November 1st - Reflection

Today we met with our Bishop, the leader of our local ward's congregation. While we met with him, it occurred to me at the end of our appointment, that it has been almost one year since we moved, a move that seemed to have much resistance from our children and was lonely those first few months. It brought about a new way of small town living, different people, new traditions, relationships and opportunities for our family that wouldn't have happened if we had stayed where we were at in life. The Lord knew we needed to be here and it was one of the hardest trials of my faith to make that change in listening to His wisdom that all would work out. It would be OK. I just need to trust Him that when the going gets tough, there will be light at the end, there will be a beautiful view at the top of that mountain that I would not have had the chance to see if it had not been for my beautiful heartbreak.  Beautiful heartbreak. I love THAT! Life takes us places we never thought we would be or end up with plot twists that make us say out loud, "Really Lord? You want me where?"  But isn't that the point? Did we not sign up for this! We signed up to come down here to live these lives where we knew there would be hard times where we would NEED to rely on the Lord to see His guidance in where we should be, who we should be in acquaintance with and where we need to be heading in living our lives to become more Christ-like.

I started this blog in 2014 to see the good in my life, those blessings I may have not been seeing in my normal day to day view, so busy, I may have missed them. I love reading over old posts because it reminds me that I am missing SO much of those little moments my Father in Heaven is smiling down on me, thinking of me and letting me know he CARES about ME, little old ME! He loves me and gives me trials so I can be blessed and learn a valued lesson from Him that is just for me.  Looking back, all of my trials with the right attitude, actually became blessings in disguise IF, I let them be. With the wrong attitude we can lose course, ending up somewhere else, forfeiting the valued lesson He wanted to teach us.   So for day one back at this challenge, I want to say, with a full heart, I am grateful for even the hard times, those trials that make it seem bleak, and persistently hard.  In the end if we hold on course, stay true to the faith and who we really are, we will make it to the end with a beautiful view on life that is just for us!

Day 86

I love me some good warm bubble baths!

I must get it from my mom since growing up I remember her taking in her women's magazines to read and soak. 

Now that is a great way to end the day - tea, book and some chocolate! 

Day 85

I gotta be honest....

Today was a hard day to find something to be grateful for.

But then I remembered this little thing I kept called a blog. 

It made me think hard because there is ALWAYS good to see - sometimes harder than others, yes I will admit that. 

When I stopped and thought about what it was that I was grateful for....it always came back to the blog. 

Yes, the blog. 

I am grateful for the BLOG because as I read through these posts, they clearly showed a pattern of change - a change in my perspective....and for that I am grateful because life is nothing if we do not do something with it!

A heart full of gratitude will carry you through anything. 

A heart full of gratitude will enlighten your mind. 

Best of all...it will make you realize it really is not that bad :).

Day 84

Another lazy day here for spring break! 

We went swimming at the Y before swimming lessons - well the older three did.
Charleigh and I hung pool side while they swam and what a bad idea that was!
She was moving and grooving all over the place and wanted to get into the pool since it was so hot in there.

Next time, we will be swimming with the older three.

Tonight, I was able to read a book with Chloe; "I love you forever" by Robert Munsch.
I gave Diana that book when she was two and the story just touches me every time.
The woman loves to rock her son and sing him her song and as she gets older the tides turn, and now he is the one holding his dear mother in his arms.
Life is like a ferris wheel.
Sometimes we are high and sometimes we are low.
And eventually the ride will end here on earth.

I am grateful for those chances to read stories with my children.
It always brings a smile to my face.
♥

Day 83

Today was the first day of spring break with the kiddos.

 We started out with yummy homemade cinnamon rolls, free swim lessons at the Y and played outside the whole afternoon with friends at the park.
Taylor climbed a tree with his friends Jonah and Nathan.
They were quite the little monkeys :)

Tomorrow the rain hitting for the REST of spring break so I was grateful for one day where we could enjoy it outside.

Day 82

Today was stake conference (a huge meeting with a numerous congregations)

and

I loved hearing a distant family members talk on his conversion to the gospel. 

This person was married to his wife (a member) for many years and went to church off and on, eventually serving in callings in scouts and primary, even giving talks in church and paying tithing as a non member. 

A few months ago during fall soccer games, I heard from his wife he was to be baptized. 

I was so elated to hear such wonderful news!!

Seth said in his talk, "I joined the church backwards." He was active and engaged and then was baptized but really in the end, it does not matter which way you make it to the waters of baptism. The Lord rejoiced as did his family when he made that decision to enter the waters of baptism. 

The gospel of Jesus Christ is apart of who I am and it blesses my life and testimony when I see such tender mercies bless those around me.

Day 81

Living in the pacific NW, as you can imagine, we do not get very much sun at all so when you do....

You IMMEDIATELY head outside to get as much vitamin D as you can!

I am loving all of this GORGEOUS weather we are having - now that is something to be thankful for with all the yard work and playing we have gotten done in the last couple days :).