six letters

  So, when Andy left on his mission a few months ago, I thought it would be helpful to send some pre-written letters with him.  Ones that he could open and read, or re-read when he needed them.  So I wrote six letters for him to take.  I think.  I didn't actually make notes until after he left, so I am remembering as best I can.  If I didn't remember perfectly, then these are six letters that I wish I had written!  I wrote each one on a card, with a scripture or thought on the front of the card, and the body of the letter inside.  I am going to share the quotes and subjects, or ones that I think would be helpful, since I can't actually remember everything!  I wrote when he should open each letter on the outside of the envelope.  

1.  Open on First day-I wrote this on the front, "Lift up your heart and rejoice, for the hour of your mission is come; and your tongue shall be loosed, and you shall declare glad tidings of great joy unto this generation." (Doctrine and Covenants 31:3)  This was the scripture Sis. Pinegar read to us when I entered the MTC many years ago, and it struck me with such great force that I remembered it often both as a missionary, and since.  I wrote inside about how joyful we were that he was getting this amazing privilege to serve the Lord.  And how much joy he would receive from this great opportunity.

2.  Open when things are hard with your companion- Idea for the quote:  "“Do not waste time bothering whether you ‘love’ your neighbor; act as if you did. As soon as we do this we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him.” C.S. Lewis
I shared my experiences of difficult companionships, and also my advice- to serve and pray for your companion.

3.  Open when things are good- I put this scripture on the front-"Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever."  Alma 26:12-This was the scripture I chose for my mission plaque.  I tried to always remember that I was just an instrument in the Lord's hands, working for his glory.  Inside, I wrote about humility and gratitude.

4.  Open when things are really hard-Idea for the front:  I think I put this scripture "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."  Ether 12:27.  I think I wrote about just hanging in there when things are tough, because you are never alone.  And how trials really do strengthen us in ways that we can't see or understand at the time.

5.  Open when you are doing everything right, but nothing is going right- I think I put this scripture on the front about the stripling warriors. "Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them." Alma 57:21.  I wrote about how sometimes, we have an "obedience month", as one of my companions called it.  When the Lord wants to see just how obedient you will be, even if the blessings aren't coming right away.  Actually, I think he wants US to know how obedient we can be.  Every missionary has an obedience month or two. 

6.  Open on your last day- I didn't send this letter with him, thinking that I would mail it as it gets closer.  I just hope I don't forget!  Scripture for the front: "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."  Matt. 25:21
I would write about all the blessings we have received as a family, and that he has received as a missionary, and how great a privilege it is to serve the Lord with all your heart. 

I know that in this digital age, we need something tangible that we can hold and touch and read over and over.  I hope this gives you some ideas that you can use to help your missionaries!  I had the experience of serving a mission, but even if you are not an RM yourself, you have had many experiences in your life that you can draw on to give counsel and encouragement to your warriors!

P.S.  My son is brilliant.  I mean that literally.  But he JUST figured out that the cards OPEN and that there is something INSIDE!  *sigh*  So if your son/daughter is of the absent-minded variety, you might want to let them know that these are more than just quote cards!!!

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10 Ways to Become a Warrior Mom!

poster can be found here

So, since a few people have asked, I decided to put my Sacrament Meeting talk on here from this year's Mother's Day.  Hope you get something out of

Since today is Mother's Day, I want to start off with a disclaimer:
Here it is:   See this perfect family right below?  We all look so happy-everyone is matching and smiling and clearly we have it all together!  Right?   

Family Picture, 2003

Wrong.  That is a big fat lie!  Let me tell you what was going on about 30 minutes before we took this picture!

Miss Ellie, who is sitting in my lap, thought it would be fun to put on mommy's pearl necklace.  Which she did.  And then broke.  And then proceeded to stick a pearl up her nose.  I mean, this baby was STUCK!  We tried to push it out.  We tried to have her blow her nose.  We thought about wd-40.  Finally, my brilliant husband covered her other nostril with his thumb, put his mouth over hers, and BLEW!  Success!  Of course, by this time, Ellie was completely hysterical.  In the midst of all the hullabaloo, Rachel started crying, probably because when she complained to me about something on her dress, I swore at her, and then Andy was fussing about his tie or something so I yelled at him, too.  Three children in tears, one to go.  Bekah heard everyone crying and decided to join in!  Now we have four children crying in a van on the way to get family pictures taken.  I was also in tears at this point.  I  looked at my hubby and asked him why we were doing this?!!!  He said, "Because FAMILIES ARE FOR FREAKIN' EVER!"  

OK.  I added the Freaking in there myself.  But you get the idea.  We are NOT the perfect family and I am certainly NOT the perfect mother.  I am a soccer mom, dance mom, stage mom, scout mom(although not anymore!), but the most important kind of mom I can be is a WARRIOR MOM.

I believe that our children are being raised in enemy territory.  I  believe that family is worth fighting for.  Even mine.  :)  

So here is what I think it means to be a Warrior Mom:

1.  Warrior moms are all on the same side.  Whether we go to the same church or live on the other side of the world from each other, we all have the same purpose- we want our children to be happy.  With so many forces arrayed against us, we should not be destructive, judgmental, or demeaning to our sister warriors.  We should support and lift and cheer for each other; working, stay-at-home, single, we are all doing our best.

2.  Warrior moms don't all have children of their own.  They are aunts, sisters, teachers, leaders, friends.  They mother in so many different ways!  I am grateful for all of the fellow warriors who mother my children.

3.  Warrior moms know who they are.  Julie Beck said, "We know we are daughters of God, and we know what we are to do.  Women find true happiness when they understand and delight in their unique role within the Plan of Salvation.  We know, live, and defend the doctrine of the family."  I know who I am.  When I am frustrated with my "not working a day in my life" life, I remember that I am doing what Heavenly Father created me to do.  I don't need to be on the cover of People, or have my own reality show, or recieve a large salary.  Although, let's be honest, I would love a salary!  Knowing I am filling the measure of my creation is enough validation for me.  

4.  Warrior moms wear armor, and they help their families put on their armor each day.  I feel we are literally at war.  Every day, the adversary is fighting me for the souls of my family.  I cannot send them out into the world unprotected!  I know that family prayer, scripture study, and family night are not "optional" activities-I try to arm my family with scripture power, every day.

5.  Warrior moms prepare, even in peacetime.  Let's face it.  There isn't much peace time in this battle.  But I have learned that teaching moments happen all the time.  And keeping up good habits of scripture study and prayer, on a daily basis, makes a difference.  My children ask questions and discuss their problems with me in the car, or in the kitchen, or while I am in the middle of some really important project!  They need me to be there, and prepared to help, as much as I can, whenever I can.  And even when I can't!  

6.  Warrior moms are a scourge to the enemy.  In the Book of Mormon, Captain Moroni used brilliant strategies to deceive, defend, and attack the enemy.  I need to go on the offensive when it comes to protecting my family.  It is my job to keep the filth of the world out of my home.  And let's face it, it's everywhere.  TV, music, internet, facebook, texting.  There are a lot of gates to guard, but I want to "be the kind of woman, that when your feet hit the floor in the morning, the devil says, 'oh crap, she's up!'"  

7.  Warrior moms turn weakness into strengths.  Captain Moroni used his prisoners to build their own jails, fortify the walls of the city, and strengthen the defenses in place.  It seems counterintuitive that weakness can be strength.  But I think it happens when my weakness turns to humility, and then I ask the Lord for strength.  

8.  Warrior moms identify the enemy and expose his lies.  We live in a society where the "politically correct" want to take away the concept of evil.  Satan would have us believe that there is no good or bad, there are just life choices and alternative lifestyles.  I know that there are moral absolutes.  There are things that are right, and things that are wrong, and I don't hesitate to teach this to my children.  The word of God can help us clarify right and wrong.  "Yea we see that whosoever will, may lay hold upon the word of god, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil...." Hel. 3:29

9.  Warrior moms have a sense of humor.  I find this to be indispensable in mothering.  Especially when you have a daughter like Rachel.  She is a fearless, inquisitive girl.  When she was 6, I sent her upstairs to take a bath.  I went to check on her progress and found her stark naked, standing over the bath tub with a big can of pepper!  After further investigation, I discovered that she was just doing research!  She had seen the pepper trick, where you sprinkle pepper on a bowl of water and then put your finger covered in dish soap in, and all the pepper moves away to the edge of the bowl.  Rachel merely wanted to know if this would work on a large scale.  She was going to pepper the bath tub, cover herself in soap, and then jump in!  I have learned to write down the funny things and get out the camera before/during/after I yell.  :)

10.  Warrior moms know what true power is, where to find it, and teach their children the same.  I believe that power comes from prayer, scripture study, temple covenants, and the enabling power of the Atonement.  "And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins."  2 Ne.25:26   I want my children to use the power of the Atonement in their lives, and if I teach them nothing else on this earth, I will be successful if they learn that concept! Although I would love it if they could master the process of replacing toilet paper when it runs out.  But let's not get crazy.

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