Am I Laman and Lemuel?

Who's your Laman and Lemuel? You know, the friend, relative, or coworker who makes you want to rip your face off because every small affliction, inconvenience, difference of opinion is a completely unsolvable tragedy and any discomfort they feel is probably not just going to end their lives but also your favorite animal's, the anteater, at the zoo. And you really love that anteater. 
Or are you the Laman and the Lemuel? Am I? I confess, I've been the "woe is me gal" before. Not a happy place.
I love this quote by Elder Holland, "I have often thought that Nephi's being bound with cords and beaten by rods must have been more tolerable to him than listening to Laman and Lemuel's constant murmuring. Surely, he must have said at least once, 'Hit me one more time. I can still hear you.' Yes, life has its problems, and yes, there are negative things to face, but please accept one of Elder Holland's maxims for living - no misfortune is so bad that whining about it won't make it worse."
Why do you think Laman and Lemuel murmured? Why were the six sons of Lehi, all raised by the same parents, so varying in attitude? Maybe it was a premortal disposition? 
A possible three explanations stood out to me this week while I was studying my scriptures, the first being the condition of the heart. I have heard it said that an open mind can only get you so far in the things of God, what is required is an open heart. In 1 Nephi 2:16-19 the word heart is mentioned three times. Nephi's heart is described as being "softened" and in verse 19 the Lords says to him, "Blessed art thou, Nephi, because of they faith, for thou has sought me diligently, with lowliness of heart." Nephi had cried unto the Lord in prayer desiring to know if the words his father, Lehi, had spoken were true. His heart was then softened when confirmed by the Lord that they were. Nephi raced off to testify of his enlightening experience to his three older brothers. Sam immediately believed him but Laman and Lemuel did not because of the "hardness of their hearts". The condition of Laman and Lemuel's hearts disallowed them from recognizing truth; pushing out and rejecting all manifestations of the Holy Spirit. In turn, their hearts responded gleefully to worldly comforts  which resulted in regular complaining when those comforts and desires weren't met.
Second, the list making. I've caught myself in this trap before. Usually my unfortunate murmuring, mental list looks somethings like this:
"This house is trashed and I just cleaned it. Nobody's noticed to take out the garbage, cupboards are left wide open, I've tripped over The Beloved's 12 different pairs of shoes 57 times, do they have to get a new cup out every time they get a drink, why has everyone forgotten what a clothes hamper is - even though I remind them everyday" and so on and so forth. You can imagine coming into contact with this Mama, after undergoing my negative list making session, it can make people run in fear and lends an eager mouthful of my complaining to anyone willing to listen.
Laman and Lemuel make a list in 1 Nephi 2: 11. They were fed up with their father and felt justified in murmuring for the following reason, "he was a visionary man, had led them out of the land of Jerusalem, to leave the land of their inheritance, and their good things, to perish in the wilderness. And this they said he had done because of the foolish imaginations of his heart."  Negative list making leads to useless anger, distractions from what the Lord desires to teach you, and zero productivity  in improving one's situation. You are left stuck, complaining, and making other people worry about their favorite zoo animal. 
Third, is value. Laman and Lemuel valued very different things than Nephi. The two eldest brothers valued their gold, silver, and all of their precious things. We know they were a very wealthy family for when Laban saw their property he thought, "it was exceedingly great, he did lust after it...." (1 Nephi 3: 25).  Laman and Lemuel valued the things of the world and the thought of giving up their riches and comforts was almost more than they could bear. How could they resist offering a small complaint here and there when what they valued was being thrown out the door?  Even after seeing an angel and being witness to numerous things of the spirit, they still chose the world and therefore adopted its attributes - greed, laziness, pleasing man, contention, selfishness, back biting, etc.  
Nephi found the greatest value in pleasing the Lord. Doing what was right in His eyes. His determination in doing so is apparent in 1 Nephi 3:7, "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." The attributes of grandness in Nephi are over flowing from what he values most. He has faith, hope, patience, love, good works, etc. He doesn't murmur because he can't begin to want to. What he values won't allow it.  
So, what do I value? What is the condition of my heart and what lists am I making in my head? This is my ongoing self evaluation for the week or more honestly, my life.
I hope to one day be known as someone who was as faithful and diligent as Nephi. I bet he would have been a very pleasant friend. I truly value the gospel and following Christ. It's obvious the next attribute I need to develop is patience and long suffering so I'll stop desiring to rip my face off when I'm surrounded by my own Laman and Lemuel's. But I don't want to complain about that.... :)

Little C - 9th Day of School!

YEAH! 9TH DAY OF SCHOOL IN 7TH GRADE! :)

Back to School = Anxiety Attack

One day I may have a picture of my child holding up a sign saying:

This is not my kid, though I think he'd fit in here. :)

like all the other cool moms  -but probably not. 

I'll admit it, I'm just happy when my kids make it out the door with fresh smelling breath, a hopefully full belly, tied shoes and combed hair.

Here's our attempt at pictures -

YEAH! 2ND DAY OF SCHOOL - IN OUR FRIEND'S VAN WHO WE CARPOOL WITH - TODDLER, NOT OURS. 

Lou in the backseat and Ruckus in the front

YEAH! 3RD DAY OF SCHOOL! 

THAT'S STILL PRETTY SPECIAL! :)

Little C's will read something like -

YEAH - 57TH DAY OF SCHOOL! 

MY MOM IS NOT A MORNING PERSON  AND I'M REALLY GREAT AT GETTING READY IN THE MORNINGS WITHOUT HER ASSISTANCE SO SHE USUALLY JUST HUGS ME GOODBYE, MAKING SURE HER HEAD IS TURNED AWAY FROM MY FACE SO I DON'T SMELL HER AWESOME MORNING BREATH - WHICH IS VERY THOUGHTFUL BUT DOESN'T MAKE HER ON THE BALL WHEN IT COMES TO  TAKING MY PHOTO BEFORE THE SCHOOL DAY BEGINS. 

THAT DOESN'T MEAN SHE LOVES ME ANY LESS. :)

Sorry Kid. 

I really am going to take it tomorrow. You'll see. 

Ah, school. Love/hate relationship. I'm sure I say that every year.  I began homeschooling Little C at the end of his 6th grade year but he really missed going to school. This year we compromised and he is doing dual enrollment. He is at the junior high in the mornings until lunch and then he's home embarking on a Thomas Jefferson Education Module with his mama. I have high hopes. :)

Lou and Ruckus LOVE school as well. If they didn't I'd already have them sitting right next to Little C and I,  accompanying us on our new quest. They'll be here sooner than later.  My younger children have been blessed with great, outstanding teachers every year so I haven't felt the push as strong. 

When I walked into the junior high registration with Little C I did my best to put a smile on my face but when the first posters I saw were spouting out themes like - It's a Gender Revolution - I about barfed and burst out in tears at the same time. I support signs talking about love, kindness, diversity,  anti-bullying, etc - but in a world that is so confused about gender - this is a conversation for the parents to be included in. I realize their intent was probably innocent though I disagree with their sentiment. I know there are parents out there who don't talk to their kids about anything - I don't know what the solution is, but I do know that I don't want my young son indoctrinated.

I could go on and on about how the school was so proud to announce that breakfast and lunch are now "free" for every student and how Little C gave me the "look" so I'd keep my mouth shut on that one. Again, I know some people really need free meals. I get that. I want them to receive those meals. I want those children to be Michelle Obama well fed, even if it tastes like crap - I desire for no child to be hungry - but, my child doesn't need a free lunch. 

And so many more things I could name (like the reading class where kids read the whole hour because they're illiterate and they're failing the common core test because of it - from the school counselor's own mouth) but what's the point because I'm not proactive in helping getting those issues resolved yet.

While I watched Little C walk away from the car headed for this new junior world my pleading thought to the other kids was -

Just let him be good. It's okay.  Don't try to strip that part of him away. -

Little C is one in a million. I feel blessed to be his mother. I feel blessed and honored to be the mother of all 5 of my children and this new one I have yet to meet. They are strong and determined little spirits who can make this world a better place if they so desire.

I pray everyday that my children will be strong amidst adversity and not be afraid to be a leader of righteousness, even when they are mocked by their peers or well meaning adults. 

Prayers. 

Everyday.

Many times a day for these little humans I adore.

Cousin Visit

One of my nieces had the opportunity to chill with Papa and Buckabu for a week - which meant we were able to bask in her awesome company too!

Moo felt super special joining her at the Zoo and got some great cousin one on one time while his older brothers were at school.

We arrived at the zoo early and were spoiled by all of the attention the animals were willing to offer. Plus, I've finally discovered what my favorite animal is. Do you realize what an absolute relief it is to finally have an answer to that question after 33 years?  

An anteater!

They're seriously the coolest. Everything about them is delightfully bizarre, from the way they look to finding out they walk on their knuckles - plus the one at our zoo loves to frolic about in the water and jumps around with extreme enthusiasm for life  - what? It's basically the coolest.

After the zoo we went on to have a marvelous time at the fair and then continued our fun at maybe my new number one place to watch my children play, the fountain. 

Moo and G.J.

The Fair - I'll admit, kind of boring pictures. 

Moo did say to me after his first ride, 

"That was fun but I was kind of freaking out." While on it his face would switch from smile, frown, smile, frown. :)

Ruckus

G.J.

Moo kind of freaking out.

Moo on the train 

Ruckus appeasing me with a smile.  

 The Fountain

Lou, G.J. Ruckus and Moo trying to get Papa and Buckabu wet with their heads.

Papa being tricky - "Dawn, let's go for a walk" or in other words, let me try to get you drenched Sweetheart. :)

FREEZING!

Don't you love these two? I sure do. What a good Daddy my little girl has.