Another year is upon us. A time for reflection and goal setting, a time to mourn the loss of another summer and simpler schedules. It happens every year, you would think it would get easier. I love that the kids are in school, they are growing and doing just what they should be doing and for that I am grateful, like every year, I wasn’t quite ready for it to come to an end.
We spend a day up at Cedar Point for our end of the summer celebration. Kids adored it, I can see why it is one of the best amusement parks in the country.
Emma:
High School Freshman
Flute student and marching band enthusiast
Early morning seminary
Tanner:
7th grade smartie
Super Student taking Algebra this year
Created his own comic website with his friends
Aubrey:
3rd Grade
Con Brio Choir
Moves from fife to flute this year
Alyssa:
Sassy Kindergartener
Hallie:
Overall trouble maker
Mommy’s helper
Hallie got a haircut, we cut it SHORT. She looks adorable, but this is the only picture I have of it yet.
Life is good and it should be another eventful year!
Family vacation, new tires, Emma’s band camp = the poor house–smile. If only I could get the ocean out of my mind. I want to live right there on the beach… OK, back to reality. I had to find some local amusement so off to Mohican State Park for a hike. It’s close to home and I love outings where the kids can just do what they do best, be kids. Hallie hiked the full two miles. Picnic lunch and a reluctant Hallie who refused to get into the river (darn Netflix documentaries about killer fish)=an overall delightful day.
The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.
All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.
In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.
The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.
We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.
Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.
The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.
We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.
We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.
This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
