Our Family History

In Our Family This Week... Just your pretty normal and average week for us!  I got my Visiting Teaching done, attended Enrichment, Mutual for the boys and I on Wednesday. John worked as "Captain Vogt" for Thursday, Friday and Saturday and he put in some l-o-n-g hours doing so!  While he was gone, I decided to do some organizing in some of the "problem" areas of the house.  I tackled the Laundry, the Pantry (both the Food side and the Homeschool Side), our master closet and Ben & Nathan's room.... I had read on an organizing blog about using boxes and covering them with discount fabric and so that's what I did and I LOVE the results!

The Homeschool Side of the Pantry... now I need to realign all of my labels from the last time I "organized"!

 We started a puzzle at FHE on Monday and finished it up doing school on Tuesday.  It was almost 2 feet in diameter and was a unique circular shape...

 It was also time to say goodbye to a family member that we've had for over a decade... THE VAN! It really was an awesome vehicle and as it got hauled off by the recyclers I had some sadness for it. I am so grateful for its use for all of these years!!  Looking at the pictures, it looks like it was great shape - and yes, physically it was still in great condition, however, mechanically it had sooooooooo many problems and would cost thousands to fix.  After praying about it (last November) we knew that its time had come to an end...

 And finally, I thought it'd be a great week to file our taxes!  It always stresses me out but then I'm glad when it's over!  The good news: we'll be getting back a refund - YAY!!!  The bad news: we won't receive it until late March - Boo!  Oh well, it's another thing that I got to mark off of the "To Do" list.
And then finally... look at this handsome boy that I got to take to church with me today!  He looked absolutely adorable and I could hardly stand it!  However, by the time we actually made it to church, his hair had been smashed down and the jacket and tie got tossed - LOL! 

In Our Homeschool This Week... Well, sadly I somehow didn't take any pictures of our schooling this week!  What!?  This week I will do better! It was our first week implementing our "Morning Board" and that was pretty fun!  I think it'll be something good for us.  We also started in on our Spanish Course all together. For part of P.E. we're all taking an aerobics class at the church on Tues/Thur mornings.  It is taught by my Beehive Advisor (who is also a personal Trainer).  Boy was I sore this week! The older boys had a history paper due this week and they are both making a poster of the Periodic Table for Chemistry. Ben was smoking on his math this week!  He also wrote a play and has been doing some great imagination play with the little ones.  The little ones won't let a day go by where Alpha Duck doesn't come by for a visit so we've still been having fun with her visits and the games she plays.

Spiritually Speaking... With the new Youth Curriculum that we have implemented at church, we are to give weekly challenges to the youth so that they apply what they learn on  Sundays throughout the week.  Today, after discussing Jesus Christ and all that he as done for us, we were challenged by Sister Hymas to write down our testimony of Christ this week. I thought it inserting it here for my family and posterity to read would be a good idea :)

My Testimony of Jesus Christ

by:

Shandy Vogt

I want to take this opportunity to write down a few of my thoughts on the Savior and what I feel in heart to be true. Throughout my life, I have had many experiences where the Holy Ghost testified of what I was learning or reading (concerning Christ) to be correct and true. It is because of the Holy Ghost that I have a testimony of Jesus. I know that he was born under Divine circumstances and is the son of God. I know that he spent his life on earth preaching the gospel, performing miracles and being a perfect example to all. He wanted us all to make it back to Heaven together and so went through the pain at Gethsemane and atoned for the sins of all mankind - a matchless gift to all the world! He was crucified and the rose from the grave, making it possible for us all to be resurrected and gain Eternal Life. I know that he knows me personally and is aware of ALL things that I am going through - both good and bad. I know he wants me to me draw closer to him in all aspects of my life. I know that he only has my best interests at heart and is there to help me whenever I come unto him. I know that many of the sacred hymns that we sing each Sunday bare testimony of him and help us feel of his love. I'm so grateful for all that he has given to me personally and want to be more dedicated in this life to learning about him and his life so that I can be more like him. Finally, I want to add my testimony to the familiar hymn - I Stand All Amazed and say that I, too, am so amazed at the love he shows me, the gifts he bestowed upon me and the promises made possible through him!  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.