Fight The New Drug

My stake along with three other stakes invited the group "Fight The New Drug" to come present to all the youth ages 12 and up. I was really glad my older two boys had the opportunity to go to this along with over a 1000 other youth. This groups message was very powerful. They explained how porn harms in 3 ways: It affects the brain, relationships, and society. One of their main slogans is "Porn Kills Love". At the end of their presentation they invite all the kids to sigh a banner with a pledge to abstaine from porn. They also offer resources for those youth who may already be addicted. This was a great event and I encourage others to check out their message. 

Love This!

Feed My Starving Children

My boys and I this last week went to the foundation Feed My Starving Children with our ward for a service project. It was a great experience and fun too. We were put into assembly stations where we weighed, measured, and packed food that was going to be shipped to third world countries. My boys and I had a great time doing this and it was a good opportunity to move beyond ourselves and serve others. It also helps us to be more grateful for what we do have. My boys had such a fun time doing this that they want to go back just as a family to do it again on Christmas break. I think this might be a new Westberg family tradition.

Our Eternal Families

I recently read a talk from Elder Robert D. Hales, “The Eternal Family” that I felt was really insightful.  In his talk he stated, “How we conduct ourselves in this life will determine what we will be in all the eternities to come. To receive the blessings of the sealing that our Heavenly Father has given to us, we have to keep the commandments and conduct ourselves in such a way that our families will want to live with us in the eternities. The family relationships we have here on this earth are important, but they are much more important for their effect on our families for generations in mortality and throughout all eternity...the plan of the Father is that family love and companionship will continue into the eternities. Being one in a family carries a great responsibility of caring, loving, lifting, and strengthening each member of the family so that all can righteously endure to the end in mortality and dwell together throughout eternity.” It is scary to think that if we do not conduct ourselves properly like Elder Hales said that our family members might not want to be with us in the next life. It made me think about my relationship with my kids and how I speak to them and treat them. I felt that this was really great counsel to not only teach our children and raise them in righteousness but to also build strong lasting relationships that will carry over into the eternities. I love my boys and want to be with them in the eternities. It's important for us to remember that this life is the time for us to not only prepare ourselves but our family members as well to live with God again. 

Family Scripture Time

So sometimes my boys are silly. Every night we have family scripture study in my room and we all sit or lay on my bed. Well the other night my boys started wrestling and dog piling on each other. In this moment I knew I had two choices I could get inpatient and upset with them or I could just embrace the silliness and have fun with them. I'm so glad I that I did not get upset or frustrated with them. Yes family scripture time took longer but as I sat there taking goofy pictures of them and laughing with them together we created a fun family memory. I love these moments together as these are the ones they will remember. 

Trials

I know this to be true. I wouldn't say I'm 100% healed from my divorce but I can look back and see where I was and how far I have come. I'm so grateful to have had the Gospel and my testimony to lean on during what has been the hardest trial I have gone through so far. Sure I am still lonely and mourn my temple marriage but there is still hope. While this is a trial placed on me by the choices and actions of another I know that the Lord will bless me as I continue to to live up to my covenants. I have the choice to let this experience break me or to let it strengthen me. I choose to become stronger!

Family Bike Ride

The weather has been cooling off here in Arizona which means it's the perfect time to get outdoors. One of my favorite things to do with my boys is to go for family bike rides. Sometimes we just ride around until we get tired and other times we will ride to a new park and hang out playing. Unfortunately my oldest out grew his bike so he rode his skateboard. But man he's good and was able to keep up with no problem. In fact he and I had a race bike vs. board and he won! I love doing this kind of stuff with my kids. It build memories together and we grow closer as a family too.

Eternal Family Relationships

This week I read a talk from Elder Robert D. Hales, “The Eternal Family” in his talk he said, “How we conduct ourselves in this life will determine what we will be in all the eternities to come. To receive the blessings of the sealing that our Heavenly Father has given to us, we have to keep the commandments and conduct ourselves in such a way that our families will want to live with us in the eternities. The family relationships we have here on this earth are important, but they are much more important for their effect on our families for generations in mortality and throughout all eternity...the plan of the Father is that family love and companionship will continue into the eternities. Being one in a family carries a great responsibility of caring, loving, lifting, and strengthening each member of the family so that all can righteously endure to the end in mortality and dwell together throughout eternity.” This really hit home to me as sometimes I wonder if I'm doing enough to give my kids all the love and strength that each one of them needs. I'm trying to do the job of both a mother and father but I feel like I'm falling short. I want to have a strong family both here and in the eternities and I know that if I do all I can the Lord will bless me and my children. This life is the time for us to not only prepare ourselves but our family members as well to live with God again.

Starting Over

It's been a long while since I have updated our family blog. A lot has happened over the past several years. Our little family was hit hard with some trails three years ago which ended with Kevin and I separating and then getting a divorce which at the time I did not have the heart to even look at our family blog as it was too painful of a reminder of happier times and the promise of a bright future raising our three boys together. Now I don't want to dwell on the past as what's done is done. All I can do now is move forward with finding ways for the boys and I to strengthen our family and find a new happiness.