"More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of." - Alfred Lord Tennyson

Each night before the girls go to bed we read from our scripture reader, read some stories and then say a prayer together as a family. After that the girls brush their teeth and go to bed. Tonight as I was leaving I's room, she asked "Mummy say prayers?". She wanted to say her own prayers. It was so beautiful that she asked. I haven't gotten to the stage of teaching her to say her own prayers, mostly because I thought she was too young.

So I turned the light back on and went back to her bed and knelt down beside her while she said her prayers. It was so simple and so beautiful.
"Dear  Heav'ly Father, thanks food, bless daddy, thanks watermelon, thanks poppa. Amen."

It was so beautiful I had to smile.

I am so grateful for the power of prayer and that I can get on my knees every day and thank my heavenly father for my bessings. I am also incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to teach that to my own children and that at such a young and tender age, my 2 1/2 year old daughter is already learning to pray for herself. <3

"And will you succeed? / Yes! You will, indeed! / (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.)" - Dr Seuss

So it has been a while since I have blogged. I have been lacking in inspiration for things to blog about but tonight I have found something worth writing about - DR. SEUSS! 

Each night before I. goes to sleep, as part of her bedtime routine, I read her a story. Recently we have been making our way through the Dr. Seuss series. We've been through some of the well known ones, "The Cat In The Hat", "Green Eggs & Ham" and "How The Grinch Stole Christmas". But tonight we read from one that is less familiar and I had never read before. It was "Oh, The Places You'll Go!". Some of you may have read from this book before, but I hadn't. I found this book quite intriguing and perhaps the most intriguing of any of the ones I have read so far. 

Cover of the book

The book tells the story of a person who sets out on an adventure and goes to many different places by choosing different paths. I found that the book had many good themes in it about going out and finding what you want in life and not just sitting around waiting. It also talked about how sometimes you might stumble or you might make mistakes. The book also dealt with how sometimes you can be lonely or sometimes you'll have to be by yourself. I thought it was a really good book to teach children about the many things they might have to deal with in life.

Some art work from the book
"You'll join the high fliers / who soar to high heights"

I have put some of the book below so you can read some of it.


Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.
You’ll look up and down streets. Look’em over with care. About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there.” ...
And you may not find any you’ll want to go down. In that case, of course, you’ll head straight out of town... 
And when things start to happen, don’t worry. Don’t stew. Just go right along. You’ll start happening too...


You’ll be on your way up!
You’ll be seeing great sights!
You’ll join the high fliers who soar to high heights.
You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed. You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead. Wherever you fly, you’ll be best of the best. Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.
Except when you don’t.
Because, sometimes, you won’t.
I’m sorry to say so but, sadly, it’s true that Bang-ups and Hang-ups can happen to you...
And when you’re in a Slump, you’re not in for much fun. Un-slumping yourself is not easily done...


You can get so confused that you’ll start in to race down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space, headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.
The Waiting Place…for people just waiting...
Waiting for the fish to bite or waiting for wind to fly a kite or waiting around for Friday night or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake or a pot to boil, or a Better Break or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants or a wig with curls, or Another Chance. Everyone is just waiting.
No! That’s not for you!
Somehow you’ll escape all that waiting and staying. You’ll find the bright places where Boom Bands are playing. With banner flip-flapping, once more you’ll ride high! Ready for anything under the sky. Ready because you’re that kind of a guy!...
I’m afraid that some times you’ll play lonely games too. Games you can’t win ‘cause you’ll play against you.
All Alone!
Whether you like it or not, Alone will be something you’ll be quite a lot.
And when you’re alone, there’s a very good chance you’ll meet things that scare you right out of your pants... But on you will go though the weather be foul. On you will go though your enemies prowl. On you will go though the Hakken-Kraks howl. Onward up many a frightening creek, though your arms may get sore and your sneakers may leak. On and on you will hike. And I know you’ll hike far and face up to your problems whatever they are...
So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact and remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act. Just never forget to be dexterous and deft. And never mix up your right foot with your left.
And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.)
Kid, you’ll move mountains!
So…be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray or Mordecai Ale Van Allen O’Shea, you’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So…get on your way!

"You will come to a place where the streets are not marked"

There's more to it than that, but for me they are some of the best parts. I think there are great lessons to be learned in many children's books but this is one of the best I have found so far. I definately recommend going out and picking yourself up a copy, even if you have no kids, you'll probably enjoy it.