When I saw the announcement for the annual office cookie contest, I thought about those little cookies my wife made last Christmas. We call them Lemon Meltaways. As the name suggests, they’re incredible. I remember thinking that even a baking novice like me could win a cookie contest with that recipe.
John studies the lives and teachings of happy people and shares what he learns with others in powerful, meaningful and uplifting ways. He's a licensed marriage and family therapist, certified family life educator, and a speaker and writer, with a Ph.D. in Family Relations from Florida State University. He has been married to an amazing woman for over two decades, and they are the parents of four wonderful people. You can learn more about John and his approach to finding fulfillment at drjohnbrailsford.com."

Last summer I discovered Jody Hedlund's blog. She’s a new author whose debut novel, The Preacher’s Bride,  came out last fall. I was very impressed with her blog, so when her  book was released I bought it. But with the holidays and signings I was  very busy. I put her book in a safe place expecting that when all the  chaos settled down I could read it between Christmas and New Year’s. 

Well, that safe place was so safe that I  couldn’t find the novel. I searched everywhere to no avail. Luckily, I  received a Kindle for Christmas. Determined to read this book, I bought  the novel as an ebook. I’m glad I did. The book was everything I’d hoped  for and more.

The Preacher’s Bride is a  historical romance published through Bethany House. You need to know  that the hero in this novel, John Costin, was inspired by the life of  John Bunyon, who wrote The Pilgrim’s Progress in 1678. His  Christian masterpiece has been translated into more than 200 languages  and has never been out of print. He is quite well-known in Christian  circles, but what about his wife? What kind of woman would stand by her  man while he was persecuted, slandered, and imprisoned for years at a  time? Hedlund wondered the same thing for in the Author’s Notes she  writes: “While history gives  due laud to John, it fails to  recognize the woman who stood by his side  and helped shape him into the  hero we all know and love. It is my  sincerest hope that in telling this  story, I have brought to life  Elizabeth Bunyan and have given her the  recognition she deserves.”

Hedlund has done a splendid job of  creating a very memorable woman who fought for what she believed in and  faced life’s challenges with courage and determination. Elizabeth is a  heroine you would love to know, someone you would admire and be friends  with and have full confidence that she would always tell you the truth  and be loyal.

John is a man of conviction driven by a  deep love of God. At the beginning of the book he is suffering the loss  of this first wife and has no idea how he will care for his children,  one of which is an infant. So tormented by his grief, he gives up on the  infant living. This is where Elizabeth enters his life. Headstrong and  filled with compassion and the need to protect the innocent baby, she  volunteers to care for all of Costin’s children.

The heroine and hero of this novel are  riveting. I was enthralled reading about their world, getting into their  minds, and understanding why they made the decisions they made. They  lived good lives, served their God and their fellow men, and along the  way despite incredible odds they found love. 

Here is the back cover blurb.

No matter the sacrifice, Elizabeth Whitbread would serve a wounded family.

No matter the danger, John Costin was determined to speak God’s word.

Neither expected to fall in love.

As enemies threaten to silence Costin—and those close to him—will following their hearts cost John and Elizabeth everything?

I think you’ll enjoy this beautiful story based on the lives of these spiritual giants of the 1600s.


By the way, I finally found the hard  copy of this book that I’d put away in a safe place. It now has found a  permanent home on my living room book shelf along with other classics.

 (I purchased my own copy of this book and reviewed it because I liked it.)



Kathi Oram Peterson is the mother of three, grandmother of two, and wife of one. She has always loved books, whether she's reading or writing them. Her novel include: The Forgotten Warrior (2009), An Angel on Main Street (2009) and The Stone Traveler (2010). Her next novel, River Whispers will be released in May 2011. Blog: www.kathiswritingnook.com. Website: www.KathiOramPeterson.com.

Photo by Marc Reynolds

I have a secret wish that we could be that family at church with all the reverent children, facing forward, sitting in their seats and being quiet.
Instead, we are the family with the screaming infant and a rambunctious toddler that sneaks three Zu Zu Pets into the church bag and lets them loose during the opening prayer!

I also have glorious dreams of my children sitting reverently during family home evening, listening to the lesson and taking it all in.

Wouldn’t that be nice?
Because the truth is, family home evenings with our family are crazy. Typically our three year old is bouncing off the walls and not listening to a word we are saying. It's really hard to get him to sit still. Did I mention he’s three? We make our lessons short (about ten minutes) in hopes that he can pay attention for that long. So far this year we have been focusing our lessons on kindness, love, good manners and anything else we think might help our little man navigate through the terrible threes.
So naturally, one topic that has been high on our list is a lesson on "Reverence". We finally decided we couldn’t wait any longer...it was time to prepare our most powerful FHE lesson yet.

And this time we were armed with a secret weapon.



Thanks to a comment made in Relief Society one Sunday, I was given a fabulous idea. One of the sisters mentioned that she once made a "Reverence badge" for the Primary kids to help them settle down quickly and be quieter. She would pick a child that was being reverent to be her "Reverence Helper" and that child would get to wear the "Reverence badge" during Primary and show by example, what it meant to be reverent. She said that she saw a remarkable change in the children as they all tried their best to be reverent.

The morning of our highly anticipated "Reverence" lesson, I made the first official "Harwood Family Reverence Badge." My hubby took it out at the beginning of the lesson and he immediately had our son...hook, line and sinker. What three year old wouldn’t want the very important task of being the "Reverence Helper" at family home evening? We had a fabulous lesson on reverence while our little guy sat on the couch with his arms folded the entire time! He was so proud and excited to wear the badge and took his role as "Reverence Helper" very seriously. He even participated in the lesson and answered all of his dad’s questions and we could see that he was actually listening!

We have now been using the Reverence Badge at every family night since then and even brought it along to church to help keep our pew a little less crazy during sacrament!


Want to make your own Reverence Badge?
Here is everything you will need :

Rope, yarn or ribbon
Heavy card stock
Image of child or animal folding his/her arms
Marker
Alphabet stickers (optional)
Scrap booking glue or tape

Tip: Laminate your badge to make it last even longer!


Angie is passionate about adoption. She has been married to her best friend for almost 11 years and is the SAHM of two beautiful boys. She loves photography, digital scrap booking, cooking and sunny days. When she is not cleaning up after her incredibly messy 3 year old or wiping slobber off her incredibly slobbery 5 month old she can be found writing on her blog The Blessings of Adoption.

It goes without saying that it's much easier to get more out of General Conference if you can actually hear it.  Children can make listening difficult.  I learned early on in the parenting game that the more involved I could get my children in the General Conference process, the more I myself could get out of it.  A lovely (and intentional) side effect is their own enthusiasm for and appreciation of living prophets and their semi-annual counsel.  Here are a few resources to help your children participate positively in General Conference:


The Church has provided this page with some print-outs and computer games to help children prepare for General Conference.


The following are all excellent references offered from Sugardoodle.net, including General Conference Activity Packets for all ages.

When you click on the links you can download the documents and print them out:







Check out this Sugardoodle.net page for other General Conference ideas, coloring pages, snacks, activities, etc.


Here’s another site with a lot of packets, cards, and other resources.


This is an article that I helped author:  “Preparing Our Children for General Conference”  It has some specific ideas of activities/games you can do with children  (even small children) before, during, and after conference.


Here are also some great articles to help you get yourself and your children in the General Conference mindset:



Your children will learn a lot from your own example and testimony.  General Conference is a great time to share both.


Stephanie     is a mom of three young and relentless children. Her interests   include   Latin music, naps, restaurants, writing, travel, teaching,   housework   denial and long showers. Stephanie seeks for the divinity in   motherhood--- tries to share it when she finds it, and tries to laugh   when she doesn't. She blogs for fun, posterity, and therapy. Her    musings  are chronicled at Diapers and Divinity.

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~Delia

We have gotten several emails from people asking why in the Sam-Hill we have sister sites. What’s it for and how does it even benefit the readers of MMB?

Let us explain:

After the Casual Blogger Conference ended last May we knew that we couldn’t stop working with Julie from Leelou Blogs so we formed a network together called the Casual Blogger Network. It seemed like the most natural thing in the world for us to do because we all bring different strengths to our network and we really like each other!

The Casual Blogger Network is committed to not only bringing you the very best content we can find on the web, but offering you support and solutions as you try and navigate the waters of womanhood. Whether you are a young or seasoned mother, married or swinging single we are committed to helping you become the very best YOU that you can become.

In January we brought on board Veronica from Local Community Hot Spots—a review site that not only features bloggers favorite spots in Utah, but around the country as well. Veronica loves her community and wants everyone to know about all the amazing places available for families in Utah. Not only that, she believes that everyone should have a chance to shout from the roof-tops about their favorite local places—whether it be a restaurant, boutique or locally owned bookstore. She wanted to make a forum available for people to tell the world what is so amazing about THEIR community… thus Local Community Hot Spots was born.

She has some excellent bloggers that have already submitted several posts about their favorite places in Arizona, Colorado and Idaho.  If you want to have your favorite spots in your community highlighted, send her an email!

Veronica has amazing business relationships as well and is continually hosting events with these local companies. They are all FREE for anyone to attend, you just have to register letting her know you want to attend. We heard through the grapevine that she has put together an awesome event with The Shops at  the Riverwoods in Orem, Utah. Space is limited, so hop on over and let her know if you want to attend. She has lots of fun, free networking events that she is working on to bring brands and bloggers together.

At the end of February we brought on Melissa who owns Green Jell-O with Carrots and The Barrel of Blogs—A fantastic blogging magazine. Melissa brings the creative aspects that we were missing in our network and has been a huge asset.  Green Jell-O offers some of the best products relating to LDS Church Callings we have ever seen. Period. There are lots of free sites out there, but their stuff doesn’t hold a candle to the creative cuteness that is available on Green Jell-O.

Need a FHE lesson, primary coloring sheet or a cute YW handout that isn’t tacky or 1999 feeling?  Green Jell-O is the place for you. Every Friday she hosts Friday Freebie where you can download a new printable every week! We love her and know that you will, too.

We are so excited about her blogging magazine, too! It’s just one more way that we can highlight our awesome readers and give back to you. You are what makes up the content of the blogging magazine and we want to showcase the best of the best from around the blogosphere! If you want to get your blog highlighted in the magazine, head over here and fill out our handy little form.

The Casual Blogger Network believes in the power of YOU and  we truly believe there is no such thing as a small blogger. YOU are the great ones: without you, and your words, and your stories, our communities simply would not exist. YOU are the reason we are here. YOU are the ones that make blogging great.

We believe in the power of the Casual Blogger. We believe in YOU.

Most people who know me know how I feel about General Conference. Love. It is my semi-annual recharging of the spiritual batteries. General Conference weekend makes me happy. I have found that I get so much more out of conference when I intentionally prepare for it. Here are a few quotes and ideas to help you get in the General Conference mindset.

"In my own expression of testimony and gratitude for the messages and meaning of general conference, may I suggest three things these twice-yearly gatherings declare to all the world:

1. First, they declare eagerly and unequivocally that there is again a living prophet on the earth speaking in the name of the Lord. And how we need such guidance! … We all need that word. No one is safe without it…

2. Secondly, each of these conferences marks a call to action not only in our own lives but also on behalf of others around us, those who are of our own family and faith and those who are not.

3. Lastly, a general conference of the Church is a declaration to all the world that Jesus is the Christ, that He and His Father, the God and Father of us all, appeared to the boy prophet Joseph Smith in fulfillment of that ancient promise that the resurrected Jesus of Nazareth would again restore His Church on earth and [return] again.” - Jeffrey R. Holland, "Prophets in the Land Again," Ensign, Nov 2006, 104-7

"There seems to be no end to the Savior’s desire to lead us to safety. And there is constancy in the way He shows us the path. … Those means always include sending the message by the mouths of His prophets whenever people have qualified to have the prophets of God among them. Those authorized servants are always charged with warning the people, telling them the way to safety….

In our own time, we have been warned with counsel of where to find safety from sin and from sorrow. One of the keys to recognizing those warnings is that they are repeated.

One of the ways we may know that the warning is from the Lord is that the law of witnesses, authorized witnesses, has been invoked. When the words of prophets seem repetitive, that should rivet our attention...” - Henry B. Eyring, "Finding Safety in Counsel," Ensign, May 1997, 24

“We are overcome with what the Lord said of those who hold these sacred callings: ‘Whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation.’ (D&C 68:4) … These men are true servants of the Lord; give heed to their counsel.” - Boyd K. Packer, "The Twelve Apostles," Ensign, Nov 1996, 6

Think about and write down questions that you would really like some insight about. (Think about your role as a wife, mother, friend, sister, employee, calling, etc. . . . What would you ask the Lord about?) Imagine the Savior as your "Counselor"and ask Him things with a desire to hear His advice. Pray about those questions. Request that He answers them as you listen to General Conference.

As you watch conference, pay careful attention and identify talk(s) that may give you some direction for your questions.

As you listen to (and later study) these talks, look for two things: (I recommend writing them down.)

• main points: truths, principles, doctrine
• action items: what does this speaker want me to DO? What is the "call to action"?

You can watch a highlight video from the latest general conference here at this link.

In summary, How to make General Conference meaningful:

1. Pray and prepare before General Conference.
2. Carefully study the Conference edition of the Ensign.
3. Watch or listen to General Conference with purpose.
4. Identify action items based on their counsel.
5. Obey.

President Monson stated at the conclusion of a recent General Conference:

"My beloved brothers and sisters, my heart is full and my feelings tender as we conclude this great general conference. We have been richly blessed as we have listened to the counsel and testimonies of those who have spoken to us. I believe we are all more determined to live the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ. May we long remember that which we have heard during this conference. I remind you that the messages will be printed in next month's Ensign... I urge you to study the messages and to ponder their teachings and then to apply them in your life.”

Also, consider this post as an invitation to participate in the General Conference Book Club that I host on my personal blog or to start one of your own. Studying one talk a week helps so much to keep the words of the prophets fresh on the mind and in the heart.


Happy preparations. Here's wishing you the most meaningful General Conference ever.

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Stephanie    is a mom of three young and relentless children. Her interests  include   Latin music, naps, restaurants, writing, travel, teaching,  housework   denial and long showers. Stephanie seeks for the divinity in  motherhood--- tries to share it when she finds it, and tries to laugh  when she doesn't. She blogs for fun, posterity, and therapy. Her   musings  are chronicled at Diapers and Divinity.

 

Confession: On occasion, I have let a sign-up clipboard pass me by and not volunteered because I was too busy to serve that week. I still don't know how to knit hats to donate to hospitals. I've never taken my children to volunteer in a soup kitchen. But wait, what about the mothering I do—the feeding, diaper changing, nurturing, nose wiping, driving, and game playing—isn’t that service? Indeed, we are told that motherhood is “the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind." Still, sometimes I would enjoy serving in ways that reach beyond the walls of my home and life.

The Church’s new service tool, Helping in the Vineyard (vineyard.lds.org), provides meaningful service opportunities that are simple, flexible, and can be completed regardless of where I am or how much time I have (or don’t have) available. In my first visit to the site, it took just minutes to sign up and complete my first task. In under an hour, I had completed 40 tasks!

There are various tasks, based on your skills and preferences, to choose from. The current opportunities include:

• Church Publications: Prepare Church content to share with the world by checking, comparing and matching text, or identifying page breaks on existing publications (helping confirm that text files are properly matched with their converted originals).
• Church Multimedia: Contribute your own photos for Church use, slice and tag video clips, spot-check video quality, or tag images or videos with keywords.
• Translation: Help provide translations for Church publications that are distributed online and around the world.
• Family History: Assist in genealogical work that helps people identify their ancestors; transcribe historical records to make them available online in a searchable format.

My personal favorites are tagging images and videos and transcribing historical records. I also love the idea that members can submit their own images to help supplement the Church’s media library. I have a lot of friends who will be thrilled with the opportunity to assist in the translation work. All of us working together—even for just a few minutes at a time—results in an immense amount of work.

So, yes, motherhood is the primary form of service that I am committed to at this time in my life. But when I have a few minutes to kill, and I want to reach out and be reminded that I am still part of the world that exists outside of my home, I can spend some time browsing blogs and status updates. But first, I think I’ll spend a few minutes Helping in the Vineyard.

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This is a sponsored post written by Nancy Clark—Mother, Blogger, and Content Consultant for Helping in the Vineyard

I don't know about you, but here at MMB, we spend a lot of time on the internet. And some of the stuff we find is too good not to share... (can you see where we're going with this?) That's right readers! We'd like to present to you:

• Leelou Blogs: Has some new spring blogger templates for you. And she's giving away a set of dolls too. 
• Over at HotSpots: Veronica taste tested cough syrup... on purpose. 
• The Casual Blogger Community is growing like a weed and is always looking for new blogs to feature. 
• The Barrel has moved to a new home, AND they're on Facebook too. (insert me begging you to like The Barrel on Facebook...pretty please?) 

When last minute groceries are needed, I usually wait until my husband gets home to stay with our crazy happy kids.  Don't get me wrong, I love taking my kids shopping.  Really, I do.  But it's nice to have some "me" time, if it's only for a mere 30 minutes in a busy grocery store with a bazillion other mothers who are seeking "me" time as well. 

Driving home from said alone time, I called home to ask Dave to send my oldest outside to help me bring in all the lovely things I'd boughten....milk, eggs, bread, chocolate.....you know, the staples.  He said he'd let her know and I hung up my cell phone and automatically turned up the radio to finish singing my heart out to the latest top 40 song blaring.  Yep, I'm that kinda of gal.  The one you'll see rocking out in her car at the stop light, without caring who's watching me make a fool of myself.

As I round the corner and drive down my street, I come upon a scene that brings a smile to my face.  Standing in front of my house doing their famous popping and locking dance moves are my two daughters.  The eight year old is wearing a yellow high school graduation gown complete with a 80's skinny tie tied around her head hippie like.  The five year old has on a black witches hat, cape and pink snow mittens.

It's the middle of Febuary, 70 degrees out, and a Thursday.

Only in my world, would this picture seem "normal".


I jump out of our truck as the girls run to my side.

"Did you like our cool moves Mom?" they ask.

"Of course.  You two look great." I say.

"I'm a witch and Hannah is a gypsy." my five year old happily says.

"I can see that.  Now hurry and help me bring these bags in.  I bought you some treats."

They scream excitedly as they each take a bag.

As I watch them run inside, I look at our home.  It badly needs a coat of paint.  The lawn has more weeds then actual grass.  And a distinct smell of dirty diapers is coming from the trash can by our back gate.  Our kids don't have the latest video gaming equipment, nor do they have weekly ballet or horse back riding lessons to get ready for.  I can't even recall the last time our family was able to take a vacation anywhere that the tickets weren't buy one get one free or more than 30 miles away and had walking cartoon charaters to greet them at the entrance gates. 

So we have to be ubber creative and fun and free spirited.  That's how we roll.  I guess it's rubbed off on our kids.  Their "live life to it's fullest" attitudes are some of the best attributes they've inheirited from their parents.

And watching their dress up clothes billow in the breeze as they raced inside the house with the grocery bags, I felt like the richest woman in the world.  Who needs fancy cars, houses and clothes when you have the most beautiful, loving and imaginative children to ever walk the planet?

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Katy is a wife, mother and enjoyer of all things chocolate. She loves music, laughter, and the simple things in life. Her roller coaster of thoughts can be found at http://www.ourdaisylife.blogspot.com/. Admission is always free.

I stood in the bathroom washing my hands. I looked up into the mirror that hangs above the sink to inspect my face a bit. I inspected the weary look gazing out of eyes circled by dark rings, the cheeks that sport dry and blotched skin, the wrinkles that are sneaking into the corners and crevices everywhere.

Oh wow. When did I get so old?

I chanced a look at my hair to evaluate the damage there. It looks like age hasn’t forsaken that either. It lies limply, lacking much body or shine. And GASP! What is that?! My first gray hair?!

I could hardly believe what I was seeing! I plucked it out as quickly as possible, wishing I could pluck the years away just as easily. I stalked into my bedroom where my husband, Joe, was getting ready for bed.

“Joe! LOOK!” I shrieked and shoved the offensive hair under his eyes for inspection.

“What is it? What are you so worked up about?”

“What am I so worked up about it? Check it out! It’s my first gray hair! Isn’t that nuts?!”

“Meh.” His reaction was less than satisfying.

How could he not be alarmed? His beautiful young bride was…AGING! This was reason for alarm, was it not? I mean…I’m not even thirty yet! Sure, it’s only a few months away, but thirty is so young. At least it seems much younger as each year passes.

I remember when I was a little girl and I was becoming aware of what the number behind “age” meant. I can recall when my mom was in her thirties. And now here I am…almost thirty. This is just so strange.

I inspected my gray hair some more. Hmm…I think I might know what turned that once brown hair into a gray hair. It was those darn kids of mine.

It was all those sleepless nights spent sitting in the blue recliner, rocking away their sweet infant cries and fretful toddler tears. It was that evening we sat in the emergency department holding 14 month old Dee while he screamed and writhed in pain from his burned palms. It was four labor and deliveries fraught with simultaneous but intense pain and joy.

It was that bout of croup that Elle went through at Thanksgiving. It was the baby I lost in miscarriage on the following Black Friday. It was the nights I tossed and turned with worry about Jeigh’s obsessive compulsiveness. It was the months upon months of nausea during pregnancy. It was the fear of Cee being born into the middle of our family flu epidemic.

It was the all these things and so many other parenting fears, worries, sorrows, toils, and tears.

You know what?

I EARNED that gray hair.

I earned it fair and square with my walk through the fires of motherhood. Now I kind of wish I hadn’t plucked it out. That first gray hair deserves a place of honor.

Maybe on the mantle…

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Evelyn is in desperate need of a haircut, but can't seem to find the time with four children ages six and under. You can find her hanging on for dear life at Hanging By a Silver Lining.









*Photo by Urch/Flickr

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Melissa Mc is a mother of 3; wife of 1; daughter, sister, friend, aunt; lover of football, politics, food, travel, walking, theatre and all things literary.  Her book reviews and other ruminations can be found at Gerbera Daisy Diaries

Since we're approaching tax day, I thought I’d pass on a finance/tax tip my Mom gave me….thanks Mom!


Keep an accordian file for each year. Make sure it is a 13-pocket (this is the size they are manufactured, you just need to make sure you have 12 pockets – one for each month). Label the pockets January thru December and every statement, EOB, Bill, etc gets filed by month. It is easiest to keep your file under control by throwing away envelopes and blank pages of statements, eliminating bulk. When the year is through, we have a bin in the basement to keep 7 years, or 7 accordian files. When we add the current year’s, we shred the oldest file.

Another method is organizing your accordian file by category: medical, bank statements, home, entertainment, etc. You never know when you will need to quickly locate these documents. This also really comes in handy if you need to itemize at tax time.

My kids are old enough to help file mail with me….if I’m feeling patient enough to allow help. After watching their parents have one, I’m sure we’ll purchase our kid’s their own accordian file when they turn 16 and get that first job!

Taxes are boring, did I put you to sleep?

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Kristen is always looking for thingstolearnathome. She's a home-body and lives for her 3 kidlets, 1 hubby and the St.Bernard 'Humphry'. Oh, and cream cheese frosting on carrot cake. And laughing. 

When my oldest son was just five years old, I recall a conversation between the two of us: "when I was your age,  I was like this [fill in the blank] and I think you should be doing this [fill in the blank] too." To which my little boy responded: "I'm not like you. I'm my own person, Mom." At the time, I didn't know what to say back to him. What I wanted was for him to be the person I wanted him to be... I was inexperienced. Fortunately, we both grew up. He is now a man with a wife and a job. I'm grateful that I didn't do much permanent damage to his little ego, that he was stubborn enough to be true to his inner voice. The truth is, he was a really sweet little guy. If I could have a do-over of his young childhood, I would so take that and run with it. The older I get, the more I realize how important it is for us as parents to let our children be the Leaders once in awhile. I don't always have to know all the right answers to all the questions. Frankly, some questions have many right answers, we just have to be open-minded to see the possibilities. It's called Evolution. We're here on this earth to learn how to live happily. Not selfishly. Not My-Way-Or-The-Highway. and conversely, Not Walk-All-Over-Me either. We're supposed to make mistakes and learn from our children. Supposed to. And it's important to realize that our kids need permission to live and learn and not be berated for their mistakes, or too afraid to admit they've erred for fear of the consequences. I am a believer in Love and Logic in parenting. Common Sense still needs to be taught though. And Natural Consequences are great Teachers. The foundation for parenting, in my humble opinion, is mutual respect. And before you think I became a parent knowing this, let me assure you, I did not. Having been raised by wolves, I had to learn this Mutual-Respect stuff by trial and error. I had to Educate my Self; by looking honestly at my parenting skills, reading parenting books, talking to other parents whom I respected, asking for divine help at every turn. I wanted to be a better parent than the parents I had. Honestly, once I realized how much I didn't know and how much mercy I needed for my own faults and flubs, I repented and gratefully accepted the fact that I am capable of change. Of Evolution. And with that understanding of my Self, came the awareness that I also needed to acknowledge the divine character in my children. So yes, we are continually evaluating our methods-- somethings work with some kids at some times and somethings don't... so we re-evaluate our methods of training and teaching-- though the principals we're trying to teach and learn remain the same. I have found and continue to find evidence that this approach to life and parenting, works for my family. The ability to say to my children, "Hey did you learn from this experience? Have you evolved from your previous knowledge to something higher?" --has been a blessing for all of us. What parenting philosophy works in your family? Dawn aka Momza, is the Mother of 7, Gramza to a Ninja Baby, Midwife Asst./Doula, Home Stager, Writer, and Convert to the LDS faith. She lives in the Colorado Rockies and blogs about it all at Momza's House.