What About Ohana?

It sure has been a hot minute since I've last posted. Almost two years. A lot has changed. I've changed. While the purpose of my blog hasn't changed, what I am going to blog about has. Why? Because the world around us is changing. 

Day by day it truly feels like time is speeding up, my children are growing quickly, weeks feel like days, some hours feel like minutes and at the center of it all, I find myself wishing that time could stand still just a little longer so that I can catch my breath and be the best Mom that I can be for my children, and the best wife I can be for my husband. Even more than that though, I just want to help ensure that my family will be together forever. 

Years ago, the Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at that time named Spencer W. Kimball, once said: "Many of the social restraints which in the past have helped to reinforce and to shore up the family are dissolving and disappearing. The time will come when only those who believe deeply and actively in the family will be able to preserve their families in the midst of the gathering evil around us." 

Can you believe that he said that back in 1980? I truly think that time is quickly approaching as the importance of family is dissolving in the society around us. Yes, I know I'm going to get some flack from some of you for speaking about these things, but years ago I made you a promise, that I would help you create joy. 

The deepest joy in my life has been felt as I've committed to loving and strengthening my family. I promise you, that the deepest joy you will ever feel in your life will come from doing the same. 

For me, I am going to take a more active role in building my family by ensuring that we spend more quality time together. We have started and will continue to hold weekly family councils. This is a time where we can all plan out the following week, talk about things that make us happy and sad, and just be together. There's an awesome little "cheat sheet" that can be found here  that you could use if you would like to hold family councils. We will also hold a weekly family devotional time where we will spend time talking about the Savior and learning about His life from the New Testament. We will also have a night every week where we do an activity as a family, that's just plain old fun. Something that will get us laughing and enjoying each other's company. I encourage you to do the same. 

Family is so worth it, I know that for me this life is about preparing to spend forever with my Heavenly Father and my sweet family. Until then, I'd like to create a little bit of Heaven on Earth for them.