Elder Lindsey's Legacy

On Weds the 29th, the Elder's came over for dinner and left a message with us, followed by a family prayer. As we knelt we asked Elder Lindsey to say the prayer. As he spoke got a very distinct feeling that he was going to be transfered and this was the last prayer we would have with him. I didn't think I would get emotional about it, but I had to REALLY try not to let my emotions get the best of me. Anyway, as soon as the following Tuesday rolled around my prompting became a reality. He of course had to come over and say good bye, but not without some classic Hart time :)

They played some good ol' football, followed by another classic session of the "shoe" game.

The of course a few family pictures (minus Andy).

Followed by a little more horsing around :)

It has been SUCH a wonderful time having him in our midst. He is a special man and I am so glad we had this unique opportunity to have his influencing spirit in our home. I feel very strongly that he has influenced Tyler in particular in a positive way in his perceptive towards a mission. Tyler has often mentioned how he is nervous about the whole idea because he doesn't want to have to eat "fish eyes" and not go without computer or TV (can you tell what our issues might be?). Anyway I truly believe this has helped open up his eyes in knowing what a mission can be like.

Elder Lindsey,

Thank you for your wonderful spirit you brought into our home. Thank you for your kind words and your awesome lessons. Thank you for sharing your testimony and love of the youth with us. Thank you for helping teach my children. Thank you for your time, dedication and prayers on behalf of the Hart family. You are one of a kind and will be missed.

Love,
The Hart's

The Light Bulb.

This weekend. Well, it was an interesting one. We were planning on going up to Dallas for a really quick trip for the blessing of the Bush's twins. It had already been an extremely busy week, so we were anticipating a few hiccups, but little did we know...
It all began Monday. I was put in charge of the gift for New Beginnings (see below) and found that darling idea. I went to Hobby Lobby to purchase the light bulb jars. They only had 10 in stock, but promised they would get as many as I needed by Friday if I paid for them ahead of time in return for a rain check. I made them DOUBLE check to make sure they would get them in by Friday. I put all my eggs in one basket, counting on this to work...after all they did PROMISE. Ha.
Friday came and I waited for a call which never came. To spare you from possible boredom ultimately they didn't come. After which I said a few loud and disgruntled words towards the sales clerk. Then the wheels in my head began turning...Dallas...driving...and Hobby Lobby's. Yes. Yes we did drive to EVERY Hobby Lobby between Katy and Dallas. I know. Some may say I'm crazy, but this idea was TOO darling and it was TOO late to think of anything new. We were able to get 36 out of 38.
Before we left on our light bulb endeavour I received a phone call from the school nurse saying Audrie wasn't feeling well and needed to come home. (BTW the nurse and I are very good friends. We literally talk once a week and actually visit her office at least once every couple of weeks, and sometimes more.) She came home with me fully thinking she was faking it and needed some attention (can you say "cried wolf" one to many times?), but within an hour she started a fever and complained of her throat hurting. Fully knowing that if we were going to make it to Dallas (as well as get all my light bulbs!) we had to get her check out ASAP. We then RUSHED to the clinic for a rapid strep test. POSITIVE. At which point I began feeling a tinge of guilt. But the reality was I felt MORE guilt for my son who had been complaining of a sore throat all week and I just told him to basically suck it up and take some Motrin :\ If Audrie had strep then my strep prone son also had strep. Great. Let the trip begin! We packed in a snap and left on the adventure.
The drive itself was as expected. Long, almost twice as long due the the light bulb stops, but eventless. We arrive around 6:30pm fully knowing we would only have a couple of hours before we had to go to the hotel so we could get to bed for a 9am Sacrament meeting.
For some reason I needed to get into one of the suitcases shortly after we arrived. Immediately I realized there was only ONE bag in the trunk...and the sirens began going off left and right in my head. We had left our suitcase. From toiletries and diapers to Sunday dresses and shoes it was ALL at home sitting in our house. After relaxing for about 3 minutes total I ran to the store to purchase all that was left at home. By then it was time to go to the hotel.
The next morning we made it to church on time with Audrie in jeans (her and Tyler had packed their bag) and then left on our 5 hour trip home. We made it home to find my fridge in the garage completely thawed out and dripping, but the real point is we made it home.

Andy made me promise to keep a light bulb as a momento. It will be on display in my decor ;)

Arise and Shine Young Women's Gift

This is the mutual theme for 2012. Each year the Young Women have a program called New Beginnings, basically to introduce the theme, renew motivation and introduce new and upcoming YW. I was in charge of the gift and found this awesome idea here. They turned out too cute not to share :)

Family Rules

While Lyndsey was here we started talking about my children's lack of obedience...specifically the first time they were asked (unfortunately she noticed). So knowing Lyndsey had been studying these very things and what works I picked her brain a little. While picking her brain this book kept flashing in my head:

We've read this one on numerous occasions to our children, but when the older two were much smaller. In it the children and Dad (he always seems to be on the same level as the kids and I find it quite humorous, Andy on the other hand does NOT appreciate that about these books!) are often behaving poorly and seem to be out of control. So the mother puts her foot down and writes some rules and consequences along with those rules.

Combining Lyndsey's counsel and and the idea from the BB book I felt it was time to have an FHE on these very things. We decided to create our own rules and discuss possible consequences for them. We came up with 4 rules and 4 consequences...and only after texting with Lynds as to how things were going with them did I realize how humorous they actually were. They are as follows:

1. Obey the first time OR take out a trash

2. No Arguing OR clean up one pile of dog poop

3. No back talking OR clean a toilet

4. Put your shoes away OR organize the shoe holder (all shoes)

If this isn't a direct reflection on our family I don't know what is. I mean is there any other family in the world that would have 'put shoes away' in their TOP FOUR rules? I'm not so sure.

We also incorporated a warm fuzzies jar (which we've done before), but this time added prizes to it. To focus on the positive things they do they get a little fuzzy pompom aka warm fuzzy and put it in a jar. We are doing it as a group effort simply because we have competition issues when done individually. Once they get to certain levels they get to pick from the treasure box and that has kicked them into HIGH gear to be super helpful and kind. I've always struggled with giving tangible rewards for things like this, but we need an intervention! We trained our dog this way and she doesn't get treats anymore, but still obeys...hopefully it works on children too!

All trash cans have been empty all week :) It's wonderful! The dog poop and toilet consequence must be a goods one because we haven't needed them yet.

This will be a fun to look back on.

Lyndsey again...

Well my sweet sister Lyndsey just received her mission call tonight. She will be going to the Carlsbad, CA mission, and habla-ing Espanol :) (Yes I did take 5 years if Spanish in HS, and NO I don't remember much...obviously. Do not laugh.)

What a great Woman she is becoming! Now to explain to Tyler we can't go to Legoland until AFTER her mission...hahaha...

Lyndsey

I am sad already now that Lyndsey is gone. I LOVE having family around. It just gives me that extra scoop of happiness that I could indulge in for the rest of my life. Thanks for coming Lynds and suffering through the exceptionally memorable Sunday and surely dealing with other “fun” moments I haven’t even heard yet. You are one awesome chica.

We decided to come home a day early from our little trip to Austin for several reasons. First off it had been raining the ENTIRE time we were there and all of our outdoor adventures went down the drain fast and second because we wanted to spend some quality time with Lynds before she left J We had a great time both on our very late anniversary trip and our time with Lynds!

Yesterday we went to Brazo’s Bend State Park and were literally walking around alligators…it caused a little anxiety at first but as we got used to it my heart rate went down significantly. While there we took many pictures. Several of them turned out just darling.

I can not deny it

It's interesting...I've never blogged my thoughts or feelings for the most part; thus I am not what the traditionally defined blogger is, but today I feel strongly to declare my most personal thoughts.

I have been thinking a lot about my inner core, what my strongest beliefs are and how they came to be. Much of this has been a product of family members that have recently left the faith I've always known and loved. Quite frankly it has hurt me, unintentionally it poked at my heart. Whether it's meant to be or not, this has been personal to me. I feel as if they are loudly proclaiming all of my personal revelations are are a lie. As though all of the times I have definitively felt the Spirit speak to my heart are just a figment of my imagination. When in fact I can NOT deny them. I can not deny the truth that has been spoken to me. I can't deny the Spirit of God I felt in the Sacred Grove. I can not deny the powerful witness I have received when sitting across the alter in the Temple. I can not deny the numerous occasions I have felt ancestors that have passed on standing in the room with me as I have walked through those Temple doors. I can not deny that my God has spoken to me through the words of The Book of Mormon. I can not Deny that the daily promptings I receive are because my God is absolutely involved in the upbringing of my Children. I can not deny the Power of the Priesthood as hands have been laid on my head and unknown, personal things have been said. I can not deny these things. They are as real to me as the nose on my face.

The Church is true. It is of God, run by imperfect men. Mistakes may be made, but it doesn't discount all that I have felt, all that has been personally revealed to me. By their fruits ye shall know them...Whatsoever is good cometh from God. This church is good. The fruits of it are wonderful. It is of God. Jesus Christ is the head of this Church, man is simply the tool. I know of no one who has been perfect save our Savior, Jesus Christ. I say this, in His sacred name, Amen.