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.