Honesty Always the Right Choice?

Judging people can take many forms. Some see others lives as so much easier than their own; other's struggles and difficulties in life as not as hard to deal with than the struggles they have had to endure. Maybe they are right and maybe they are wrong; you never know just by looking at the outward appearance of people how hard or easy their lives are or have been. It's comforting to know that God knows what each of us needed to experience on this journey to earth to help each of us individually to progress. Isn't that what being a child of God is all about? That we are his literal sons and daughters, he knows each of us as individual children of His and he knows what is best for each of us? I like to think Heavenly Father thought long and hard about what life situation I would experience to best help me in my eternal progression before he sent me to earth. I know if I could pick that for my children I would.

I had a little crying breakdown at church today...tired from my brothers engagement party in Napa yesterday in 100+ degree weather with kidneys that don't do well when I let myself get dehydrated, grumpy husband in Sacrament meeting, I didn't eat breakfast because I woke up too late so I had a headache and then the contention in the Sunday school class I was in just put me over the edge. Throw in a little sypathetic concern from a sister at church and you have the makings of a crying jag...crying too much when you already have a headache is not a good idea.

Is honesty always the best policy? How about when you really need a job, you need to feed your children...Is it ok to lie/exaggerate on your resume to ensure that you get the job, so your children will eat? Usually at church the right answer is pretty obvious...it wasn't so obvious today. I think I just might not be strong enough to not exaggerate/outright lie if I thought my children were going to go hungry but the small part of my brain that is logical says of course you would tell the truth, be honest, keep the commandments. The gospel is so easy to talk about but a lot harder to put into action. This is what started the contention in Sunday school today. If you have never lived a situation this hard do you really know if you would be honest or not? How do you know how hard my life has been?!....(Both of the people in Sunday school being contentious I actually admire most of the time..they often honestly share lessons learned from past mistakes and I have felt the spirit as they sincerely bear their testimonies).

I think more and more we are going to be in situations that test us to the core and I know for me I need to get to the point that I have faith that doing what God has asked me to do will always be the choice I make.

Ether 12:27
And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

Damian and Danielle's Engagement Party

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Sara and Jill Pool Party

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I had so much fun today swimming with both Sara and Jill and their kids! Jill has a tiny little three month old baby girl, that I was able to hold while Jill swam with her other kids. Oh, how I want one! My baby David,(he'll be four in Aug), was at his Grammy's and missed out on all the fun.
David was so funny this morning when we were snuggying in bed together after Daddy had already gotten up, and Rachel had gotten in Daddy's spot. He told me, "I wished on a dandelion for "buggy beds." I said, "What are buggy beds?" and Rachel piped in and told me that buggy beds were bunk beds. Rachel and David want me to buy them bunk beds so they can sleep in the same room together! They both were trying to talk me into it for about 10 minutes after the start of this conversation. I told them no but thought it was cute that's what they wanted. Of course when my other kids had to share rooms all I ever heard was "If only I had my own room."

Meeting Baby Thomas Dec 12, 2008

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We Love You Daddy!!!

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Fathers Day Party 2009

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Visiting Teachers Pool Party

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Thanks Kim and Andrea for being such great visiting teachers!

Favorites of June 2005

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"It's a Perfect Day"

David came into the bathroom this morning while I was sitting at my vanity, getting ready for church. He had just woken up and sleepily said, "It's a perfect day". I didn't really understand why he would say that so I asked him, "What's so perfect about it?" and he answered in a voice that was like, isn't it obvious? "It's morning!". Sheldon was in the bathroom too and we just looked at each other and laughed.

It's rather humbling to have my three year old have to be an example to me... I wasn't really feeling like getting myself and everyone else ready for church, I just wanted to go back to sleep. I'm so grateful for my little David that simply showed me that "It's morning and it's a perfect day!"

Brandon's "Special"

(in a whiny voice) Mooom!?!? What about me???
Monday, June 8, 2009 6:21 PM
From: "Brandon Maughan"

Hey Mom,

I was just looking at the blog, and enjoying all of Amanda's baby pictures. Guess she's your favorite.

I'll be waiting to see my "special", with some baby pictures of me too. Don't make me wait too long, either.

Love you. =)

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I was going to wait to post this until your birthday in July, Brandon, but seeing as how some things never change you can have one of your presents a little early:)

Mather Ward Campout 2009

Sheldon took Jared and Julia to the Mather Ward Campout at Camp Nauvoo in Placerville. I stayed home with Rachel and David because we all know I am not a "happy camper". Sheldon made Pineapple up-sidedown cake in the volcano dutch-oven cooker and shared. Jared and Julia said their favorite part of the camp-out was playing on the rafts.

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Brandon's Big Beautiful Smile

When Brandon was little I use to tease him and say, "Don't smile too big Brandon, it's not fair to the little girls!" He would roll his eyes and shake his head at me but he always had such a big beautiful smile, combined with those big brown eyes with thick, long, curly eye-lashes; it was a combination that had to have made even little girls hearts flutter! I truly felt sorry for all the hearts I knew he would break-even if unintentionally. (Don't all Mom's feel this way when they look into their son's faces?)
Cami- Sometimes you hear about Moms that think there is never going to be anyone out there that will be good enough for their sons...Just know that I am so grateful Brandon found you and that smile of his worked it's magic on you!!!

Mrs. Walth's End of School Park Day

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Hi Jean Ann-
We had a really fun day today, thank-you! I took tons of pictures and put them on my blog in a "smilebox". Look at them here.
http://maughan6.blogspot.com
Have a great summer!
Lisa Maughan

okay... so now I am crying and writing this email to you to say
THANK YOU for giving me your kids.... to know, to love, to share this time with!
Have a wonderful summer.... and someday, unexpectedly on a hot summer day I'll call and come over to swim....
Jean Ann

Backyard Camping

Sheldon thought it would be a good idea if we did a trial run for the ward campout coming up next week. We borrowed my Mom's firepit, set up the tent in the backyard and roasted marshmallows. I tried to be a good sport, make a memory and all that but I just could not help but think how much I dislike camping. The only thing that kept me sane in the tent after we finally went to bed was knowing my real bed was just a few minutes away! Some of our neighbors were having a backyard party and were being noisy and then there were the crickets... At about midnight Sheldon got up and turned the waterfall in the pool on to drown out all the noise but to me the waterfall was deafening. I was so tired by this time though that I fell asleep anyway. I was determined to sleep in the tent with everyone but at 3:30am I awoke to the sound of waterfall and an urgent need to go pee!!! I love trying to find the tent zipper in the dark when you are seriously trying not to pee your pants. David awoke and wanted to come with me so we both went potty and then went upstairs and got into my very own comfortable bed. There's nothing like "camping" to make you appreciate your house, bed and toilet!

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Colonial Fair Feb 2008

I feel like I have so much time to make up for! I want to remember so much about my childrens childhood and the older I get the more I realize how very much I don't remember. When we were all trying to remember some of the funny things David has said recently Julia asked me what were some of the funny things she said when she was little. I couldn't remember any specific thing and I could see the sad disappointment in her face. I'm so grateful that this blog is helping me be motivated to record the fun and funny parts of my children's childhood, I just wish I would have started sooner!

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Rachel Tooth Up-date June

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River Cats with the Wards

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Jared, Julia, Rachel and David Nov 2008

Jared, Julia, Rachel and David, May 2008. (Great advantage of homeschooling, you can have days where your kids don't get their hair combed and no one knows but you that you are having a lazy day!) This picture is actually in the doorway of the bathroom, I thought it was so great that all the kids were in the bathroom cheering David on in the early days of his potty training.

Jared, Julia, Rachel and David about 2 years ago, Summer 2007.

David was eating cereal in his high chair and when he was done he says to Julia, "Julia! Get me out, I can't fly out!". Julia thought that was so funny and cute. (Hopefully in a few years she'll still think demanding baby brothers are so adorable).

Tickling Rachel I over heard David say, "Rachel, you so tickerish!

"When Jared was giving David a kiss, David lifted up his hands to try to stop Jared and he said, "Let's not slobber now!"

There's not a day that goes by that David doesn't make us laugh.

Play Buddies

Rachel and David are such good play buddies. Lately Rachel has talked David into being "the baby" when they play house. It's so cute to see them sitting on the couch together with David on her lap, while she rocks him and he makes funny baby sounds. (I really need to get a picture of that). He came into the office the other day and reached his arms up for me to hold him, so I picked him up. Rachel followed him into the office a minute later and as I was holding David sideways like a little baby, he lifts his head up off my chest and says to her, "Rachel, I don't want be your baby any more, I want my own Mommy!"