About

Welcome to my blog. I am a Latter-day saint mom of five (ages 9, 8, 6, 3 and 0) living in Ankeny, Iowa. I love my husband, kids and extended family, family history, cooking, quilting, running, learning foreign languages and blogging. I graduated from BYU in 2009 with a B.A. in French Teaching and a minor in TESOL K-12. 

When I was a Relief Society pianist, I started to really put forth an effort into trying out new, lesser-known hymns. When I found #224, I laughed out loud. The hymn basically summed up my existence while having three in diapers.

“224: I Have Work Enough to Do,” Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, no. 224

Energetically

1. I have work enough to do,
Ere the sun goes down,                       Do I ever!
For myself and kindred too,                  e.g. all the toddlers
Ere the sun goes down:
Ev’ry idle whisper stilling                      or, more likely, scream.
With a purpose firm and willing,
All my daily tasks fulfilling,                   at least in theory!
Ere the sun goes down.

2. I must speak the loving word,            I must. I must. I must. I must.
Ere the sun goes down.
I must let my voice be heard,     Which can be a challenge.
Ere the sun goes down:
Ev’ry cry of pity heeding,                      
For the injured interceding,    Let's just hope they're not too injured!
To the light the lost ones leading,
Ere the sun goes down.

3. As I journey on my way,
Ere the sun goes down,
God’s commands I must obey,             Of course!
Ere the sun goes down.
There are sins that need confessing;
There are wrongs that need redressing  Ask my toddlers about this.
If I would obtain the blessing,
Ere the sun goes down.                      

Text: Josephine Pollard, 1834–1892

Music: William J. Kirkpatrick, 1838–1921

Alma 34:32–35

Doctrine and Covenants 88:123–125

As I was searching for a new blog title, I thought of this hymn. It literally makes me laugh every time I hear it, sing it, or play it. It's just so true, and hilarious. And so applicable to the struggles of my every day life! As you can see, the title of the blog comes from a line in the first verse: "with a purpose firm and willing."

It's a good motto for me. Ready, eager, prepared to stand for truth and righteousness in a resolute and determined manner. This is the "firm and willing purpose" of my life.

This blog is not a craft blog, or a life chronicle, or anything truly extraordinary. It's just my every day thoughts. I'm determined to keep it uplifting because life is too short for me to waste my time writing depressing blog posts - let alone for somebody else to read them.

I hope you enjoy!