Smile and Wave

After a month of thinking I had done my child a huge disservice by not working harder on his letters and sounds, I had his preschool parent teacher conference. James started preschool halfway thru so timewise he was already "behind" all the other kids that had been there the whole time. To my great releif (had to keep back tears when the teachers were talking) they said that he was a great kid and he was right where he needs to be. They said he behaves well in class, follows directions,  plays with others kids great and likes to try new things. As a single mom I get a lot of advice and with that some critisism. (sp) Im not able to spend the time Id like due to our custody agreement, which works out well, so to teach him all the things a stay at home mom or even a two parent family can is impossible. He likes learing new things and I know that the time we have together is well spent. I have limited TV (and for that matter he likes to watch religious focused movies anyways) and turn down the music while were driving so we can sing silly songs or talk about important things like why he has to eat green beans. :) Being a child with divorced parents he has some special needs. He has done a great job adapting and I know that this is because of the quality of time I spend with him. We have lots of things we are always working on. When I came to the point when I thought he was behind in his letters and sounds, I felt that I had spent too much time having him learn about the Book of Mormon stories I've been working on. I felt guilty. I had a hard time deciding if my guilt was right or not. In our time, I agree that it is important for our children to learn the things to funcion in the world...but is is more important to put these things first? They are going to have to learn to read and write to function in the world, but at 4? Either way...Im going to continue to teach James his letters, numbers and everything he needs to know to enter kindergarten in a year and a half, but Im going to also teach him what we are told to teach our children. About the Bible and Book of Mormon. While I want James to be over the average mark in education, I want him to grow in the understanding of the scriptures. So, while talking to the preschool teachers, they gave me some great advice. Every child is going to learn different things, lots of parents are going to have expectations and suggestions for you...just remember that you are his mother and you know whats best, so just smile and wave. :) James is great, he's perfect and he's MINE. He always tells me that when he grows up he wants to be an astronaunt, fireman, police officer and a preacher. I think were on the right track.

Hibernation

Last night James asked me if God and Jesus sleep. I said, no honey, they are always helping people. They are always busy trying to make people happy and doing good things for us. So, this morning I wake thinking about my life. How often do I sleep or take breaks from helping others and doing my best to please God? Who am I to be rewarded for taking these breaks or time for myself? Or worse yet, falling asleep? I know that God wants us to enjoy life and all that He has created, but am I doing too much enjoying causing personal time with Him to be on the side? Yes! Around the the Fall of last year, I decided that in order for me to find more time to read and study I needed to rid unnessesary things from my life and home. I purged books, movies, magazines, music, tv (we still have one for James' movies) and more. It was difficult at first but as time went by I was able to read and pray more. Little by little I felt like a hibernating animal, still at first then lazy when waking. Then the warmer weather (making time for God) came and I became motivated to hunt for food for my family, I came to the realization of my purpose; to provide a safe enviroment for James and me and provide us with plenty of food (scriptual learning) to keep us healthy. Finding the food is fairly easy, learning how to cook it and eat it is the difficult part. People try to steal your food and tell you it isnt good. The locusts come in and try to poison and destroy the hard work. I have had to learn how to keep them away but also to show them that the food is indeed good. So...like I said...random thoughts all the time. I hope that I have been able to say my thought from this morning without sounding too crazy!

Good and Bad; Psalms 51:10

The people that we have in our lives can also be seen as Wild Honey or Locusts. This might be a little harder to distinguish. The easy one is the Wild Honeys, they are good for us, lift us up, keep us on track. We need these people to help keep us pure. When you get enough of them together, working steadily, they create a home for the sweet wild honey that tastes wonderfully perfect and pure. But, the Locusts are a different story. The simple thing to do is say we need to rid them from our lives, but is that right? I have several people on my facebook page and other people I know that are not good for me. However, I keep them around because it is our duty to bring Christ's love to everyone we meet. If we truely love Christ, we are going to find a way to share His words, as hard as it may be. I have found that you never know who is a Christian, Athiest (finding more and more I didn't realize) or simply someone who needs just a lift when you are able to incoorperate your life's goals into conversation. My life's goal is to please God and thru Christ get to heaven. Can't say that I have perfected that quite yet, or ever will for that matter, but since I have been putting forth an effort by studying and praying for God's help, it has become much easier. Words come out of my mouth easier and I can stand stronger on my own two feet longer during a christian bashing. I beleive it is pleasing to God to see us sharing our faith as these "last days" are growing closer. Christianity is going to become harder and harder as the end comes but with God's help I know it is possible. So, Ill continue to keep the locusts close, you never know when that "click" that they are waiting for will come. A word, testimony, song, story. Could be anything. I certianly know I received one and it has changed my life, I feel like I've made it to the other side of the mountian and am no longer slipping...but pulling. Please don't interprete this as thinking I have a free ride, I have just came to an understanding about purpose and have been able to loosen myself from the grips of the evil one. I came across a scripture and it has become my favorite. Psalms 51:10 Create in me a clean heart: oh God, and renew a right spirit within me. I asked and he gave. I can feel a difference in my soul. Our God is so great, so mighty and so powerful. We can never repay, but should never stop trying. With all my tickets I hand to my tables, I write this verse on the back. I have found it's a great way to get people intersted and curious as to what it says. Some ask, some take it with and some completely ignore. But, at the end of the day I know I have gotten someone thinking and always get a few thanks.

For or Against?

i decided that ive really began liking the kids book of mormon blog ive recently made. however that and facebook just arent enough for me :) so, ive decided to make a more personal one. my life is constantly full of thoughts. i drive a lot since i live in oak grove creating some quiet time to be with my thoughts. i have such a testimony of Gods love for me in the past year. i want the very best for myself and my child. i want us to please Jesus and remain on a straight and narrow path. but, at times feel that some think i am overdoing it. overdoing church. i have finally come to an understand of my one true purpose. to work my way back to God. thats really all. i have a scriptural job as a mother to teach my child all that i can and prepare him for when he makes his own decisions. how can this be overdoing it when this is our only job??? so, im going to just be writing random things to clear my head as it is always full. the title Wild Honey and Locusts, while also scriptural, means just how it sounds. Wild Honey is sweet and pure like God's love. Locusts are hissing, ugly creatures like the devil. While some things seem grey, if we choose to look close enough, we can see them as Wild Honey or Locusts. Is this for God, or against. I also have lots of thoughts about amoral things. Television, Music, Food, Activities. Things that have no morals are not to be blamed for our actions. We choose how to react to them. I suppose this is a good starter. Let me know your thoughts!