WHOLESOME RECREATION.

Family Hike July 2010.

When we moved here to Dallas we often asked people to tell us the best things to do here. Time and time again, we heard movies, shopping and great restaurants. And, it's true, we have some great shopping and great eating. But those things aren't really congruent with a student budget, we soon found.

For a couple that was raised in the mountains and spent a lot of time outdoors, we were left to adjust to new scenery and find things to do here. Not to mention we added a baby to the mix soon after we arrived and so our recreation options were rapidly dwindling.

Just this weekend while visiting my sister and her new baby boy (who is darling by the way) in Lubbock, we discussed this same topic. Sometimes we tend to complain about missing our mountains and the things we would do if they were close by. Not a real productive conversation, but one that comes up often.

So, it got us to thinking. What recreation do we really enjoy with our families? The Family: A Proclamation to the World says that successful marriages and families are established on wholesome recreational activities among other things.

We say that we love all things in the mountains, but it got me thinking, what things would we actually do with our little family?

After some brainstorming, here are the things that I enjoy with my family. They may enjoy other things, but after our time in Dallas, here's what I like.

Going swimming at a neighbor's pool (with a husband to help)

Taking walks around our neighborhood

Short hikes, where the kids can explore

Campfires (not quite the sleeping over camping yet)

Playing games in our yard

So, that is my question, what wholesome recreational activities does your family enjoy? What things work for your family with the ages of your kids? Do you have a hard time getting older kids to participate? I'd love to hear.

THE GIFT OF A CHILD.

The newest member of our family arrived yesterday. My sister gave birth to her first, a beautiful (unnamed as of yet) son, weighing in at eight pounds, seven ounces.

All day yesterday my thoughts and prayers were with them as they welcomed their boy to the world. When the text message of his arrival rang in, I was filled with emotion and thanksgiving, because really, what more is there to life for my little sister and her husband? This is the point to their life together.

What an event it is, if you stop to ponder, the grand miracle of life. Those thoughts allowed me to reflect on the arrival of our two beautiful daughters and the incredible impact they have had on my life. I can think of nothing greater than the gift of a child.

I remember distinctly the hours and days after each of my girls were born. They will stand as some of the most sacred and precious moments in my lifetime, and I am so grateful that my little sister is now experiencing the same.

Here's to a another happy family!


Quote found here.

MOTHERHOOD: THE REAL YOU.

Two of my favorites from our recent family photo shoot with Elise of Sleeman Photography.

Today, is my oldest daughters third birthday. Yesterday, my baby turned one. That's some serious family planning, or lack there of. Either way, we've been celebrating all week.

These birthdays have caused some reflection. If you're like me, seeing your children grow older feels almost mysterious. Truly, it was yesterday that I held my tiny Hannah in my arms for the first time, admiring her every feature. Now, three years later, she is her very own, unique person, and I, a three year-old mother, am so very changed.

In my moments of reflection I almost begin to feel that December first and second ought to be my special days. They are, after all, two of the most momentous days of my entire existence. Days, that I have recorded and recounted time and time again. So important in their significance, that I know just what I ate, just what I did, and how the minutes of those day materialized. They were my most special days, and now, they've become the most special days in the lives of my two little girls.

And, that's just about how it's gone. My life is now theirs, and that is very much okay. The balloons and the cupcakes are for them now, and I like it. You see in the past three years, I feel like motherhood has been good to me, it has brought out the real me, unlike any other experience in my life.

These two seem to have unlocked the true me. I have learned quickly that you can't hide anything from children. Each day, Hannah and Kate get me as their mom. They get the good, the bad and the ugly. They are there when my patience is frazzled, and my snappiness peaks. They know that here in the Shaha home, it's not all together all of the time. They see it all, me for me.

That me, however, has learned to do just about anything to see these girls happy. They see me sing at high volumes, dance like a lunatic, play on the floor with them, and read stories in crazy voices. They've seen me try my best to do their hair, and make them presentable. And, I only hope they've felt my love as I've tried to develop the ability to nurture and care for them. I hope they notice that I am trying to teach them correct principles, and do things consistently in our home. And I hope someday, they'll realize just how much they are loved.

While I realize that it may not be pretty all of the time, I truly appreciate these last three years. I love how they've stretched me, strengthened me and brought out the happiest me.

Happy Birthday to Hannah and Kate. The girls who have made me a mama.

Quote by Sheri L. Dew talk entitled, "Are We Not All Mothers?"

ON TIME.

Last night I read scriptures to Hannah while she was in the tub. It was just she and I. Kate was long gone in her crib and Jimmy was at the hospital. I was tired and getting Hannah tucked away for the night couldn't have come sooner. It was one of those days.

I am going to assume that we all feel a bit overwhelmed at times. Or a lot of times. Or maybe even a lot of the time. Whatever the case may be, motherhood brings those feelings.

Yesterday my beef was with time. At eleven in the morning I looked around to a disaster of a kitchen and wondered what exactly I had accomplished up to that point. One of three of us was dressed for the day and I had yet to check any of my to-do items off of my list. It felt like we were surviving.

My kids eat, nap and they are usually pretty clean. My dishes mostly get washed and the laundry is usually done each week. I serve in my calling, and I try to exercise, and that about rounds up my life. Oh and I write here on this blog.

The problem is, I want to do a lot more. I have ideas and plans and don't seem to get to them. It frustrates me sometimes. There never seems to be the time to do anything beyond the day-to-day living. These thoughts led me to remember a conversation with my sister-in-law, she was feeling much what I feel. She recommended Sister Beck's 2010 Women's Conference talk.

It is an expanded version of her talk given in April 2010 General Conference entitled, "And upon the Handmaids in Those Days Will I Pour Out My Spirit."

In it, Sister Beck shares:

"Years ago I began using a system that works for me, and maybe it will work for you. There was a time when I needed to prioritize, and in one of those sacred meetings between me and the Lord, He gave me three categories that I have worked from, and they have been a guide in my life. The categories are the essential things, the necessary things, and the nice-to-do things. I started writing those things down. I asked, “What has to go in the category of essential?” What things must be taken care of, and if I don’t take care of them, the blessings of eternal life won’t be mine nor will they be my family’s" 

Later, she expounded on each category, I'll share my synopsis of the things she mentioned. All of our lists will be a bit different.

Essential Things: 
Revelation
Scripture Study
Personal Prayer
Making and Keeping Covenants
Service
Temple Attendance
Sacrament Meeting Attendance
Repentance
Sharing the Gospel

Necessary Things:
Homemaking
Keeping a House of Order
Supporting Your Husband
Smiling
Self-Reliance

Nice-to-Do Things:
Crafts and Hobbies
Recreational Reading
Movies
Travels
Lunches with Friends

She then shared:

"To walk with the Lord, we have to know what is essential, what is necessary, and what is nice to do. There is a lot to do, but I find that it is amazing how much I get to do on my nice-to-do list. The Lord blesses us with those mercies, but only if the other priorities are in order." 

What a wonderful reminder that was to me. Much of the things I want to accomplish fall into the nice-to-do category. While they would be fun to do, they are not essential at this time. I appreciate the wisdom and counsel of our leaders and felt renewed as I reviewed Sister Beck's words.

One more quote from her General Conference talk that rang true to me:

"A good woman knows that she does not have enough time, energy, or opportunity to take care of all of the people or do all of the worthy things her heart yearns to do. Life is not calm for most women, and each day seems to require the accomplishment of a million things, most of which are important. A good woman must constantly resist alluring and deceptive messages from many sources telling her that she is entitled to more time away from her responsibilities and that she deserves a life of greater ease and independence. But with personal revelation, she can prioritize correctly and navigate this life confidently. "

SUNDAY, A SPECIAL DAY.

Last year we struck the jackpot in our ward. After a split of wards, our meeting time was changed to begin at 2:30 p.m. If you couldn't sense my sarcasm, that was not the jackpot. For a family with small kids, it has been quite difficult. Church ends, we drive home, find something for dinner and it is bedtime. Not to mention the entire day to fill before the meetings even begin.

In fact, that has been our main challenge--making Sunday a special day, with so much time on our hands.

One fond memory I have of my youth happened each Sunday morning. For a time, my Dad would wake up early Sunday mornings to bake frozen bread dough for a quick breakfast before Church. We knew, with the smell of baking bread that it was time to roll out of bed and get ourselves ready for our meetings. The counter top was adorned with butter and honey, and we looked forward to our Sunday morning bread. The tradition was simple, the preparation very easy, but it is a lasting memory of our Sabbath day.

With small children, it has proven to be a little more difficult to differentiate Sunday from the other days of the week. In my attempts at making Sunday different from the rest here are a few things I am trying:

- Church music in the morning
- Keep the TV off
- The Living Scriptures (my daughter is really not into it yet)
- Having a family breakfast if time permits (more than the normal routine of cereal)

To be honest, Sundays are often times more stressful and difficult than I would like them to be. Keeping my daughter busy and occupied as we await our meetings is tough some weeks. So, fellow mamas, please share, what do you do in your homes to make Sunday different from the rest? I would love to hear ideas for all ages of kids.

Image via

SIBLINGS.

Bringing home our second daughter was not all bliss. Of course we loved having a newborn and were excited to get to know our new little one, but the transition for our older daughter was a tough one. She learned quickly that hitting her new sister was bound to get the attention of her parents. And so that's what she did.

I remember feeling so bad for little Kate as she endured the wrath of an older sister dealing with the adjustment of a new sibling. I wondered how she might survive long enough to fight back.  It was a hard time--for all of us, I guess.

Today, we are mostly home free as they interact quite well. I'm sure there will be many fights and struggles down the road, but for now one, of the most joyous sounds I hear is my girls laughing together.

I was intrigued and encouraged by this study, conducted by a BYU professor of Family Life. Apparently, despite the quarrels and fighting, positive sibling relationships do make a difference in the happiness of pre-teens and young teens.

I assume then, that our job as moms is to promote positive sibling relationships. We are yet to experience any major fighting as our kids are quite small, but I would love to hear your thoughts on keeping things positive and happy with your children in your home. Any ideas?

Along the same line, I also saw this new video by the Church about the relationship of two brothers. Made me happy to see the progress of their relationship.

Can you imagine your little ones as tall and lanky teenagers? Which one of my two will need braces? Made me smile to think of our future young women. What did you think of the video?