Back to School Feast

Our annual Back to School Feast is one of my very favorite traditions {but maybe I say that about every family tradition…}. There are truly few things I love more than a fresh beginning – and that is what this feast is all about. It kicks of our school year, but much more importantly than that, it is where we “reveal” our new family theme for the year. Words we repeat every single day for the next year. It is where our focus shifts to and I love it.

To be honest, this summer my headspace has not been great. I just have felt like a little hamster spinning and spinning away and not getting any further. I’ve been feeling a lot of overwhelm and a lot of self-doubt about whether or not I could keep doing what we do. In lots of aspects of my life – including homeschooling. I love homeschooling. It has been a tremendous blessing in our family’s life – and a blessing I never anticipated. It still surprises me when I think about it, but it is something I still feel strongly is right for our family.

But going into our Back to School Feast I was feeling drained. I’ve felt stretched really thin and just wasn’t feeling ready. Several weeks ago, Mark and I had talked about the direction we felt we needed to go with our theme this year, but I still felt a little scattered in my thoughts.

Enter the DAY OF our back to school feast and I still hadn’t solidified our theme {I don’t even know who I am anymore! ;)) None of the scriptures I was reading felt right and I just was having a hard time.

Enter Sunday School.

We were reading the Psalms and then we ended up in 3 Nephi. We were in 3 Nephi 12 – when Christ is teaching the beatitudes to the people in the Americas. And at the top of the page I had written “A BLUEPRINT FOR PERFECTION”.

Several weeks ago when Mark and I had talked, I kept going back to this idea of becoming. I have always been really focused on this idea – mostly because of some things written in my patriarchal blessing. A lot of that boils down to that I don’t want to let anyone down when all things are brought back to my remembrance. I don’t want to let my Heavenly Parents down, my Savior, my ancestors and descendants, and I don’t want to let myself down either.

Tied along with that, I feel like a theme I have noticed in my study of General Conference is that of discipleship. I have spent a lot of time the last several months pondering my own discipleship and who I am becoming.

And our kids are getting older. I’ve seen and felt that so much this last year. And I want them to KNOW our Savior. I want them to become the best version of themselves that they can be. I want our family to be the best version of ourselves we can be. And we are not going to become like our Savior without intention. If we do not know Him, we will not become like Him. He has told us to be perfect, even as He is. And that’s going to be a long process for all of us – but it is only possible if we are intentionally seeking a relationship with Him and striving daily to become like Him. If we are not consciously choosing Him every day – we are choosing something else.

And that is one of Satan’s greatest tools for me personally and I think for our family. We are not doing “bad things” but are there better things our there? Could we be using our limited time here on earth – our time of proving – in better ways? For the kids, that may look like doing things that don’t immediately scream fun – but will help mold them spiritually, intellectually, physically, and socially to become more like our Savior. For Mark and I, it may look like setting aside the “to do” lists and being present in the moment to needs of our family and friends – the things of lasting importance.

So this year, we are focusing on Him. We are focusing on our Savior and becoming who we were meant to be. And we know we aren’t going to become that in a year, we know we aren’t going to become that in this life {well, maybe Lydia}, but every day can hopefully bring us one step closer. We want to build each other up, support one another in our goals, and be more intentional in who we are becoming.

Our theme this year is a quote from President Russell M. Nelson about what a disciple looks like today:

“True disciples of Jesus Christ are willing to stand out, speak up, and be different from the people of the world. They are undaunted, devoted, and courageous.”

I am excited. The kids were excited. It’s a good time to be good!

After our talk with the kids, we had our Back to School Feast and then Mark was able to give each of us a blessing as we begin this new school year. This is always my favorite part and I love how individual each blessing is. This was also Lydia’s first time getting a Back to School blessing and it was oh so sweet.

Each year brings so much JOY and GROWTH. I can’t wait to see what this year brings!

And just because I really love looking back at our old feasts – here are our Back to School Feasts from the past! Also, looking at the kids get smaller and smaller is making me all sorts of teary-eyed. Time moves far too quickly.

2021: “Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God.” Doctrine & Covenants 88:119

2020: “Be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you ,and will stand by you.” Doctrine & Covenants 68:6

2019: “Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.” Luke 18:22

2018: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

2017: “Kindness is the essence of greatness.” – Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin –

2016: “May we ever choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong.” – President Thomas S. Monson –