Here I am again! No I didn't fall of the face of the earth, although I often think it feels like that or a merry-go-round that is going full speed and I am hanging on for dear life not to fall off. I didn't do either one. I just haven't visited the blogging world much this past year. Last year I decided who wants to read about my boring life anyway??? Plus I thought I would be a little more personal if I just tried to more faithfully write in a journal. Well I failed miserably at both! So here I am back to blogging.

I am not even going to try to catch you up to speed about our last year's events. I am just going to start new. I have just a few things on my mind that I have been thinking about lately that I really have wanted to get down.

We had a wonderful Christmas holiday. We were so blessed to have my parents come and spend Christmas with our little family. My parents haven't been with us on Christmas morning when the kids opened their presents or see what Santa brought. Ever since they told the kids they would come up this year, if there wasn't too much snow, my kids have been ecstatic! I have never seen kids pray harder for no snow than my kids did for about that month and a half. Also my kids were almost more excited that grandpa and grandma were coming up than they were about Santa coming. We had a wonderful Christmas and a fun weekend spending time with my parents.

I remember when I was younger thinking that my parents were so smart and knew all the answers. Okay, it definately wasn't my teenage years. We all know during those years we doubt everything our parents say and think that everyone else has to be smarter than our own parents. I am finding now that I am a parent myself, I definately don't have all the answers. I am truly amazed at how much I learn from my children. Lately the quote that keeps going through my mind is "and a little child shall lead the way." I have learned so much from my children through the years. The other night as I thought about the past years events and some of the things I learned I realized I learned a great deal of them from my children. Here are some of the things I have learned.

The power of prayer and having faith that our Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers. Conner has taught me this lesson over and over again this past year. Conner doesn't just believe this, he KNOWS it. Sam (our oldest) has a dog that can be very hyper. It is Sam's daily job to feed his dog twice a day. This summer, Conner started asking Sam if he could go out and feed the dog. Sam was more than happy to let Conner go out and do this job. One particular morning I was in the kitchen while Conner was out feeding the dog. We have a set of french doors that go to the backyard. The curtains on these doors were open and I happened to walk by the door about the time I saw Conner kneeling on the step with his arms folded, head bowed and lips moving a million miles a minute. This was one of those tender moments that I think will be forever etched on my heart as a mother. When he came in, I questioned him what he was doing. He told me he prays everytime that he goes out there to feed Molly, he prays that she won't kill him. I had to chuckle. But it has hit me hard about his knowledge of the power of prayer. He asked to do this job ever day knowing that the dog might jump on him and hurt him and yet he KNEW that if he prayed our Heavenly Father would protect him and keep him safe. Another experience was this fall upon realizing that everyone had left for school and work and realizing he was home alone, Conner said a prayer and then hopped on his bike and rode the five miles to school. (This is one story that I will blog in more detail later.) He KNEW that if he prayed to his Heavenly Father, he would be guided and our Heavenly Father would help him get to school safetly.

Another principle Conner has taught me is the power of faith. I think the above experiences also display a lot of faith on Conner's behalf. This Sunday we moved our church time from 9 to 12:30. This Sunday, being the first one of the month, was also Fast Sunday. Now for some reason fasting is one of those principles that I really struggle with. I believe in the power of fasting and prayer but fasting is just very hard for me. We don't even ask our kids to fast until they turn eight. We then try to work them up gradually skipping a little more and a little more so that by 11 or 12 they will be able to fast the complete 24 hours. Well, Sunday morning the kids are in the kitchen and we are telling Sam it is Fast Sunday. When we ask Conner what he wants for breakfast, he said he was fasting. I was shocked. I tried to explain to him it wasn't necessary until he turns eight. Nope he was convinced. Well about 11:30, I cut and apple for Logan and Natalie to hold them over until after church. I then went to reach for another apple to cut for Conner. Honestly, I had kind of forgotten about Conner fasting and also I had thought that by now he would realize he is hungry and decide to throw in the towel. Not so! Conner proudly reminds me that he can't have an apple because he is fasting. Wow! We head out the door for church. This year we have Sacrament Meeting last. The first time I saw Conner in church was as he came into the bench for Sacrament Meeting. He throws himself on my lap and announces how starving he is! Not two minutes later, Natalie is sitting there eating some Smarties from Primary and offers Conner one of her Smarties. Conner turns to her and said he wasn't taking her candy because he is fasting. I sat there in awe! The faith of a child. It is truly amazing!

Then there's Logan. When he talks of Jesus it gives me chills. I know that because of his life experiences, he knows Jesus in a way that I could only hope to come to know my Savior. It makes me want to get to know my Savior better.

I could go on and on of the things my children have taught me. These are just a few that have weighed on my mind lately. "And a little child shall lead them."

Around Christmas time this year, it seems to be that I have seen the word "Believe" a lot more than usual. I have really thought about that word. I have a favorite blog that I love to read. She is an adoptive mother, just like me. She wrote something about this word that touched me deeply. I would just like to share it. She said:

"believe.
it's my new word.

believe that there's a plan.
believe that Heavenly Father loves you.
believe that He only gives the good gift.
believe that there is light.
believe that you can make it.
believe that you are a survivor.

believe.

believe in the sealing covenant.
believe that it is more powerful than time.
believe that it is more powerful than DNA.
believe that it is more powerful than death.

believe."

It was beautifully written. I couldn't have said it better. It touched on so many things I had been thinking about. This little post made me dig deeper. What do I believe in? I believe in all she beautifully stated. I also believe. I believe in my Savior Jesus Christ. I believe that He atoned for my sins. I believe He loves me. I believe He carries us through our trials.

I believe in the Church of Jesus Christ. I believe we are led by a prophet of God. I believe in temple covenants. I believe in eternal families. I believe in The Book of Mormon.

I am a Believer!