As humans we give up so easily on those who reject and hurt us, veiwing them as a lost cause. We can’t forgive and forget, we always hold a record of wrongs.

I am so glad Heavenly Father doesn’t look at us this way. Because of Jesus Christ and his atonement, we are given the opportunity to repent & if we choose to do just that, he loves us even when we have rejected and hurt him. Just as long as we've experienced that change of heart.

Lance B. Wickman, “Today,” Ensign, May 2008, 103–5
"It remains only for you and me to both seek and tender that forgiveness—to both repent and to extend charity to others—which enables us to pass through the door the Savior holds open, thus to cross the threshold from this life into exaltation. Today is the day to forgive others their trespasses, secure in the knowledge that the Lord will thus forgive ours. As Luke significantly recorded, “Be ye therefore merciful” (Luke 6:36; emphasis added). Perfection may elude us here, but we can be merciful. And in the end, repenting and forgiving are among God’s chief requirements of us."

REPENTANCE.

Not only a change of behavior, but a change of Heart.

I Came to the Earth as Part of a Family: talk by Wesley Bowman

I love Sundays. As a family, we choose to focus primarily on keeping the Sabbath Day Holy. This can be done by laying aside the things of the world, and seeking for the things of a better (D&C 25:10). Ever since January, our Sabbath Day now begins bright and early because our Sacrament Mtg. starts at 9 AM. We usually cause a tornado in our home... consisting of church clothes, Pajamas, toys, cereal bowls, sheets, hair products, curling irons, hair dryer, toothbrushes, etc... (it REALLY can get out of control). Well we made it to church at about 10 after 9AM today... not to bad, right? Despite the hustle and bustle that always takes place, we know as soon as we walk through those church doors, that we are in fact where we need to be.

Sunday Family GOALS: Learn. Share. Grow. Testify. (SLEEP). Serve. Read. Sing. Teach. Love.

The JOY that Aaron & I felt today, on this particular Sunday was beautiful! I love the Primary Program in our church. Wesley has just left the nursery and is now a reverent SUNBEAM. He even got chosen to be an example of Reverence today in Singing time. As he stood in front of a room full of leaders and other children, he folded his arms and gently closed his eyes. He was then informed by a leader that he didn't have to close his eyes. LOL. The fact that he felt like closing his eyes to show reverence really impressed Aaron and I. What a sweet and tender moment that was for us.

Wesley really loves Primary and here are two of his favorite songs: (you may download these)

1-Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam: http://www.lds.org/churchmusic/detailmusicPlayer/index.html?searchlanguage=1&searchcollection=2&searchseqstart=60&searchsubseqstart=%20&searchseqend=60&searchsubseqend=ZZZ

1. Jesus wants me for a sunbeam,To shine for him each day;In ev’ry way try to please him,At home, at school, at play.
2. Jesus wants me to be lovingAnd kind to all I see,Showing how pleasant and happyHis little one can be.

Chorus: A sunbeam, a sunbeam,Jesus wants me for a sunbeam.A sunbeam, a sunbeam,I’ll be a sunbeam for him.

2- I am a Child of God:

http://www.lds.org/churchmusic/detailmusicPlayer/index.html?searchlanguage=1&searchcollection=2&searchseqstart=2&searchsubseqstart=%20&searchseqend=2&searchsubseqend=ZZZ

1. I am a child of God,And he has sent me here,Has given me an earthly homeWith parents kind and dear.
2. I am a child of God,And so my needs are great;Help me to understand his wordsBefore it grows too late.
3. I am a child of God.Rich blessings are in store;If I but learn to do his will,I’ll live with him once more.
4. I am a child of God.His promises are sure;Celestial glory shall be mine If I can but endure.

Chorus: Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,Help me find the way.Teach me all that I must do To live with him someday.

Last week, Wesley was asked to give a talk in Primary: I came to Earth as part of a Family. He wanted Mommy to help him decide what to say. Now these talks are suppose to be short. Before Wesley climbed up to the stand to give his talk, he had told me that he was sooo excited. He wore a giant smile and delivered his talk like a champ! I whispered the words into his ear & he spoke them into the microphone so that he could share his talk with the rest of the children in Primary. These are the words that he chose to share:

"Heavenly Father loves me and he gave me a Family that loves me. I love my Mommy, my Daddy, and my little Sister! We have so much fun together! Having a Family makes me so Happy! In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen."

Beautiful. There was a women, sitting next to Aaron, who was another child's Grandma. She was so touched by Wesley's simple testimony of families that she began to tear up.

I am so grateful to have the knowledge of Heavenly Father's Plan. It is an amazing opportunity for me.... to be able to teach my children about the gospel and the love of the Savior, Jesus Christ. Wesley was so proud of himself today and I believe that he knows, without a doubt that FAMILY is central to Heavenly Father's plan. GOOD JOB WESLEY! YOU do have a wonderful family, that LOVES you, that CHERISHES you, that would do absolutely ANYTHING for you! I hope that as you grow older and especially on days where it seems as if you don't have anything or anyone at all, that you remember the L-O-V-E of your FAMILY and the L-O-V-E of your SAVIOR.

Our Family Sealing: January 3rd, 2006

Idaho Falls Temple

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILIES:

The Family: A Proclamation to the World

http://www.lds.org/library/display/0,4945,161-1-11-1,00.html

Finding Joy In The Journey and In The Moment.

AFTER a fun filled weekend, Monday mornings are always hectic, right?

WELL... these kind of mornings usually lead me to questioning my abilities, patience, and to say it quite plainly... just feeling like a lousy mother. I am convinced that every mother has these moments, though.

AFTER lunch, Emma fell asleep on Wesley's shoulder while watching a cartoon. It was so sweet and when I went to pick her up to lay her in her bed, Wesley only held her tighter. He was NOT going to let her go. I decided to watch them snuggle. It was just one of those moments...

LIFE is created by single moments, moments that don't always merit a graceful entry or a red curtain curtsy..... these ordinary moments present themselves in blue jeans and tennis shoes. I've learned that the rainy moments in our lives are often revitalized by rainbows, reminding us to find joy in the journey. These are the humbling moments that are most prominent in the story of our lives.

READ: Finding Joy in the Journey by President Thomas S. Monson (http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-947-26,00.html)

WORDS from the article that stood out to me: "If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will—to your surprise—miss them profoundly."

THINK ABOUT IT: messes = memories. DON'T BE AFRAID TO LET YOUR CHILDREN MAKE A MESS!.... AND most importantly, don't be afraid to make a mess with them! Set aside time to make messes with the children.

"Stresses in our lives come regardless of our circumstances. We must deal with them the best we can. But we should not let them get in the way of what is most important—and what is most important almost always involves the people around us. Often we assume that they must know how much we love them. But we should never assume; we should let them know. Wrote William Shakespeare, “They do not love that do not show their love.” We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us."

We are capable.

It is essential. WE need to recognize and ponder these ordinary MOMENTS in our lives!

WHY?....

These MOMENTS will bring your families the inspiration, the encouragement, the empowerment, and the gratification necessary to remember what is most important in life.

Make memories. Make them matter. Enjoy them. Treasure them. Forever.

Just one of those moments:

It is the good and the bad MOMENTS that equally bind them to me.

I FEEL their engravings deeper and deeper on my HEART.