… get ridiculously dirty eating his messy cake…

It is a good thing he is so cute.

I get the pink one!

And mommy gets the candy!

But after an unfortunate incident with the scissors we had to get some help to preform a recovery hair cut.

I guess I could get used to this…

Most families have heirlooms; precious belongs that are past down from one generation to the next. Check out the flash from the past Abby inherited this year…

Front Room

Family Room

Kitchen/Dining Area

Loft

Master Bedroom

Bedroom

The yard is all weeds right now. So we will have to decide what we want to do with it. Any good ideas?

Elder Howard W. Hunter ” From my own experience in business and as a lawyer and church worker, and from my firsthand observations in this country and other countries of the world, there appears to me to be a trend to shift responsibility for life and its processes from the individual to the state. In this shift there is a basic violation of the law of the harvest, or the law of justice. The attitude of “something for nothing” is encouraged. The government is often looked to as the source of wealth. There is a feeling that the government should step in and take care of one’s needs, one’s emergencies, and one’s future. Just as my friend actually became a slave to his own ignorance and bad habits by refusing to accept the responsibility for his own education and moral growth, so, also, can an entire people be imperceptibly transferred from individuals, families, and communities to the federal government. (“The Law of the Harvest.” Devotional Address, Brigham Young University, 8 March 1966.)

Written by Alberta Jones (shared with permission):

“My dad was raised in a German immigrant family during the depression.  He and my mother raised 6 girls and 2 boys on a farm. My father not only knew the saying “Use It up”; “Wear It Out”; “Make It Do”; or “Do Without”, he lived it.

Things were fixed with bailing wire, strapping tape, safety pins, and in some cases doing without, like our tractor we affectionately named Betsy.  Betsy didn’t have brakes and her
steering wheel would occasionally come off but we learned to work with Betsy’s handicaps.

We named our cars also. All of the cars we owned taught us kids great humility, the worst of them was our car we named Leprosy,  Leprosy, because it was literally falling apart piece by piece. (He got the car for real cheap and it was all yellow- we named it Leprosy because we thought it was so ugly!)

For those of you who have had to eat different foods during your missions you haven’t had anything like dads clearing out the refrigerator meals.  Very disgusting but we were better off for it, at least that is what my dad told us.  My brothers thought their missions were a vacation compared to a day working with my dad.

Almost every day was a lecture on provident living.  For you younger kids you may have not heard some of his expressions but you may get to in the near future with the economy the way it is.  Some of these were “money doesn’t grow on trees” when asking for some unnecessary item, or when we left the front door open in the winter “do you live in the barn, money doesn’t grow on trees”, when we left the lights on in rooms we had just left which was often it was “turn off the lights, do you live in a barn, money doesn’t grow on trees”, when asking to buy an item because everyone has it or go somewhere because everyone else was he would ask us “so would you jump off the cliff if your friends jumped off a cliff?”  Or if we really wanted a certain brand of clothing it was “fancy pants” which was not a compliment. He would let us know that we were no better than anyone else and we should never act like we were better than those that the kids at school deemed losers.

Our very favorite was the annual conserving toilet paper lecture.  Apparently toilet paper did not grow on trees either. (Note from Julie: I would like to vouch that the toilet paper lectures followed my mom into our family. And little bums were allotted 2 squares of single ply.)

We rarely ate out growing up and if we ever did it was fast food and we would split the hamburger in half. It was such a treat and so appreciated.  And to this day ordering drinks
almost seems like sinning to me.  Soft drinks were not needed with water being free and “money does not grow on trees.”

Many nights and almost every Sunday we had people over for dinner.  My dad would seek out whoever looked the most down and out and invite them over, without asking mom first if
she had prepared extra.  We had many interesting people over and many fish and bread miracles where the roast and potatoes seemed to stretch. When we lived in Arco I remember dad seeing a hitchhiker walking through town and he yelled out the door, “Hey you are you hungry” the man answered yes and dad yell for him to come in we were just sitting down to dinner. We only had potato soup and mom was embarrassed but I remember the man being so greatful and LOVED it! It was the best meal he had had in a long time.

Today I have been asked to speak on the topic of provident living and specifically how the members of families can support each other in our efforts to live within our means.

The first Presidency has made this statement: “We encourage you wherever you may live in the world to prepare for adversity by looking to the condition of your finances. We urge you
to be modest in your expenditures; discipline yourselves in your purchases to avoid debt. If you have paid your debts and have a financial reserve, even though it be small, you and your family will feel more secure and enjoy greater peace in your hearts.” —The First Presidency, All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Finances, Feb. 2007.

Sometimes we parents, and grandparents, love our kids so much and want them to be happy, to “fit in” with their friends, do well at sports and have talents, that we forget what is really important for our kids to have.  In our effort to help them succeed we give them lessons we really can’t afford, the name brand clothing that everyone else has, cell phones, and the newest technology and game systems. There is so much pulling at us and our kids. Just watch commercials on a children’s station for 5 minutes and you will know what they are up against.

What we forget is that really none of that is necessary to make good kids; I am not saying it is all bad; some of these things if we can afford them are very good. But sometimes it can hurt their growth in the things that mean the most.

In preparing for this talk and realizing that sometimes my priorities become confused I decided to write down the most important things I want my children to leave my home with. When I become confused about needs versus wants and consider requests they have and desires I have I can ask myself if it will help accomplish my goals for giving my children the really important things. Everyone’s list may be different but quickly here is a short summary of a few of the things I want my children to have.

- A testimony of God the Father, His Son, and the restored church of Jesus Christ

- I want them to know that they are children of God and that everyone on this earth is a child of God and they each deserve kindness

- I want them to not feel entitled for anything but to know how to work hard

- I want them to know how to earn money and budget and to learn to first set aside tithing and savings before doing anything with that money

- I want them to know basic skills such as cooking from scratch, ironing, and simple self repairs

I do not believe that our children really understand how much things cost and we need to be very honest with them. Recently my 6 year old was asked in school what he would do with a hundred dollars. I was pleased to hear what a kind heart he had but realized our children may not understand how much things may cost when they ask us for things.  In his own words of what he would do with $100:

I would buy a trampoline, and a robot, and a dog and one more cat.  And a swing set …..and pay for my mission………  And give the rest to the poor.

I know there are many of you who are truly suffering from this economy and my heart goes out to you. But like all trials I do feel there are some good things that could come from our
current economy. I feel like this will help us and our children realize the difference between needs and wants and have a greater appreciation for the things we have and thus be a happier people.

This economy is a great opportunity to teach budgeting to our children and restrain and discipline in their spending.  If they can learn these lessons young when saving for small items, how much better off they will be when the stakes are high in their own families.

This time is a great opportunity to learn about service. Food banks and charities are seeing less donations and are in greater need.  We can help by increasing our fast offerings, have those in need to dinner and increase our charitable contributions.  If that isn’t possible we can allow our children to give of their time to serve.

I have recently read in the newspaper that people are planting more gardens than ever, shopping in thrift stores, the public libraries have seen a huge increase in business as people
are checking out free books and movies. People are canceling cable services, cell phones, going without cars if possible, and canceling yard services to do the work by themselves. People are borrowing less. I recently read that Cheap is now Chick. I was excited to tell my family that we are apparently “in fashion” now.

I ask my children what kids could do to help out their families who are trying to live within their means. Here are their words of wisdom:

- Don’t complain when it is leftover night or if it’s a meal made with food storage.

- When you see some foam in the milk container.  Know that your mom is putting a little powdered milk in the regular milk but play along with her.  You really can’t taste much of
a difference

- Turn off the lights

- Carpool with friends

- Try not to be bothered that your little brothers’ 1st grade friend has a cell phone when you don’t

My college daughters advice was for every student to do your very best in school  no  matter what age you are and start early in your Junior year applying as many scholarships as you can. Your parents can’t do any of that for you.

My patriarchal blessing repeats several times “If you are prepared you shall not fear.” That truth brings great comfort to me as I look to the future.

It is my hope that we will pass on the lessons to our children similar to the lessons my father knew and lived. I hope that we will live within our means , that we will “Use It up”; “Wear It Out”; “Make Do”; or “Do Without”, and find a way to serve our brothers and sisters. I leave my testimony of the hope this gospel gives me, and the peace that being prepared brings.”