Pure Love of Christ

Sometimes I can't stop taking pictures of my children because they just give me so much to work with!!

We have been staying busy.  I feel like these are my last few weeks to play hard with Cameron before he has preschool every afternoon.  I'm excited for him to have some structure and activies....but it's also hitting me that he's growing up so quickly!!  We've been visiting the library, zoo, hanging out with Grandpa in Salem, errands, and plenty of outside time.  I have been taking them back outside lately after dinner to really wear them out.  They always play on the slides while we wait for Daddy to walk up the sidewalk....best part of the day is watching the kids run to him. 

Our Civic has been giving us some grief lately....two muffler problems in less than a month = shelling out more cash than I'd like to!  It's hard paying for things like car repairs.  But, we had to remind ourself that 'Annie' (I named her that back in 2000) has given us 10 solid years with no repairs until now.  She's 13 years old (yes, she's a she...), and we're hoping she'll hang in there for several more years.  Yay for Hondas!!

In our Gospel study, Nate & I decided to study 'kindness' this week.  We are trying to have a theme each week to study and then discuss at Family Night on Sundays.  So in relation to kindness, I've been thinking a lot about charity.  Charity is the "pure love of Christ" (Moroni 7:47).  I have been wanting to really focus my thoughts and actions lately on charity in my home.  Towards my husband and children.  I think because we are so close to our families every single day, we forget that they deserve our best efforts.  In the missionary Preach My Gospel manual it says that when we have charity, "your love for all people will increase, especially those among whom you labor (or live, I added!).  You will come to feel a sincere concern for the eternal welfare and happiness of other people.  You will see them as children of God with the potential of becoming like our Heavenly Father.  You will avoid negative feelings such as anger.  You will be patient with them and try to help them when they are struggling or discouraged.  Charity, like faith, leads to action."  Wow, I just love that.  Wonderful promised blessings for us when we pray for charity and then serve, serve, serve!  I need to serve my family more.  Nate is a great example of that.  He would do anything for me at the drop of a hat.  I love him so much.  I love my beautiful babies so much.