Alma 53:20

So in our family scripture study one night, we are reading in Alma about the Stripling Warriors. This verse really stood out to me. The qualities listed are ones I wish for my children to possess. And as a mother, how do you emphasize them without lecturing? Here was my plan...A friend in the ward does the vinyl lettering you can stick on the walls. I ordered this scripture from her-as big as I could get. The boys rooms are all at the end of the hall in the basement and I put the scripture on that wall. Now everytime they walk down the hall, they will be looking right at that scripture (and hopefully reading it). On the wall next to it, I have that picture of Helaman on his horse with all the Stripling Warriors. I wanted my boys to envision themselves as those warriors, so I took pictures of them to hang next to the real version. Well-of course the boys could only be serious for so long and to get all 3 of them looking warrior-esque at the same time. Let's just say they needed some comic relief. I told them to look like they were ready to fight like warriors. Watch out bad guys-here come the Atchley boys!!

Mini golf with Grandma Atchley

Dave and Lynn's families visited the week following 4th of July. With all those grandkids running about Grandma needed an outdoor activity, FAST! She took them all (except for Joan's big kids) minature golfing. They had a blast! We split them up into groups and it was fun to see their different perspectives, personalities, and approaches to the game. Hayden, Audrey and Dallin analyzed each hole before playing and were vigilant scorekeepers. Jocelyn, Ally and Jacob played and had fun without any care in the world. Ryan and Matthew were quite competitive with each other-mostly about who got to go first. And Kathryn and Emma were thrilled to be there and played every hole their own special way (picking up the ball, setting it right by the cup, then hitting it in). Fabulous fun. Thanks Grandma-We love you!!

Atchley Grand Central

This is our home sweet home. The place where we work and play, cry and laugh, fight and love, learn and teach, and just be. We have a lot of good times and work through the bad times together. No matter what the world sends our way, nothing is more important than our family.