delivery

Look at what Fed Ex just delivered!  We are so excited for Andy!  He leaves Aug. 29 for Argentina.  

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The bat crew

This is what happens when the girls go to the store with daddy

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Moms Party Preview

Just some pix from Mom's great party!  Chickabug did all the printables and it was SOOO cute! These are just snaps from my phone.  Hopefully, I will have some real pix by a real photographer in the near future!

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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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Kitchen Confessions

Okay, here it is.  I don't like pie.  I know!  Crazy, huh?  Especially since my last name is Pyper.  I, of all people,  should love pie.  I have really tried to like pie.  I have made all kinds of pie, pie in a jar, pie pops, all to no avail.  This is what I discovered:  I really only like the filling.  I don't like crust.  It is a necessary evil to keep all that luscious filling together in the oven.  I have tried all kinds of crust.  Finally, I found one that I love.  It is made of cake mix and butter.  That's it.  And let's face it, anything with butter is going to be good.  

Some people call this recipe Dump Cake.  This makes my husband laugh for some reason.  I prefer to call it Easy Cobbler.  Or, pie-that-must-not-be-pie.  Whatever you call it, you will want to eat it.  Right out of the pan.  For breakfast the next day.  Every time you pass through the kitchen.  It is that good.  So here goes:

The huge ingredient list is as follows:

1 box yellow cake mix

2 cans pie filling (I like cherry)

1 1/2 - 2 sticks butter

Preheat the oven to 375 F and then spread the pie filling in a pan-this is a 10x10, I think.

You can use a 9x13, but I like a little thicker crust.

Then, sprinkle the cake mix all over the filling.  

Finally, slice the butter into slices about 1/4 inch thick and put them all over the top of the cake mix.

Put in the oven for 35-45 minutes, until the crust is turning a nice golden brown and the filling is bubbling.

I don't pretend to know what kind of wondrous alchemy takes place between the butter and the cake mix, but it is magical.  Buttery, sweet, chewy and crispy--and then all that luscious filling!

Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

And cold for breakfast, with diet Coke.

Enjoy this non-pie from the Pied Pyper!

linking up to thirtyhandmadedays.com

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Women's Conference Workshop: T.O.D.A.Y. While the Sun Shines

Here is the workshop I taught a while ago for our stake women's conference.  

“Today While the Sun Shines”

Intro:  How many of you have that nightmare where you are standing in front of a crowd, wearing your bathrobe, completely unprepared for what ever it is you are supposed to be doing? (Side note-  I actually started off my class wearing my bathrobe over my dress.  I think some ladies thought I was crazy.)  You have so many roles that you don't even know which one you are not fulfilling! 

Read the Girl in a Whirl (found here)

Q:  How many of you feel like the girl in the whirl?  Are we in such a whirlwind in our lives that we are missing out on the important things? 

Discuss the parable of the 10 virgins :  No one wants to be caught without oil.

Read:  Ephesians 6:15—preparation is not one of Satan’s ideas.  He wants us to eat drink and be merry,  or tells us all is well in Zion.  Preparation is part of God’s plan.  Instead of being caught up in everything we think we “should” do, I have tried to identify 5 basic things that we CAN do each day that will help us feel we are “preparing to meet God”.

T-talk to Heavenly Father

O-add some oil to your lamp

D-do something for someone else

A-be active

Y-take a moment for you

Here are some of my journal entries (just to keep it real) :

Prayer:

did you think to pray?

I did, but as I was praying for my precious children, I heard one of them screeching at the other one followed by some violent sounding noises. Does this mean I should stop praying and go intervene? Should I pray for divine intervention? Or is this the Lord's way of saying, "Seriously? You think you have 5 minutes for spiritual communion? Get real and get to work, girl!" I just don't know! :)

Adding oil:

Alma 32:10-11

How can I better worship God?  Am I just a Sunday Saint?  More like a Sacrament Meeting Saint.  Sometimes, I go from feeling good, to wanting to kill the kids, all in the 5 minutes it takes us to get home!

Time for me

Today, taking time for me consisted of eating seven, yes, seven! Reese’s peanut butter eggs! 

Let's discuss each goal in detail.

T—talk to Heavenly Father

Read:  Alma 34:19-27

Discuss

Read:  2 Ne. 32:8-9

Why do I not feel like praying sometimes?  What happens when I don’t pray?  Is it worth it to me to give up 2 minutes on either end of the day to talk to the Lord. 

Lamoni’s father—Alma 22:15

Willing to give up all he had, and then all his Sins to know God.

When we don’t pray, we are not tuned in to the right frequency.  We are flying deaf and blind.

Q:  What am I trying to accomplish with prayer? 

Here is a little story about my family.  My husband adores our children.  He loves to talk to them and spend time with them and wants them to be happy.  One day when he came home from work, our little Ellie told him that she had to sit out recess because she had lost a special ruler that the teacher had sent home.  (Probably mommy lost it, but we did look really hard)  He felt so bad for his little girl and I was almost surprised by this.  But then I realized that he truly delights in the happiness of his children and aches for their sorrows, big and small.  That kind of interest from an earthly father surely can't be greater than the one our Heavenly Father has in us! 

When we pray,that is what we are trying to do—talk to our Father

O—Add some oil to your lamp

Scripture reading gives us spiritual fuel in the same way that oil/electricity/flame gives us light.

Read:  Alma 37:38-46  Think about how the scriptures give you direction.

Do pondering exercise:

Read the following scripture:
“Wherefore, ye must press forward with a ^asteadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of ^bhope, and a ^clove of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and ^dendure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have ^eeternal life.”  2 Nephi 31:20

Take a moment to think about this verse.

What impressions come to your mind? 

What do you feel you can do TODAY to apply this scripture in your life?

Three things scriptures do for us:

1.    Enlarge our memory: Alma 37:8

2.    Convince us of the error of our ways-Hel. 3:29

Discuss when the scriptures have shown you the truth?

3.    Bring us to a knowledge of God

We can learn to “delight “ in the scriptures!

  

D—Do something for someone else

Don’t think about service—DO IT

Mosiah 2:17

John 13:4-17

Luke 10:29:37

Question:  How do little acts of service bless your life? 

A—Be Active

Exercise and be actively grateful.

Benefits of exercise:

1. Exercise improves your mood.  Helps with depession

2. Exercise combats chronic diseases.

3. Exercise helps you manage your weight.        

4. Exercise boosts your energy level.

5. Exercise promotes better sleep.

Benefits of gratitude 

Read from Ensign articlefound here

Gratitude is the beginning of desire

1 Ne 1:20  Be grateful for the tender mercies in your life

  

Y—take a moment for you

2 Ne 2:25—Joy

Discuss Pres. Uchtdorf’s talk on Happinessfound here

How do we fill the measure of creation?

Why is it important?

Closing

Share this quote:  "Greatness is not found in a single, magnificent act.  It lies in doing the tedious, the mundane and the wearisome with enthusiasm and intensity."  -Elder L. Aldin Porter

Little things matter.  Prayer, scripture study, service, gratitude, and tending to our well-being daily will make a difference.

Read 2 Nephi 9:50-52

Let’s spend our time and labor on the things that matter—Christ will give us what we need if we do this every day.

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I love camping

Especially when I don't have to go!   :)

My lovely husband wanted to go camping on President's day weekend.  Me, not so much.  Something about having to do all the same things I do all day, but without electricity, running water, an oven, 1000 thread count sheets, just doesn't seem very relaxing to me.  I'm just saying.  But luckily, there are three other ladies in the house who are more than eager to conquer the outdoors with their dad.  So, after we returned from stake conference on Sunday afternoon, they packed up and off they went.  Leaving me all allone.  Except for the two dogs who require my constant attention.  So pretty much alone.  

Here they are, the happy campers!  Ready for a nice hike.  If only we didn't live in Oklahoma where it is completely flat.  

Daddy built a lovely fire and they all snuggled around.

 Here is Rachel, proving that a real woman looks fabulous with no makeup on whatsoever! ( I have found this doesn't hold as true once you pass forty.)

 Bekah is completely absorbed in recording their adventures in her trusty notebook.  She loves to write about her daily life.  And her dog Timmey is intently following along.  She is probably writing about the nice purple sleeping bag her daddy bought her so she would stay warm.

Here is the father of them all, topping off the night with some "hot delicious schmoes"!  (Movie line, anyone?)      Scrumptious!  Oh yes, and the smores look good, too!

And what did I do for about 20 hours all by myself?  Well, I didn't have to put ANYONE to bed!  I did not cry myself to sleep.  I blissfully and unapologetically reveled in the silence--and then I did about 5 loads of laundry and cleaned bathrooms and all the normal stuff.  But it was quiet!  It was nice to have everyone back  on Monday afternoon, but would I do it again?  Yes, yes, and yes.  I love camping, remember?  

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