I am a 34 year old stay at home mother to 3 amazing little men. I have been married to my best friend for a little over 13 years now. I love him more every passing year. We live in Alberta, Canada. It really is not snow covered all year long here…but it has been pretty snowy this year! (and no, I don’t have a dog sled or dog team…although that would ROCK!)

I am the oldest of 5 children. Three boys followed me out, and my sister came along 12 years after me. I was always more motherly than sisterly, and I still haven’t grown out of that. I went to “Ricks College” when it still was Ricks. I was teased and told that I would gain an “MRS” degree, but I told everyone I was actually going to learn…crazy I know! I obtained my associates degree in Landscape Horticultural Management and returned home single, but stayed that way for only a week! I met and married my dh 51/2 months after completing college! After we had our three little men we were inspired to start adoption proceedings. We are in the matching stages now and can hardly wait to meet the children the Lord has ready for us. We are also in the process of selling our house and moving to a farm. We would love to be totally self sustaining. This has been a dream of ours for many years, hopefully it comes to pass soon.

My favorite part of motherhood really is being a part of my amazing little men’s lives. We homeschool so I get to help in lots of areas of their development. I get to be a part of so much of their lives and really hope that I can be the mother they need. One Sunday I was sitting in church and our stake president stopped to say hi and shake our hands. He said, “Wow Mom, you have three future priesthood holders with you.” This really struck me and I have tried to always be worthy of raising these amazing little men.

Humm…folding laundry. I love to wash and dry it, but that folding thing, not a fan! I also hate dishes. I thank my dh everyday for my dishwasher. 🙂 My dh is also wonderful and does the yucky ones that don’t fit in the dishwasher.

I have always wanted to travel to the “old world”. It would be wonderful to just tour all the little countries there for a year at least.

Earning my red seal would be wonderful.

I would also love to be part of my boys gaining a testimony of our Savior.

Well, I love the kitchen and think I do a pretty good job in there. I particularly love dessert as my hips can attest. 🙂

I also love to play with my cameras. Growing up I always wanted to be artistic, and until I bought my own camera I didn’t know I had talent in that area. I love to see things a little different through the viewfinder.

Lists!

I am a big fan of lists. As we went through our adoption proceedings I found out that “structure” (as my lists were called) was a GOOD thing! Who knew?!

I have a passion for preparedness. This is one of the quotes that inspires me in all I do. There are so many ways to prepare for the Second Coming of the Lord, and I look forward each day to doing a little bit more.

In our day, many children grow up with distorted values because we as parents overindulge them. Whether you are well-to-do or, like most of us, of more modest means, we as parents often attempt to provide children with almost everything they want thus taking away from them the blessing of anticipating, of longing for something they do not have. One of the most important things we can teach our children is to deny themselves. Instant gratification generally makes for weak people. How many truly great individuals do you know who never had to struggle? ~Joe J. Christensen, “Greed, Selfishness, and Overindulgence,” Ensign, May 1999

Unscheduled time? What’s that?! Just kidding.

I love to read. I am currently loving YA books. I also enjoy taking “photography field trips”. Just me and my camera. (and sometimes my Dad and oldest little man) I love to create in the kitchen. When I have a break, playing with different ingredients to make something new is amazing.

Taking a break.

For a long time I honestly thought that I needed to always be on a schedule. Now I know that sometimes all we need is a break. Our favorite break time is to take school outside. When the weather is nicer, we love to hike in the coulee behind our home. Sometimes our break is just trying something new. Just because something worked for one child, it won’t necessarily work for all of them. (believe it or not, this was a hard lesson to learn)

I don’t do well in crowds. I grew up shy and have struggled with it for many years. As a result I often come across as mean or intimidating. I just like to sit back and watch. I take a while to “warm up” to people, but I really do want to get to know you. (Internet is wonderful for me in this way!)

I also am a very “active” listener. I interrupt when I am excited. I also tell long rambling stories. My dh is a wonderful story teller, but not I, I have way too much detail and I love to talk.

I love to just go out and visit. Eating good food is also a plus! If I can work Starbucks White Hot Chocolate in there somehow, it would be perfect! 🙂

Having patience. I need to learn that everything happens on the Lords time, but doing that is so tricky. There are a few things we are in the middle of, we have done all we can, the rest is up to the Lord, but waiting is really hard for me. When a decision is made, I like to move forward and do. Living in a state of uncertainty is frustrating for me. (it has to follow my list!)

I am a daughter of God. He knows and loves me. He cares about me and watches me. The church is true. We have a living prophet who receives revelation for our day, specific for us. The priesthood power is real. It can be used on our behalf and is a real blessing. Families can be together for all Eternity if we live worthy. The temple is the house of the Lord.

Tell us about your blog:

I blog at Welcome to the Madness (rovinroberts.blogspot.com). I blog about a little of everything. I started blogging as a way to journal about my life for my family and friends. It has evolved to be a bit more, but the roots are still there. I use the things we do in our life, as it says just under my title, “…a little crafting, a little photography, a little homeschooling, a little family, a little fun, a little bunch of boys, a little faith, a little bit of crazy…all mixed up to create this…” I am pretty random, so pretty much everything goes. I just hope that those who come to my little space in blogland will feel comfortable and feel like they have made a friend.

Thanks, Jaime.  It’s been a pleasure to get to know you.