Relationship Goals Episode 4: 5 Stages of Marriage

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Our New Year's Family Tradition Takes a Beautiful Turn

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  Since we started our family, it has been a New Year's tradition for my husband, Anatolin , to give a priesthood blessing to me and each of our children. As we prepare to welcome the new year and seek the Lord's guidance for the months ahead, these blessings have become a cherished part of our family gospel culture – a way to invite the Spirit into our home, express love for one another, and set our hearts on things of eternal worth.   We gather in our living room and Anatolin would begin by opening his mouth in prayer, then place his hands upon our heads as he pronounced blessings tailored to each of our individual needs and circumstances – whether it was for a child preparing to serve a mission, for me navigating a new career chapter, or simply for strength to face whatever challenges lay ahead. For years, he has been our steady anchor for our family in this covenant path.    This year was especially meaningful because our oldest son, Ammon Jarom, who...
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A Time of Renewal and Hope

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Why Family Insurance Matters: Securing Your Loved Ones’ Health and Future

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Children and Sundays

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Keeping our children in church was not always easy, but it was worth the effort! We have been doing it for years before this pandemic. From their very first Sunday for their naming and blessing to the ordaining of our youngest son as a deacon.  We went to church with all the bags packed, clothes buttoned up, shoes slipped on and all. As I observe, having one baby in church can be difficult for some. Fathers and mothers taking turns in taking out a crying or yelling child.  Having a baby, a toddler, a preschooler, and a first grader in church felt like a marathon and was exhausting. Stopping a baby from crawling out of the aisle, while another child needs reminder to sit still. It was noisy, messy, distracting, and so on. Whew!  Well, yes. I even can't imagine now how we managed to do them for about 16 years!Thanks to my diligent husband. For years before Sundays, he would usually see to it that everything was prepared. He gets the clothes mend...
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Safe Boundaries + Strategic Prevention: Parenting the Latter-day Saint Way

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As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , we’ve always found strength in the Lord’s teachings about families —He calls parents to be “ nurturers of their children” (Doctrine and Covenants 68:25), and that sacred role means more than just providing for physical needs. It means guiding them with love, wisdom, and intentionality. In this blog, we want to share two principles that have transformed how we approach parenting in our own home.   SHOW LOVE BY SETTING SAFE BOUNDARIES   For years, we worried that setting rules would make our children feel restricted or unloved. But as we studied and strive to live the gospel, we learned that discipline is not punishment—it’s an act of love. Just as our Heavenly Father sets commandments to protect us and help us grow, we set boundaries to keep our children safe in a world that can feel uncertain.   When children know they are cared for by parents who are self-controlled, prayerful, and g...
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A Happy Family Is But An Earlier Heaven

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In the busy world we live in, families are like a safe haven of love and support. The saying, "A happy family is but an earlier heaven," captures the idea that a joyful family life is a precious gift that brings immense happiness and peace.   The Key to Happiness   A happy family is built on love, trust, and respect. It's a place where people feel loved, encouraged, and like they belong. Strong family bonds provide strength, comfort, and unwavering support during life's challenges. Moments of Joy and Togetherness   In a happy family, moments spent together are treasured. Whether it's sharing a meal, laughing together, or going on adventures, these experiences create lasting memories and strengthen family ties.   Talking and Understanding   Good communication and understanding are essential in a happy family. Open conversations, listening to each other, and showing empathy help build healthy relationships based on respect and care.   Strength and...
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Fathers and Mothers, Daughters and Sons

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Families are essential in Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness. We are part of a heavenly family and an earthly one. President Gordon B. Hinckley taught:  “God is the designer of the family. He intended that the greatest of happiness, the most satisfying aspects of life, the deepest joys should come in our associations together and our concerns one for another as fathers and mothers and children” Temple and family history work unites families. Husbands and wives, parents and children can be sealed through sacred temple ordinances. The goal of this process is that “the whole chain of God’s family shall be welded together into one chain, and they shall all become the family of God and His Christ” (Joseph F. Smith, Millennial Star, Oct. 4, 1906, 629). Personal and family history work have been been a source of joy and peace in our family. We have personally felt the spiritual blessings of taking the names of our ancestors to the temple and performing proxy baptisms and sealings regular...
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Finding Joy in the Little Things

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Ever get an email that feels like it was written exactly for you? That’s how I feel every single time Gemma Stone pops up in my inbox! This week’s message hit different – with three simple but powerful reminders that I knew I couldn’t just read and forget:   - Delight in the tiny moments of pleasure ​ - Find all the reasons to celebrate ​ - Choose joy for no reason at all   So I decided to turn these beautiful ideas from screen to real life – and I’m sharing exactly how I did it, including a ready-to-use phone reminder setup you can copy-paste right away! Here it is:   - Delight in tiny moments of pleasure : Pause for 10 seconds at least 3 times a day to fully notice something enjoyable – the warmth of your morning hot choco, the sound of birds outside, or someone's genuine smile. - Find all reasons to celebrate : At the end of each day, jot down one thing you’re grateful for that feels worth acknowledging – even small wins like finishing a task or tryin...
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Children and Youth Program Initiative

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Part of our Family Home Evening last 25 February 2020 was watching the Face to Face event for children, youth, parents, and leaders, where President and Sister Oaks answered questions from around the world focusing on the Children and Youth program which is to strengthen the rising generation’s faith in Jesus Christ, and help children, youth, and their families progress along the covenant path as they meet life’s challenges. Our children then made a resolution to follow the process more intentionally: discover, plan, act, and reflect. They have also set personal goals that challenge and stretch them and continue to discover new talents, interests, and skills. This morning, when my husband and I woke up, we were surprised to see the house already sparkling clean. They worked together to do the house chores after their personal prayer and scripture study. The opportunity to counsel with our children to discover the areas of growth and learning they are interested in is a blessing to us. ...
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