I want to be a lioness

"I have said lately that women are like lionesses at the gate of the home. Whatever happens in that home and family happens because she cares about it and it matters to her. She guards that gate, and things matter to that family if they matter to her. For example, if the lioness at the gate believes in the law of tithing, tithing will be paid in that family. If that family has a humble little portion of ten pesos coming in, that lioness will safeguard the one peso if tithing is important to her. If that lioness at the gate knows about renewing her baptismal covenants with God, she will be in sacrament meeting on Sunday, and she will prepare her children to be there. They will be washed, cleaned, combed, and taught about that meeting and what happens there. It isn’t a casual event, but it is serious to her, and it will be serious to them. The lioness at the gate ensures that temple worship is taken care of in the family. She encourages that participation. She cares about seeking after her ancestors. If the lioness at the gate knows about and understands missions, missionaries, and the mission of the house of Israel, she will prepare future missionaries to go out from that home. It is very difficult to get a lion cub away from a lioness who doesn’t believe in missions, but if the lioness believes in a mission, she will devote her life to preparing the cub to go out and serve the Lord. That’s how important she is. Service happens if she cares about it."

-Julie B. Beck

11 Things

1. My children will not buckle their seatbelts until I have said in my most enthusiastic voice, "buckle up, buttercup!"

2. Logan spilled some of his morning oatmeal on the floor one day, hopped off his chair quickly, stood directly over the spill and repeated in a very assured voice, "i've got it", and then proceeded to get down on hands and knees and lick the oatmeal off the floor.

3. I've been enjoying singing "Tangled" songs with Ella. I love catching her in the rearview mirror when she is using her most beautiful voice (and face) to sing the songs.

4. Lincoln ducks his head shyly and puts his fingers in his mouth after he scores a goal in his soccer games. Every time, without fail, and the goals were numerous. Not a cocky boy that kid.

5. Landon has a fake laugh, no kidding, and he uses it on me all of the time. Sweet boy.

6. Logan wears the same thing every day, a blue basketball jersey and shorts set. Sometimes I sneak in a wash between wears...sometimes.

7. Love Ella's cute jumpy dance after she scores a goal in her soccer games. It brings back memories of sports when I was a kid and the excitement and weird physical maneuvers I know I used to come up with when happy.

8. Enjoying healthy Landon. It has been a while.

9. After showing me how fast he could run from one end of the house to the other, Lincoln tells me, "I should have saved that one for my soccer game, huh mom."

10. Lincoln said to me as we were driving, "Faster, Woman, Faster!" What?

11. I appreciate the opportunity to teach the kids that even though we might have a really bad day where it seems like everything is going wrong, usually things look better in the morning and we will all be happier.

wonderful

I've been cleaning the house, listening to Logan (3 years old) and Landon (10 months old) giggle, laugh, and scream in joy as they play together downstairs. It truly is the most wonderful sound and makes me smile. Just wanted to share. Love those boys.