New Blog

I'm not sure if anyone checks this blog anymore, but I've moved over to a new blog that's associated with The Power of Moms.

My new blog is called "The Power of a Family," and you can access it by clicking here.

Thanks for checking in!

Love,
April

A Little Interim Post

I have no idea if anyone is reading this blog (or landing on it from a friend's blog and then just seeing it is being sadly neglected...), but I wanted to give a brief update as to what is going on with the Perry family right now.

It's Sunday night--almost 11--and the whole family is sound asleep, leaving me to think about my goals, read friends' blogs, and evaluate what I'm doing with my life. Here's what's going on:

#1: I'm seriously enjoying my family. My children are "children," and life is busy and messy, and someone gets sent to their room to "calm down" at least twice a day, but I don't think I've ever adored my husband and children as much as I do right now. The kids and I make posters for school projects, go to the library, bake homemade bread, rewind a lot of Barney for Spencer, clean the house, do laundry, and talk a LOT about all the issues they're facing as they grow up. Eric and I stay up late talking every night about his church calling, all my projects, and what we want the next five years of our life to be like (and we like to snuggle). As a family, we're trying to focus on what really matters: family scripture study at the kitchen table every morning before school, Family Night every Monday night, and "bull" every evening before bed--where Eric growls and pretends he's a bull and chases the children and tickles them until they beg for mercy. And all of this is the closest thing to heaven I can imagine...but it's a whole lot of work.

#2: I'm nurturing the roots for The Power of Moms. This is the part that's hardest for me to even write about because I start getting choked up. When I started the website, I thought it would be a nice little place to write about motherhood and help other moms to enjoy their families. But ever since Saren joined on with me, it's started growing beyond what I ever expected. She has this amazing ability to casually say, "Hey, why don't we do _________?" And I just nod my head and say, "Okay." And then the next thing I know, we're putting on a retreat and starting new programs and getting a huge board all set up, and writing books. And then I end up flying off to a conference and making tons of great new friends, and all of a sudden, Saren and I are running a full-fledged organization. I'm not saying that Saren's making me do anything I don't already want to do, but I never would have had the confidence to try if she weren't walking me through this step by step. Thank you, Saren.

The part that gets me choked up, however, is the power I feel guiding this. I know I have a bunch of stuff to learn, and I know I'm far from perfect when it comes to writing, photography, managing the organization, etc., but I feel the Lord helping us through each step, and I am trusting that He will make up for where I lack. I think about the moms of the world every day, and I wonder how they're doing, and I brainstorm with Saren and Eric about what we can do to make things better for all the dedicated women who are discouraged, depressed, tired, stressed out, lonely, or looking for more purpose in their lives. It's a lot to think about, but fortunately we've got lots of moms helping us out. That's mainly why I'm neglecting this blog...all my writing and time on the computer is going there.

#3: I'm studying the gospel and trying to teach it well. One of the best parts of my day is my personal scripture study. I try to study early in the morning, and my goal each day is to make a connection with the Lord. He knows how much time I have available, and He is always willing to give me the counsel I need within that time frame. I have a whole schedule of things I study, but each day I ask the Lord a specific question about my life, and then I ponder that question as I read His words. I record most of the things I learn, but sometimes there are words that come into my mind that I simply can't record because of their sacred nature, so I just try to think of them over and over again. If any of you haven't tried this process, please do--and then let me know how it goes, if you'd like. Studying the scriptures regularly has been one of the greatest decisions I've ever made because no matter how weak or tired I feel, the Lord is able to convince me that I'm strong.

Over the next few months, I'll be speaking at several conferences and retreats, and it's been a neat experience to see these opportunities open up where I can share all the things I'm learning. I love being able to teach true principles from the scriptures.

Sometimes I get tired of all the work it takes to live my life, but last night Eric and I decided that this has got to be the hardest part (or at least we want to think so). It's mainly because we're laying the foundation for so many things: our family, our businesses, and our lifelong habits.

So that's what's going on with me. I have no idea when I'll post something next, so if you happened upon this blog and want to keep in touch, please visit www.powerofmoms.com, okay?

Have a wonderful day!

Alia Cracks Me Up

To understand the context for this, read the post below....

My Trip to Mom 2.0 Summit

Are you wondering what on earth the Mom 2.0 Summit is? It's okay. I just found out a couple of weeks ago. For the report I typed for The Power of Moms, click here.

Eric was SO supportive of this trip. Ten minutes after I mentioned it, he sent me flight details to consider. And even though I was going to try to stay at a less-expensive hotel and commute in to the conference, the extra fees added up, so I found a roommate through the message boards and stayed in the beautiful Four Seasons.

In fact, I was a little giddy when I put on the robe, slippers, and fluffy towel after my shower, so I snapped a little picture of my giddiness. I wonder if any of the other moms did that....


And, I painted my toenails because there was nobody there to step on them and get them all smudged. I gave my fingernails a polish, too...for the first time in about two years (because someone else was doing all the dishes and cleaning!).

Then I just had to take a picture of the toilet because it had a phone by it and the toilet paper in the hotel had golden seals. I thought that was the funniest thing ever. Whose job is it to put stickers on toilet paper? Maybe my children should start putting stickers on OUR toilet paper.

I met so many wonderful people at the conference, but I felt silly asking everyone if I could take a picture--and then some pictures didn't turn out very well, so this is what I brought home:

Have you heard of "Hints from Heloise?" This is Heloise! Her mother was the "original," but she has carried on the tradition.

This picture below is from the Photo Gallery/Art Night. This idea is WONDERFUL! They took images from the blogs of the speakers, enlarged them, and framed them on the walls. Then they will auction them off this week and give the proceeds to help Haiti.

This theme, "Defining a Movement" is so powerful--the essence of it, from what I understand, is that mothers' voices are finally matching their actual influence. I love it.

It was hard to be away from my children, and I missed them terribly, but this cute email from Alia made me smile.

Here is a picture of me with my friend Sheri (from Cafe Mom) and my roommate Joy Nudd--a professional photogropher/new lifestyle blogger. They were so fun to get to know.

Overall, it was a wonderful trip! And I even got to have dinner with my high school friend Adriane and her daughter Alex before they so kindly took me to the airport.

Hooray for Mom 2.0 Summit! If anyone wants to go next year, it's in April in New Orleans. Very fun.

A Few Fun Places

The girls and I were looking through our family photos today, and I thought it might be fun to post a few pictures from some fun places we've visited lately.

First, the Getty Museum in Los Angeles is WONDERFUL! Admission is free, and the children loved it! They have an interactive Family Room that is made just for kids. In this picture, Ethan is using dry erase markers to add his own artwork to this ancient "book."



The gardens outside are beautiful, too! The children rolled on the grass, admired the fountains, and had a great time exploring. They do have a few water features with surfaces equal to that of the sidewalk (not sure why they did that right outside the Family Room), so within 20 minutes, Spencer was up to his ankles, but it was still fun!



Another place we love is the Fullerton Arboretum. Eric taught the children to climb trees, and we spent the whole day exploring the vegetation, throwing leaves in the stream, and watching all the ducks and birds...so peaceful!

Of course, there's one other fun place I have to mention. It's no surprise I love Disneyland, and I feel so grateful to have passes.

We enjoyed being there for the Christmas festivities,

but I also want to make the day there a little more meaninful for our children. So...

we made a bunch of thank you cards and personalized them once we got to the park. We gave them to the ticket takers, the bag checkers, the ride operators, etc. They were all so happy to have someone think of them. I'm trying to teach my children that all the fun they get to have comes because someone is working to make that possible.

Sometimes it seems like life is just a whole lot of work, so it's fun to get away and have a little fun now and then. I'm so happy for these precious children and the fun that they bring to our family!

Motherhood Track at BYU Idaho!

All right, Moms out there! The Motherhood Track for BYU Idaho's Education Week has been officially approved, and I hope to see you there!

Registration won't begin until March 2nd, but that means you have some time to figure out if you'll be able to get to Rexburg, Idaho by July 29-31. Please say yes! Please say yes!

The reason I am so excited is because this is the very first conference (in a long, long while...at least that I know of) that focuses on motherhood AND the gospel. There are lots of "general" women's gatherings, (which are great!), but this is an opportunity for mothers to gather together, participate in meaningful classes, and focus on their spirits at the same time. It will be wonderful!

I'll post more details as I get them, but here are a few that I do know:

-The way a Motherhood Track works is similar to how the Youth Track works. Motherhood classes are arranged throughout the entire day, in addition to all the other conference classes, so there is always a class geared specifically for you, if you'd like to attend. Then in the evening, all the mothers will get together for an extra activity where they can talk, relax, and have a good time.

-For more information, and to register at the appropriate time, visit this link.

-Three definite speakers include Allyson Reynolds, Saren Eyre Loosli, and myself (all board members at www.powerofmoms.com--check out the website to find out more about us, if you'd like). You can also look at our fledgling Power of Moms blog at www.powerofmoms.blogspot.com.

-One series that Saren and I will be co-teaching is called "Taking Care of the Person Inside the Mom." Here are the details, if you're interested.

There is a mountain of great advice available to mothers, but most of it centers on the children. This series is designed to focus on the woman behind the title "Mom." In our efforts to establish great family traditions, help our children excel in school, and taxi our family members around our communities, it's easy to forget that you can't draw water from an empty well. Fortunately, the Lord has prepared wise counsel for His daughters through the scriptures and the words of His prophets to remind us that we can feast on the scriptures, we can care for our physical bodies, and we can pursue our specific purposes here on the earth.

Lecture One: Spiritual Care: How to Feast on the Scriptures When You Barely Have Time for a Shower

Mothers' lives are incredibly demanding, yet we all know that we need to spend quality time in the scriptures each day. When errands, meal preparation, housework, and tantrums crowd our spare time, it's easy to feel guilty that we can't "do it all." This class will help mothers take a step back and find specific ways to bring scripture study into their lives...no matter how hectic the day. We will look at how the scriptures speak specifically to mothers, how the Lord will magnify our study as we put Him first, and how we can bring His power into our lives by turning our hearts to His words.

Lecture Two: Physical Care: Exercise, Nutrition, and Rest Can be More Than Wishful Thinking

Out of shape. Frumpy. Worn out. Stressed out. It's not the way you want to describe yourself, but realistically, this is how many mothers feel. Clearly, this time of our lives is going to require some sacrifices of our personal comfort, but mothers' lives can be dramatically improved as we make the time to care for our physical bodies. This class will review how our bodies are temples, how the Lord wants us to run and not be weary, and how, through Him, we can have rest. In addition, we will provide some practical ways to manage our homes and families so that we can realistically care for ourselves without sacrificing the needs of our families.

Lecture Three: Mental Care: Pursuing Your Talents and Purpose Without Short-Changing Your Family

Each mother has been given specific gifts, talents and interests that can be used to bless others (both in her family and beyond), but when we're focusing our attention on our homes and families, it's easy to wonder if our own dreams matter. This class will show you how to examine the righteous desires of your heart and find ways to manage your time and tasks so that you can pursue goals according to the Lord's plan for you. You'll find fulfillment as you use your talents to pursue the variety of purposes that are divinely yours.

So that's all for now, but PLEASE spread the word! I would love to have this conference full of mothers who can contribute to the classes, enjoy this time to get away, and have a fabulous time becoming the women they're meant to be.

Pain, Suffering...Offering

The pain was almost more than I could handle. I rested on my bed one afternoon, about a week after I'd had a major surgery, and all I could think was, "I'm in pain. I don't feel well. I am so sick." The pain medication I had received made me nauseated, the antibiotics made me dizzy, and every waking moment felt like absolute torture.

I could hear my children downstairs, laughing and playing with our friends from church (who lovingly took over all of my motherhood responsibilities for several weeks), and I wondered how I would endure all this suffering. I wanted to be the one helping my children with their homework, making dinner, and reading stories, yet there I was on my bed--completely "useless," from my perspective.

Desperate for companionship during the pain, I called my mother on the phone and asked her my most pressing question: "Mom, what do you do when you are in so much pain that you can not read or think or listen to music or watch television or ANYTHING?" I didn't think she would have an answer to that, but she did, and it has strengthened me every day since.

"April," she said, "you turn your thoughts to the Savior. You pray to Him. You speak to Him. You praise Him. You make your pain an offering to Him. Every time you take a challenging situation and turn it into a spiritual one, that is your offering."

As my mother said those words, something started to awaken within me, and I asked her to tell me more. She then shared an experience from a skiing accident she'd had in college where she had broken her leg and suffered more than at any other point in her life. As she laid in her hospital bed, absolutely writhing with pain, she thought, "If there had been a way for me to take some of the pain away from the Savior during the atonement, would I have been willing to suffer THIS much for Him?" Yes, of course she would.

I held on to that thought for the next several weeks as I worked toward a full recovery. Whenever the pain got to be too great, I would ask, "Would I have been willing to suffer this much if it would have lessened His suffering?" The answer was always yes, and somehow that helped me endure it well because I wasn't thinking about myself anymore. I was thinking about the Savior's love for us and how He took upon Himself all our pains and sicknesses and sins.

In Alma 7:12, it says, "...And he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities."

Turning pain and suffering into an offering for Christ is not just for those with physical pain. It is for those who are emotionally, mentally, and spiritually suffering as well (doesn't that describe all of us?). As we take each of our struggles and turn them into spiritual experiences, we are partnering with the Lord, and we will feel His love and peace.

The words of Luke 5:31 also strengthened me during that time of intense pain: "They that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick." I really, really needed a physician to help me through the health challenges I had. There was no way for me to cure myself--just as there is no way to repent of my sins and return to God without Jesus Christ. When we are sick (physically or otherwise), it is to remind us how much we need the Physician.

None of our sufferings are without purpose. The Lord will give us personal tutoring through our trials to help us increase our faith. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the quorum of the twelve apostles gave a beautiful talk called Lessons from Liberty Jail. Here are some thoughts of his that greatly impressed me:

"You can have sacred, revelatory, profoundly instructive experience with the Lord in the most miserable experiences of your life -- in the words settings, while enduring the most painful injustices, when facing the most insurmountable odds and opposition you have ever faced."

"...every experience can become a redemptive experience if we remain bonded to our Father in Heaven through that difficulty. These difficult lessons teach us that man’s extremity is God’s opportunity, and if we will be humble and faithful, if we will be believing and not curse God for our problems, He can turn the unfair and inhumane and debilitating prisons of our lives into temples—or at least into a circumstance that can bring comfort and revelation, divine companionship and peace."

None of us want to be in pain. We don't want to suffer. However, when we DO go through challenges (which, of course, we will), it is essential that we partner with our Lord and Savior. He will make us stronger, and He will help us to see that our struggles have a purpose...to create an opportunity in which we can make an offering to Him, turn our hearts to Him, and increase our faith.