Outer Banks Family Photos (8/3/16)

I didn't love our family photos because Porter looked so serious which is completely out of the norm for our family photos.  I kind of like the crazy, but the setting is still beautiful.

The tradition lives on

While it took awhile for Jonas to warm up to it, he has taken on the role of literally overseeing David's lawn mowing.

I am glad to see it carrying on.  Porter would actually still do it, but he looks a little ridiculous in the backpack and David's post mowing recovery would be much longer.

The things he says... (9/8/16)

Porter playing Legos, "I command you in the name of that almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscious."  Ummm, we might have a problem.

Morning Routine (9/8)

When David leaves for work in the am the boys still love to wave goodbye, blow kisses and listen for dad to honk.  David will stop in the driveway and they'll run up to the car to hug and kiss him.

Recognizing (9/6/16)

Porter and I had a sweet talk tonight at bedtime about recognizing the spirit and how it feels and speaks to us.  We were listening to a new song, "If I Listen With My Heart".  After hearing the chorus, "If I listen with my heart, I hear the Savior's voice."  He then told me he'd never heard Heavenly Father's voice.  So we talked about what the song was saying and how we don't hear His voice with our hears, but the Spirit talks to us and we feel things.  Then we talked about how he has felt when singing certain songs like his example was when he sings, "I Stand All Amazed".  And then we talked about when he prays because he feels scared, but then he feels comforted afterwards.  We also talked about feeling prompted to help someone or prompted to stop or not do something.  I told him we'd take opportunities to stop and recognize the spirit more so that he would know how it feels.  Then we talked about the role of the spirit to teach and testify.  I love these moments with Porter. I know he really listens and earnestly wants to learn.  He wants to hear Heavenly Father and Jesus. The other day we'd talked about the President of the church and how they are called.  He asked why he hadn't seen Jesus.  I love Porter.  I am grateful for the chance to be his mom.