Being a parent

When I was a little girl, I used to dream of what my family would be like when it was my turn to be a Mother. I wanted a large family so I had twelve names picked out, six girls and six boys. I was a big dreamer. Of course I would have a handsome dreamy husband to go along with those twelve children.
Well I have the handsome dreamy husband, but after my fifth baby I decided that was the perfect number. My logic was that jeans were so expensive and I had four boys, and with one girl trying to keep up with all the pretty polka dotted this and that I better just stop while I was ahead.
So jump many years later I have a ton of great experiences with my Dreamy man and five children, and four grandchildren. Life has been busy, hard, lots of laughter,tears and so many well earned memories.
Family is so important I can't imagine my life without them in it. Each family unit is different; as it should be. But I believe that our Father in Heaven sent us to this beautiful place to thrive in a family unit. We learn so much about lifes mysteries as we learn to take care of each other

Boy and Girl, Man and Women, Husband and Wife, Father and Mother. We start out so Innocent as a boy or a girl with dreams of becoming and adult, what will we do? who will we Marry, will we have a family? if so how big will it. Is there a rule book on how to raise our little bundles of joy. Not all families are raised with a believe in God, thankfully I was. I will ever be grateful to my parents for introducing me to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I have chosen to live my life as a Member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latteday Saints, or as some people say a Mormon. I do believe there is a book of instruction called the Scriptures and modern day revelation revealed by Prophets and Apostles. In 1995 Gordon B. Hinckley introduced what is called The Family a Proclamation To The World. It starts out as follows.

WE, THE FIRST PRESIDENCY and the Council of the Twelve
Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a
woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to
the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.

That first paragraph defines the purpose for families, he really does have a plan for us. The Family unit is designed to full fill his will for us.

Here is the link for the entire Document, it is divinely written and every Man Women and Child will benefit from learning the Purpose of Families.

http://lds.org/family/proclamation?lang=eng

I would like to share one more portion:

HUSBAND AND WIFE have a solemn responsibility to love
and care for each other and for their children. “Children
are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a
sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness,
to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to
teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments
of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever
they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—
will be held accountable before God for the discharge of
these obligations.
THE FAMILY is ordained of God. Marriage between man and
woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled
to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by
a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete
fidelity.

Having a Family is big responsibility, but having a Family and choosing to allow Heavenly Father to Guide you in your Duty as Parents will make the journey priceless. It does not mean it will be easy, on the contrary it was not meant to be easy. As a Wife and Mother I am so grateful to have current revelation regarding families. It makes my role as Mother clear and drives me to do better. This world we live in is becoming increasingly more difficult and challenging. Moral values are scued and the lines are not defined.
Speaking of the Proclamation Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said, “It was then and is now a clarion call to protect and strengthen families and a stern warning in a world where declining values and misplaced priorities threaten to destroy society by undermining its basic unit”
How true it is that we see the values we hold dear seem to crumble under our feet, The majority seems to becoming the minority. It is so important to stay close to our Faith and follow the counsel of a loving Heavenly Father. The role of Fathers and Mothers is made clear, the responsibilities of each parent and the value each one adds to the Family.
I have loved my children with everything I am, my responsibility as their Mother is an ever binding contract I made with my Heavenly Father. I will love them, set a good example for them, and just be present. My children are all grown up but I am still their Mother and hold my self accountable for my actions in there behalf. Now it is their turn to be parents and I have the best job now. I am BEE (Grandma) and that is the best title ever.

Before I end I want to share one more thought by Gordon B Hinckley 15th President of the Church, He counseled: "Never forget that these little ones are the sons and daughters of God and that yours is a custodial relationship to them, that He was a parent before you were parents and that He has not relinquished His parental rights or interest in these His little ones. Now, love them, take care of them. Fathers, control your tempers, now and in all the years to come. Mothers, control your voices; keep them down. Rear your children in love, in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Welcome them into our homes, and nurture and love them with all your hearts"
It does not get any clearer than that.