Day 14 Peaches and Naps

I am writing tonight in hopes of bringing myself back to "center".  So much has been going on this week that I feel a little bit in a whirlwind.  Today being the Sabbath gives me time to regroup.  It's obvious to me now that writing daily is a bit overzealous for the life I lead right now.  But it doesn't mean I don't spend time daily recognizing how the Lord has blessed me.  Here are a few highlights from this week.

After a stressful day riddled with panic attacks and frustrations (and conquering my fear of driving in bigger cities), I drove home feeling spent.  Then I remembered it was time to do peaches and I had yet to find any.  I thought about stopping at the nearest fruit stand but kept getting the impression to head straight home.  The kids were already out of school and I needed to be there.  Trusting the impression I had, I more calmly drove home.  Not five minutes after walking in the door a sweet neighbor called to see if I wanted her left over peaches.  Turned out she didn't have just a few leftover.  I was able to get all that I really wanted to can and still had extra.  Thank you Heavenly Father for knowing that the money I almost spent on peaches would be better used elsewhere.  And thank you dear neighbor for also following a prompting and thinking of me!

Today just getting ready for church was a battle.  You know those days when you remember last minute you were in charge of something big and dropped the ball.  Yep, seems like the last two Sundays have been doozies for me.  Well, that alone can pretty much push me over the edge.  This was coming off a really busy and stress filled weekend, lots of driving, late nights, and colds all the way around.  Everyone woke up sluggish (doesn't help that the house was trashed).  By the time we actually made it to church (early-believe it or not) I was a basket case.  Half way through Sacrament meeting daughter #2 and I made our way to the bathroom with upset stomachs and incessant running noses.  While taking care of things my little one said "Mom, if I am sick will I have to go home?"  Notice the "have to" not "get to".  Amidst all the things I am doing wrong I must be doing at least a little something right.  She was able to stay and actually begged that we have choir practice so she could stay longer.  

Naps.  Need I say more?  Um, yep, I will.  It's not often that we actually get to "rest" on our Sabbath.  Who does that with three little ones that still need to be taken care of.  But today I got the prompting that if we didn't we wouldn't make it through the week.  So following a late lunch we all headed to our rooms for a little quiet time.  And all five of us slept.  At the same time.  For at least 2 hours.  Holy cow!  Heavenly Father knew that Jimmy and I needed rest desperately and the only way to get it was to have everyone fall asleep.  We all slept right through dinner but who cares.  We needed it.  Once again God proves he is a God of mercy!

How did God show you His mercy this week?

Day 13 Laughter

Okay, so I'm obviously not perfect and missed several days between blog posts.  But it doesn't mean I haven't still been trying to see the tender mercies in my life.  Over this last weekend I have had quite a few...laughter (which hasn't happened in way toooo long), reconnecting with a friend, being there for a family member when they needed help, having prayers answered in the form of conversations, websites, facebook posts, and even pinterest, an awesome swimming day with my girls, safe travel, projects going smoother and quicker than planned, and a huge release of guilt!  Maybe more on the guilt thing later, since most of us ladies really need to let it go!!!!  I am way to tired to go into detail right now about any of these things...maybe tomorrow...maybe not.  But know that in my quest for being my best grateful and happy self, I am making progress.  I felt and said things this weekend I didn't think I would ever be able to say out loud and it felt awesome!  I feel a burden off my shoulders and God's love all around me.  He truly is mindful of me and my needs.  He is guiding me down some very different paths right now, but I know he won't leave me.  And by golly, things are just getting fun!

Changed my mind...more on laughter!

I recognized this last weekend that it's been a really long time since my husband, kids, and I actually did something fun.  Just sitting there laughing our heads off fun!  I had been wondering why things seemed so gloomy in our home, why we just weren't coping with regular life.  Then it donned on me!  When was the last time we quit talking about how hard life is, and just did something fun?  Something that made us laugh?  Ummmm...if I have to think that hard, it's really been tooooo long!  So I told my husband that we needed to do something about it.  A few days later a friend came into town whom I dearly love and admire (and whose husband can make me laugh at the drop of a hat) and I laughed all night long-till 4:30 in the morning.  I felt like a giddy school girl (essential oils had a little do to with it).  The next morning-once I dragged my sorry self out of bed-I felt energized and motivated to do something I was scared to do-rip out a wall.  We had so much fun!  And we laughed some more.  I couldn't believe how much it changed my outlook on life.  By darn it...I have to find something everyday to laugh at!

At church on Sunday the Relief Society lesson was on being happy.  I was taking copious notes!  The teacher gave some references to some talks that made me laugh.  She quoted (mistakingly) President James E. Faust as saying "If you want or need to laugh and you don’t—if you suppress laughter—it goes to your hips and spreads out."  I was busting up.  To imagine that man saying that...ha ha ha.  I had to find the quote.  I looked all over, in the talk she referenced.  Couldn't find it.  What I did find was a talk by Mary Ellen Edmunds that she gave at Women's Conference in 2004 entitled "If thou are merry, praise the Lord".  It's all about humor.  It's a great one... absolutely worth reading.  http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=1397  She said that she had heard the thought about suppressed laughter going to your hips.  In her talk it was right after a quote from President Faust and appeared to be from the same reference, although it wasn't.  Either way, I love the thought (it's going in my kitchen) and I got a great kick out of imaging President Faust saying it.  One other quote I loved from this talk was...

"Sister Hinckley had (and I’m sure still has) a delightful sense of humor. She said: “The only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it. You either have to laugh or cry. I prefer to laugh. Crying gives me a headache” (Virginia H. Pearce, ed., Glimpses into the Life and Heart of Marjorie Pay Hinckley [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1999], 107)..."

Love that lady!  Crying gives me a headache too.  

So my question to you is...When was the last time you laughed and what did you laugh about?  Let me hear it!  Maybe we can all get a good laugh today!

Day 12 Daddy saves the day!

Today I panicked.  I spent the morning exercising and visiting with a friend.  It was great!  I lost track of time and forgot my kindergartner had homework.  She was supposed to glue or draw pictures of things that are important to her.  We had less than an hour to get home, do homework, eat lunch and do hair.  It should have been enough time...but it wasn't.  I panicked.  I called my sweet husband, who was entirely swamped at work, and asked if he could find and print a picture of our family that my little one could glue.  Then I ran to Wendy's, grabbed some nugs and fries, used my friends mirror to do hair and headed to our business.  As we ate in the back room my little one glued the fabulous picture and ate her nugs.  We were only 2 minutes late to school.  I am so grateful that my husband recognizes when I am "crazy" and is willing to help.  He truly saved the day, and my sanity (or what little of it is left)!

Day 11

Tender Mercy today:   Ibuprofen.  What did the pioneers do without painkillers.  Last night I stressed myself into a migraine.  I do that quite often.  I tried essential oils, de-stressing, and everything else I could think of.  In the end, I was so grateful I had another option.  This morning when I woke up I felt soooo much better.

Day 10 Dr. Seuss

I am sure there must be something wrong with me...I've never really cared that much for Dr. Seuss.  But when you have a little darling who has been really struggling with reading for two years and you have all but given up on it, to come into her room and hear her working through Cat in the Hat...brings tears to you eyes!  Thank you Heavenly Father, I needed that today!  I think we're gonna make it!

Day 9 Frozen Tuna

Sometimes our blessings are so obvious.  My goal with this blog and challenge for myself is to find something every day for the next year to be grateful for.  Yesterday was more of a challenge to recognize the Lord's hand.  I was grouchy!  I felt overwhelmed!  I was truly tired!  When I finally went to bed I couldn't sleep!  So this morning I wasn't too optimistic.  I tried something a little new today.

 A friend told me about a conference they were at where Sister Julie B. Beck was the speaker.  She invited the sisters in the meeting to pray when they first wake up, while all things are still quiet (her kids must be grown).  She invited them to ask the Lord what he would have them do that day and to ponder for a few minutes before facing the day.  So this morning I gave it a try.  I asked the Lord to direct me.  A few minutes later I made my "to do" list.  Guess what?  I didn't do anything on my list.  I started a few of the items...but along the way things came up.  A friend called and wanted to visit...My 5 year old wanted to get ready for the first day of school...the girls actually wanted to eat dinner (can't imagine why)...well, life got in the way of my to do list.  But I was so grateful that I listened! It was great connecting with that friend this morning, it was fun to see how excited my little darling is for school, and the kids loved dinner (which they've never eaten when I made it before).  All of these were less obvious blessings.  I had to dig a little to see them.  But after all this, our dear neighbor who is moving very far away dropped by.  "Could you use some food?  Our freezer is full and we can't take it with us.  While you are at it, why don't you use this freezer while we are gone."  Um....ya.  An obvious tender mercy!  Now I just have to figure out what to do with frozen tuna.  The food was an addition to a trampoline her sons brought over yesterday and a really great headboard and foot board they brought over this morning.  The Lord knows our needs, even when we don't ask!

One more thing...not knowing how many school clothes we would be able to purchase and knowing how exciting it is to wear new clothes on the first day of school, I let the girls pick out a pattern and fabric from my stash and was making them an outfit for the first day of school.  I finished one dress last week and had half of another shirt done.  Finishing it was on my "to do" list today.  And quite frankly I was wondering if I would find time today to get it done.  I was determined to sew after the girls went to bed, but I needed to get my exercise in for my challenge and knew I wouldn't be worth much after that.  The girls were getting their pajamas on and were talking about what they wanted to wear.  I asked them about the clothes I had been making.  My newly turned 7 year old looked me in the eye and said "Mom, I don't want you to have to worry about my shirt tonight.  I can just wear something else.  You finish it when you have time."  She didn't know how stressed I was about getting it done.  But I thought it was really sweet and super intuitive that she would realize the pressure I was under.  How does a 7 year old recognize such things?  Did I mention she's pretty close to the Spirit?  Oh, how I love her!  Another HUGE tender mercy!  And though I was a little sad that they won't get to wear what I made them, my husband said "at least you are making them something."  I guess I take for granted the wonderful things my mom created for me as a kid and the things she taught me to do for my own kids.

Do you take time to ask the Lord "What would you have me do today?"  What has been the outcome?

Day 8 Motivation

I don't know about you, but I have a hard time staying motivated to exercise, eat better, and take care of my spirit.  Our relief society started a wellness challenge today in hopes that we could help push each other to be just a little better.  We get points for personal prayer and scripture study, 20 minutes of exercise, drinking out 64 oz of water, and eating 5 fruits and veggies.  I have found a new friend here in my small town (that is a tender mercy in and of itself) and she wanted to take the challenge with me.  But we decided to step it up a few notches.  We added a few more things, such as no sugary sweets or treats for the day, and losing points for raising our voices to our kids.  And we gave ourselves 1 point for every minute we exercise.

Like most people, I exercise better when someone else is expecting me to show up, and if they will talk to me while I am working out-you know so that I don't think about what I am doing.  So this morning to kick off our challenge we decided to walk.  For the past year I have been struggling with an adrenal gland problem and it has been really difficult for me to exercise.  So needless to say, I am really out of shape.  After about 30 minutes I wasn't sure how long I would make it.  But we kept going. I kept going because SHE kept going.  And I am so grateful!  Yep, it pretty much wiped me out for the rest of the day, but I know it will all be worth it.  My tender mercy for today is a friend who accepts me for who I am, but knows I can be better and pushes and encourages me to improve and reach my goals.  I know a loving Heavenly Father sent someone my way to help me achieve my goals.  And I think He's doing the same for her.  We said today that we felt we were being guided by the Spirit, and that gives us the strength to do what we need to do to be better mothers, wives, daughters, and servants.

Has the Lord placed someone in your life that has helped or is helping you reach your potential?  Tell me about it.

Day 7 A Pinterest session?

Day 7:  Now that I am all caught up it's time for today's tender mercy.  This may sound goofy, and maybe it is.  We moved into a great home built in the 80's.  The outside isn't much to shout about but the people before us did an amazing job making this place look "posh" (as my sis-in-law would say).  I really like their taste and I liked that I didn't have to pay to do the things they did!  While the basic interior design (walls, doors, moldings) totally rocks, I have had a really hard time making this house mine.  There is tons of storage-but not where I want it.  It gets very limited natural light because of 4 very large and beautiful trees in the back yard.  It has plenty of room, but it is all closed up and claustrophobic-at least to me.  So...for the last 2 years I have been trying (it feels fruitlessly) to make this thing mine...ours.  It seems that one way the Lord answers my prayers (such as "How do I get more natural light in the kitchen) is to give me a clear picture of how something should look or feel.  So now walls are going to come down and closets ripped out and a host of other things that will make this place a little more open.  But one of the parts I have still been struggling with is how to decorate it so that it is pleasing to me and uplifts my spirit.  I don't like a lot of "things".  I have learned that the less I have the happier I am.  I have made things, sold them to someone else, painted and repainted existing things, moved things around, looked at pinterest...a lot.  And finally something odd happened today.  After church, while the kids were having some quiet time, I had the impression to go to pinterest.  Huh?  Usually that becomes a time waster for me-all be it a fun one.  But ok, I am learning to follow promptings even when they don't make sense.  And boy, did I feel directed.  After browsing for a few minutes I was drawn to a blog that had some very simple, yet perfect ideas for some of the areas I was struggling with.  I could see some clear pictures of what I wanted to do in my home and where I wanted to do it.  I came away from this pinterest "session" with a renewed energy to make my home a place my family and I REALLY want to be.  And now I have motivation to really make it happen.  No, I probably won't post before and after pictures...or maybe I will.  But if anyone wants in on the excitement come on over.  Gotta love pinterest!  Gotta love the Lord even more!

How does the Spirit speak to you?

Day 6 Granny's Apricot Leather

Day 6:  I learned to can fruit and vegetables from my Mom and Dad.  It was a family affair.  Especially since we grew up with very little money and a garden that took up 1/4 acre.  Oh, and don't forget my four brothers that ate like horses (saying pigs would be rude).  I love to eat things that I know I grew, harvested, and preserved.  Until a few years ago, I didn't realize how much money my mom really spent on fruit to bottle.  We didn't have fruit trees growing up but my siblings and I wouldn't eat fruit from a can-just what my mom put up.  This year, funds being tight and all, I wondered how we were going to fill up the cupboards with bottled fruit.  Today a customer at our store (also a friend) called to see if I wanted some apricots.  Apricot leather is one of my MOST favorite treats!  It reminds me of sleepovers at grandma's house.  Love my dear sweet grandma!  Apricots are one of the fruits I refuse to spend money on but have had a really hard time getting my hands on since we moved.  I was floored that this friend (whom I seldom see or talk to) thought to offer ME apricots.   Thank you Heavenly Father for again answering a prayer through someone else.  And thank you Kristen for listening to a prompting.

How has the Lord answered your prayer today?

Day 5 Movie Moments

Day 5:  In an effort to get my darling 6 year old's music ability headed in the right direction, we started violin lessons.  Yep, her and I together...well...kind of.  Our backyard neighbor plays and we have been trading piano for violin.  My dream has always been to learn to fiddle.  So, though I don't play at the lessons, I listen very closely, then my daughter and I practice together.  Kind of a fun mother-daughter bonding time.  Well, this little darling is still struggling to stay focused for more than like 5 seconds so sometimes this is really a challenge-let's not talk about homework.  Today, our violin time was like a movie moment.  You know those times when you have just the right music on in the background and everything is picture perfect and you think "this came right out of a movie".  Well, WE were the music background and it really did feel like it came out of a movie.  What a pleasure!  I love sharing my love of music with her!  She has such a natural talent.  I hope I can stick it out during those horror film movie moments long enough for her to learn how to play this thing!

You know those times as a mother when you can't find a quiet room anywhere in the house and you really need to make some phone calls?  Does anyone else put things off because keeping the kids quiet enough to call the dentist is just too overwhelming?  Well, I confess, I have put things such as this off all summer.  Now my guilt (yep I said the g word) is eating me up and it's time to get some of these appointments taken care of.  The kids were playing so well (after all we started with a movie moment) that I left them upstairs and retreated to the basement with the cell phone and the laptop.  After the first half hour of serenity (well, as serene as you can feel making dentist appointments)  I started to wonder what was going on upstairs.  You know, when it's too quiet.  I found the little darling playing school and teaching 2 year old sister how to color.  How sweet-yep, another movie moment.  I guess I'll head back downstairs and take care of a few other things I have been putting off.  Another 30 minutes later I came back upstairs to find that now that 2 year old sister knows how to cut...and paste...and color with markers.  Um, didn't you even remotely wonder if gluing things to the piano bench was a bad idea?  In all the chaos, I am still thankful that the Lord gave me a few minutes to take some really important things off my plate.  Guilt...be gone!

When was your last movie moment?

Day 4 A Small Miracle

Day 4:  After a long weekend, no sleep, and tons of hours in the car, it's a wonder I am even on my feet today.  But my tender mercy came in a way I wouldn't have expected.  I LOVE to craft and sew.  In our home I have my "own" room.  I don't share it with anyone or anything...ok, except a few buckets of food storage and my kids art supplies.  I have yards and yards of fabric, dressers and shelves full of crafting supplies, and totes full of patterns.  Did I mention I love to craft and sew?  Something about being thrifty...and I keep thinking back on a quote I heard President Gordon B. Hinckley say.  Paraphrasing, of course, " I wish every young woman knew how to use a sewing machine.  Then as the world's fashion gets farther and farther from modest, you will still be able to have clothes."  Well, I took it to heart.  And...Thank you MOM!  As any crafter will know, this room is usually a MESS!  And it sure dampens the creative juices.  Today I had the energy (and motivation...which is rare) to tidy up my messes in this room and organize my children's activities and supplies.  No, I am not going to post pictures of what it looks like now and how I did it (besides, it won't look like that in a week...and either does anybody elses.  They always post right after the project.  Not six months-or six days in my case- later when it looks just as trashed as it did when they started.)  When I was done I felt as if a dark cloud had lifted off that part of my home and my creative juices were running so fast I needed a pitcher to catch them in.  Maybe this seems like an odd gift from God, but in my world things like this are small miracles.  So, thank you Heavenly Father for helping me accomplish something big in a little time.


What did the Lord help you do today?

Day 3 Get me to the Church on Time

Day 3:  Our really quick trip to Colorado did give us enough time to spend one night with our dear friends and attend church services with them the next morning.  After being in the car all day, staying up all night talking, and struggling to keep kids in foreign beds, getting the kids ready and to 9 am meeting on time was really a blessing.  We can't even do that when we are at home and church starts at 11am.  It was wonderful to enjoy the spirit of saints from other places.  In primary they were learning about being kind.  They asked my 6 year old what she would do if she had some toys she didn't play with any more.  They were going for the "give them to another child" kind of answer.  Instead they got "Ask my mom if I can have a yard sale!"  I happened to be in primary at that moment and couldn't decided whether to be embarrassed or proud of her thriftiness.  Yep, we are on a tight budget and we have resorted to a yearly yard sale to have money to tune the piano.  But what a blessing!

Did the Lord soften the hearts of your children today?

Days 2 Blessed through others

It's amazing how quick just watching for things to be grateful for can change your attitude.  I have had the prompting several times to start writing this blog.  It is something I have put off time and time again.  After a great day at BYU Education week I was reminded that learning to recognize the Gifts from God would help me to make some changes in my thinking which are long overdue.  Day 1 was actually written back in July but it wasn't until this afternoon that my husband sat me down and taught me how to set up a blog.  Now for catch up!

Day 2:  We were able to take a really quick trip to Colorado to be at the LDS Temple Sealing of some of my dearest friends to their adopted children.  My kids are in the car a lot (we live about 2.5 hours from family).  When we shop for our business it is always a 30-45 minute drive.  This trip to Colorado was 6 hours and we were to be there by 2pm.  That may seem like nothing, but my kids were 6, 5, and 2 and for this trip we weren't fortunate enough to have any dvd players or other devices to keep them busy.  After our pre-journey prayer we hit the road hoping for the best.  The kids did so well the my husband commented that maybe he was ready to take that 16 hour drive to Disneyland after all.  When we arrived at the temple we found that the babysitters that had been lined up to help with kids (they are not permitted into the temple) couldn't make it.  After all that I was afraid that one of us would miss the ceremony.  As we were walking into the waiting room at the temple, two sweet sisters were walking out.  Our friend asked them if they had plans for the next hour and if they wouldn't mind watching a few kids (5 to be exact-one being an infant).  They graciously accepted and we were shuttled in to the ceremony.  Tender mercies for day 2:  Great kids on a long ride and an unexpected babysitter.

Did the Lord bless your life through someone else today?

Day 1 Getting Started

I admit, I am not really into blogs.  I don’t really spend much time reading them other than checking out an occasional post I found on Pinterest.  I never in my wildest dreams thought I would be writing one myself.  Somehow, in my mind I thought it was too worldly.  Then recently President Uchtdorf said we should use our technology (even mentioning blogs, twitter, and face book) to spread the gospel and reach out to others. 

So a few weeks ago I was mowing the lawn, and (I’ll admit it) wallowing in a little self pity.  My guess is that every mother of young children has some of the feelings that I experience daily (although I wouldn’t know because in my Mormon culture no one will admit it).  So as I was feeling a little under qualified, underappreciated, and underpaid, I had a strong feeling.  “Write a blog about the Tender Mercies you experience every day!”  I mean, how many lessons have we had about gratitude and how it changes our attitude.  I have tried the gratitude journals, jars, doors, walls, etc.   But, just like so many other things in my life, I have not “finished” any of them-or got very far for that matter.  So I thought…well, I think this might be a prompting from a higher place and maybe I should give it a try. 

A few days later one of my dear friends invited me to read her new blog (she has another great one about marriage that we want her to turn into a book).  This friend has been instrumental in teaching me about the Spirit, how to feel it, how to know when I’ve lost it, and how to invite revelation.  Needless to say, this friend (and her dear hubby) have taught me some extremely life changing lessons and I am forever indebted.  We don’t live close to them anymore and I miss their insight dearly. So when I saw she was at it again I felt I needed to gain greater insight.  I mentioned to her that I was thinking of starting a blog and she commented “well, I would read it.”  I am not writing for anyone else to read…but I guess maybe it could help others to see the Tender Mercies in their daily lives.

This is the start of a journey for me…A journey to get closer to my Savior and Heavenly Father.  A journey to understand my own worth (He must love me a whole lot if He will bless me daily with small and simple things to show me He lives and loves me).  It is a journey to be more grateful and hopefully have a change of heart and attitude.  I hope that through this process I will learn to love more deeply, appreciate the simple things, recognize the gifts from the Lord, and begin to recognize the Spirit's presence in my life. 

That said, my posts may be short and sweet, perhaps even just a sentence, or a novel, but will allow you (and myself) some insight into how the Lord blesses me.

Day 1 (Well actually day one was several weeks ago and since then I have been thinking almost daily what my Tender Mercy would be).  A popsicle.    We have been really struggling these past two weeks with the weather (it’s been really hot here) and the smoke (we are surrounded by wildfires) and lack of sleep.  It seems since the smoke settled into our little valley my kids have been having health problems.  Their eyes got really red and goopy, they started coughing, then throwing up, constipation, diarrhea, infections…the list goes on.  With the holiday and all, we have been getting less sleep and more sun (not a good combination).  I have let things get behind inside and outside the house.  So today in anticipation for hitting the road again tomorrow, I was mowing the lawn.  It hadn’t been done for two weeks.  I sent my kiddos inside because it was quite warm and asked the oldest one to put on a movie for the younger ones.  Half way through the yard, once again wallowing a little, I saw my new and cute little neighbor (he’s a widower in his 50’s or 60’s) walking toward me holding a a root beer popsicle.  Of course root beer is my favorite!  I wanted to cry.  All he said was “You look like you could use this.  Oh, and thanks for the cookies.”  The Lord loves me and wanted me to know that someone recognized what I was doing and knew I needed a small act of kindness.  A popsicle.  Who knew?  God knew! 

But oh, how quickly I forget.  It didn’t take long for me to get back into the “Why the heck did I have kids?” mode.  So now, after a bath, a shower, some sugar and now some contemplating, I am remembering again!

What was your popsicle today?

Elder Bednar "The Tender Mercies of the Lord"