72 Hour Kits

With some of our tax return money, we are determined to update our 72 hour kits. Phil has one, I have one, and then we have a "bucket" of stuff that Phil's parents gave us. We are going to go through it all, reorganize, add stuff for Eden, and rotate out the food. As I've been researching 72 hour kits I'm learning that there are different reasons for having them.

I think I always thought of having one in case of disaster. I pictured us stuck in our home without contact with the outside world. Very War of the Worlds-ish. I hadn't really thought of having one in case we get evacuated (due to pending disaster). Of course, we want to be obedient to the prophet too and that is a pretty good reason to have one.

What are your reasons for having (or wanting to have) your 72 hour kit?

My Big Girl

Yesterday, I had to stay home from church to play infusion nurse for Phil. My friend called and asked if Eden wanted to go to church. Eden emphatically replied, "YES!" and so she went to church without her mom or dad. (I was able to get there by YWs and then bring her home.) Everyone reported to me that she was such a good girl. I can't believe how grown up she is getting.

The other night, I forgot to say prayers with her at bedtime. She very quickly reminded me. She isn't always very patient or reverent when we say blessings at meal time but she truly loves nighttime prayers. I still speak the words but she often will tell me what she is grateful for: daddy, mommy, grandma, grandpa, kitty, doggy, happy trees, etc.

Yesterday as I pulled up to the church the nursery kids were out for a walk (yeah it was nearly 70 - so much for our cold spell) and it was so cute to see her (she didn't see me) walking around with her class, being such a big girl. She and Trey held hands most of the time. So very, very cute!

She loves prophets right now. She loves to look through her scripture story books and point out all the prophets. She also is very intrigued with Moses. She tells us about baby Moses and then points to the tablets and says, "Moses book ... Moses, prophet." Her new favorite song is "Follow the Prophet." I'm just amazed at her ability to grasp concepts.

Being a mom is pretty humbling.

Famly Ome Eening ... Yeah!!!!

Two weeks ago we were on an airplane on Monday. Eden had an ear infection and screamed the whole flight. Not exactly the kind of Family Home Evening that makes for good memories. One week ago was a chemo day and I got to drive home through a yucky storm. Not a great Family Home Evening there either.

The last real Family Home Evening we had was at my parents' house on December 22. We celebrated the birthday of Joseph Smith* and it was a nice time with a few of my siblings and parents.

So, it has been a while since we've had a Kesler Family Home Evening. Our Family Home Evenings are pretty basic. They usually follow this format:

Opening Song - usually played by Heidi on the right hand, Phil on the left hand, and Eden playing descant. Sung by all.

Opening Prayer

Flag Salute - Eden holds the flag and we stand and recite the pledge. Eden LOVES being responsible for such an important task.

Kesler Kudos - we recognize good things in each other and acts of accomplishment and kindness. It is a great time to clap and cheer and Eden is beginning to really get into it.

Activity Song - a silly song time to get the wiggles out.

Lesson - we LOVE the new nursery manual. We were having a hard time knowing how to create lessons for Eden before it came out, now we use it and have a 2-3 minute lesson and she usually makes it through it and even grasps some of it. We have taped the visual aids from these lessons in our family room at her eye-level as a reminder of what she has learned about prayer and Heavenly Father and family and Jesus, etc.

Closing Prayer

Activity/Game - Hide and Seek has been a popular one lately.

Treats - a family favorite, of course. (Look for tonight's delicious treat on this week's Food Friday.)

Well, since it has been a while since we've had a Kesler FHE, we weren't sure how Eden would do. Then at dinner tonight I was saying the prayer and said something about "Family Home Evening" toward the end of the prayer. Eden waited for my "amen" and then said (with both hands flying triumphantly into the air): "Famly Ome Eening, Yeah!!!! Flag!" It was so cute!

She was so, so, so excited to hold the flag and then proudly put her right hand over her belly button (the heart isn't too far from there) while we recited the pledge.

For our activity, Phil had printed out squares of colors and then folded up the papers. His idea was to have Eden pick out a piece of paper, open it up, and then find a book with that color on it. Eden could totally see through the paper though and said, "I want lellow" then picked the yellow paper and found a book that was yellow. After that he had to hold the bowl of paper slips above her head so she had to pick "blind." It was a fun game and she LOVED it (and I loved putting all the books away just now).

What a fun, fun Family Home Evening. We are so glad that we have been given the advice from modern prophets to set aside one evening a week to spend with the family in gospel learning and fun.

Famly Ome Eening ... YEAH!!!!!


*Since before I was born, my parents have had a celebration of the birth of Joseph Smith on or around December 23 (his birthday). It is such a fun, meaningful tradition. We so appreciate his life and the sacrifices that he made in order to bring about The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ as well as the restoration of the gospel as taught by Christ. I love that his birthday is so near Christmas because it just seems fitting to take an hour out of the Christmas season to celebrate the life of a man who loves the Savior so deeply.

Conference Crochet Give Away

I didn't fall asleep once during conference this weekend! I LOVE conference and so enjoy the uplifting and inspired messages but lets be honest, sometimes in the comfort of one's own home it can become way ... too easy ... to doze.

My trick? you ask.

Well, I have used this for a few years and it always works.

I crochet.

So in honor of conference and staying awake, leave me a message about your impressions of conference and you might win this ( leave your message by Sunday, October 12th, at noon)

It is about the size of a child's blanket or a lap quilt for an adult.
Here is an up close and personal look so you can behold my crochet madness.
There is a cute little "rosebud" at each intersection.
Each square is a different crochet pattern.
Admit it, it is 'dorable and you want it!

As for me, I really enjoyed Elder Perry's talk about simplifying. Let's do it folks! Life is just too crazy and there is just too much of it that is NOT necessary.

I also enjoyed the talk (also on Saturday) by one of the 70 (and I have forgotten his name) about faith being a choice. I totally agree! I really have been learning that one. A year ago I was feeling pretty jumbled by all that was going on in our lives and I finally had to just decide to have faith. It wasn't a passive choice it was a very concerted effort.

I remind myself often that I choose faith!

There were so many other wonderful talks but I know you want to get to the end so you can post your comment and enter to win the conference crochet give away so I'll refrain ...

for now.

Food Storage Baby Style

I've been thinking about food storage more lately (along with a lot of others). Two weeks ago we had a really great Stake Conference. It was right as Ike was whirling around our neck of the woods. We were admonished to prepare for more disasters and storms (physical and figurative). I need to do better at getting a handle on our supply and then rotating it (and adding to it).

I think one of the reasons that this is hitting me more is because I am now responsible for someone besides myself. As terrible as it would be to be hungry myself, it would be beyond my imagination to see Eden hungry. How would I explain to her that she couldn't have milk or cheese or dinner before going to bed.

It made me realize that our powdered milk is low-fat and until she is two, she still needs to drink whole milk. I went to the store and found three options:

1. Whole Powdered Milk
2. Toddler Formula
3. Boxed Whole Milk (not dehydrated) - it does not require refrigeration

I chose option 3 for our immediate needs. I will probably also do some of option 1. She is six months away from being able to drink the low-fat stuff so I probably won't go crazy getting tons (she'd probably be fine drinking some low-fat stuff now).

Once again, being a parent totally changes the way I think about things. I am responsible for this adorable, bright, loving, amazing little soul (who, incidentally, calls me "mommy" finally!).