You have to know something is really important to me when I am willing to get the kids all up really early on a Saturday morning to go do work on a day when Jay is gone at a cross country meet. This particular Saturday the important thing we had going on was cleaning the church. The first time I took the kids to do it was a year ago also on a day when Jay was gone. I had decided that it would be a great way to help the kids take some pride in the church building they go to every week. That time one of my friends and my visiting teacher, Lana, was there and she took Michelle off with her and then Whitley stayed with me and Tyler stayed in the stroller. This year Lana wasn't there to help but they were so excited about cleaning up that it worked fine. When we went a few months ago on a day when Jay was home he got to wear the vacuum backpack. They thought that was cool. Anyway, they had been talking for days before we actually went about what jobs they wanted to do. Since we were the first ones there we were able to do all the jobs they had been planning on! Here are my cleaning queens! I love that as members of the church we get to go clean it. I absolutely hate cleaning but what I love is the pride we can have in the building. We can all know that our tithes help pay for building up of the Kingdom literally and figuratively but to care for it ourselves helps to make it more tangible - I guess that would be the best way to explain what I am thinking. I am so grateful for having the chance to teach my kids that too. When we were in the Primary room dusting and cleaning the doorknobs the kids noticed a picture of Christ on the wall. I had been telling them that it made my heart so happy to see them taking such good care of Heavenly Father's church building. They looked at the picture of Christ and one of the girls said, "Mom, look! I bet Jesus is smiling at us too! We are working so hard we are making him smile!!" They took obvious pride in their work and loved showing Daddy the next day what they cleaned up. 
I just love these moments to stop and think about things like waking up really early to go clean and turn it into a wonderfully uplifting experience. I decided a long time ago to try and do this as much as possible. When I am focusing on finding teaching moments with the kids, pointing out God's tender mercies to them, finding all the obvious signs every day that he knows and loves us, I handle life so much better. I have felt so tired and sick and worn out for a few years now and changing my focus like that helps me so much. I think, for me at least, it is easier to find things to teach the kids about than it is when I just do it for myself. Some of you are probably thinking, well no duh Christy! Of course that is the case!! Well, I am a little slow on the uptake some times. Last winter I was first having a lot of trouble with my fibromyalgia and we had church at 9:00 in the morning. Saturdays always ended up so incredibly busy and I was worn out for Sunday. There were so many times that I just didn't go to church because it hurt so much to sit in those chairs for so long and to fight with Tyler or chase him around and on and on. Instead if I was at home, I would have some quiet time to relax and re-energize myself. I started noticing how much I missed being at church and started going despite how hard it was. It actually took me a while to notice that it got easier and easier over time to go because the dread of the chairs and the active, busy little boy during Relief Society seemed to be pushed aside and was replaced with joy and then with the joy came relief and a renewed desire to do well. I love the Gospel. I love the organization of the Church and I know that our Heavenly Father knows us and loves us. He gave us ward families knowing we would need help and support. I am so grateful for Him and for all that He has given me.
I just love these moments to stop and think about things like waking up really early to go clean and turn it into a wonderfully uplifting experience. I decided a long time ago to try and do this as much as possible. When I am focusing on finding teaching moments with the kids, pointing out God's tender mercies to them, finding all the obvious signs every day that he knows and loves us, I handle life so much better. I have felt so tired and sick and worn out for a few years now and changing my focus like that helps me so much. I think, for me at least, it is easier to find things to teach the kids about than it is when I just do it for myself. Some of you are probably thinking, well no duh Christy! Of course that is the case!! Well, I am a little slow on the uptake some times. Last winter I was first having a lot of trouble with my fibromyalgia and we had church at 9:00 in the morning. Saturdays always ended up so incredibly busy and I was worn out for Sunday. There were so many times that I just didn't go to church because it hurt so much to sit in those chairs for so long and to fight with Tyler or chase him around and on and on. Instead if I was at home, I would have some quiet time to relax and re-energize myself. I started noticing how much I missed being at church and started going despite how hard it was. It actually took me a while to notice that it got easier and easier over time to go because the dread of the chairs and the active, busy little boy during Relief Society seemed to be pushed aside and was replaced with joy and then with the joy came relief and a renewed desire to do well. I love the Gospel. I love the organization of the Church and I know that our Heavenly Father knows us and loves us. He gave us ward families knowing we would need help and support. I am so grateful for Him and for all that He has given me.
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