Becoming a Heaven on Earth

Home can be a heav'n on earth when we are filled with love

Bringing happiness and joy, rich blessings from above-

Warmth and kindness, charity, safety and security-

Making home a part of heaven, where we want to be.

Drawing fam'ly near each week, we'll keep love burning bright.

Serving Him with cheerful hearts, we'll grow in truth and light.

Parents teach and lead the way, children honor and obey,

Reaching for our home in heaven, where we want to stay.

Praying daily in our home, we'll feel His love divine;

Searching scriptures faithfully, we'll nourish heart and mind.

Singing hymns of thanks, we'll say, "Father, help us find the way

Leading to our home in heaven, where we long to stay."

~ LDS Hymn #298

Description My children belong to the Hero Generation... we are striving to raise them to fulfill their personal missions. We strive to make our home a haven from the turmoils of today's society. Come visit us as we share some of our story. All About Me Aspire to Inspire before you Expire Have a specific interest? Browse this blog by Category! Personal Notes Just personal stuff to keep the family and friends up to date. My Great Heroes These are stories about my children who belong to the hero generation (from The Fourth Turning). Master Plan Knowing where you are headed helps keep you on track. Here is where I keep my "flight plan". Homeschooling Daze Anything about our homeschool - funny stories to new schedules... never know what's going on here. Family History Stories about the family from my memory or others. Plus, memories in the making. Passage to Liber - Five Pillars to Greatness The papers I've written for the Five Pillar Certification Commentary on the Classics Simply thoughts and comments on the classics I'm reading. Quotes Quotes of interest to me... may or may not include commentary. Recipes Browse through my recipe folder. Food and non-food recipes. The Scriptures are True Scripture references, usually with commentary. Very personal - might not be open to comments. TJed Anything Thomas Jefferson Education related. To Your Health Little tidbits here and there about what it takes to lead a healthier life. Including mine. Food For Thought My deeper thoughts, or sometimes a thought provoking/inspiring story. CU thoughts and ponderings My blog for CU writings & ponderings Making My Own Colors In Life My other blog, generally more lighthearted. The Sun Sets in the West I'm wanted to practice writing in a different genre. So I decided to write some fan fiction for fun. That's what you'll find here. My Heroes Redbeard - 39 Me (Texasblu)- 38 Athena - 15 Venus - 12 Iris - 8 Orion - 5 Mercury - 5 Apollo - 3 Hercules - 3 Catch the Wave - Surf's Up Baby! LDS News Source LDS News Source is a LDS news portal that currently searches over 5000 news sources daily. � Home is Where the Heart is � Dusty Old Volumes of Previous Writings � The LDS Church Site � George Wythe College � LEMI Institute � Home Fires (TJed) � Thomas Jefferson Education.org � Free Books to Download and Read � National LDS Homeschool Association � The Homeschool Mom � Homeschool Buyers Co-op � Free Homeschool Planner Pages � The Noble Child Experience � The Healthy Homeschool � An Old Fashioned Education � The Homemaking Cottage � The Hillbilly Housewife � Budget 101 � Old Fashioned Living � Free Coloring Pages to Print � Recipe Library from the Homeschool Zone � Writing Resources � Baby Names � Lapbooking � No Milk Zone � Perfect Storm Folks That Make Blogging Fun � My Mom � My Sister � My Adopted Sister � My brother � My Sis-in-Law � Marian the librarian � Another Sister � The youngest sister � Lengthing My Stride (My good friend from college) � Homemaking Cottage � A Homemaking Journey � Rapid Life � Wacky Wheelers � The Maples � Too Many to Count � A Fear of Flying � Stefoodie � The Internet Dark Ages � Donna's Journey � Chronicles of a Liber Voyage � Teaching Self Government Homeschool Blogger Friends � Joy in the Journey � Sharing Our Lives � I Prefer Hot Cocoa! � Principled Discovery � Jewels In Our Crowns � Siever Family Homeschool � Along The Way � Labellavita � Days Like These � Reflections of a Homeschooling Mom Shelfari: Book reviews on your book blog << ? | LDS Blogs | list >> Get your own calendar

Iris, my hero My thoughts at 01:08 PM, September 26, 2008 My Great Heroes Yesterday I had my last Basic Training Class - we made it!  I start back up in March.  Whew!  I can breathe for a few months.  :)  You know, sometimes the kids teach me more about me than I realize.  I took Iris to Liberty Girls.  When I came to pick her up, she wasn't with the other girls.  This kind of bugged me, but I didn't say anything.  I always encourage dialogue from my kids about their activities away from home (something that has payed off with Athena).  So I asked Iris about her day.  "Oh, it was fun!" she says.  So I asked her if anyone else had a brownie like hers.  "I don't know," she states. I'm really confused.  So I ask her how she doesn't know.  "No one would sit by me.  I asked them to, but they wouldn't do it." My heart stops.  Then she says, "Yeah, and I asked them to play with me, but some of them wouldn't.  I don't know why.  But some DID.  They made it fun.  And I like the jewelry we made.  My teacher (the mom in charge of the Liberty Girls)  said THIS one (she holds up a clay heart pin) is the PRETTIEST.  I LOVE LIBERTY GIRLS!  I CAN'T WAIT TO GO BACK!!" Can I just tell you how glad I was that she was in the back of the van so she couldn't see me cry?  I thought how I would have been devestated in my school years.  And here she is facing the same old routine of not fitting in for whatever reason, and she is sparkling, choosing to focus on the positive instead of the negative!  I was enchanted - I couldn't understand how she could think that way, until I thought of all the conversations I had with her older sisters, telling them to focus on positive things and be grateful.  Somehow this philosphy has trickled down, and she's DOING it. I'm so glad. And if the Liberty Girls mom sees this (she told me once she occassionally graces this blog - I'm honored) I don't want you to feel badly or think I'm knocking Liberty Girls.  Girls are girls...  maybe Iris did or said something that upset them.  Who knows?  She loves EVERYONE and just doesn't understand when it isn't reciprocated.  I remember two years ago playing at the park.  Iris ALWAYS (no joke - I can't imagine her not doing this) finds a friend.  We'd be at McDonald's.  "Hey Mom!  That girl in the pink shirt is my new best friend!"  So on this park day we were headed to the car, and she says, "Mom some people are the devil." "Huh?" I remember responding.  "How so?" "That little girl over there, I told her I was her new best friend and she told me I couldn't be her friend because she doesn't KNOW me.  Mom, some people are angels, but some are the devil." Out of the mouths of babes.  I give you Iris, my hero. Care to Share? Untitled Comment That is so touching. I'm afraid I'd be more like you and feel bad. It's sweet that it didn't seem to bother your daughter. Sounds like a young lady who is comfortable with who she is. Way to go Mom! Kassie Inspired by Anonymous at 11:02 AM, September 28, 2008 Link