A sense of belonging

Today was our 3rd Sunday in our new ward at church.  Starting to know a few more names and recognize a few more faces.  I am so grateful for all the friendly smiles, for meeting the sister-in-law of a good friend from our last ward, and for being able to watch Dave joke around with members of the ward.  I am grateful for the knowledge that anywhere I go I have a family.  They are my brothers and sisters and they welcome me with open arms if I will reach out to them.

I saw God today as I felt a sense of belonging to a new ward family.

Successes and Failures

This life is full of success and failure.  I was once counseled that the success or failure of my endeavors would be dependent upon my attitude.  This is a truth that I learn over and over again.  Today I saw both and I think I passed the attitude test:)

My success was tonight as I watched my 6 year old's excitement in reading on his own.  He is not one to want to sit still very long, so it took some doing to get him to the table, but the light in his eyes as he read a little book on his own was priceless.  I'm glad I didn't give up and let him keep on playing and just skip the reading when it was a challenge to get him started.  

My failure was dinner.  I get in ruts and really struggle with dinner preparation.  One of my problems is remembering to pre plan.  When dinner time rolls around and I start thinking "what should I make" I get stuck because a lot of what I have on hand requires prep time, which I no longer have.  Last night I came up with baked potato "chips" and hot dogs.  Tonight I decided on Raman Chicken Noodle Soup and drop baking powder biscuits.   The soup went over okay with 4 out of the 5, but the biscuits were a dismal failure. They turned out beautifully, all soft and flaky.  It just turns out that I am the only person in my family that likes them, even if they are smothered in strawberry freezer jam.  After everyone left the table, I sat there for a while having a pity party and eating biscuits, but then as I got up to clear the table I had another thought.  I am so grateful for the abundance and variety of food we have.  And I am very grateful that even if most of the batch gets thrown out, there is other food to feed my family.  

I saw God today in my emerging reader and a perfect batch up unwanted biscuits.

Gentle Promptings

I saw God today as I stood in the kitchen with my breakfast and had to decide, "do I go in my room and turn on the TV while I eat, or do I go sit at the table with my 3 year old"  even as I type this it seems a no brainer, but there are days and even moments when I just want to be selfish and not be a good mom.  But the thought (prompting) came to me.  "There is nothing you could learn on that tv show that is more important than the time spent with your 3 year old."  So I made the choice to walk to the table, and sit down, and eat as I listened to the chatter of a 3 year old and then after I finished eating, helped him eat, since he was more interested in talking than eating at the moment.  I made a choice, and it has made all the difference throughout the day.

Tender Mercies

I decided it was time to get back to a place in my life where I look for and recognize all the tender mercies that the Lord provides for me every day.  So this post is my first step toward that goal.  Knowing that this may not be read by anyone is okay with me.  This is for me.  

So today I see God in my life through the energy and excitement of my 3 year old.  He is ready to play and ready for adventure.  And with that being said, it is time to sign off, because he is hanging on my arm telling me he is ready to play Dora Memory.  He got it out and set it up all by himself:)  

My sparkling diamond

I just had one of those "ah ha" moments and needed to write it down. I was sitting at my computer and the sunlight hit my wedding ring and made little sparkles of light above me on my computer armoir. My first thought was "ah, how pretty," and then I moved my hand to make the sparkles dance. As I enjoyed this for a few seconds (it's amazing how sometimes our "ah ha" moments come in those few quiet seconds) I realized how blessed I am to have that ring and all it symbolizes.

I'm am so GRATEFUL for my husband, for his love, for the eternity that the ring symbolizes, for our family, for his secure job, for our home, for our safety, for our health, for our happiness (which is centered in Jesus Christ).

And all of these things combined (and many more) are my sparkling diamond.

I saw God today in the sunlight hitting my diamond:)

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.