and they play together and have such a good time. It is cool. Michael loves technology.. and he is so cool about it. He is also very particular about having things in order.. having clean clothes and all... just one cool kid.
Jacob is delightful when he is busy and doing good things. He needs structure structure structure and he needs to accomplish! He works to excel at all he does... but I have noticed lately that he is slipping a bit. He has had a rough time lately .. more than usual.. managing his emotions.. He struggles with anxiety and depression I believe and we are going to have him start seeing Dr. Craig Hall for therapy plus see about tweeking his medication. He really struggles and my heart just goes out to this good boy... he is good... he wants to do his best .. but it is clear to see that he has a chemical imbalance. The last two days have been great... though.. ahhh and that feels fabulous for us and him.
Scotty is a bit of a handful these days. He is learning to be obedient and to listen. It is a challenge. He is extremely social and plays with friends every day for hours. He is so good at the friend thing and wants to also be friends with every friend that comes over even if they are 17 years old. And most of them love him... but it is getting a bit much lately... I love still how attached this cute boy is to me... and I am trying very hard to enjoy him while I have his little boy heart... because I know it all changes .. doesn't go away just changes.... they grow up so fast. We have made his bedroom so fun and cozy . .He has a moon in his room.. it looks so realistic and lights up his room at night in a fun way.. combine this with glow in the dark stars with his trees painted on the wall, it is fun for him. I try to make his room fun and sleep a bit by him to make up for the fact that he has no buddy. We also went sledding last week together just us and he just knows exactly where he wants that sled and who and when to go... he is such an in charge boy.. a red personality and I am glad really.... he will need this being the youngest of 6.
Steve and I in our spare time.. whatever we have left are working to finish the basement bathroom, create a mudroom in the back room.. paint.. replace carpet etc. Oh yeah.. need to get it done!!! And a whole bunch of other little things..
Steve is doing well counting points using principles from Weight Watchers and he has lost about 10 lbs so far. Yay for Steve. I need to get on the bandwagon too..but I do exercise atleast 3 days a week...wish it were more.
I spoke in church Sunday on the subject of "The Worth of Souls is Great in the Sight of God." I used the talk "You Matter To Him," that Pres Uchdorf gave in Fall 2011 Conference. It was a tremendous experience for me. Just one more sign of God's love and awareness of what I need. I so love putting talks and lessons together.. studying... it is work but I get so much out of it. So many thanked me for my talk and expressed that it touched their hearts... and that is good to hear. I wanted to do this.. make a difference.. help someone along the journey as so many have done for me. I know without a doubt that we matter our Heavenly Father .. He has shown me this again and again... in a myriad of ways throughout my life.. to the point where I know he does. This is knowledge. I also know that there is no place I would rather be than right with him... I am done with wanting to be anywhere else. Anywhere else doesn't bring the satisfaction and joy that being right with Heavenly Father can bring.
Well, that is enough for today....a quick rundown of our family right now.
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