So, sometimes we fall short of our goals....but I still have something fun to share.

I set a goal for the month of March to do a blog post a day.  Of course, as soon as I set a big goal like that for mysel, it opens up space for EVERY possible deterrent.

Since my last post:

1 broken hand

1 broken arm (different kiddo)

One damaged car in our driveway

One totalled car by way of hitting a dear (different car)

The death of a 91-year-old grandparent

The death of a dryer

***SIGH***

Life goes on, though, right?

We've also had:

Growth in our business

A mentor in town from the East Coast to help us with said business

Wainscoting up on one wall in the family room

"Extra" dryer installed in the unfinished laundry room

Damaged car was easily fixed

Totalled car is still driveable

Stroke of inspiration for getting my children to be more self-motivated

That last one is the fun thing I wanted to share today.

Part of making our house a home is streamlining the maintenance, which we've been working on for a few months.  As a homeschooling, DIYing, work-from-home Mom, I REALLY need my kiddos to take more initiative in the day-to-day stuff.  You know, the stuff that NEVER changes from one day to the next: get dressed, comb your hair, make your bed, etc.

After a conversation with Tornado about how we're less likely to be tempted to make trouble if we're engaged in something good and productive, we turned to the scriptures.  We turned to D&C 58:27, specifically.  We like to "liken the scriptures unto us" (2 Nephi 19:23), so we were changing some of the words to make it make more sense.  We were having a good bit of fun and it really made sense to him.  We read a few verses before and a few verses after and decided to re-word the whole scripture passage to apply to us.

Here's the passage, as it is in the D&C 58: 25-33:

 25 Wherefore, let them bring their families to this land, as they shall counsel between themselves and me.

 26 For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.

 27 Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;

 28 For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.

 29 But he that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned.

 30 Who am I that made man, saith the Lord, that will hold him guiltless that obeys not my commandments?

 31 Who am I, saith the Lord, that have promised and have not fulfilled?

 32 I command and men obey not; I revoke and they receive not the blessing.

 33 Then they say in their hearts: This is not the work of the Lord, for his promises are not fulfilled. But wo unto such, for their reward lurketh beneath, and not from above.

Here is the passage "Likened unto us":





This is now hanging on the wall next to our still-a-work-in-progress chore system, and future Home Organization Center.  The boys all got a kick out of it and it makes sense to them.  No denying it, when you read it like this!