September is for "order"....

"Establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God” (D&C 88:119).

Wishing a happy Sunday to you all. Ours began early...VERY early. Of course, the baby still wakes up during the night. She likes her bottle. AND she is teething. Four top teeth, and let's not forget the canines. Yeah...who can sleep through that??? I am currently coming up with a new plan to help the little miss sleep through the night and we are getting ready for some changes....with the help of a handy book from the public library, "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child". ( I've got plans for a new post all about what I have learned for those of you getting ready to add a newborn to the family!)

Too early this morning, Anna came sniveling at our door, with a tummy ache. Grrrreat. Grrrrrrr. She made numerous trips to the bathroom, each time making sure to embellish the trip with lots of crying. She shoved her blankets up the front of her shirt, I gave her some water and pepto bismal, and we FINALLY got some sleep. Don't feel too jealous yet...we were still up before 8am. And by 9am, Anna started puking. Yay!!!

Okay, you can feel jealous now.

I still made it to church on time with Carter, though he was very reluctant to go, knowing he was leaving Anna behind watching Scooby-Doo without him. I pushed him in Kya's stroller on our walk to the church house, and that solved the pouting-dragging feet-whining-type behavior he typically displays.

I forgot what it is like to have only ONE child with me at church!!! Let me remind those of you who have forgotten too.....it.was.awesome!!! He sat on my lap and looked at church pictures from my bag, flipped through my scriptures, ate a Life Savor, and then it was time for primary. He has been deemed my angel child today. An angel with dimples. Cute.


Okay, on to my real intent for this post, the scripture above. I love that scripture. One day when we have our own house, I want to make it our "family motto" or something. I have been trying to re-establish certain things within our family:

1. Order. Since our move to Pocatello and birth of babe #3, we've lost some order. Now that miss nanners is back in school, it provides me with the perfect opportunity to crack back down on a more consistent daily and night-time schedule. I believe that establishing a "house of order" involves waking up, not too late, but not too early either. And then consistently doing a morning, afternoon, and nightly routine. What works for one family, might not work for another, but what is great is as parents, we get to decide what we want to do and how. I believe that if we are prayerful, search the scriptures, and attend our Sunday meetings with an attitude to learn, then Heavenly Father will guide us in our efforts to develop and run our family in an "orderly" way.

That is my current goal. It is still a work in process, and I will keep you updated as I go along. But order is something I like, and something I think all families need, for our physical, emotional, and spiritual wellness. So, thanks to my baby girl, the cutest little first-grader I ever did see!!! September is a great month to get our kids off to school and our homes back in order from the craziness of summer!!!

Oh, and she learned to tie her shoes!! It took her only two tries before she had it down! What a smartie! And she went to school on her first day like a champ! No big deal, piece of cake, she walked right in like school was old news! She's playing with old friends and making new ones too! We've got high hopes for this little one!

Enjoy your Sunday, and maybe let me know what you do with your family to have a "house of order" too.

"What is most important almost always involves the people around us."

~Hiking up Scout Mountain for Anna's birthday. 

"Often we assume that they must know how much we love them. But we should never assume; we should let them know. Wrote William Shakespeare, 'They do not love that do not show their love.' We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us."

 ~President Thomas S. Monson, "Finding Joy in the Journey" Ensign Nov. 2008, 86.

"When we have sampled much and have wandered far and have seen how fleeting and sometimes superficial a lot of the world is, our gratitude grows for the privilege of being part of someting we can count on--home and family and the loyalty of loved ones. We come to know what it means to be bound together by duty, by respect, by belonging. We learn that nothing can fully take the place of the blessed relationship of family life."

~"A Sanctuary from the World," Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting, Feb. 9, 2008, 29.

My dad really is awesome. He gives the best advice, and I value his wisdom. He is ever supportive of me and my family and always respectful of my beilefs. I try to be more like him every year.

Wayment Family Luao, August 2011 

(1.My dad and I, 2. Russ, Kya, and Ben 3. My sisters Emma, Alisha, Haylee, and me!)

I have the BEST sisters. They are all my bestest of friends. We have overcome so much and they will always be the ones who remain the closest to my heart (along with my husband and children) 

"Everyone has weaknesses. The adversary knows the Achilles' heel of your loved ones, your friends, your roomates, your brothers and sisters, and your parents. Do you understand your Achilles' heel? Do you know the situations you have to stay away from and what your weaknesses are? The secret of a happy marriage is to protect the Achilles' heel and not take advantage of the weakness of those you know the best, love the most, and ultimately can hurt the most.

"Therefore, strengthen your brethren in all your conversation, in all your prayers, in all your exhortations, and in all your doings" (D&C 108:7)"

~Elder Robert D. Hales, "A Little Heaven on Earth" Ensign, Sept. 2011, 48.

"Give your child a compliment and a hug; say, 'I love you' more; always express your thanks. Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved. Friends move away, children grow up, loved ones pass on. It's so easy to take others for granted, until that day when they're gone from our lives and we are left with feelings of 'what if' and 'if only'...

"Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey and share our love with friends and family. One day, each of us will run out of tomorrows. Let us not put off what is most important."

~President Thomas S. Monson, "Joy in the Journey" (Brigham Young University Women's Conference, May 2, 2008)

 Mosiah 5:15 “Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works.”

"To you who are parents, I say, show love to your children. You know you love them, but make certain they know it as well. They are so precious. Let them know. Call upon our Heavenly Father for help as you care for their needs each day and as you deal with the challenges which inevitably come with parenthood. You need more than your own wisdom in rearing them."

~"Abundantly Blessed" Ensign, May 2008, 112.

 Fun at the Pocatello Zoo...the toys were the best part!

"...express your love to your children. Pray for them that they may be able to withstand the evils of the world. Pray that they may grow in faith and testimony. Pray that they may pursue lives of goodness and of service to others."

~"Until We Meet Again," Ensign, May 2009, 113

“Establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God” (D&C 88:119).

"May our families and homes be filled with love; love of each other, love of the gospel, love of our fellowmen, and love of our Savior. As a result, heaven will be a little closer here on earth.

"May we make of our homes sanctuaries to which our family members will ever want to return."

~"A Sanctuary From the World," 30-31


All of these quotes have described exactly what has been on my mind over the summer, what I am trying to accomplish with my own family and within my own home. I wanted to share them with you, in hopes that they will help inspire and uplift you like they have me, in giving direction and instruction to better help all families everywhere to be a little better, and to reach a little higher. Much is asked of us in these latter days, but I know I can do what Heavenly Father sent me here to do, as long as I have the help of my family, gospel, scriptures, and words from our Prophet and Apostles, general authorities, and local church leaders. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints is a blessing in my life and I will ever be thankful to be a member for all that I have learned and how it has helped and will continue to help me become more like my Savior. It is hard to go through the "refiner's fire" but I know it is worth it in the end. I was sent here to do many things, and one thing I know for sure, was to be a mother. How grateful I am to be one! And I am so ready to wake up each day and find ways where I can be a better one. I will always have a purpose in this life as long as I have my children gathered around me.

Kindergarten babies, FIRST GRADE tots...

...second grade angels, third grade snots. Fourth grade peaches, fifth grade pears, and all the rest are BIG FAT BEARS!!!!

Anna Belle.....6 years old and as sassy as ever! Quite smart too, and independant. She will start first grade this week!!! Wow!

Here she is, 6 years ago, July 29, 2005

There is nothing in the world that brings me greater happiness, peace, joy, and inspiration than holding a newborn, fresh from Heaven. Every breath they take seems like a miracle, so perfect and wonderful, and I am always overcome with awe thinking that such a beautiful creation grew inside of me. I am always so thankful our sweet babies get to stay with us, too, healthy and thriving. Such a blessing.

I loved my baby girl from the moment we met, and she became attached to my hip (and heart)...a habit I carried on with each of my babies! Anna went everywhere with me! And I went everywhere with her! Sure, I didn't do everything right, but we learned so much beginning our journey as parents for the first time.

I feel like the past 6 years have passed by so quickly. I have so many wonderful memories already of my beautiful daughter, and I am so thankful to have her a part of my everyday. Here are some of my favorite moments with Anna:

A daughter is a mother's gender partner, her closest ally in the family confederacy, an extension of her self. 

A daughter is the happy memories of the past, the joyful moments of the present, and the hope and promise of the future.

When I look at my daughter I see myself...only better.

A daughter may outgrow your lap, but she will never outgrow your heart. 

A little girl can be sweeter (and badder) oftener than anyone else in the world. she can jitter around, and stomp, and make funny noises that frazzle your nerves yet just when you open your mouth she stands there demure with that special look in her eyes. A girl is Innocence playing in the mud, Beauty standing on its head, and Motherhood dragging a doll by the foot.
-- Alan Beck

A daughter is a little girl who grows up to be a friend.

What the daughter does, the mother did. 

And mothers are their daughters' role model, their biological and emotional road map, the arbiter of all their relationships.

Of all the haunting moments of motherhood, few rank with hearing your own words come out of your daughter's mouth.

A daughter is a day brightener and a heart warmer. 

I believe in love and hope, in jamming out by yourself in the car.
I believe in having someone tell you You're Beautiful, dancing in the rain and miracles.
I believe in smiling until your cheeks hurt and laughing until you cry.

Mothers and daughters are closest, when daughters become mothers.

Daughters are like flowers, they fill the world with beauty, and sometimes attract pests.

Suddenly, through birthing a daughter, a woman finds herself face to face not only with an infant, a little girl, a woman-to-be, but also with her own unresolved conflicts from the past and her hopes and dreams for the future.... As though experiencing an earthquake, mothers of daughters may find their lives shifted, their deep feelings unearthed, the balance struck in all relationships once again off kilter. 

Oh Miss Nanners...what would we ever do without you???
I Love this little sassafrass drama queen to Heaven and back...and maybe a bit more...