{Thankful.}

We live in a scary world and in this day and age there are a lot of things I am so so thankful for and there are those that I don't mess with and one of those things is my testimony. I need it. I need it to grow, not die. I need it to influence, not dwindle. 

I need it get me through every. single. day.  

well that and prayer:)

I need it to flourish and I need it to help raise my children.

 These little faces

 I worry about everyday what the future holds for them, for all of us.  I worry if we do enough to teach them, inspire them and help them to see the good in the world and be the good. To be strong. To have strong testimonies also. To know what is right and know that 

obedience is happiness

that shouldn't be so hard right... but it is. 

I also know the key is to concentrate on today and not worry so much about tomorrow right. But its so hard to do when your in the now looking forward. 

When your baby is close to 11 then 12 and so on they really do grow so so fast!!

You only want what is the very best for each of your children.

You want them to be happy, have a strong testimony, to be respectful, hard working honest adults.

Its getting them there that makes it so hard some days wondering if we can make it in the craziness.

SO I was reading a book and two paragraphs jumped out at me so I have to share....

Its from band of sisters by Annette Lyon.

"When kids are little , the stress is mostly physical. They ask so much of you between nighttime feeding and diaper changes and naps and baths. It's physically draining keeping up with them and cleaning their messes and all that. 

When they're older they dress themselves, feed themselves, clean up after themselves, and sleep all night. A lot of the physical stress goes away." All that physical stuff is pretty black and white. Either the baby has a full tummy or she's hungry. Either she's got a clean diaper or a stinky one. Either she's bathed or she's filthy. The mom is a hamster on wheel to get it all done, but there's a pretty clear to do list." 

"And thats where the stress comes in when they are older. You have all kinds of new problems , with school and peer pressure and spiritual things-but there isn't a to do list on how to deal with any of it. 

Nothings clear-cut anymore".

"Suddenly your kid is old enough to make mistakes that can hurt other people, influence their own futures, and here you are, expected to guide them through this labyrinth when you don't even know which direction they should go sometimes. And the few times you do know which way to turn, your kid doesn't want to go that way-and you can't make them. 

You can't send them to time-out anymore. 

You can't do their homework for them. You can't be there when they're faced with friends trying to get them to do something totally stupid and life changing. You can't implant a testimony into their hearts. 

YOU TEACH THEM THE BEST YOU CAN then sit back {pretty much}, biting your nails, hoping that when it's said and done, they turn out all right."

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Those words jumped out at me and I realized these really are the easy days....... a friend told me a little while ago

little kids, little problems 

big kids, big problems

I'm hoping and praying for very little big problems but I'm not naive enough to think they aren't out there and that they can't and won't effect us too... 

I'm just hoping the foundation we are laying stays strong sticks and helps them forever...because we are all trying and thats all we want for our children, our children's children, our nieces, nephews and families in general.

 It's not easy but nobody ever said it would be.