when a picture makes your day

last week was a good week in pictures.

I mean, you can have good hair days, I even declare some days good handwriting days, so why not a good picture day?

I decided to document one of my favorites in a layout, all for that one pic. it will probably make an appearance in the weekly project life layout too, but it was just so good, I decided that two showings for it would be just fine.

(supplies used: maggie holmes “styleboard” mini kit, template h, heritage paper, stitching from anna aspnes, tags and button from queen of quirk, arrow paperclip from sahlin studio, and the glitter from ikari designs.)

and the most awesome thing is that this ^^^ isn’t the only beautiful thing about life lately!

I have had so much energy, so much motivation, my list of things to-do is longer than I have time to accomplish.

I care about life!

I know (I KNOW) that my little corner of the world (at least my perception of it) has so vastly improved because of prayer. prayers of family, loved ones, caring friends, and my own.

it’s sweet..

president eyring spoke just to me (I swear!!!!) at women’s conference. it was aimed right. at. me. even better? I was able to get 3 tickets pretty much last minute for me and lynn and ash to be able to go to the conference center. (answered prayers again..)

I wish I had recorded ashley’s facial expression when I told her she would be in the same room as the prophet. think = priceless.

the only thing that could have possibly made that night better would have been if peyton were 8 and able to attend with us.

but let’s not hurry that along too much…

we also had conference weekend. there were great things that weekend, as there always are. again, I tell you, president eyring spoke right. to. me.

(I mean, you can think it was to you, but.. well…)

I am working on my studio and being just as ocd as ever about ever last detail.

my biggest problem?

committing where to put my table…

not boasting or bragging, just saying we are blessed.

we endured quite the storm here.

it was a great night for a windstorm of epic proportions to keep us awake.

(that was sarcastic.)

I had jury duty the next day.  (yay!!)

(more sarcasm.)

and the wind was howling.  so on top of noise, my mind starts going, worrying about all the possibilities of what the wind could do.  the only thing I worried about, that I could do anything about, was to check on the garbage cans.  that was at 2:22 am.

the garbage cans were fine.

(miraculously.)

when my alarm went off later that same morning, I instinctively went to my knees in prayer.

“bless and protect our family and friends this day.  bless the girls at school.  bless merrill at work.  help peyton and I to travel in safety.  protect our home in this storm.”

it seemed kind of petty to worry about our home, but a lesson that has been taught to me repeatedly is this:

if it is important to me, it is important to heavenly father.

so it wasn’t so silly to pray about my house.  I really didn’t want to come home later that day to find stress and mess waiting for us.

the girls and I watched as one tree toppled over.  it fell from one neighbor’s yard over the fence onto the other neighbor’s yard.  numerous other trees were already down around the neighborhood, fences down or panels blown out of them.  garbage, tarps, toys, branches..  just about anything you can imagine floated through our neighborhood.

our bird feeder was making all too much noise hanging from the rain gutter, banging against the eaves of the house.  it was slowly breaking apart, one piece coming off after another.  I decided to go outside and take it down.  so I grabbed the broom, but still couldn’t get it down (my height being my handicap).  so I grabbed the kids picnic table, and looked the part of a fool (or maybe you can picture a weather man on the news, standing outside in a hurricane to prove that it’s windy?), trying to walk while carrying a small table.  when I finally got it to where it needed to be, solidifying the image of fool, I climbed on top of the table, in my stocking feet, to get that bird house down.  to the horror of my children in the window watching me, the wind began to blow me, sliding me and my stocking feet off the table.  I eventually got the birdhouse down.  it did not survive.

as peyton and I drove down the street we noted more damage.  we only stopped because we knew we were supposed to, but the stop sign was bent to the ground.

my younger brother texted me to check on us.

“we are fine, but others around us aren’t.”

I received phone calls throughout the day, giving updates about damage and power outages.

when I got home at the end of the day, the winds were slightly calmer.  people were attempting to clean up.

our home was safe.  hardly touched.

so we had a two foot piece trim and a downspout fly off.  our bird feeder and hummingbird nectar holder were also casualties of the storm.  not a single shingle was shed from my roof.  but nothing more.

other people aren’t as lucky.  our old house had a tree on top of it and many good friends are having roofs re-roofed, trees removed from their yards. 

I had to laugh to myself, laugh to keep from crying, when my dad told me what he did as he got up early that same day.

“I told heavenly father what the deal was..  asked him to protect our family.”

our prayers were answered.

we do have trash to clean up, more leaves to rake.  and somebody’s kiddie pool to dispose of in our back yard, but we are blessed.

a three year old's prayers.

we've talked about peyton's prayers in the past.  they only get better.
with all the "bad dreams" going on around this joint (i swear, it's contagious!) prayers at all times of the day refer to bedtime and what usually happens.
at breakfast, it isn't uncommon to hear one of the girls ask that they not have bad dreams that night (like 12 hours later).
bedtime, they are down to business though, even making suggestions for what they can be blessed to dream about.
tonight at dinner, peyton asked to dream about princesses.
a couple of nights ago, she prayed that she wouldn't have bad dreams so she wouldn't wake up and have to come and get in my bed.
"and bless that i won't have bad dreams so i won't have to get in mom's bed."
it was sweet, funny, and, well, it made me feel like a bad mom.  i guess i have been complaining a little bit too much about my sleep being interrupted.

"you know..."

i had to jot down this sweet moment that happened this morning when it was just me and peyton..
we were getting breakfast ready, she was being so sweet!  quietly playing dolls, being the sweetheart she is, i asked her if she wanted to bless the food.
now the kid has some fun prayers, i gotta say.
she prays about everything exciting that has happened since she can remember, and she prays for everything that will happen in the near future.
here's an example list:
- halloween
- trick or treating
- her desired costume (bo peep, again)
- christmas
- a new movie (or old one), she usually adds a favorite part or funny line.
- everything that has happened so far in the day (she told Heavenly Father about playing dolls this morning).
- lake powell
- disneyland
- if someone has offended her (name that sister!!)
today, the most anticipated activity was going out to grammie's to play with cousins and have a "water day".  water day usually consists of lunch, grammie's blow-up pool, shallow pool, sprinklers, and slip'n slide.  lunch is always included, cause grilled cheese and peanut butter always taste better when grammie makes it...  even i can admit that!
she was so excited about the day she had to pray about it, of course!  i love that she has this special relationship with her Heavenly Father already, a relationship where she feels like she can tell Him about anything and everything.  i hope she never loses that connection..
well, she was so excited with everything that was going to transpire in her little life this day that she started to jumble her words, literally tripping over them with her excitement.  she stopped, took a breath, and said with a little sigh attached, "you know..."
just that simple little bit taught me a huge lesson. 
He does know.
He knows the good, the bad, the exciting, the stressful, the sad.  the crazily happy and excruciatingly exciting!!!
He still wants us to come and tell Him.  if there aren't words, He will understand.  the key is to still go to Him.  it feels so good to know that He knows.  such a comfort.
i find that sometimes i gloss over what i think might just be the same-old same-old when it comes to me.  i know that He knows, that He is aware, but i should still communicate my feelings to Him.
i can think of many times where my prayers were more tears than talking.  i have felt comfort because i know He knows.
it was just the perfect reminder for this time in my life.  we are having lots of fun this summer, we aren't stress free (at all!!) but i can receive help and comfort when i communicate with Him.
such a sweet little girl!  i am so thankful to be her mother, to have her teach me so many things.

About faith.

I don’t think faith is a foreign subject around here.  I would like to think that I post about it often, because it is an area where I have strength.

(But now with saying/typing that out loud, there will be some huge test to that statement..)

Or maybe I post about it because I am strengthening it.

Either way, I had an experience that took place when I was a teenager, I was reminded of it this last summer.  I thought then, “I should record that experience.”

Have I?

No.

So I am now.

I was 15.  It was the August before I started my sophomore year in high school.  My parents would go camping just about every Thursday evening as soon as dad was off work.  Being employed by the government, he had the 4-10 work week, and it worked out fantastically.  He was also bishop of our ward at the time, and there was little time to actually get away. 

They almost always took my younger brother Kevin.  Sometimes I went along.  We have always enjoyed camping and hiking.

We would go to a campground on the other side of the mountains from us.  It was a pretty nice place, unless partiers showed up.  It was also an area where there was lots to go and see and do on foot.

(Okay, so there still is..)

We decided on this particular trip, that we would hike to Ben Lomond Peak.  It was just intended to be a day trip, hiking to the peak from the North Fork trailhead about 8 miles in each direction. 

Wish I had my own photos of Ben Lomond..  here’s a nice one though:

(Photo Credit)

Ben Lomond is the highest peak in the middle there.  Willard, the one to your left, is actually higher by 52 feet.  Snow is usually still on the north-facing side for the most part of the year.  It was when we were this particular summer.  We even had a snowball fight on the way down, even skied in our hiking boots.

(That was dangerous though.)

In preparation for our hike, we ate a good, hearty breakfast, packed up our day packs with lunch and snacks and lots of water.

We knew we couldn’t possibly pack enough water, so we had to count on a water source being along the way to refill our bottles and canteens.  My dad and brother brought along water-purifying pumps and iodine tablets (my favorite!) to clean whatever water we would find to use.  My dad also studied his topographical map to find whatever water sources were available.  We estimated that we would have enough to get to the skyline arm of the trail, and we would need to refill for the last bit up to the peak and again, for the hike down. 

He found Cutler’s Spring on that map right there along the skyline trail.  We said a family prayer  and we left confident that we would be okay.

The climb up was amazing!  The views were terrific and only continued to be increasingly more awesome as we continued to ascend.  We saw so much wildlife, and just enjoyed being together.  We’d stop for snacks of grapes and drink our water and continue on.  We got to that skyline trail, needing the water.  There was only a few swallows left among all of our canteens, and we needed more for the rest of the way up the peak, and the trip back to camp.  We set out to find Cutler’s Spring.

We searched for quite a while.  When dad started to get worried, we did too. 

We stopped what we were doing, gathered together as a family in that beautiful, most humbling place, nearly on top of the world, and my dad offered a prayer.

It was a simple prayer.  It was a prayer of thanksgiving..  for our safety, for our being able to spend this time together, for the beauty of all that surrounded us, for all of God’s creations.  Then he asked that we would be able to find water.  Simply stating that “we need it”.  We knew it was there, somewhere, and we needed help to find it.

*Just a little side note on my dad, when he speaks, we listen.  When he prays, we especially listen.  There was no doubting in me, ever, that Heavenly Father wasn’t listening to our prayer, and there was no doubt in my mind that we would find the water.*

As he ended the prayer, I remember opening my eyes, my head still bowed, seeing all of our feet there in a circle, and the first thought that came to my mind was: tracks.

We had already seen a variety of wildlife, so we knew there were creatures there.  Animals leave tracks, animals also need water. 

Kev and I started looking for tracks.

Soon we found some broken grass off the mail trail and started to follow it.  Soon it turned to dirt and there were deer tracks.  We followed them.  They were still, just in the dirt at first, then the dirt slowly turned wetter and wetter.  We were hot!  Then there was mud, and before we knew it, there was water, springing from that mountain.

The water we needed.

We filled our canteens, offered our prayer of gratitude, and continued on to that peak. 

Once at the top, it was beautiful.  You could turn in any direction and see views of the entire valley.  Ogden, Logan, Huntsville, even into Salt Lake.  It was gorgeous!

We ate our lunch, signed the book that hides in a metal pulpit of sorts at the peak, found small rocks for our souvenirs, and headed back down the mountain to camp.

For a long time, that is what I remembered the most, that incredible view!  It was quite an accomplishment to hike it all, to see it all.  It was a great experience.

We also ran into a moose butt.  Like literally RAN.  Kev and I were running down the trail, rounded a switch-back and there was this gigantic moose peeing in the middle of the trail!

I will never forget that!

But then a different memory was brought to mind as we sat around the campfire that one night this last summer.  We sat there as a family, in the shadow of that peak, my dad sharing stories, and just listening to him speak in this setting, I began to recall that great story of faith.

Water is such a basic, essential thing.  Something that sustains our very life.  We needed it.  But we needed to have faith to find it.

How many other things in life do we need to exercise our faith in order to find and to obtain?

From now on, along with all the other memories of that trip, I will remember what I learned that really matters.

Faith.

Faith.

This morning, Ashley had a major freak-out.
I mean, epic.
It has been building for a while now, the anxiety started over Thanksgiving break.  Whenever she would think about the up and coming “writing journals” in her kindergarten class, she would get a little sick.  She is a perfectionist (like someone else I know..) and worries until she is sick, about spelling anything correctly.
I tell her that I still don’t know how to spell everything correctly.  “There is this magical thing on the computer, that whenever I spell something wrong, it underlines it in a squiggly red line.  Then, I know I have spelled it wrong.  But the cooler thing, the thing that makes this even more magical, is that I can right click (sad that my 6  year old knows just what this action is) and it gives me options for words that I could have possibly meant to spell.  Except for amoxicillin, it has no idea what that word is most of the time.”
Back to the epic freak-out…
So, she was suddenly sick.  (Insert fake coughs here.)  She couldn’t possible go to school.  But me and my mad mommy skills knew she was faking it.  We talked about why she didn’t want to go, what she was afraid of, and I thought I had cleared it all up.  We even ran through how to sound out and then spell a word phonetically.
“Your teacher loves you.  You can ask her for help and she will help you.  This is what kindergarten is all about, nobody in your class is perfect, you are all learning.  We can say a prayer before you leave, just me and you, and ask Heavenly Father to help you.”
But when I walked into her room at 8:05 (five minutes before she should leave to walk), she was sitting on the ladder of her bunk bed STILL IN HER NIGHTGOWN.
I resisted the urge to scream at her, and instead, took her by the hand to help her get ready.  We talked (well, I did most of the talking) while she got ready.
I asked her what the problem was, I said that I thought we’d solved it.
“Aren’t we going to say a prayer, just you and me?”
“But mom, I know the prayer won’t work.”
“It won’t with that attitude.  You just need to have faith.”
“But I don’t know how to have faith…  how do you have faith mom?”
In that moment, a million memories flooded my head.  Experiences I have had in my life, dealing with faith.  I was trying to come up with the most age-appropriate one, one that would be on her level.
“When I was 3, I got a doll for Christmas.  I named her Susie.  I thought that was the most beautiful name.  Susie had eyes that would open and shut when I laid her down.  She even had eyelashes.  I loved her.  I also loved her eyelashes.  I would touch them and explore how they worked.  I even started to pull on them to see where they came from.  I kept pulling, and they came out.  I was so sad, my beautiful doll wasn’t so pretty anymore.  I was sorry that I wasn’t more careful. 
“I knelt down that night, by my bed, with Susie, and said a prayer.  I asked Heavenly Father to help her eyelashes grow back.  I told him how I was sad and wished I hadn’t pulled on them.  Do you think that Heavenly Father could have fixed my doll?”
She just shook her head, her eyes wide.  I knew I had her attention.
“I thought that somehow he could, but I didn’t know how.  I fully expected to wake up the next morning with Susie, perfect again.
“I didn’t know, and I don’t remember how all of this happened, but I remember getting out of bed, Susie wasn’t with me in my bed.  I saw that there was a light on in the kitchen, and I went to see what was happening.  I saw grandpa, my dad, standing at the stove, with the hood light on, Susie laying there on the stove.  Grandpa had one of his paint brushes, he was curling the hairs on the brush with my mom’s tiny curling iron.  He was fixing Susie.
“He cut some of the curled hairs off the brush, and carefully glued them back into Susie’s eye lid.  He fixed her.  My prayer was answered.  Did Heavenly Father fix Susie?
Ashley just shook her head, but I corrected her.
“Grandpa heard my prayer and knew that he had to answer it.  My faith depended on it.  Years later, as we would talk, grandpa told me that he didn’t know how he was going to fix my doll, but Heavenly Father helped him to know what to do.  He was given ideas of what he could use to fix her, and it worked.  Heavenly Father answered my prayer.  I had faith that he would.”
After that, being a little too late to walk to school, I took Ashley into my closet, shut the door, and we knelt down together and we said a prayer.
She was so calm after that.
I dropped the girls off at school, not a problem there.
When I went to pick her up, she was beaming.
“Guess what mom!?”
“What?  How was you day?”
“It was great!!!  The writing journal wasn’t a big deal.  It was so easy!!  We did letter “F” and I spelled “fox” and I did it right.  You were right, there was nothing to worry about.”
“Did Heavenly Father answer our prayer?”
“Yup.”

Day 30.

Heaven knows I love my girls…

But I am thankful for bedtime tonight!

They are crazy/hyper/fun/silly/emotional/demanding little girls from the moment they wake up.  Add that, multiply it by three, and mix in a typical busy day, and you’ll have one tired mom at the end of it all.

I am thankful for the usual ease in our bedtime routine, to end our day with family prayer, tuck-ins, and kisses all around.  Family prayer is something that we happen to be good at.  It draws us closer, reminds us of the love we have in our home, even after a crazy day.

I am also thankful for the quiet (and sometimes uninterrupted) time I have with Merrill after they are all in their own beds (or sharing with big sis).  Dinner time, is not the time for Merrill and I to attempt to have a conversation.  There are too many people excited to talk to him then, fill him in on the happenings of their individual days.  No, we need the “us” time to catch up on all that we want to.

(But I do enjoy snuggles from little people in my bed too.)

I am thankful for the satisfaction I feel when I lay down after a full day.  I sleep so much better!  I feel tired and I look forward to the rest.  I also look forward to seeing how much more I can get accomplished in the next day.

I just heard someone get up for fourths on the “bedtime drink”.  Better go put the smack down..

;)

Day 21.

This might just sound silly, but today, I am thankful for the talks given in sacrament meeting about Gratitude.

I felt kind of funny sitting there listening, thinking how thankful I was for talks about being thankful, living a life full of gratitude.

They just helped me feel that much better about the aspect of my life I am focusing on right now.  Hopefully this will be a great habit, that I can view everything in a thankful light, even after this time of the year is gone. 

I am also thankful for the atonement, the testimony I have of it, that I know of it’s effects personally.  I am thankful for the road of repentance, that I can begin each day with prayer, an invitation to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost and strive to do better than I did the day before.  I am thankful that when I fall short, I can repent of it, try again, and continue on the path to be the best woman I can be.

I am thankful for the mercy of a loving Father in Heaven, who gives me do-overs all the time.

Day 17.

The culmination of this day started a week ago.

It has been a constant prayer ever since.  There was more constant praying the entire day today.  There was worry in there too, that the evening planned would be beneficial to all who were in attendance, then there was more praying to remove the worry and restore the faith.

As I sit here, at the end of this day, and the evening I got to share with my Relief Society sisters, I feel the love and calm, that only an answered prayer can bring.

I was blessed in so many ways.  The collective inspiration of board members as to what this particular evening should include, music, spoken words by those we were inspired to ask to speak, inspiration for the subjects they should speak about.  Inspiration and calm given to me at the temple when the worry peaked..  all blessings!

Day 12.

I am thankful for answered prayers.

To have a sweet daughter, who knows how to make her mom smile.

I am thankful for sweet notes, to remind me that I am loved.

I am thankful for a strong body, for energy to carry me throughout a day that I thought I wouldn’t be able to make it through.

I am thankful to have a husband home, safe and sound.

Day 7.

Prayer has always been in my life.  Some people pray only when times are difficult, some only when they are in need of help, but it is something that has always been a constant in my life.

Lately, I have been trying to have my prayers be more personal.  To really talk with my Heavenly Father about what is important to me, what makes me happy, what I worry about, what is going on.  My prayers seem so much more sincere, when I am able to speak my thoughts.  Even when it is something that seems as ridiculous as, “I want to make healthier choices in what I eat today.”  The help, the motivation, inspiration, is always there.

I am so thankful, that whenever there is something that is bothering me, something that I am worrying about, something I am excited for, I KNOW that He is right there with me.

If it is important to me, then it is of interest to Him as well.

I am thankful to be able to come to my Heavenly Father in prayer, whenever I need to.  I can be standing in the line at the store, and a thought will pop into my head, I can pray.

I can ask for help to remember important things.  To be able to recall information when I need it.  What a blessing!

I am thankful to know that He hears every single prayer, and He also answers them in the way that is best for me.

Good, Better, Best.

I have always had a hard time saying “no”.

I do say it, when needed…  or maybe not, I did attend a totally ridiculous meeting at 7:30 AM on a Sunday..  maybe I need more practice..

Anyway, I do say “no”, when I really need to.

Just like yesterday.

There were these totally random guys going through the neighborhood selling meat out of a deep freezer in the back of their pick-up, and I said “no” to them.

I also told myself “no” when I saw a really cute sweater dress at Target for Peyton.  I found an equally as cute corduroy dress and I said “no” to that one too!  Even though she doesn’t have many fall-ish, or winter-ish dresses, I told myself that I can make that with the gazillion supplies I have lying around at home.

So see, I can say “no”.

(I have also said “no” to drugs many times.)

(Come to think of it, I say “no” to my kids a lot!)

Beyond capable, don’t you think?

I am compelled to agree with myself here..

No?

(See, I totally said it again!)

Then why do I feel so guilty to say it?  Why is it so hard to say, “No, thank you.  I can’t do that.  Thanks for thinking of me though!”

(And now, my dear friends and family, you are probably wondering, “Oh..  I asked her to do that one thing, she’s talking to me…”   and it’s not you.  Pinky swear it.)

It is all of those BIG opportunities that would make money (cha-ching!!) or be something I would really like to do, something that I already enjoy doing, but would require a huge commitment on my part.  Sure they would be “good”…  but would they really be the “best” for me?

Huge commitments equal more time away from my family, or more time taken away from what I do at home.

I can’t do that.  That isn’t good enough for me.

I must learn to say “no” without guilt.

There are some opportunities that have come my way, and to my temporal mind, they make total sense. They would be “good”.   But when I take them to the Lord in prayer, the answer doesn’t quite come back the same.  There is something “better” I can be doing.

Since I am trying to strengthen my relationship with my Heavenly Father and Savior that way, I am trying really hard to do the things that they direct me to do, even if it sounds really fun or “good” to me, or doesn’t seem to be that big of a deal.  They still know better than I do.  I shouldn’t say “no” to them.  They only have the “best” in store for me.

I find myself losing the little time that I try to spend doing things that I enjoy.  I have projects stacked from the floor to the ceiling!  Where is all my darling summer/sunshine craft ideas?  FINISHED crafts I ask?  Oh, in that pile. 

I want to live a better organized life.  I want to spend my time more wisely.  I want my family to be better off with me than they would be with the possible money I could make, but less of me and my time.

While I may see things as the “best”, they really aren’t.  I just need to step back, and take care of what is most important in my life right now: my little family and our home.

- Our home needs to be clean and organized.  Not just cleaning a bit here, and there when there is time.  I used to have a cleaning day, it has exploded into 4.

- Forget running errands every day or even every other day.  I need to budget my time more wisely.  Plan them and get them done in one day so I have more time to get those other things done.

- Invest in my children.  When they are home, I need to be home with them (except for those hot dates and girls nights out..  there need to be more of both of those though too!).  I need to invest in them.  I am volunteering in Ashley’s class once a week, and I am committed to that.  Our evenings on weeknights are just us, at home, reading, playing, and relaxing together.  We need to keep that going.  Homework is now a priority now, that will help them later.

- I need to have at least a little time to myself.  I need to put off some things that “need” to be done, to invest in myself.  I need to do things that I enjoy doing, whether it be drawing, sewing, taking pictures,  reading, crafting, or scrapbooking.  It needs to be okay for me to do those things.

Those HUGE commitments need to be told “no”.  I have plenty to take care of in my own little corner of life and the product will be the “best” because I will rely on a higher power to direct me.

So blessed.

I am feeling extremely blessed today.

It’s not just today in particular.  I have seen the hand of my Heavenly Father in my life more frequently.  I am so thankful for so many things. 

I have been doing so many private posts lately, not wanting to put ALL of it out there.  My worries are my worries.  While I don’t want to share everything with everyone, and quite frankly, most of what I worry about seems so small and insignificant in comparison to what we see in the world today, I just keep it to myself.  They consist of tender mercies and experiences that I am just not ready to share with everyone.

I have been trying to get back to the basics.  There have been many lessons taught  that are further strengthening that resolve.  They come from all over, not just Sunday meetings, but in other inspired writings, whether they be the scriptures, or what a random blogger has written.  They come from inspired friends and family sharing their knowledge.

I have to bear my testimony today of prayer, of the Book of Mormon, and the study of scripture.

As I continually pray for comfort, I am continually blessed.  As I search out the best decisions to make, I am always guided.   It seems like life has been a sort of a puzzle lately.  With school starting again, trying to find the time to do all those things that need to be done, managing a household as well, I have been praying for guidance and comfort.  Yesterday for some reason, was a particularly worrisome day for me.  (Maybe it has something to do with Ashley starting school this week…)  I prayed constantly.  As the nighttime approached, I said my private prayer, and left my worries and stresses in the hands of my loving Heavenly Father.

This morning, I started my day again with prayer with the girls, and we set out about our day.  It is amazing how much I am able to accomplish when I go about things in the right order, just how much I am blessed!  Today hasn’t been any different.  I have prayed for help with my goals, re-establishing good habits, and as I go about, trying to do those things that I have set out to do, I get them done.

I know I have help.

I sat to read my scriptures, and yet again, was blessed.

I won’t post the entire reference here, but a link (in case you are interested), and some of what touched my heart today.

My reading was 2 Nephi Chapter 4:

“ 20 My God hath been my ^asupport; he hath led me through mine ^bafflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.

  21 He hath filled me with his ^alove, even unto the ^bconsuming of my flesh.”

“23 Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me ^aknowledge by ^bvisions in the night-time.

  24 And by day have I waxed bold in mighty ^aprayer before him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high; and angels came down and ministered unto me.”

“34 O Lord, I have ^atrusted in thee, and I will ^btrust in thee forever. I will not put my ^ctrust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his ^dtrust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.

  35 Yea, I know that God will give ^aliberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ^bask ^cnot amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the ^drock of my ^erighteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen.”

I KNOW that these scriptures were preserved by the hand of the lord to be brought forth in these times for our benefit.  I know that we have  loving Heavenly Father who only waits for us to ask for His help, and He lovingly and willingly blesses us.

I am so thankful for the comfort I have.

(I just wish I would have received some direction as to NOT putting on my make up BEFORE I read this!)

Family Prayers

The other night Merrill was working the evening shift which left me to have family prayers with the girls.  We normally take turns saying the evening family prayer, leaving meals to the girls, they usually have their own private prayers after everyone has gone to their own bedrooms.  Some nights, they each have their own turn saying a prayer with us all together.  I like it, it helps us to hear what is important to each other as we look back on our day, express love and gratitude, pray for each other.

Peyton has been on a kick where she is not interested in praying.  She’ll say she wants to, then won’t say anything.  (Maybe she gets that from Ash?)  So Thursday night, when she wanted to pray, I expected nothing more.  Then she said the sweetest prayer, just a re-cap of the days events, telling Heavenly Father what she had done, her own version of the highlights.  Pretty sweet.

Ashley went next.  Her prayers usually consist of an opening, a “thank thee for this day” and a “bless that we can be nice to our sisters”.  That’s it.  This night, she said a lot more, which pleased me to no end.  I told her how thankful I was to hear her prayer, and how happy that makes our Heavenly Father, when we just talk to Him.  She was pretty proud of herself.

Lynn was last, and by far the sweetest, asking that we “let our light shine” and praying that Merrill would be able to sleep in the next morning, and even more, that they would “be good, not mess around and be quiet” so that he could sleep.  Too cute.

I was thankful that it was just us, that I was able to hear in their prayers what was important to them.  Pretty tender.

A re-run.

There are lessons that seem to repeat themselves in our lives as often as old M*A*S*H re-runs.

Faith and Prayer seem to be the top two being repeated lately.

We have a key to our house, hidden, just in case.

No, it is not in a fake rock.

(So don’t bother looking in our hundreds of rocks for “the one”.  It doesn’t exist.)

It is in a place where we can get it when we need it. 

Sadly enough, Peyton could too.

Last week, while fixing sprinkler heads, she found it (again) and was playing with it.  She went with the girls up and down the sidewalk on her trike and the scooter (both of which have nifty places for holding small things) and was in and out of the garage and back yard by the time I realized she had it.  I asked her to put it away, and she ran into the garage.  Being the best listener of the house on most days, I assumed she was doing just as I had asked her to, and was putting it away.

She didn’t.

As the sun set, and we began cleaning up to come in for the night, I looked in that secret (or not so secret) spot, and there was no key.  The search began.

Everyone was involved in finding this small, silver key that was whisked away by a very adventurous two-year old.

It kept getting darker, and the key wasn’t found.

Knowing that Merrill (who hasn’t had adequate sleep for who knows how long..) wouldn’t be able to sleep with the key on the loose for just anyone to come across, I took the girls in to get ready for bed and to have a prayer.  I asked our Heavenly Father to help us find that key tonight.  That if we didn’t find it, then someone who would not desire to cause our family harm would.

After I ended my prayer, Lynn told me that she had said a prayer too.

We ran over all the places we had looked and it came back to the back yard.  Merrill went out again, and came right back in with key in hand.

Relief was evident in the atmosphere of our home.

He told me, as the girls were sleeping, and we were getting ready for bed, that he had been taught yet another lesson by our sweet Lynn.

“She told me that she said a prayer that we would find it tonight.  I thought, ‘Yeah right.’  It just kept getting darker and who knows where Pey put it..  I thought for sure she had dropped it in the grass somewhere..  and then we find it.  Her faith amazes me.”

It does me too.

It also assures me that we are doing something right.

It also reminds me that I put far too many of what seems like “little” daily decisions into my own hands when they really belong in the hands of someone who knows much better than I.  Sometimes I think that I shouldn’t bother Him with my “problems” when there are so many others with much more to worry about, who need help in this world.  But the fact of the matter is that He is there, waiting, wanting to help us with everything and anything.  He loves us.  He is just waiting for us to ask.

Her faith and trust are another lesson that I need, to let go, not worry and let Him take care of it, just like He promised He would.  Because He does.

A conversation over laughing gas.

Yesterday, I took Lynnie-lou to the dentist for her little procedure.

She spent the days leading up to her appointment, worrying, and asking questions as to what was going to happen.  She also took every opportunity she could to pray and ask for comfort and help.

As we pulled up to the dentist’s office, I shut off the car and asked her if she wanted to say a prayer before we went in.  She answered, “Nope.  Something happened and I feel okay about it.  I am not scared anymore.”

I am still curious as to what happened, but she’ll tell me when she is ready.

We got in, and she was the picture of calm.

She followed directions, answered questions unhesitant, well, except for what she wanted to watch..  that took her a minute or two to decide on.

The dentist began prepping her for what was to come, and he kept commenting on how calm she was.

I had mentioned how we explained to her, step by step, what would happen, and how she had prayed, a lot.  Knowing our dentist pretty well, I knew he was religious and a conversation ensued.

While the girl was breathing in her strawberry laughing gas, we talked about what a blessing it is for our kids to know to go to their Heavenly Father in prayer whenever they have a concern.  We also talked about things that we have felt were important for us to do with our own families, how we are blessed when we follow-through and do them.

He shared an experience with me of how one of his children struggle with reading.  He felt very strongly, that they needed to study the scriptures with her.  They did, and sure enough, her grades and reading skills began to improve.  Then he laughed, saying that he usually doesn’t get this spiritual with patients in his office.

Kind of funny, we had such a discussion over laughing gas.

There was not one single problem during her time there.  He and his assistant kept commenting on how good she was doing, how calm she was.  She did so well that he got her a special prize when he was finished.

Later in the day, she came to me with the complaint that it hurt when she opened her mouth wide.  I explained to her that it would go away.  It was just where he gave her a shot to numb her up.

“He gave me a shot?!”

“Yes. You don’t remember?”

“No.  I just kept my mouth open, ignored what he was doing and watched the TV.”

Isn’t she awesome?

There were many prayers of thankfulness offered after our day there.

A Peyton prayer.

She has been doing very well saying her own little prayers. 

We usually get bossed during them.

“ARMS!!”  she whispers, but very sternly, if our arms aren’t folded the way she prefers.

Things she usually prays for:

- be nice

- the food

- play dolls

- watch Phantom

- sisters

- be safe

- take a bath

She also prays for friends and family by name.

(Christie, Julie, Emma, Zach, Clint, Austin, Evan, and Tyler are some of her favorites.)

Quite the spectrum, but it gives us a little insight into her little 2 year old life.

She usually gets a few giggles out of us too.

Peyton’s Prayer.

We have been working, trying to get Peyton to pray.

We have tried whispering it in her ear, which only results in giggles.

We have tried telling her to repeat us, and say it out loud.

We have tried to teach her by example.

The other day, while she was playing, the girls were at school, she began to pray all by herself!

It was a sweet little prayer. 

Cuter than that, she was teaching her doll.

This morning, it being an “odd day”, perfect for Peyton, I asked her if she wanted to say the morning prayer.

“I do!!  I do!!” was her answer.

I told her to say it.  “You remember how it starts?”

“Dear Fa-der..  we thank thee day.  Pllll-ease blll-ess day.  Plll-ease blll-ess be nice.  Plll-ease blll-ess be safe.  Pllll-ease blll-ess food.  Name Jesus Christ..  AMEN!!!”

She did it.

And I couldn’t be happier.

Daily Blessings

I started blogging to document the daily blessings, the way that the Lord’s hand had touched my life in the every day.  That way, I would have a way to look back, my children would have a way to look back, and see His hand in our lives everyday.

I kind of moved away from that.

It’s not that He doesn’t bless my life daily, it’s just that there is too much noise going on around me, and when those quiet moments come at the end of a long day, it is most likely quiet because the house full of people I love, are all finally asleep.  My reflection on the day passed drifts off to sleep with me.  Then it all starts over with the sound of the alarm clock, another day to tackle.

Today started off as a noisy day.   All the noise was in my head..  to do lists, things that NEED to be done, stresses, what I could possibly get squeezed in today, how to keep the girls happy.

My day consisted of this:

Editing the yearbook for Lynn’s school.

I am thankful to be able to be involved in her life, to volunteer my time and my talents to enrich her experience at school.  But sometimes I wonder what the crap I was thinking when I enlisted with the other moms (and dads) in the good old PTA.

I am working on a VERY TIGHT deadline (as in this week it NEEDS to be done) and there are still things missing.  I got the bulk of what I needed to get it done yesterday.  Sounds fun, eh?

I am an A+ personality (i.e. a perfectionist, hence the A+).  I picture things a certain way, I want them to turn out the way I expect them, and I have issues with others helping me when I feel so demanding.

I had help today, it came in many forms. 

It is further testimony to me of a Heavenly Father, one who knows me, is aware of me, my needs and concerns, who loves me.  He blesses me.

There were a total of 3 computers working away on 770+ pictures and names today.

I was glad that I didn’t do it alone.

Not just to lessen the workload, but to lighten the atmosphere.  There was laughter, someone there to talk to, a sisterhood, that love..

My 12 year old niece called  just as I was starting to cry to Merrill on the phone about all that was going on, all that needed to get done, my frustrations, keeping the girls happy.

I hate to be the mom who is too busy getting this “stuff” done, too busy to play.

She wanted to know if the girls could come over to play for the day.  Now she knew NOTHING about my day, my stress, my anxiety over the girls’ weekend of boredom while mom sat at the computer organizing endless pictures…

But that little prayer, uttered silently in my heart for His help today..  that message was relayed many times today.

The pictures are organized, everyone has a name now and not a number.  They are grouped with the right class..  they are ready.

Thanks to that help.

My girls were happy, they got to have fun and play.

Thanks to that help.

And if I didn’t already realize how blessed my life was this day, I would have known for sure as my sweet husband stood beside me and helped me prepare dinner tonight.

Thanks to that one answered plea for help.

Ashley, Peyton, and I went out to play while the pizza dough was rising.  As we swung, spider style (Ashley’s new favorite), enjoying the sunset, enjoying their laughter, I again teared-up with gratitude.

I am truly blessed.

An Even Day..

At our house, to prevent the arguments that naturally come with small children and who gets to pray, we have the rule (if you can call it that..) that whatever the date is, even or odd, then someone with an even or odd birthday, says the prayer. 
For example, if it is an odd day, Ashley blesses breakfast, Dad says bedtime prayer.  If it is an even day, Lynn blesses breakfast, Mom says bedtime prayer.  So when dinner time arrives, who ever didn’t bless breakfast, usually blesses dinner.  Peyton helps to fill in our gaps and sometimes, but only on those rare occasions when we are feeling generous and loving, will the girls give each other the dinner prayer.
Today was an even day.  Lynn’s turn to bless the breakfast and start our day.
As I get breakfast ready, we will talk about the coming events for the day, usually the news is on in the background, so there is a lot of talking and explaining going on.
Lately the news has been all about Haiti.  As I was crying yesterday morning watching the news while getting breakfast ready, the girls started asking questions.  I tried my best to explain the situation there.  What a hard thing those people are going through..
I even told them about a friend of mine who has been going through the long process of adopting a little girl there.  The hidden blessing in all of it, that they will get her sooner than expected due to this horrible happening there.
This morning, talk turned again, to the coming events of the day, and I told the girls that they would be having a little friend come to visit.  A friend of mine is experiencing some problems in her pregnancy, and we were helping out with her little girl today. 
We talked a bit more, then I asked Lynn to please bless the food and start off our day.
Before she started she asked, “Mom, what’s the name of that place again, where all the children are waiting..”
“Haiti honey..”  I was so touched that she still had that on her mind.
She started her prayer, thankful for many things, and then she asked her Father in Heaven to bless the people in Haiti.  “Bless the children that they can come here fast and be with their new families..”
(Cry…)
She stopped praying for a second and whispered, “Mom, what’s that girl’s name..  your friend with the baby?”
I told her her name, and she prayed for her.  She paused, and then went on, paused again and acted like she had more to say.
I was feeling quite proud of my thoughtful little girl.
She ended her heartfelt prayer, and then acted kind of upset.  When I asked her what was wrong, she told me she was frustrated that she couldn’t remember my other friend’s name, the one waiting to get her little girl from Haiti.
We had another talk about how Heavenly Father knows..  He knows how we feel and what we think without saying it aloud.  He sure likes to hear it, but He knows.
“You don’t have to close your eyes, kneel down, or even fold your arms if you need to pray.  Did you know that?  You could say a prayer sitting in your seat at school, and He still hears.
Wow..  I love this little girl, the things she teaches me everyday!  The thoughts and feelings that she awakens in ME...  the things that I am still learning or am reminded of everyday.  
One of the many blessings of being a mother…