There is Beauty All Around

I saw God today as my children and I sang Christmas songs at the top of our lungs, rang jingle bells, and they danced around the room. It was especially cute watching the 1 year old watch the others and ring his bell when they did:)

I also saw God today as I was driving home from shopping (without any kids) in the first true snowfall of the season.

Gratitude

So I've been a real slacker in the bloggin world lately, both on this one and my personal/family one. But here is a belated Thanksgiving post.

I am so grateful for all of the blessings in my life. There are definitely too many to name. Here is just a random list:

My Savior and a Heavenly Father who love me and have a plan for me.
My Family who love me and support me and visit me and call me and pray for me.
My Husband who loves me and works hard and makes me laugh.
My Children who keep me on my toes and make me smile and give me hugs and sticky kisses.
My Friends who make me laugh and smile and help with my kids and reminicse with me.
My House to keep me safe and warm.
Plenty of food to eat. I feel blessed to never see my children go hungry.
My Calling. It's fun to work in the Relief Society and get to know the great sisters in our ward.
Cars that work to get us where we need/want to go.
Music--I'm especially enjoying the Christmas music.
Chocolate:)
Pumpkin Bread:)
Hot Chocolate with marshmallows:)

Okay, that's enough. Time to get back to the family.

"Count your blessings, Name then one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord has done."

What I've learned from Kindergarten

It's fun having a kindergartener, although, I don't feel I'm old enough. I got to go help at his "harvest" party yesterday and see him interact with his classmates. He was so excited to show off his little sister her sit by him on the carpet and make sure she got treats, too.

I've learned a few things from kindergarten so far. They have a list of rules. The list is short, and they are all to the point. They say them every day, and my son is learning them well, although not always following them.

I've decided these few simple rules are all that is needed for humanity. If only we'd follow them, the world would be a much better place.

Rule 1. Always try your best. If everyone tried their best, more would be accomplished, people would feel better about themselves. The world would be happier.

Rule 2. Keep your hands, feet and objects to yourself. We could say goodbye to a lot of violence.

Rule 3. Follow directions the first time. How many times do we put of doing what should have been done yesterday. How often do I put off my children saying "just a minute" and then forget until they have to remind me again an hour later.

Rule 4. Be kind and respectful. Think of the world wide peace this could bring.

Rule 5. Be a good listener. I know that I personally need to work on this. The world can get so busy and noisy that we don't listen to what our children are really saying, what our spouses really need, what our neighbors (meaning everyone:) could use help with, and most importantly, what our Heavenly Father wants for us. We all need to find quiet time to really listen.

Broken Glass

I just had one of those moments of internal stuggle that we all deal with daily. My children were playing in a way that knocked over a large frame leaning on something on the ground. I asked them to be more careful and put it right back in the same place. The continued playing and knocked it over again, this time shattering the glass (luckily it was still in the bag from the store, so the glass was contained). My first reaction was of course to be angry with them for knocking it over. I reigned in my feelings and didn't raise my voice (small victory for me:). I then was angry with myself for leaving it in the same spot, knowing they were still playing there (I was in the same room with them). I did ask them to "leave the room while mom is mad." They are now happily playing and singing Called to Serve in the other room.

Two lessons from this.
#1 Children as soooooo forgiving. They aren't out there pouting that they were sent from the room, or that mom got upset at them. Why did I continue to pout that my frame was broken.
#2 It's just broken glass. It's replacable, no one was hurt.

Now I'm going out to play with my children.

Service and Cookies

I experienced the joy of service to day, both giving and recieving. It feels really good. I am so happy that I have friends that trust me enough to ask for help and others that are so willing to help when I ask.

I also took the time to make cookies with my children today. It's not the smoothest operation, but it's so much fun to watch my 5 and 3 year olds as they measure, mix, and fight about who's turn is next, and then try to keep them out of the dough. And it's not to bad to have a few cookies around to eat, either:)

Good Times!

I just read this on a friends blog and thought it was so amazing that I wanted to share it. (Mostly with myself:)

Our Greatest Fear
Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate,but that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, handsome, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinkingso that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us. It is not just in some; it is in everyone. And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously giveother people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others. -Marianne Williamson

Count My Blessings

I saw God today as I took the time (while mopping my floor:) to start listing my blessings. I have SO MANY. I truly feel blessed and loved by a merciful Father in Heaven.

I am grateful that I have a safe home (not just a house) filled with love, laughter, children, and noise.

I am grateful that my husband is a hard worker with a seemingly stable (can that word possibly be part of our vocabulary anymore) job, even though he's on call this weekend and out working tonight.

I am grateful for my mom and the wonderful example she was to me of keeping a clean and organized home. It gives me a lot to strive for.

I am grateful that I have the health and strength to take care of my children, husband, and home.

I am grateful for discount stores like the one today where I found a cute little head piece for my daughter's Halloween costume for $1.50. (Too bad I spent way to much on other stuff that jumped in my cart while I was there:)

I am grateful for the peace and quiet that comes after putting all the kids to bed (and again when they finally stay there long enough to fall asleep).

There are so many other things I am grateful for: family, friends, the gospel, my Savior, scriptures (which I need to not forget to read tonight like I did last night, and many other nights. . .definitely a work in progress), health, safety, food, clean water. . .

And the list goes on and on and on, but I think I'll stop now, because I'm also grateful for the chocolate cream pie that's waiting for me in the freezer. It was my motivation to get the floor mopped tonight:)

Good Friends

Today I am so grateful for good friends. My children and I just spent a wonderful afternoon with a friend and her children at the park. Beautiful crisp fall weather, and someone to share it with and have good conversation. What more could you ask for?

Beautiful Boy

I saw God last night in the face of my baby (okay, so he's one, but he's still my baby) as I sang songs to him before putting him to bed. What a miracle babies are. I truly think you can see heaven if you look into their eyes long enough. It's sad when they grow and get too wiggly to have the time to just get lost in their eyes. I just have to remember this when he's fussy or getting into something he's not supposed to:)

What a wonderful weekend I had with Conference, family, and a birthday party for my niece. I just love living closer to family. Eight years away has made me really come to appreciate the little get togethers. Love you guys!!

Conference

I saw God today in the faces of the leaders of church as they spoke in the Worldwide General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I felt the power of God flow through them as they spoke to me and reminded me of many gospel truths, such as the power of the Book of Mormon, my need to share my testimony, and how hope comes from God and despair from the adversary. I am so grateful for a living Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson. What a great man. How exciting to have new temples announced. Especially in "the greater Kansas City area." Where is it to be? Is it in Jackson County? In Independence?

I am looking forward to many more wonderful teachings and the outpouring of the spirit in the rest of the conference sessions.

God is Good:)

Family Time

Last night we had such a fun time together as a family. We were outside in beautiful fall weather and I saw God in the beauty of the world He created and watches over.

We went minature golfing. The kids were so cute to watch. The 5 year old surprised us with his skill, especially when he almost got a hole in one. The 3 year couldn't understand why you had to start so far away from the hole, when your goal was to get the ball in the hole, so she would just jump ahead:)

How many times in life do we see the end goal and try to jump ahead of ourselves to reach it quicker, or spend our days wishing we were somewhere further down the line. I know that I need to spend more time enjoying the journey.

Feeling Blah!

So I'm struggling today. It's not that it's been all that bad of a day. In fact I have nothing really to complain about. It's just been a blah day.

I am grateful that my cold has continued to be mild and livable.

I am grateful that my baby slept through the night.

I am grateful for great friends that have made moving here extremely easy.

I'm hoping that I can get some time tonight to read the scriptures and hopefully find a spiritual uplift that I obviously need.

Cleanliness is next to Godliness

So I didn't get on the computer yesterday so this will be for 2 days.

Yesterday I felt the Spirit of God so strong as I bore my testimony of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and of the Book of Mormon and living Prophets. The bearing of my testimony helped it grow.

I saw God in the eyes of my little boy as he was so intent on going up to take his turn. He doesn't grasp yet why we go up to the pulpit on Fast and Testimony Sunday, but I could see in his eyes that he felt the importance and really wanted to. I am going to work with him so that he can do it by himself next Fast Sunday. I believe that he does have a testimony seed in his heart.

Today I felt God in my home after I worked really hard to clean. It felt really good. I decided long ago that my house was never going to be one of those that are always clean all of the time. Maybe someday, but not in the foreseeable future. But I definitely feel the difference when I make a true effort to have a "house of order"

I have felt God in my heart as I have been working really hard on my food storage and being prepared. I feel so blessed that we have had the extra money to do so. I have a testimony of the scripture "If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear." (Doctrine and Covenants 38:30).

A Man of God

I saw God today in the face of a man called to serve as an apostle of the Lord as he talked to me (I don't know how he picked me out of the millions of women across the earth he was speaking to:) about my ability to rise above, to be a better me, and that I don't have to do it alone. I am so grateful for a loving Father in Heaven who gives us leaders to strenthen and lift us up. What a neat women's conference.

I am grateful for a husband who supported me in going to the meeting and the dinner before the meeting.

Happy Thoughts

Right now I'm trying to have happy thoughts as I listen to my kids complain and my baby cry.

Today I am grateful that my van started each and every time I needed it.

I am grateful that my children have such healthy lungs that they can make noise:)

A New Venture

This blog is motivated by my sister (Thanks sis!), who posted today about all the positive things she could think of in a very rough week. And also by Sister Marjorie Pay Hinkley (wife of Gordon B. Hinkley) who's quotes I was reading today in a book called Small and Simple Things. One of her quotes says "When we look back on decades of life we see that the seemingly insignificant things we do over and over actually weave the pattern of our lives. And if those small and smple things are good , we will end up having lived a fullfilling life--and that is a great thing." What a great role model.

I have realized that with all the small and simple things happening every day in my life, I need to stop and be more grateful for my blessings. I need to stop and see the hand of God in my life, and I'm going to try to use this blog to do just that.

This blog will probably be a hodge podge of thoughts thrown together and maybe some ramblings, but oh well, right. It's just for me anyways. I have promised myself that this will not be a place to complain and vent. Only positive things here.

I am also thinking that it would be kind of fun to share thig blog with friends and family who want to share some of their moments also. Let me know if you are interested and I could add you to the author's list.

Today I am grateful that my van is broken down in my driveway and not at the store across town or the dentist's office. I am also grateful for a husband who has a knowledge of cars and how to fix them and for a brother-in-law who is a mechanic and lives across town.

I am also grateful for good friends who are so willing to help out in times of need.

I am grateful that I was able to get the piece of fruit snack wrapper out of my 1 year old's throat and that he didn't choke on it.

I saw God today in my son's eyes as he told me all about how exciting it was to ride the school bus home to his friend's house.

I saw God today when my baby was the first one awake and I had five minutes to snuggle with him (and have him climb all over me:).