Wednesday, August 31, 2011

I am grateful for my children.

I can't put into words my gratitude to my Heavenly Father for giving me 5 of His precious sons and 1 of His beautiful daughters. Today was a day where I found myself viewing them through the lens of eternity and wondering what their Heavenly Father has in store for them. They are remarkable spirits, and I am grateful to be eternally sealed to them.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

I am grateful for this quote by Marjorie Hinckley.


I think of this quote often when I am cleaning greasy fingerprints off the fridge, or wiping jelly from our piano keys, or staring at myself in the mirror wondering when the last time I showered was, or ...


"I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbor's children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed some one's garden. I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived."

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

I am grateful for journal entries.

08/23/11 (Tuesday)

"Life is spinning.  School has begun.  Kids need my help and my husband is gone (traveling for business).  The answer ... turn off the phones, settle down and reconnect with the Lord, then my children." 

Going back to school is never an easy transition for ANYONE in the home.  I was beginning to wonder whether a mother needs a "back to school" blessing as well as the kids.

Every once and a while I will have a day that will throw me off my game, but I REFUSE to dwell there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Besides, who can complain when there is so much to be grateful for?!



"WELCOME THE TASK THAT 
MAKES YOU 
GO BEYOND YOURSELF 
AND 
YOU WILL GROW."

Julie B. Beck

Friday, August 19, 2011

I am grateful for our last week to sleep in!

It has been a glorious summer and I hate to see it end!  Here are the highlights:

Enjoying slurpees, ice cream sandwiches and buttery air popped popcorn.

Watching The Cosby Show with the kids.

Late night tennis and bike riding at the park.
(My fourth son learned how to ride his bike in less than one minute)

A wonderful trip to visit my amazing Canadian family, and watch my brother's plays.
(He has the most beautiful voice!)

A trip to California with my sister to cure my CCSVI ... AND have some fun too!
(Just in case you are wondering, I am doing great!  I still have nerve issues in my legs and some tremors that come and go, but overall my energy and memory problems are greatly improved.  I continue to rejoice in the small improvements, and ultimately I find great hope, relief and joy by turning to my Savior.  Thank you everyone for your support, especially thank you to my husband and my kids because they have had to bear the brunt of my condition and they have never once complained or got impatient with me!
I am a blessed woman.)

Sending the boys on Scout/Cub camps, and rejoicing in leaders who help my boys progress.

Dinner around the table every night at 6:00 p.m.  
(It made such a difference)

Neighborhood night games for the kids.

Front row tickets to Josh Groban.
(My husband and I celebrate our 15 year anniversary on August 24th, and this concert was our gift to each other.)

Playing Scattergories, Clue and Masterpiece.
(Our boys are learning how to handle defeat, 
IT IS A MIRACLE!)

and

The Classic Fun Center every week.
(Blast Zone, roller skating, swimming, bouncy house, jungle and dollar pizza ...
also known as a kid's paradise.) 
OHHH ...  WE WILL MISS YOU SUMMER!

Thursday, August 18, 2011

I am grateful for life.

In May, I had shots in my hips for bursitis.  On the way home from the appointment I began to feel extremely dizzy and weak, and then I started to have a hard time breathing.  I could barely keep my head up and I knew something from the shots was taking over my body ... and fast.  I am amazed I could drive in my condition, but I kept on praying that Heavenly Father would bless me to make it home safely.  I stumbled into the house and awkwardly ran down the hall and collapsed onto my bedroom floor.  I was struggling for air and my heart was rapidly pounding in my chest.  I was able to muster enough energy to call out to my husband and desperately inform him that I needed a blessing.  As I was about to take what felt like my last breath, my husband finished the blessing of healing and immediately I stopped gasping for air and my breathing became more normal.  I still had a hard time swallowing and my body was weak, but I knew I was going to recover.  My husband called the Dr. and he said that I must have had a systemic reaction to the lidocaine or steroid.

So after having this experience I asked myself what the Lord would have me learn from this?  This is what I came up with:

I learned, WITHOUT A DOUBT, that the priesthood power is real.  The power to heal is real, and that I am so grateful for that power and authority in my home.  I can't imagine what would have happened if my husband hadn't been there to give me a blessing ... I guess we will never know, but I like what it says in the Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom:

"There are no 'if's' in God's world. And no places that 
are safer than other places. 
The center of His will is our only safety - let us pray 
that we may always know it!"

LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Thursday, August 11, 2011

I am grateful for funny experiences.

On Monday we made some caramel popcorn for Family Home Evening and decided to take it to our neighbor, who broke his back a few months ago in a snowboarding accident.  The kids ran the treat over and ran back feeling a bit silly.  They quickly relayed the information that our neighbor had just gotten his wisdom teeth out that very day, and he couldn't eat popcorn for weeks.  We had a good laugh about our amazing timing.  It reminded me of the time I took a "meat lovers" pizza over to another neighbor who was recovering from an operation, only to find out she is a vegetarian.  I often chuckle at that experience too. 

Thursday, August 4, 2011

I am grateful for answers found in the Book of Mormon.

Is there a God?
(Alma 22)
What does Jesus Christ expect of me?
(2 Nephi 9)
How can a belief in Jesus Christ help me?
(Alma 36)
Is there life after Death?
(Alma 40)
What is the purpose of life?
(Alma 34)
Why does God allow evil and suffering to occur?
(2 Nephi 2; Alma 14:9-11; 60:13)
Does my infant need to be baptized?
(Moroni 8)
Does God know me?
(Alma 5:38, 58)
Does God answer prayers?
(Enos 1)
How can I find peace and joy?
(Mosiah 2, 4)
How can my family be happier and more united?
(Mosiah 2)
How can I balance my family and career?
(3 Nephi 13)
How can I strengthen my relationship with my spouse?
(3 Nephi 14)
How can I avoid the evils that threaten my family?
(Alma 39)
How can I avoid sin?
(Helaman 5)

Monday, August 1, 2011

I am grateful for piano recitals.

My three oldest boys spent three full weeks preparing for their big performance on Saturday. They each needed to play two pieces at the recital. They spent hours and hours mastering and memorizing their pieces. On the day of the performance I was praying that their nerves wouldn't get the best of them. We even set up a reward system that hinged on them not crying if they made a mistake (I know ... parenting magazines would be horrified). Well, it turns out all my worry was for nothing because the boys ended up performing beautifully. It sure wasn't an easy road, but ultimately the experience outweighed the sacrifice and effort.