Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Gratitude for the Little Things


Sometimes I find it is hard to realize how blessed my life really is. I know I like to say I am grateful for all my blessings, but sometimes feel like I never take the time to really think about what each little blessing is? The other day I was laying in my hammock under the cherry tree thinking of all the many blessing I have in my life. This is how my thoughts went:

Wow, the cherry blossoms are really big and beautiful.

I am so thankful for my Heavenly Father who created such beautiful blossoms on this tree.

I am thankful for the person who planted this tree so many years ago so I can be enjoying its beauty today.

I am thankful it is a perfect tree for my hammock.

I am thankful for this time to sit in this hammock and look at these beautiful blossoms.

I am thankful for whoever made this hammock so I can be resting in it and looking at these cherry blossoms.

I am thankful for a beautiful little girl, who is napping, so I can be in this hammock under this tree looking at these beautiful blossoms.

I am thankful for the baby monitor so I don’t have to be in the house while she sleeps and can be in this hammock looking at these gorgeous cherry blossoms.

I am grateful for this perfect, peaceful, warm, spring, afternoon that I can be looking at the beautiful blossoms on the cherry tree.

The list could go on and on. In that moment I could feel the many small and little blessing that I take most for granted each day of my life. What a wonderful blessing that my Heavenly Father gave to me to have that moment of peace, beauty, and gratitude in my life. (from a journal entry April 2009)


Monday, April 19, 2010

Week 2 - Jesus Christ Our Redeemer


"Hope comes from faith in Jesus Christ. He has already overcome the world and has promised that He will wipe away our tears if we will only turn to Him and believe and follow.

Some who at this very moment feel desperate or discouraged may wonder how they can possibly regain hope. If you are one of those, remember that hope comes as a result of faith. If we would build our hope, we must build our faith.

Faith in the Savior requires more than mere belief. The Apostle James taught that even the devils believe and tremble. But true faith requires work.

... I testify of Him, that He has overcome the world, that He will never forget or abandon us, for He has graven us upon the palms of His hands. I testify that those who keep His commandments will grow in faith and hope. They will be given strength to overcome all of life’s trials. They will experience peace that passes all understanding."

The Rock of Our Redeemer

Elder Wilford W. Andersen

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Week 1


"Now, mothers, I understand that it sometimes appears that our children aren’t paying attention to the lessons we’re trying to teach them. Believe me—I’ve seen that glazed-over look that comes to the eyes of teenagers just when you’re coming to what you think is the best part of your instruction. Let me assure you that even when you think your daughter is not listening to a thing you say, she is still learning from you as she watches you to see if your actions match your words. As Ralph Waldo Emerson is believed to have said, “What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say”."

Mothers and Daughters

Elder M. Russell Ballard
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles


Last week was a church wide General Conference. We were very uplifted by talks from prophets, apostles, and other church leaders. The talks give instruction and guidance for our daily lives. For the next few weeks, I want to focus on the talks from this past General Conference and share a little thought that touched me.


Monday, April 5, 2010

Making Lemonade from Lemons

This past week, the girls had a little vacation and Grandma and Grandpa's house in while Jeremy and I went on a little vacation to Washington DC. We tagged along with my mom while she was at a conference. Thus we got a free hotel room at one of the nicest hotels in DC and we were also able to get free airfare.

However free airfare comes at a cost. Somehow, it always does. We had a layover in Phoenix that was only supposed to be about 45 minutes. However, our plane was delayed about 45 minutes. So our layover time was doubled.

We were supposed to get into BWI at 11:35, however we got in at around 12:30. Then it took a long time for our baggage to get up to us. Then we hurried over to the shuttle service whom we had booked a ride with.

At 1:02 they told us that we would have to wait 20 to 30 minutes for another plane with some other passengers that was just landing.

Well we waited...and waited...and waited. We had to wait. It was so late that only one shuttle driver was still working that was going to DC.

At 1:48 the others arrived and we were on our way...not straight to DC. First we made a stop at a residential neighborhood to drop one man off. Then we stopped at another hotel on the other side of DC for another man.

After we dropped off the second passenger, Jeremy decided to strike up a conversation with the driver. He was a black man with an accent. Jeremy served his mission with many blacks in the West Indies and dove right back into the missionary inside him. (Complete with his West Indies accent slipping back. Ya Mon!)

He asked the man about himself. Where he was from and if he had ever heard about the Mormons. He talked to him about the temples and church and the Book of Mormon. I even found a pass along card in my scriptures to give to him. The man was very nice and receptive to the discussion about our church.

It always amazes me at how Jeremy can take a crumby situation and turn it into a good experience.

At 3:00 am we FINALLY made it to our hotel.