Procrastinating

Feeling a bit overwhelmed here with trying to blog about our fantastic Christmas camping trip to Tasmania. I'm no photographer, but it's still a challenge paring down 2 weeks and 1000 pics. So in the meantime, here's how we've been enjoying our summer break...

 We have the worlds best neighbors who let us bombard their pool whenever. And their dog loves to have kids playing fetch in the pool with him again. Makes these hot summer days a breeze.

first braids!

 Fancy lunches

 Fancy forts

 And fancy building projects

Look at those faces of anticipation...

This thing took over a week to finish, but oh, the teamwork and satisfaction -
great gift Papa and Grandma Raynie!!

Summer Snippets

A walk in the hills with ma and pa.

Will learned origami at school one day. 

Correction: Will became borderline obsessed with origami whales at school one day.

Her three favorite spots.

Double Rainbow!! Too bad that pot'o'gold is just beyond our fence.

Feelin' famous with the Brumbies (rugby)

 The latest fort interestingly (and strictly) named "No Phones Allowed."

Dry run FHE testing out the new camping cookware pre-Tasmanian-2wk-camping-extravaganza.
(Just rolled in this morning from THAT adventure...more to come.)

End of the year recitals.

 Christmas in shorts (still wild for us.)

Found Annie's note to self on the last day of school: 

"do not take a yoonuform out of this dror 

it is fry (free) yunaform today" 

I can't stand how cute kindergarten writing is.

Resolutions Anyone?

Darren is of the opinion that New Year's Resolutions are over-rated. I grew up with them as an annual tradition and always get a little thrill of motivation as each new year rolls around, but he's always thought, "Why make a big deal about starting something that you're unlikely to finish? Why not wait until the very day you are just 'ready' and make the commitment then?"

This leads us to some very randomly started family goals and traditions, but I can't say I dislike it. A while back we proposed some incentive for the kids to read all the way through the Book of Mormon on their own. Not as a New Year's Resolution or even during Family Home Evening - just on a regular old Saturday night. After desperately searching the house for those awesome poster sized BOM reading charts I knew we had, I started researching online and came up with all sorts of good alternatives. We ended up finding our posters, but for our next go-around (and for those of you keen on New Years Resolutions and looking for some motivational charts for the family), these links cover everything from basic sticker to advanced coloring in:

http://visitingteaching.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/visiting-teaching-scripture-chart-10.pdf

http://mormonbudget.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/BOM-Reading-Chart-normal.pdf

http://www.sugardoodle.net/Book%20of%20Mormon/BOMReadingChart.shtml

http://www.mormonmodern.com/book-of-mormon-reading-chart/

http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/bomchart.html

http://goodkoppbadkopp.typepad.com/my_weblog/bomchart.html

http://lds.about.com/library/weekly/2003/readingchart_bofm.pdf

There is power in scripture reading. The Old and New Testaments that make up the Bible are not the only things we as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints deem as "scripture." The Book of Mormon was written, passed down and finally translated as another testament of Jesus Christ - a stirring witness and account of our Savior's visit to the Americas at the end of His mortal ministry. Modern day prophets have counseled about the importance of daily scripture study that includes this sacred book.

“Let us continually reread the Book of Mormon so that we might more fully come to Christ, be committed to Him, centered in Him, and consumed in Him...."

“There is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book. You will find greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path. … This is my prayer, that the Book of Mormon may become the keystone of our lives.” 

                                                                                                             - Pres. Ezra Taft Benson

Since moving to Australia we've finally got a handle on reading nightly as a family, but the kids have shown a readiness to strengthen their testimonies through individual reading as well. I am excited for them! I remember my first discoveries during personal scripture study. I gained a solid testimony of the truthfulness of this book and have been uplifted and strengthened by its teachings throughout my life. I love now watching their enthusiasm as they get drawn into the stories and spirit it carries. They are beginning to feel its power, to follow its teachings and to pray about its truth. It's pretty darn awesome to watch.

If you've ever wondered about The Book of Mormon or want your own free copy, click here. You can even read or listen to it online. I promise that reading its pages will bring much good into your life and draw you closer to God.

In Lieu of A Christmas Card...

And then there were five.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!