2008

This year has been an exciting one. Our children have hit a lot of milestones. There are a couple of talks from October 07’s General Conference that has really impacted our lives in 08. The first was Good, Better, Best by Elder Dallin H. Oaks.Here are some of our highlights:

We have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best because they develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strengthen our families.

Consider how we use our time in the choices we make in viewing television, playing video games, surfing the Internet, or reading books or magazines. Of course it is good to view wholesome entertainment or to obtain interesting information. But not everything of that sort is worth the portion of our life we give to obtain it. Some things are better, and others are best. When the Lord told us to seek learning, He said, “Seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom”

The amount of children-and-parent time absorbed in the good activities of private lessons, team sports, and other school and club activities also needs to be carefully regulated. Otherwise, children will be overscheduled, and parents will be frazzled and frustrated. Parents should act to preserve time for family prayer, family scripture study, family home evening, and the other precious togetherness and individual one-on-one time that binds a family together and fixes children’s values on things of eternal worth. Parents should teach gospel priorities through what they do with their children.

Family experts have warned against what they call “the overscheduling of children.” In the last generation children are far busier and families spend far less time together. Among many measures of this disturbing trend are the reports that structured sports time has doubled, but children’s free time has declined by 12 hours per week, and unstructured outdoor activities have fallen by 50 percent.

In general conference last year, Elder M. Russell Ballard warned against the deterioration of family relationships that can result when we spend excess time on ineffective activities that yield little spiritual sustenance.

WOW! After this talk we sat down at the dinner table and discussed it. We decided as a family what we could do, to better harmonize our lives with the great wisdom we just heard. The kids were very eager to obey the council. We tried very hard to not over schedule this year and concentrate on family time. We weeded out the unnecessary things that just kept us too busy. This was met with much opposition at times. Not from within the family but from others. They just didn’t understand the council that was given and our excitement to follow it. It has been amazing to see the strength it has given our family. It has freed up so much time to just spend as a family. We have had time to spiritually strengthen each other and time to just lounge, play games, or read books together. We are so grateful for this council. Family time is especially important to us as we are only a complete family six months out of the year.

The next article that impacted us was , Mothers Who Know, by Julie B Beck ,General Relief Society President. The entire article is wonderful. I am just going to highlight one of the topics that goes along with the above article.

Mothers who know do less. They permit less of what will not bear good fruit eternally. They allow less media in their homes, less distraction, less activity that draws their children away from their home. Mothers who know are willing to live on less and consume less of the world’s goods in order to spend more time with their children—more time eating together, more time working together, more time reading together, more time talking, laughing, singing, and exemplifying. These mothers choose carefully and do not try to choose it all. Their goal is to prepare a rising generation of children who will take the gospel of Jesus Christ into the entire world. Their goal is to prepare future fathers and mothers who will be builders of the Lord’s kingdom for the next 50 years. That is influence; that is power.

This article is so awesome; Brittany asked me to print a copy to put in her hope chest Jeff made for her. This talk has also helped us this year to simplify. We have spent many late nights talking with the kids about favorite Gospel topics, questions they had about seminary, and their futures. We have such little time here to prepare for eternity. Again I have to say how grateful I am for the inspiration of our leaders.

Big Daddy

Jeff is really enjoying being a cop. His favorite part of his job is driving fast! Jeff is still the cubmaster. I think he will always work with cubs because he is so good with them. He is an awesome dad. He makes sure the kids have what they need. We are lucky have him!


Big Daddy (written by Brittany) My father has been a tremendous inspiration in my life. He has always been there when I need to get something off my back. He knows what is best for me even when I don’t. I cannot remember one time in my life when he has not supported me. HE has impacted my life for the good and I thank him for it as much as I can. I love him so much and don’t know what I would do without him.

Brandy

Brandy ( written by Jeff)is enjoying her new calling in Primary. She is homeschooling Jameson, Katie and Logan. This really keeps her hands full, especially with our little Sophia running around getting into everything. She does a great job. I love her being home with the children and I know the kids really enjoy her being here whenever they need her. Brandy inspires the children to always do their best.



Hot Mama (written by Brittany) I have known this woman for a short period of six years and already she has inspired me to strive to do good in my life. She is my step-mother and she is definitely not evil, actually quite the opposite. She is so much fun to get along with and I love talking about the church with her. She is an amazing woman and I will always remember those late nights talking together.

Beautiful

Brittany turned 16. She is a good girl and we trust her choices. She got her license and drives herself and Tyler to early morning seminary, thank goodness. She is the seminary president. She is also doing really well in school. In fact she is #1 out of 313 sophomores. She is super excited she just received 4 collage credits, and is an official student of UAA. Brittany was also accepted into The National Honors Society. She is working on getting her second Young Women’s medallion. She is a great example to the younger siblings. She has decided to hold off on dating for now. Boy, is Jeff relieved:]. Brittany will be getting her braces off soon and is excited about that.

Smooooth

Tyler turned 14 and is a Teacher now. He is still really sweet with the little ones. He is a great help around the house and is always doing nice things for me. Every time I set my water bottle down he fills it up for me. I drink a lot of water the weeks he is here. He is still in Jazz band and playing the saxophone. He is so good. He is also playing the piano. He can hear a song, sit down and play it. For FHE the kids will ask him to play a song. He sits at the piano and within a few minutes he is playing it. He hears the music in his head and plays it. It gives me goose bumps every single time. He is taking lessons on learning to play by reading the music. It is challenging for him because he says it is much easier for him to play by ear. How amazing! I hope someday everyone can be blessed by his musical talent the way we are. Tyler has a while before he gets his braces off and is jealous of Brittany!

Christopher!

Christopher turned 12 this year and received the priesthood. He passes the sacraments with such reverence. I am so proud of him. He is playing the trumpet. He is still the one who can make us all smile. He is the life of the party. He is excited about being in YM. We have the best YM president and Chris really looks up to him.

My clone!

Jameson also turned twelve and received the priesthood. It is so nice to see two Fishback boys up there passing the sacrament! Jameson is so excited about boy scouts. They are going to Valdez this summer and he is already preparing. He is doing excellent in school. Jameson is a lot like Brittany in the academic area. Jameson is a great help to me, especially when it comes to electronics. He helps me with anything I ask. I am grateful for his eagerness to help. He likes it when I call him my little man.

Katelynn

Katie turned 8 and was baptized. We made her dress together as a home school project. Katie is a little mother. She takes care of everyone. She saw a homeless man the other day and came home crying. Jeff had told her on the way back from Uncle Lee’s they would stop and give him five dollars. He was gone when they got back. She was heartbroken. She has been praying for him and collecting money for him. On Christmas we are going to try and find him or another homeless person and give them the money. Brittany is making quilts for the Church Humanitarian aid as a YW project and told Katie she would give her one for that man.

Logan

Logan turned four this year and is a Sunbeam for sure. He is our mini Chris. Chris really likes having a little clone. The other day Logan was walking around with a weight tied to his ankle. Jeff asked me why he was doing that. My only answer was, “because he is a mini Chris”. The very next day Chris came home from his mom’s and was walking around with the very same weight tied to the very same ankle! It was so funny. Logan is excited for Kindergarten next year.

Who me?

Sophia turned two this year. I know exactly what people mean now when they say the “Terrible Twos”. I have never had a child be such a terror. I will be cleaning up one mess and literally she is making another one. It is quit comical at times. She has the biggest bluest eyes and beautiful curly blond hair. I call her my little goldilocks. She is so loved by all her siblings. No one minds cleaning up her messes because she is so cute!

Our Anniversary December 20th....

OK, so our anniversary is really the 14th. When Jeff and I were married for about a month I had a paper due in my communications class. I was so proud of it because I wrote it about how we met. I got an A and showed Jeff. He was reading it and looked up with that smirk of his and asked, "honey, when did we get married?" I had put the 20th of December. I am SO bad with dates! Now every year when I comment that our anniversary is in a couple of days he always jokes, " you mean the 20th, right?" Not that he would ever forget our anniversary (that would be me) but if he did he could just say he was waiting till the "20th"<3

6 years!

Our Family

Wow it has been over a year since I updated this blog!