Cute Kids/Men Need Women

 One Day Michael and I were discussing how much longer he could watch TV.  I was saying things like 3 more minutes and he was trying to negotiate with me.  He would put up 4 fingers then 5 then realizing that was not long enough he lifted all ten fingers.  Then he came over put his 10 fingers next to his 10 toes and said, "This many."  What a smart little kid.

Samantha LOVES Harry Potter.  We are getting ready to celebrate her birthday and she really wants a Harry Potter party and is working hard to see it be done.  In school she had to make a country and of course she chose Harry Potter.  Here is her map of Hogwarts, the Black Lake, Hogsmed etc.  I thought she did a really good job.

Counsel to the Saints

Ezra Taft Benson, April 1984 General Conference

"There is no inequality between the sexes in God’s plan. It is a matter of division of responsibility."

I have frequently struggled with the role of women in the Church.  I think it stems from the influence of the world that looks down upon motherhood and craves leadership.  The Lord has been kind to me and helped me learn line upon line about my role and His love for me.  One day I had the realization that the Lord loved me just as much as He loved my husband and to Him, it was not a competition.  This knowledge has allowed my heart to look past many things that would frustrate me and see things in a new light.

One thought I have had lately is that men need women and women need men.  The world would have us women think that "we don't need a man!" It tells us that we are strong enough, we are independent and can do anything they can do.  It has been my observance over the past few months that we women have a greater influence upon men than we realize, especially our spouse and that influence is essential in their lives.  It is my belief that men need to know they are loved, they need that strength and guidance to be better.

I look at the times when my husband is weak and vulnerable and how he needs my strength, how he leans on me.  I think of the times when he needs council and advice and seeks the counsel from me.  I love listening to the General Authorities talk about their wives and I can see how their wives have helped make them into the men that they are.  And just as I do all that for my husband he does the same for me.  He supports me, he knows me, he loves me and that love gives me the strength I need to keep going even when I feel that I can't.

The world would have us believe that men don't need women that women don't need men; this concept is from Satan and he is entwining it throughout the hearts of many women.  But men need to feel loved.  When a righteous woman stands side by side with a righteous man he feels empowered, he has more motivation, he desires to be better for her.

We women sell ourselves short if we believe that men don't need us.  The influence of a mother and wife reach beyond what we can see.  We give the man a reason for living, a reason to move forward and keep going.  It is a beautiful co dependence that the Lord has given to His children.  The relationship has shaped the world.  We may not see how is happens but it does.  It would be interesting to look back in history one day when all is known and see how many decisions were influenced by a wife or mother.  I think us women would be amazed at how much influence we really have.