May we always invest in the lives of our children!"

I want my children to know that , “I have invested myself in the lives of my children.” I desired more for my children than lack of neglect; I wanted to create for them an environment rich in love, security, training, teaching and testimony. I wanted to give them my time—serving them, teaching them, listening to them, showing them the way, and loving them. I wanted to give them all I had, my very best. I want them to know I really tried to do that. I know that I made a mulitude of mistakes, in fact, I still am, and how grateful I am for their forgiving natures.

I realized that next to investing in our marriage, the best place to put my effort and time would be in the lives of our children. I understood that the greater the investment, the greater my chances for success toward my over-arching goal: an eternal family.

I love this promise from President Spencer W. Kimball as he states, “The time will come when only those who believe deeply and actively in the family will be able to preserve their families in the midst of the gathering evil around us.” (Ensign, November 1980. p. 4) I WANT THIS SO MUCH, that I would lay down my life for my kids and their families.

I know that it was apparent then and even more so now: parents have to work harder and do better than parents have ever done before to achieve the same results.

As I observe our children who are now parenting their own children, as well as the mothers of young children in our ward, I clearly see how demanding and intense raising children is in today’s world. For example, as our children were growing up they could safely play for hours and hours in the street or our backyard without any parental supervision or involvement. Now, parents can no longer just send their children to a park,or somewhere just down the street, they have to take them and remain with them.

I greatly admire the diligence and vigilance of my children as parents.
I also deeply appreciate all that the Church with its various programs does to support them and its members in the huge responsibility of rearing their children our grandchildren. WHOM WE HAVE A VESTED INTEREST!

And thanks to the inspired leadership of the Church, we have a beautiful definition, as stated in “The Family—A Proclamation to the World,” of exactly what it means to invest ourselves in our children and work toward being eternal families.

“Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. ‘Children are an heritage of the Lord’ (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. . . Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. . . Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners.”

This will be forever impressed upon my mind as the world grows increasingly dark. Thanks be to God for His guidance and forever reaching arms of love to help us on our journey here on this earth!

To my children, I really plead with all of you to remain faithful and diligent in protecting your lives, your homes, and your families from the constant bombardment of the evil one, though it may be subtle or it may be brash.
Thank you for always working to "be good" and to be a blessing to our family. And especially to bring "honor to the Preston name". I love you all! Mom

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