"Little Women" Family: Staying Far Away from the Cliff

Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Staying Far Away from the Cliff

I'm sure you have all heard this story:
"A man was interviewing new drivers for his transportation company. The route was very dangerous and went along several steep cliffs through a mountain pass. The interviewer asked each man how close he could safely drive near the edge of the cliff. The first man responded, “I could drive within six inches of the edge.” The second man responded, “I could drive within two inches of the edge.” The third man responded, “I would stay as far away from the edge of the cliff as I possibly could.”"

I have been thinking a lot lately about all the seemingly small suggestions/commandments in my church: don't drink caffeine, don't watch "R" rated movies, don't swear, etc. Doing these things will not keep you out of heaven, so what is the big deal? Right?

I feel very strongly that when we strive to follow even these small suggestions, we will be blessed in ways that we can't even comprehend. I would like to share one example.

When I was growing up, my family never drank caffeine, never watched "R" rated movies, etc. I had many opportunities to talk to my friends and my friends' parents about my church, as I shared the reasons I wouldn't drink caffeine. When I was a teenager, I would say I was a pretty good kid. However, for some reason, I still felt the need to rebel. My rebellion consisted of drinking caffeine, watching "R" rated movies, and saying many swear word substitutes, like "heck" and "crap." This lasted from about age 16-19 and that was about it.

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about how much worse my rebellion could potentially have been if my family had always dranken caffeine or watched "R" rated movies. Would I have felt the need to take one step closer to the edge, to feel like I was living on the wild-side? I think I probably would have. I would've been used to that and so one more step wouldn't have seemed that much worse.

In my home now, we also choose to follow these counsels of the Prophet. And though I know there are many other reasons to follow this counsel and other blessings if we do, if this keeps my girls farther from the edge of the cliff, it will be all worth it! Just this one blessing would be worth it to me.

2 comments:

Ali said...: Thanks for sharing. I really relate to your story and I think you've nailed it on the head! It's all worth it in the end.; 4/7/09, 9:29 PM
Elizabeth C said...: Good for you Ang! I think that will really pay off with your girls. I admire your determination.; 4/8/09, 1:50 AM

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My Favorite Part of The Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 17:21-24

"21 And when (Jesus) had said these words, he wept, and the multitude bare record of it, and he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them.

22 And when he had done this he wept again;

23 And he spake unto the multitude, and said unto them: Behold your little ones.

24 And as they looked to behold they cast their eyes towards heaven, and they saw the heavens open, and they saw angels descending out of heaven as it were in the midst of fire; and they came down and encircled those little ones about, and they were encircled about with fire; and the angels did minister unto them."

http://scriptures.lds.org/en/3_ne/17

To learn more about The Book of Mormon or to get a free copy: http://www.mormon.org/book-of-mormon/

Our homeschool program!!

My style of homeschooling is "public school at home." We began homeschooling on our own, the 1st year. Then we were enrolled in the Washington Virtual Academy (WAVA) for 3 years. Now we are enrolled in ORLA. Our girls are taking several classes at an Elementary School that is no longer used for a typical Elementary School. Instead 450 homeschooling students (K-12) take classes there with certified teachers (you choose which ones and how many) but you do have to be at the school with them until they are 12 (in another room with toys for the younger kids) or sign them out to a friend. Then you fill in the rest at home. For example, my girls take Music, Art, P.E., and Science at the school 2 days a week and then I teach them Math, Language, and History at home, on the other 3 days. The school also pays for an additional $300 a year of curriculum (like the Math, Lang, Hist.) We do have to keep up with a certain number of hours per week. We also have a "home room teacher" that helps us with everything, like deciding what extra things to do at home and making sure we don't miss anything. We are really enjoying this program-- it truly is the best of both worlds! If you have any questions, email me. :)