September 7th - 13th

In Our Family This Week...
*August applied for a job with the airport the other week. He made it through the first (online/resume) screening with USAJOBS.com and was invited to take their computer based test. He went to the MSU Testing Center on Thursday for the test. He received notification that he passed the test and was given a contingent offer (basically they are now doing a background check on him and then he will go in for a final interview).
* We hosted a big Family Home Evening - we had both sets of Missionaries, and then 3 additional families from the ward. The Missionaries gave the lesson and then we played outside and had dessert (and made a fire to make S'mores!). I think everyone enjoyed themselves.
* Mom went to Stanley for the Stake Womens Conference on Saturday. She was uplifted as she attended workshops and visited with friends.
* Dad had a special meeting with all of the YM Quorum Presidencies to go over Duty to God and he felt it as a positive thing.
* Mom had her first weigh in with the Health Challenge and lost 3 pounds. She has been getting up each morning to workout. Sometimes it's a workout video while other times it's a brisk morning walk. Here are some beautiful sunrise photos from one of the walks...

In Our Homeschool This Week...
* We have officially started back to school! Yay!!
* Mom spent time with each of the kids and we made a 6 month compass (or goals). They included both academic and personal goals. For instance - Nathan, in addition to wanting to improve on his drawing and learn to tell time, he wants to learn how to whistle. And Ben wants to learn to tie a tie, learn 1 new vocabulary word a day and improve on his cooking skills.
* Spent hours at the library filling our basket with all sorts of awesome books for us to learn from! Lexi checked out several on Sea Life (she is still wanting to be a Marine Biologist) and spent lots of time reading books on sea horses, sharks, jellyfish and all sorts of other sea creatures! Aubrie (still fascinated with Dinosaurs) has read all sorts of different Dinosaur books! Nathan gravitated to the books all about weather and earth science - so we have ones about earthquakes, tornadoes and volcanoes.
* Ben is still hooked on writing and spends hours a day. He has now revisited one of his earlier writings to make it "better"
* Seth starts up his BYUI classes tomorrow and so this past week I assigned him a book to read that we could discuss together - "A Thomas Jefferson Education for Teens"

Spiritually Speaking...
We all received Father's Blessings from dad this week! It was such a beautiful, reverent and spiritual experience. I loved seeing each child take their turn to receive loving and direct guidance from our Heavenly Father. I was so full of love towards dad, too - seeing him worthily and righteously be the mouth piece for the Lord is the best thing ever! I'm so grateful that Heavenly Father has not left us alone here on earth but willingly guides and directs us when we seek Him out! So far I have transposed Seth and Ben's blessing (from the recording) and have included them below:

Father's Blessing given to Seth at the start of the 2015-2016 school year

Owen Seth Vogt, by the power and authority of the Melchezidek Priesthood, which I hold, I lay my hands upon your head to give you a father's blessing at this time.This is a critical time in your life - as you prepare to serve a mission, that you will prepare yourself mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. It is important this year that you continue to live righteously. Know that Satan will tempt to lead you astray. As you serve within the ward and in your calling, as you attend Seminary and read your scriptures and pray oft, Father in Heaven will give you the tools you need that are necessary to resist the temptations that the adversary puts in your way and you will have the ability to be strong - not only for yourself, but for others.

Know that there is great work for you to accomplish on this earth - especially on your mission - and these are things the adversary would not want you to accomplish. There will be lives that will be affected by you, and you only. There are those that are searching for the gospel, and you will be able to find them. In this coming year, pay particular attention to Preach My Gospel - immerse yourself in it and spend time in it each day - reading it and living it.

Father in Heaven has blessed you greatly with an open mind and sharp intellect. You'll be blessed that even though your load might seem heavy at times, that you will not falter and you will have the stamina that you need to accomplish your earthly tasks and your spiritual tasks.

You've been blessed with an even disposition and the ability to diffuse situations that can become tense. Your Father in Heaven loves you so much and is so proud of you. He has blessed you with the ability to recognize those items that others need and for ways that you can help them and also to recognize issues you yourself have and the ability to correct them.

Cling to the gospel. Cling to the Lord. You will be blessed beyond measure, as will others. You will be led and guided in the right direction. These blessings I leave with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Father's Blessing given to Ben at the start of the 2015-2016 school year

Benjamin Noah Vogt, by the power of the holy Melchezidek Priesthood which I hold, and by its authority, I lay my hands upon your head and give to you at this time a blessing, even a fathers blessing that will help you through this coming school year. Benjamin, Father in Heaven would want you to know of the seriousness of education and learning and that the efforts that you put in this year, and for the coming years, will greatly affect your future life and the skills and abilities that you will need to acquire in order to fulfill your life's duties and life's callings. Know that is has been inspired for you to be home taught/ home schooled. Father in Heaven knew there'd be certain ways for you to respond to learning and this is the proper environment for you.

I bless you with the ability to focus and to maintain your attention and to keep it directed in the proper way. That you can learn and that you can catch up to where you need to be and that you will have good retention on those things that mom teaches you. Father in Heaven is pleased with your desire to write and to express yourself in the written form. This is a talent that He has given to you. It is one that you should develop and cultivate. Use it for a force for good - for entertainment for yourself and others - and as a means to uplift those around you and inspire those who read your stories.

Be diligent in your studies - both temporally and spiritually. Read your scriptures daily. As you concentrate and make it a priority, Heavenly Father will reveal to you within the scriptures guidance and direction for you. You will find answers to many of your questions within the pages of the scriptures and you will be able to keep yourself pointed in the right direction.

Father in Heaven would bless you that you would be able to recognize times when your OCD is present and you're struggling - that you can recognize it and that you can gain mastery over it. You've been given certain obstacles and challenges for you to overcome, and as you do those things (recognize it, seek help in the scriptures, pray) you will be become stronger and a better person and you'll be able to help others who have such issues and you'll have sympathy towards them.

Be kind and loving towards the members of your Deacon's Quorum and be inclusive of them. Help them to feel welcomed and help them to feel loved. Your Father in Heaven loves you very much, as does your family.  These blessings I leave with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.