Women of Virtue -- Tana

Fridays are quickly becoming my favorite day of the week!  I look forward all week to these posts.  I hope you are enjoying them as much as I am.  
This weeks "Woman of Virtue" interview is with my friend Tana.  Tana lives just around the corner and down the street from us.  Our boys are good friends and I think Logan would be adopted by them if he could be.  Tana is a woman of many talents, one being that she is always happy, cheerful, and so easy going.   I'm sure this carries over into her family because that is how I would also describe her family.    They are always playing and doing something fun together and you can tell that they really enjoy being together as a family.  If you spent any time with Tana and her husband Shannon, you would be able to see how much they love their cute little family and that they make their family a top priority.


TANA --

I moved to Alaska when I was 7, we moved to the same block that Shannon lived on.  I have 4 older brothers and 2 younger sisters and Shannon had 2 older brothers, so my brothers and his family would play together.  I started dating Shannon in High School then of course waited for him to get back from his mission, because like he says "when you know what ya got in the kitchen you don't have to go to the market" :) I was in love and I am so glad that we are eternal companions now, we have been married for 12 years and have 4 awesome kids! I could not have dreamed for a better life!

What do you love about being a mother?/a wife?

Ever since I was little I wanted to just be a mother and wife for a living, I never dreamed about working outside the home  Before I was married I did work and felt like I was wasting my life away doing something I did not enjoy.   I truly enjoy life by spending it with my family.  When I first married Shannon, I would tell him "Married life is like having a slumber party every night!" I still tell him that and now having kids in our family really makes it a party and I love every minute.

What are some ways that you show your husband that you love him and that he is important to you? 
Shannon's number one love language is communication, of course we all need all of the love languages but knowing which one is the most important helps us stay connected more.  So I am sure to take time everyday to sit and have time to talk along with texting love messages to him.  We also have a love journal that we pass back and forth.  When I can, I write him a message in it and then leave it on his night stand then its his turn and I don't usually have to wait long and its back on my side (unfortunately for him he has to wait a little longer for me to get around to writing back but its a sure way to see a smile on his face when I do.)  This way our kids can read it and know our love for each other and maybe inspire them to treat there spouse with love and respect.

What are some ways that you show your children that you love them and that they are important to you as well?
We also have figured out what our kids love languages are and try to show them love in there needed ways. Along with that they all need individual attention everyday even if its only a few minutes, we try to bond with each child.  The hardest part for me is to take interest in my boys interests, so I have learned about Pokemon and bey blades.  I also have forced myself to play Foosball and now enjoy playing it, my kids love to play me because they can beat me, its worth the laughter and smiles on there face.  I still have not gotten into the video games with them but that's where daddy comes in. :)
My husband has taught us all to communicate, which I love to watch and learn from him, no matter what the topic is he is sure to talk to the kids with respect and listens to there opinions and uses every opportunity to teach them about life and choices.

What is your recipe for a happy family?
So far:

Christ centered + Communication + Time + Love = Our Happy Family

The Proclamation on the family says that, "Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities."  How do you think wholesome recreational activities plays a part in successful marriages and families?

The wholesome recreational activities is what gives us our quality time as a family and without it we don't connect and bond together.

Concerned about the family, President Spencer W. Kimball warned: “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."  What does it mean to you to believe deeply and actively in the family?
Knowing that we are an eternal family and that if we hold strong to Christ in our life even satan can't destroy our family. 

With 3 boys, how are you preparing them now for when they will receive the priesthood? / For when they will be fathers?
Shannon is being a great example for them now, he is spending time with each one every day, he communicates well with them, he shows them his love for Christ through words and actions. I think showing them how to be a priesthood holder and wonderful Father every day by example will be the best way to prepare them to do the same.

Tana , you have a beautiful family.  Thanks for sharing with us.

If you have any idea or questions for my next Woman of Virtue Interview leave a comment.   I can't wait to hear from you.