Do you recognize that handsome little boy?? That's my little Joshua who isn't quite as little any more. I found these two pictures when I was going through some old drafts and I couldn't remember if I ever posted it.
The original post said, "I love giving Joshua baths! He's learned how to blow bubbles in the water, but mostly he just drinks it. Bath time is play time for him, and if I let him, he'd stay in there forever."
Lately, I have had some anxiety concerning the wickedness that is occurring in this country. I look at my sweet, innocent children and wonder how in the world am I supposed to raise them up to be righteous adults when the world we live in is so filthy? I was comforted by the thought that in temples everywhere, Latter Day Saints are praying for the youth in most likely hourly increments. Also, if Mormon was able to raise up Moroni in his day, than I can take courage in that little nugget of knowledge.
The difficulty lies in the fact that I desire to protect my children from all of the evils that exist all around us, and yet I must teach them how to protect themselves. We have been teaching them about choices and how to handle peer pressure. We have been teaching them gospel principles and how to avoid situations in which negative choices may be made. We read scriptures every night, and say our personal and family prayers. We go to church. We pay our tithing. We are doing everything that we are supposed to do, and so I need not fear. That's what I keep telling myself.
We had a FHE the other night about making good choices. On the drive home Joshua told me that one time a friend at church told him a bad joke and he knew he wasn't supposed to laugh but a laugh crept out anyway. He said he tried coughing and rubbing his mouth to get the laugh to go away but it didn't work and he felt bad. I asked him what the joke was and he told me that a boy at church said, "he walked past the temple and it farted". What?! Why is everything with the word "fart" or "poop" in it so funny to little kids??? I smiled (trying to conceal my own laughter) and told him that he did the right thing. He recognized that the joke was inappropriate and tried to not laugh. I told him the reasons why we don't make jokes about the temple or other spiritual things. He seemed to understand. I guess I don't give my kids enough credit. They are good kids. Plus, I have an awesome, truly amazing man by my side who always seems to know the right things to say and at the right time. Jon Mark is the best!!
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