Thoughts on tithing

So last night I went to Relief Society to hear some speakers talk about rags to riches. One of the speakers was talking about all the things we should be doing like praying(not as often as we should), scripture study, and so on. Well she got to tithing and said that was one thing they always did no matter what. That got me to thinking. Paying tithing is also the only thing we do on a regular basis. Sad as it is to say, scriptures are not being read all the time, and prayers should be said more in our home. So I just wonder what would happen if I looked at these other things we should be doing the same way I look at tithing? I need to do these things on a regular basis as well. Not only because we've been commanded to do so, but to receive the blessings promised to us. Obedience also comes to mind. We are given commandments to see if we will obey. I never really thought about it this way before, but it makes perfect sense to me now.

Updates

These pictures were taken on Christmas morning so we'll say these are before pictures. You can see how chubby we both are (or were). James and I are doing really well with our weight loss! James has lost around 40 pounds!! I've lost about 25! I'll post some pictures of us now when I find some good ones...

Fry bread!

After school one day when the kids had some friends over, we made fry bread. I let them use cookie cutters and they had a lot of fun! This was pretty hard for me, with being on HCG and all, but the kids enjoyed themselves!

Sledding

Christmas Morning 2011

Santa was very generous this year!

5k!!

This was at the beginning of the 5K Thanksgiving morning in Arizona. Soon after this shot I was dead last and soon got lost. I was so far behind I couldn't even see the last of the runners! It was so much fun to finish and see all my family members at the end. It was worth every step I took!

Hoover Dam

Carter pics

Dancing King

Garden Smarden

This is all our garden produced. A nice sized zuchinni, and a couple rotten tomatoes and peppers! Boo!

Carter

This was when Carter stood up for the first time!

OK, so I'm a little retarded! I did that last post all backwards, but I bet you can figure out what caption goes with what picture! Oops!

Birthday Party

I threw the kids a combined birthday party(something I will never do again). Rachel's was fairy themed and Jarrett's was super heroes.

I couldn't get a good picture of Rachel in her fairy costume before she got too hot to do anymore, so this is the only one I got of her smiling.

I had all the little girls decorated their own headbands and wands. Here they all are minus Rachel.

This is Jarrett, very happy.

I made each of the boys their own super hero cape with their initial and a mask to go with it. This was our Super Hero Squad!

Summer fun

This was the kids swimming in my aunt Julie's pool.

Baseball Raptors Game

We took the kids to a local baseball game here in Ogden a couple weeks ago. They had a blast! I think their favorite part was the food, though. Jarrett was lucky enough to have one of the players come and hand him a ball before the game even started. He was thrilled!

I am so behind!

So many things have happened I wanted to blog about, I just haven't taken the time! So I guess I'll start today. First of all, I'm really looking forward to Women's Conference tonight! It always comes at a time when I've been feeling horrible about myself. I know it will be uplifting and wonderful. Perfect prelude to General Conference.

Happy Birthday Rachel!

I can't believe my baby girl is 7 today!! My how time flies!

I am so tired of trying so hard to make my kids happy. I wish there was some magical potion or dust I could give them to make them at least appear to be happy. I spend so much time doing things for them, all I want in return is to know my efforts were appreciated. That's it. That's all I want. Am I asking too much? Do I just need to forget it and realize this is just part of motherhood? I love my kids so much, I just want them to be happy.

Tootie-ta

Jarrett is so silly! He learned this at summer kindergarten. Sorry the image is so dark, he would only sing in the tent when it started getting dark.

Happy Birthday Jarrett!!

I can't believe Jarrett's 5 today! He's such a fun kid! He loves to play the Wii, read, and make Carter laugh. He's always been a smart kid, and come fall he'll be in all-day kindergarten (that's the only thing the school offers up here). We love him lots!