🍁 September

Mike has a great job. And so many ways he is very blessed. He doesn’t have commute, he likes the guys he works with, and the schedule is beyond flexible. I would call him quasi-retired. The thing I love about Mike’s job the most is that he doesn’t ever have to work on Sundays. He’s never once missed church because of his work. With that said, we have 8:30 AM church right now and he got up early to work on scouts only to find out that there are some problems at work, and emergency that he had to go in and fix. So as soon as he found out, he went and did that. It would’ve been easy for him to stay at work longer, but as soon as it was in a staple position, he came back to church. He didn’t linger at work he showed up where he needed to be. And where he wanted to be. And even more importantly, where he wanted to be.

Andrew doesn’t have to work to think. -Ama

You can’t fault either of them for what they are, but you can fault him for what he is now. 

“I don’t know your situation but I do know that Hf would never want one of his daughters to be in a situation where his daughters can’t grow spiritually.” Sis Kelly to Ama 

Luck has nothing to do with it. We’ve had to work at it. Mortensen’s about marriage

Fast: 

1. Improve my thoughts. Keep the positive and weed out the negative. 
2. Edifying conversations in our Marriage (read scripture & conference passages). No more criticizing or venting. Keep it positive, goal oriented, uplifting, and drawing on the powers of Heaven. 
3. Better/ wise stewards over God’s money. 

2- lunch and good visit with Ama, Tammy, and Katelyn.  

3- visited Tammy at her new apartment. So much of who I am today is from her strength, testimony, and teachings. I will forever be grateful to the ways she has gently picked up broken Robin from a heap on the floor and given me the strength to fly. Now it’s my turn to be able to help love, comfort, and nurture her. 

4- was able to help a girl find her parents at the rendezvous while sitting and watching for my two lost boys. 

5- Ama came over for dinner tonight and joined us for FHE activities. 

6- during our CFM discussion tonight we talked about having a “paradigm shift” to better get along with brothers and instead of telling parents that “brother is bugging me” instead take ownership of the problem and control over the solution. Say something like “my brother must need some extra attention today” and then pray to know how you can attend to their needs. 

During our discussion Daniel got the clear direction to rough house with Andrew, which is his love language. Daniel, Andrew and Derek played like puppies for half an hour and had a blast with pillow fighting, wrestling, and rough housing. 

7- today I was that car in the car wash. The one that was so busy cleaning, didn’t realize the car got popped into drive, slammed into the vehicle in front of me, had the wash stopped, slowed everyone down, and out another ding on the van. The tender mercy and blessing from this is that, of the hundreds of cars that go through each day, the vehicle in front of me was a truck. With a hitch. And the driver was super nice. Yolanda didn’t even scratch the hitch and we were able to part ways without getting insurance involved. 

• God blessed those who put him first. Who pay him first. Who try to be generous with him and his children. 
• God does not appreciate it when his children fail to pray with sincerity. 

8- embrace your children for who they are and they will be happy. Let them choose what they want to do and give them wings to fly. 

Encourage them to find and participate in what they love. 

9-scoot recruitment night. Koda tried following me and Mike happened to see him on the sidewalk on his way home from work. 

10- instead of saying “that’s OK, you don’t have to come. But you’re gonna miss out.“ say “that’s OK, you don’t have to come. But we’re really going to miss you.”

11- 5 questions: 1) How much should I intervene in/ own Andrew’s learning vs. how much should I let him fight and figure out? 

12- family prayers: include our Savior’s grace, mercy, redeeming and enabling power of His atonement. 

13- cleaned the house and still unpacking and moving in. Had quiet time at home for homework. Janis Aden came over and saw the house and visit with me for a few minutes. She said “it’s hard to move here. Eventually you’ll find out why you did.”

14- I got to visit with my highland moai and build upon my alpine one. 

15-

16- I met with Andrew’s teacher. She is a blessing and we’re lucky to have her. Andrew is a worker. A fighter. A survivor. He is brave, fierce, loyal, and true to his sled a d his word. He knows God and he is true to Him. 

19- Promise: “if I go to the temple weekly (and act on the promptings I receive there), then I will know I did all that I could for my Marriage and children.”

20- our boys are lucky to have parents who adore each other. Not many kids get that gift. 

21- Andrew‘s first day of exercise and he’s higher than a kite. 

24- Not many kids are lucky enough to grow up with their very own personal Marriage coaches like ours do. They are so lucky to have parents that love each other and are nice to each other. Plus, we make a point to say little kind, thoughtful, educational comments here and there about what the other person is doing right. We don’t need to beat ourselves up over having the smartest, most athletic, well liked kids. We just need to show them what a good marriage looks like and give them both the know-how, positive expectations, dose of reality, honesty, and the CONFIDENCE that they too can have that. To be a young newlywed is so appealing at the time, but can be so problematic later on. 

25-I’ve been able to visit with Tammy more in the last month and the last year. She is opening up with my Mom and me. It’s so good to have her back. 

26-instead of my five minutes social media scroll, use that time to write in day one. 

27- Life has so much to teach my boys. Just relax and enjoy them. 

28- May Mike and I turn TOWARDS each other during the trials, challenges, stressors, and pain of this move. May we be stronger and closer from our challenges. Bless our Marriage. 

29- I need to seriously repent. I’ve made such a habit of speaking negatively about people to Mike. Change your thoughts, change your words. 

“If you have bad feelings for someone, call them. Visit with them. Get their side of the story.”

30- we bought this house to serve and to have an impact on youth. 

BYU Unique 

Uniquous = one and only

Peculiar approaches to solving problems 

Kimball

“Christians in community are to never give up on one another, never give up on a relationship, and never write off another believer. We must never tire of forgiving (and repenting!) and seeking to repair our relationships. Matthew 5:23–26 tells us we should go to someone if we know they have something against us. Matthew 18:15–20 says we should approach someone if we have something against them. In short, if any relationship has cooled off or has weakened in any way, it is always your move. It doesn’t matter “who started it:” God always holds you responsible to reach out to repair a tattered relationship. A Christian is responsible to begin the process of reconciliation, regardless of how the distance or the alienation began.” -Timothy Keller

“We have the need of Gospel methodologies to address the pressing issues of our day.” -Shane Reece

“Society wants to divide people by highlighting differences. [Let us] celebrate our common beliefs and acknowledge that there are many paths that can lead us back to our Heavenly Father. Certainly there are a few common steppingstones on that path, but each path is unique and shouldn’t be judged.“ single man, leading Saints episode

“Inspiring is an interesting word. It derives from the Latin term inspirare, which means “to breathe into” and, more specifically, “to breathe life into.” Inspiring is both a noun and an adjective. The noun can be defined as the act of inspiring or motivating. In this sense, the term “inspiring learning” describes actions that inspire or motivate students to learn. As an adjective, inspiring is a modifier. In this context it describes a kind of learning: learning that inspires—or, more precisely, in our setting, learning that leads to inspiration or revelation.

When I use the term “inspiring learning,” I have in mind both meanings of the word inspiring. I hope we inspire our students to learn. And I hope that learning leads to inspiration. When both things happen, inspiring learning occurs, and we can then know we are on the right track to achieve the core goals set forth in our mission statement.” -Kevin Worthen 

“The highest type of discernment is that which perceives in others and uncovers for them their better natures, the good inherent within them.” -Steven L Richards

“The spirit can show us our weaknesses, but he is also able to show us our strengths.” - L. Lawrence

Don’t expect someone to be a 10 when they are currently a 3. Instead help them get to the next level, to a 4. 

Gotcha!

M did the “dog with worms” butt scoot during our FHE claymation activity. Bikes the Bear with the boys. Was understanding of Daniel’s feelings and didn’t bully him into it, but encouraged him instead. Made a brisket. Is aware of our likes and preferences. Masterful at using stories to teach, like when James didn’t get enough sleep and was tired on Sunday. 

R Cheerfully went to the mountain man rendezvous and dressed up. Reading two stories to the boys each night. Organizing Webelos. 

J Got brothers dressed in costumes. Helped watch younger kids at Cornbelly’s. Music and now trumpet. James woke up early and made eggs and muffins 100% by himself!

D Took such careful care of Derek at Mountain rendezvous call I will look for each other. Made the most of it and enjoyed catching crawdads. Kept Derek safe at the rendezvous. Wanted a sculpture of him and Derek. Read stories to younger brothers. Played nicely while we napped. Temple. Being honest. Nice to Koda. 

A Unfaltering hard work in school. Playing nicely with Derek and the Lego game. Played nicely while we napped. Worked hard in soccer game even when he doesn’t love it. Rock climbing. Horseback riding. Utah cake. 

D stayed with Daniel. Reading. Loving making bead geckos. LPM and piano.