In my Family Relations class this week one of our discussions was directed towards culture, specifically in family life. The definition in the dictionary for culture is, "The attitudes and behavior characteristic of a particular social group." At the end of class the question I was asking myself and the question I invite you all to think about is, what is the culture that we have set or want to set in our homes? For a long time when I heard the word "culture" I thought of food and different life styles people were living all over the world. This is not incorrect, but it is a very surface level understanding.
It is interesting this class has made me think a lot about what I want the culture to be like in my future home. It is so easy to get stuck on where I want to be financially, what my social status will be, but what I really want to focus on is the culture and traditions that will be passed down to my family. I want my kids to know who they are and what potential they have in them as they rely on the Savior. I also want them to treat others in such a way that those they are among see themselves as something special, something Devine. I found a quote from a BYU Speech called Traditions of Excellence.
"President Kimball has told of a time when he was meeting with church leaders in a foreign country where different ideologies touched their children. He asked how the parents were able to hold their children and keep them from evil. He said their reply was proper. We train our children in our homes so completely in the way of right and truth that the destructive, godless philosophies and heresies of their other teachers run off without penetrating, like water on a duck’s back, and our children remain true to the faith. [“The Family Influence,” Ensign, July 1973, p. 15]"
It is obvious that we have a culture with in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It promotes a lifestyle to where we can be eternal, we can live with those that we love!I found this quote online when I typed in family culture, "Family culture is the unique way that a family forms itself in terms of rules, roles, habits, activities, beliefs, and other areas. " Culture is what makes us different, I can honestly say that the culture I was raised around formed me into who I am today. Education is important to me, because my parents made sure it was something they stressed as essential. I just wanted to share a few of these thoughts with y'all. I hope that you can take a step back at look at what you are creating in your home!
Abbi Sue
- Abbi
- I am a farm girl from a small town called Preston. I served a mission in the great state of Texas. San Antonio still has my heart! I am the oldest of 3 kids! My parents are my heroes. My Grandma taught me from a young age that I am of great worth. Before I would leave her house she would say, Boo (that is my nick name) who are you? My reply, Grandma I am Boo Shaffer a daughter of God! I believe with all my heart that happiness is a choice we get to make every morning! I love my life!!
Saturday, January 28, 2017
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
One of the Greatest Blessings... Family!
My life started out this year in a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. To try to help y'all see a little more clearly, I want to share a personal life event that happened to me and so many of my loved ones. On Christmas Day after church my uncle was out on his mink ranch moving snow. My cousin, who lived next door, realized that the loader my uncle was working on had been out there for quite some time in the same spot. The spirit was definitely with him and lead him straight to my aunt. Together they went out and found my uncle. He had been in a tragic accident. After hours of working on him and trying to bring him back, he was pronounced dead. I was at the hospital when the ambulance pulled up. I was there when the doctor came into the room to inform my aunt and her two young daughters that there was nothing else they could do. I watched as so many of my loved ones sat in the hospital and cried and morned together. Weeks have passed and I have witnessed the Lord's hand in this great trial.
Many of you are probably wondering why I would choose this story to share. This last week we have discussed in my Family Relations class different Trends. There are so many that it would take forever to discuss each one of them. The one that I want to bring to y'alls attention is the increase in divorce rates. Just a little bit of information for you, the number of LDS couples getting divorced has gone up dramatically. Part of my goal in this post is to help inform members of the church to support those around them to fight for love. I know not all relationships can't work, but we must put in a good fight! It may be intriguing to some of you to know that 74% of people that highly consider divorce never end up following through with it. It is proven though that the kids of the couples who are divorced have a much greater chance of living in cohabitation or following through with a divorce. This being said 74% of the people considering divorce somehow realized they still loved their spouse, or found a reason to stay. It was interesting watching my parents after this tragic event. They held each other tighter, they now call each other more frequently through out the day. I love you are words used a lot more in our home. Sadly many of us don't realize what we have. Satan is deceiving, he helps us see all that we don't have. We become blind to what gifts are infant of us. I have realized that I take so much for granted. My plea to all of you who may be reading this. Hold those around you a little closer. Don't be afraid to be the first one every morning to express your love.You never know how long a "see you later" may be.
A List of my Fellow Bloggers!
Andrea Ashley Muse
Hannah Westerlind
Lauryn Larkin
Kelli-Marie McNair
Kenzie Calderwood
Kaylee Crossley
Madison Reed
Shelbie Merrill
Joshua Lapeyrouse
Amy Jacques
Emily Nichols
Natalie Jolley
Bonnie Ferguson
Caia Wheeler
Amberlea Kay
Leticia Calderon-Rios
Morgan Ogden
Karly Buchanan
Kelsey Trent
Melanie Chantry
Alyssa Wiley
Megan Garner
Alayna Hudson
Kayla Guy
Ryan Landes
Mariah Honda
Amy Jacques
Sarah Knight
Christopher Holden
Hannah Boots
Bailee Freeman
Dorothy Sagiao
Rachel Adela
Saturday, January 7, 2017
Hello Y'all!
My desire is that the readers of this blog will be able to see me as a friend, that we may be able share our ideas of family life together. A little bit about me. My name is Abbigayle Sue Shaffer. I am blessed to be named after my two heroes, my Grandma Sue and my Grandma Gayle. They are more than grandmas to me, they truly live up to the title of a best friend. I served a mission in the great state of Texas. They say that everything is bigger there... that was until I arrived! I am a small 4'9" package of dynamite! I grew up on a small ranch close to the border of Idaho and Utah. The "farm" life brought on a lot of work around our place and my parents were smart in bringing us together to tackle many of the different tasks.
Marriage and Family life was not always my choice of study. It was not until I read a story of Presidents Eyring's younger life that I had a clear vision of what I was passionate about. This is an excerpt from the story that has forever changed my life. (Hal is President Eyring.)
Hal often asked for his father’s assistance on math problems. When they were discussing a problem one day, his father paused and said that the problem was similar to one they had covered the week before and asked, “haven’t you been working on it?”
When Hal said he hadn't, his father responded saying, "you don't understand. When you walk down the street, when you're in the shower, when you don't have to be thinking about anything else, isn't this what you think about?"
Family is what I love. It is where my mind wonders to when I am "in the shower." I look forward to fighting for my true passion!
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