Determination

This is Spencer eating with a fork.  He started using a fork a couple of months ago when he noticed that everyone else was using a fork and he didn't have one.  He really wanted a fork!  He doesn't always use one but when he does, he really works at getting the food onto the fork and then getting the food into his mouth. 

And now he is learning to walk and boy is he just as determined as ever!  He just keeps trying and trying!  I need to get pictures of it! 

Watching him try so hard and still fall over and over again has made me think of President Uchtdorf's talk in the Priesthood session from this last General Conference.  Specifically this part:

"We have all seen a toddler learn to walk. He takes a small step and totters. He falls. Do we scold such an attempt? Of course not. What father would punish a toddler for stumbling? We encourage, we applaud, and we praise because with every small step, the child is becoming more like his parents.

 

Now, brethren, compared to the perfection of God, we mortals are scarcely more than awkward, faltering toddlers. But our loving Heavenly Father wants us to become more like Him, and, dear brethren, that should be our eternal goal too. God understands that we get there not in an instant but by taking one step at a time.

 

I do not believe in a God who would set up rules and commandments only to wait for us to fail so He could punish us. I believe in a Heavenly Father who is loving and caring and who rejoices in our every effort to stand tall and walk toward Him. Even when we stumble, He urges us not to be discouraged—never to give up or flee our allotted field of service—but to take courage, find our faith, and keep trying.

 

Our Father in Heaven mentors His children and often sends unseen heavenly help to those who desire to follow the Savior."

 

Personal History

Just a couple of weeks ago James was able to get a book he has been wanting for quite a while. It is called "I've Been Thinking...and other writings of Walter Marion Everton". It is a compilation of articles James' great-great-grandfather, Walter Marion Everton, wrote for the Logan Herald Journal  during the 1940's about family history and a few other things as well. I wanted to share one of those articles here.  I find it very inspiring, and hope that others may as well.

ABOUT WRITING YOUR HISTORY

We assisted in writing a short biography of one of our early settlers a few years ago. Among other things there was a story of how she had worked as a "hired girl" for a number of weeks and had received a nice woolen petticoat as pay for her work. When she took it home she washed it and hung it on the line to dry. A stray calf came along and chewed her petticoat and she was never able to wear it.

As the subject of our sketch listened while we read her own life's story she stopped us to raise objection to this story and a number of similar stories being included in her biography.  "It's not important enough to bother to write it down," she said.

When you write your life story, do not spoil it, I pray you, by leaving out interesting stories because they are not important.  The best parts of the family history that I have been able to gather are the simple little stories which often reveal more to me about the kind of men they were than do the funeral sermons that were preached when they died. 

There is the story of the boy who refused to stay at the saw mill boarding house and instead built a little shack and "batched it".  The big leatherbound history of Thomastown, Maine records th fact that the boys at the mill poked fun at him, saying that he "cooked his doughnuts in a tin lantern".  It is easy to understand why it was that he became president of the bank. 

And then there is the story of the ancestor of mine who could not attend church services for a while because the services were held on the day of the week, and the hour of the day when it was his custom to wind the clock.  Even now, in the sixth generation of this family, there are some who are rather set in their ways.

Write the stories of your childhood though it takes a hundred pages.  Write the adventures of your young manhood or womanhood.  Write of your likes and dislikes.  Write of your faith and your hopes and your joys.  Write of your sweethearts, your wives and your children.  Write of the things you like to do and the things you like to eat.  Write of your ability, your accomplishments and your failures.  While you are writing all these, let your writing abound in human interest stories, little incidents which happened to you, or which you caused to happen. 

But in all your writing, write your life story that the memory of you may not perish from the earth when you are dead.

Cake Decorating with Ellen

One of Ellen's Christmas presents this year was taking a cake decorating class with Mom.  We went to class once a week for four weeks.  We both learned some good things and had a splended time together. 

 

This is our last cake. 

 

 

Ellen really did most of it. Ellen said she wanted a summer time cake and we came up with this design together. I did the blue frosting because that had to be done before we went to class and Ellen was at school. Then at class that night, Ellen did the rest! This picture was taken first thing the next morning after a late night, so even though she doesn't look like it, she really was very happy with her cake. 

Good Morning!

Highlights from 1/23/13

• Stephen discovered Pat McManus and almost had the whole book finished by bedtime.  And yes, he did go to school and even mutual and even managed to pack for an upcoming Scout camp out.   
• Noah set up his wooden train set while Spencer was napping.  When Spencer woke up and headed right for the train tracks, Noah didn't get upset.  He just changed his game to "The Giant Baby".  (You have to say that in as deep a voice as you can muster.) Suddenly all the trains were running for their lives as The Giant Baby picked up their tracks and even chewed on some of them!  Aaaaaggghhh!  It was so hilarious listening to Noah's little voices for the trains.  And it was so nice not to hear, "Mom!  Come get Spencer!  He's getting my.....!"
• After school, Anne put on some swing music and was dancing around the living room.  Spencer LOVES music and started dancing along too!  I love his dancing!
• I finally threw out the poinsettia I bought at the school fundraiser a couple of weeks before Christmas.  It was a really tought plant!  It went for almost 3 weeks without getting watered and the leaves were just starting to look funny!  Mostly I wanted it gone because it had been sitting on the kitchen counter this whole time taking up space and getting in the way.  I've got to remember that for next year!
• Naomi and Ellen walked home in the rain yesterday and thought it was great!  I was totally prepared for lots of grumbling about it, but they were thrilled with their wet hair!
• James put the finishing touches on the very large bookshelf he and Stephen started building on Saturday.  WooHoooo!  It is beautiful!!!  I love it.  One shelf even has a power strip on it and is now our charging station.  I am really looking forward to filling it up!  HeeHeee!
• I bought a new broom.  It is angled and sweeps under the counter much better than my old one did which has moved on to the garage.  It's the simple things.... :)

The Many Faces of Naomi



Over Christmas break I gave Naomi's hair a trim.  Then we just had to curl it.  She loved it!  I asked if I could take a picture of her.  She was feeling a little silly, I think, and so the following pictures are what I got without any prompting and in this order.

 

 

Is there a problem???

The second day of 2013

Happy New Year!!! 

 

Well, the second day of 2013 turned out to be a pretty decent day for the Mobley's.  The kids and I took down the tree and our Christmas decorations....except....as I typed that I just remembered some that we forgot.  Ooops!  And we listened to more Christmas music.  I think it might be the last time till next Christmas.

 

We got a nice package full of treats from our dear old friends from Cheyenne, the Osterman's.  All kinds of yummy stuff. 

 

And our neighbors came home from their vacation a day earlier than we were expecting!  The kids were so excited to be able to sled and play with their friends again!  They have missed them a lot!

 

To finish up the day, I downloaded the few pictures that were on my camera.  None from Christmas day, I am ashamed to say.  And none of the girls!  Maybe next time...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sitting Up!

Football!

Stephen decided this year that he wanted to play football for the school team, the Moscow Cubs.  On Wednesday, the 10th, we finally got to go see a game.  Stephen is #35.  He plays Tight End on Offense and Safety on Defense. 

 I never could get a picture of him facing us!

 Spencer did great at the game, thanks to a little help from Annie.

 At home Stephen seems so big, but compared to most of his teammates, he's not so big.

Getting ready for a punt return!

The Cubs ended up loosing to Clarkston, but it was fun to be there and see Stephen in action!  He plays hard and really gets into the game.  Even when he was on the sidelines he was paying close attention to the game and constantly rooting for his team. Go Cubs!