~Blessed~

So much has happened the last couple of weeks that have made me stopped and count my blessing, I have been reminded many times over that my little family is very blessed.

A couple of weeks ago Ward was offered a job, a really good job, but he already was employed and doing really well. He had no reason to accept the job, then he was given another offer and yet another one. At the time I thought it was great to have so many offers and to be employed, when so many are without work at this time.

A few weeks later Ward came home and said they told him there was no work, he wasn't laid off, there was still busy work, but it gave us both time to pause and really look at what the future held. It was time to make some hard decisions.

The first offer he was given was still on the table, he interviewed with the second offer and turned it down. The third offer was a little side job he can do at the same time he does his

full-time job.

Ward accepted the first offer and was very pleased with the agreed arrangements so

he is changing companies at the same time the kids were starting school.

The first week of school was a little crazier then normal with the new schedule to get use to.

After I got home from taking the girls to school, I sat back and took a deep breath, I am so grateful Ward works hard so I can be a stay at home mom. When the girls call I am here, when they need me I can be there, I can take them to lunch, I can be home with them when they are sick, I get to be their main influence before and after school.

Many times I have stopped during the day, overcome with emotion at how very blessed we are. We have work, we have a beautiful home, we have healthy children, who despite all the challenges thrown their way continue to choose the right.

I am very grateful.

I have been blessed.

~Listen to the Little Stuff~

Listen earnestly to anything your children want to tell you, no matter what. If you don't listen eagerly to the little stuff when they are little, they won't tell you the big stuff when they are big, because to them all of it has always been big stuff.
~Catherine M. Wallace~

~Thoughts~

I had to stop and reflect this morning as I sit in our quiet home among the loads of laundry, a kitchen that needs to be cleaned and the floor that needs to be mopped due to the spilled lucky charms this morning.

I usually dislike our home when it's quiet, but today I am grateful. I know that sounds crazy, but we have had a crazy month of sicknesses here, so a quiet home means a healthy home.

First, Raychel got a bad case of strep. It knocked her flat for 5 days. She had the sore throat, a cough, fever and the sore body the whole time.

The day she got better Jolene came down with a rash, a crazy head to toe rash.

She suffers from allergies so I thought maybe it was due to them. I took her to the doctor on a Saturday and he thought the same thing. At this time it was on her face and a little on her neck. By Sunday night it was every where.

I took her to our doctor on Monday to learn it wasn't because of allergies so the prescription I bought and had used for the 3 days wasn't helping. Our doctor got all excited because she hadn't seen this rash in years. Kids get vaccinated against it but every once in awhile a case comes around she said.

Jolene had Fifths Disease.

I know your asking yourself what???

It starts out kind of like a cold, cough, stuffy, low grade fever, sore muscles and headaches. I just put it off thinking allergies and she had sore muscles because they did the fitness jog, and she is training for her 5k. Now comes the pink cheeks, I thought sunburn until they didn't getting lighter they got brighter, but by then the rash appears.

The rash lasted about 10 days along with the aches. There isn't anything they can take it just runs its course.

The day the rash disappeared both girls got the flu! I couldn't believe our "luck". I guess if the flu is to come around both at the same time was good.

Today both girls are back to school. And for the first time in over a month I get to pick them both up from school and come home!

I know before I get to comfortable, I am so grateful for our "ordinary days" that tend to get "extraordinary" around the end of the school year.

With only two weeks left, we can do this!

~Thoughts~

Promise me you'll always remember:

You're braver then you believe, stronger then you seem, and smarter then you think.

Christopher Robin (Winnie the Pooh)

~Winnie The Pooh~

"Sometimes The Smallest Things Take Up The Most Room In Your Heart"

~Winnie The Pooh~

~One Of Those Months~

Have you ever had one of those days?  Well, I have had one of those months!  I struggle with migraines.  I know some people say it is just a headache, but until you have had a migraine or know someone really close to you who suffers from them it is hard to understand they are more then a headache.  I know my triggers.  I am very aware of what I eat, drink, the hours I sleep and the need to exercise to help with stress.  But no matter how careful I live my life, the migraines still come.  This month I have had more days with them then without.  I take my medicine faithfully, to try to avoid this. I get up, get as much done as I can before they hit.  When they hit I go into auto pilot to get me through the rest of my day.  If I am lucky I might get a little nap in to help me make it.  I can't just stop.  I have two beautiful active girls who need me.  I have student council, choir, 3 nights of ballet, gymnastic, Young Women's and activity days to get my girls to, and don't forget homework, play dates, date nights, family time, dinners, laundry, ironing, cleaning, and preparing lessons for my super cool primary kids.  Life goes on whether I feel good or not.  I was looking over some of my favorite blogs when I came across this amazing quote by Elder Holland.  It made me realize I have a loving Heavenly Father who knows me, He loves me, He knows what I am going through, He knows my struggles and when I feel I can't go on another day He lifts me up and I make it another day.  There is happiness in the end, good things will come,  I just need to take one day at a time.

~Just A Thought~

I have been called to teach primary at church  which means I spend most of my time with a great group of kids who are going to be 10 this year. When all the kids are in class there are at least 12 of them. I learn so much from their comments, testimonies and questions. They inspire me to study and be better. To look out at their innocent faces and know they are relying on me at this time in their lives to teach them can be overwhelming, but I still love it!
I have the best of both worlds, while I am teaching these kids, their parents are in having their own lessons that Ward gets to participate in.  When we get home I tell him about my class and the lesson I got to teach and he tells me about the lesson he learned.  We have a great discussion over these lessons together, sometimes our girls even get involved.  It makes for a great conversation as we prepare lunch together.  This week the lesson for the adults was titled "Love Thy Neighbour as Thyself".  We had a great discussion over this, after Ward and I talked about this I had to read the lesson myself.  I really enjoyed the lesson, there was so much to think about. I get so caught up in just living that I forget the real reason I am here. In the eternal view it doesn't matter if I am caught up with the laundry or if the dishes are done. What matters is how I treat others, do I reach out to those in need, am I intune with the spirit to know the needs of those around me? I want to understand the needs of those around me to serve them as I grow to love them. I need to love, serve and listen, that is what really matters. That is my goal for the New Year. ~LOVE~ SERVE ~LISTEN


 Here are some of my favorites of the lesson:

If we find a man or a woman who has not succeeded in life, one who is weakening in his faith, let us not turn our backs upon him; let us make it a point to visit him, and go to him in kindness and love, and encourage him to turn from the error of his way. The opportunity to do individual work among us as a people is present everywhere; and there are few men and few women in this Church who could not, if they would, reach out a little farther from the circle with which they are identified, and say a kind word, or teach the truth to some of our Father’s children. … This is our Father’s work. It is the most important thing that we will be identified with in this life.

I really like the last part where we are reminded that this is our Father's work.  We are doing his business.   We are representing Him with our actions or lack of actions toward others.

.....You cannot drive people to do things which are right, but you can love them into doing them, if your example is of such a character that they can see you mean what you say.

Our actions speak louder then our words.  We are always being watch, someone will notice how we are living our life whether it is for good or whether it is bad.  I think I have been influenced more by the people I watch then the words I have heard.  I hope I am an example of good for those who are watching me, especially my children.

 Our Heavenly Father has said in very plain terms that he who says he loves God and does not love his brother is not truthful [see 1 John 4:20].

This quote really hit me.  We can't say one thing and do another.  I am trying to remember we are all God's children, we all deserve to be treated as such.  My dad use to say, "You don't have to like everyone, but you do have to be civil."  I will never forget that.  There are many people we will come across that we wont get along with, that is normal, we are all different, but they deserve to be treated with kindness no matter what our differences are.   Which leads me to another one of my favorite parts of the lesson.

I have only good will in my heart for mankind. I haven’t any animosity in my heart toward any living human being. I know some that I wish would behave themselves a little better than they do, but that is their loss, not mine. If I can get my arm around them and help them back on the highway of happiness by teaching them the gospel of Jesus Christ, my happiness will be increased thereby. … You cannot drive people to do things which are right, but you can love them into doing them, if your example is of such a character that they can see you mean what you say.

I can not control others, I can only control myself.  I have the agency to choose how I will act and react to those around me who choose a different path then myself.  I love where he says,  "I know some that I wish would behave themselves a little better than they do, but that is their loss, not mine."  

The ending paragraph is the way I hope to live my life.  I want to be the best me I can be.  The only way that can happen is to follow the commandments and live my life after the Savior.

… Let us evidence our appreciation of what the Lord has given us by serving Him, and we are serving Him when we do good to His children. Freely we have received, now freely give [see Matthew 10:8]. With hearts warmed with love and kindness for our fellow men, let us press steadily on until the final summons shall come, and we shall meet our record. Then, if we have improved our talents, if we have been honest, true, chaste, benevolent, and charitable, and have sought to uplift every soul with whom we have associated, if we have lived up to the light we have received, and disseminated that light whenever opportunity has presented, how happy we will be and how our hearts will swell with gratitude when we receive from the Maker of heaven and earth that welcome plaudit: “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things; I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” [Matthew 25:21.]

~Just a thought~

This past week so much happened in a very short amount of time with very little time to think, only react. I hope I have reacted right. I sit hear looking back and thinking about all that has happened and get over come with emotions.
Last Sunday (Oct. 16) Ward hurt his knee bad enough he needed surgery. He injured it on Sunday and was in surgery on Thursday. Just the thought of surgery makes me nervous let alone someone I love going in for it. The last time he went in for knee surgery it was 2001. We had just moved into our home, I didn't know anybody well in our new area. I prayed hard, looked for a familiar name on the ward list then left my baby with her, a stranger, I only knew her name and were she lived. I sat in an old hospital alone and cried. I had never felt so alone before. I was in a new state, a new ward, no one to help. I cried and prayed like I had never done before. I wanted a friend, someone to walk in the hospital, hold my hand and sit with me. Just sit, don't talk, just sit and be there. No one came. I headed home alone leaving Ward at the hospital. I picked up our little girl and had her sleep in our bed with me. Morning couldn't come fast enough for me to go back to the hospital and pick up Ward. This time I took our baby with me, I didn't want to leave her again.

I thought about those feelings again as we planned on Ward's surgery. I didn't want to feel alone again, I didn't want our girls to feel alone or left behind while I waited at the hospital. So I had the girls go with us to the hospital. I was so glad I did. I know it was probably selfish on my part, in the long run it was perfect. We all sat and laughed, talked, and the girls had lots of questions they were able to get answered by seeing everything first hand. The nurses were great not only with Ward, but with the girls as well. They talked to them about what they were doing, they gave them hats and masks and helped them feel a part of the process. One of our girls would stand by Ward or hold his hand, she would look at me and smile and nod her head, as if to tell me he would be fine. These two little girls were my strength that day. I know they don't understand that, but they were my little friends to hold my hand and sit with me! I love them so much. I am so grateful Ward's surgery was a success. He looked great when we saw him. He looked pain free. I know that may sound funny, he just came from surgery but the pain he had been carrying in his eyes was gone. I was so happy for him, he had relief.
While we were at the hospital a wonderful friend called just to check in since she had just gotten home from her trip. She had no idea where we were. When I told her she said she was on her way, not only to be there for me but to help me with the girls. She was going to go pick them up if they were in town, she was ready to come to the hospital and get them to stay with her family until I got home. She was concerned about me and my family, she showed love for us just by her genuine desire to be there for me. She was willing to serve me even though she was tired from her own duties of the day. Over the weekend her and her husband came over to blow out our sprinklers because the weather was scheduled to make a change for the worse and they knew Ward wouldn't be able to do it. Several other neighbors came over to see how we were doing, they were concerned with Ward's car being home during the day, they took time out of their busy life's to make sure we were doing well. I am so grateful for them and the love they show to my family.
We also learned a dear neighbor lost her husband in an accident. I am so grateful for my knowledge of the Plan of Salvation. I am grateful for the testimony I have of of eternal families. Life can be so short, it is hard when a loved one leaves this earth. I want to take more time to cherish the ones I love, to make sure they know they are loved in ways they can't begin to understand. I want to be a better person because they deserve that from me.  I want to be the person I was intended to be, not the person I think I am.  I want to be the person our girls think I am.
I read this blog and found this amazing entry.  It really made me stop and think with all that has gone on in my little world and my neighbors.  As we take a look around yourself do you ever wonder what others are going through?  We all go through our own secret sorrows, we all wear a mask of what we want others to see. Do you ever take the time to look at others, really look at them and see their signs?  I am going to try to be more kind, not so judgemental, I may never know what their sign says but I can give them the benefit of the doubt, just like I hope they do me.   

~Just A Thought~

Love makes burdens lighter,

because you divide them.

It makes joys more intense,

because you share them.

It makes you stronger,

so that you can reach out

and become involved

with life in ways you

dared not risk alone.