What gift can I give the Savior this Christmas Season?

I got to watch the First Pesidency Christmas Devotional from the comfort of my home (Thanks channel 7:) Here is my favorite quotes from President Uchtdorf's talk:

talking about what gifts we can give the Savior after mentioning that the gift of perfection is not an option for now: "The Lord does not expect that we commit to move mountains; but he does require that we bring as gifts our best efforts to move ourselves, one foot in front of the other. Walking in the ways he has prepared and taught."

After talking about the gifts the Savior gives to us: "Every day He offers to take us by the hand an dhelp transform ordinary life into extra-ordinary spiritual experiences."

There was also a quote from President Monson's talk that I need to go back and find and I need to listen to Pres. Eyering's talk again. I missed most of it. I am so grateful for the internet and the wonderful church website that allows us to listen or re-listen to messages from the Lord through his messengers almost immidiately after they are given.

I also had an "ah-ha" moment yesterday during the devotional. When they showed the videos of Christmas and were showing Mary being visited by the angel, I had this train of thoughts go through my head.

"Of course she saw the angel after doing something as simple as going for water. She didn't have to be reading the scriptures to have that experience, she was already prepared for it. In fact she probably never read the scriptures. They didn't have scriptures to read, and she most likely couldn't even read--women had no need to back then." And then I felt the overwhelming blessing of being able to read and having the scriptures so readily availble. We are truly blessed.

I also just had another "ah-ha" thought as I was reading this. If I prepare myself properly, I can be prepared for messages from God (in whatever form) anytime, anywhere. I don't have to be in the temple, or reading my sciptures, or praying at that moment. If I've already done these things and keep my heart and mind open, then I will be prepared, just like Mary was. "Behold the handmaid of the Lord"

Living in the present

It seems like lately I've been living each day on a pendulem swinging from "is this poop filled-whiney-total dependence-I can't find a moment to my self even in the bathroom (as even now the baby is climbing on me)-stage ever going to end?" to the opposite side of "I can't believe how fast they are growing up--I don't want them to get more independent-I'm terrified of teenagers!" (And the baby is still climbing on me so I'm playing a game of fetch with the binki to try to get at least 5 words typed at a time. :)


Today was one of those toddler has poopy underwear at the same time the baby wakes up sad/grumpy from a nap kind of days. I spent a moment in the "WHY ME, WHY NOW, dark place of my mind and I wanted to just sit down and cry, but instead I buck up and take care of each child and then things calm down (as much as they can calm down for a 4 year old and 18 mo old). Good thing the baby likes to sit in the bath tub, even with no water in it:) And then I took a moment to realize that I did it. I got through it, and I'm still alive:)

How many times have the church leaders told us to "live in the present" Here's a quote I just love by President Thomas S. Monson:

"The past is behind, learn from it.
The future is ahead, prepare for it.
The present is here, live it."

What wisdom from a loving Prophet of God. I am pledging to live in the present, to enjoy my children in the moment, to live each day to the fullest. I have little control of the future, but as another new favorite quote says:

"Faith is not knowing what the future holds but knowing WHO holds the future." Don't know who said it, but it's good:)

And a third by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin:
"Come what may and Love it"

Now I don't think I'll ever learn to love poop, and I certainly hope a poopy underwear free future is coming soon, but the message is clear. Find Joy in the Journey, Men are that they might have Joy, Live life to the fullest, I can do hard things. Come what may and Love it. (I'm not sure why I keep capitalizing Love, but it just seems like it needs to be:)

I recently went through a major downer time of life. It lasted about a week, but could have really pulled me down for a LONG time. I am grateful for the loving council of my husband to read my patriarchal blessing. It reminded me of God's love for me and my responsibilites to be worthy of His help. And as Sister Julie B. Beck said in a recent fireside, "you can't do it without help!" I'm also grateful for an inspired talk at church that reminded me "Be still my soul, the Lord is on thy side" And an inspired talk (General RS meeting) by an Apostle of the Lord to remind me (among other things--this talk was AMAZING) to "forget not" to be patient with myself, and that the Lord has not forgotten me. Thank you President Uchtdorf! Through many tears and many prayers, I finally found myself in a good place again. I'm still not the person I want to be, but I'm working on it. One step at a time, one day at a time. Line upon line. . . I'll get there!!

One last quote and then it's time to leave the blogging world and get back to reality, which right now is peaceful as the baby is sleeping and the 4 year old is playing nicely (even though we had a poopy underwear incident while I was typing this.) (Oh, yea, and this took me 3 days to complete:)

"There is no way to be a perfect mom, but a million ways to be a good one."

How will I be a good mom today?? I think I'll have to make that one of my next postings.

Laughter, the best medicine:)

I absolutely love the sound of my children's laughter. It's one othe things I have looked forward to the most with each of my children, that first baby giggle. It makes me smile when they laugh at a joke they made up that makes absolutley no sense, or when they laugh at a joke that they have no clue why it is funny, but they know it's supposed to be so they laugh. I also love it when my children make each other laugh. It just makes the world feel better.

This morning my 7 year old was being especially slow and I needed to get out the door early because of icy roads. I was getting impatient and grumpy. I calmed down a little on the drive to the school and was able to send him off with a smile and an apology for being grumpy. On the way to school number 2 I got the best gift ever. It totally turned my day around. My 5 year old said somthing to the baby and he just started to giggle. It was the best sound in the world, and totally turned around my attitude.

Laughter really is the best medicine.

A song and a burp:)

Funny title, right? Well, I just have to write down two tender mercies that just happened before I forget.

Tonight was a rough night. It started out good. We went out to eat as a family, so I didn't have to decide what to make for dinner, make it, clean it up, that whole stress. Nice! But when we got home it was time for homeowork and reading and bed. Things went downhill. I was really losing it with the kids and really having a pity party for myself. As I came upstairs to check on my oldest's bedtime routine progress and found him in his underwear I started losing it some more. I urged him on (not very kindly) and started doing my part which is starting his primary songs. So he's almost dressed (finally) and I'm ready to snap at him again and the song that is playing stops me in my tracks. I don't remember the words enough to write them down right now, but it was about the role of a mother. It was for me. I remembered that I have a sacred role and that it is full of choices. I can choose to be grummpy and mean, or I can choose to be more patient and loving and kind. I know I'll still mess up, but I'm grateful that that particular song came on at that particular time.

Second tender mercy came 20 minutes later as I finished feeding the baby and lifted him to burp him (a process that can sometimes take quite awhile when he's fallen asleep while eating) and pat, pat, pat BURP! pat, pat, BURP! SCORE!! Put him in bed. A small and silly thing I know, but I needed it:)