Treats..

Today, I got to go sit in Merrill's primary class with him (two deep thing..).
Usually, when I go in his class with him, the kiddos all ooh and ahh at Miss Peyton, not so much excitement over me.. but today, a little boy in his class, showed some excitement over me.
"It's been YEARS since I have seen YOU Mindy!"
Even though I would see him almost every day, after school walking with his sister, it must seem like years considering he spent almost everyday (minus weekends) at my house for a good year out of his little life.
He got up in sacrament meeting to bring me a little treat...


I love it!
It got me thinking about little promptings, feelings, impressions we have, that prepare us.
Summer of 2006, I was at Albertson's, seeing what that week's 10 for $10 had in store for me and my food storage. Fruit snacks were on special, and because my kids especially love fruit snacks, boxes of them were welcomed into my cart. I felt the urge to grab a box of Superman snacks. It hit me as funny (funny peculiar, not funny haha..) that I would have this feeling. Anyone who knows my girls, knows that they are more girlie than anything. Ashley hadn't fallen in love with superheroes, yet. It was a strange urge indeed. I didn't fight it, didn't try to explain it, I just followed my "urge".
As I was home, putting away the newly acquired food storage items, the phone rang.
It was a good friend, in need of help.
She was going back to school, but needing someone to care for her son, same age as Lynn, while he wasn't at pre-school. Did I know anyone who could do that?
Yup.
Me.
So strange that I would feel that "urge" to buy Superman snacks, that very day. I should probably mention how much this little guy loves his superheroes. :)
I will not lie, that was in many ways, a hard year for our family. There were adjustments that were constantly being made, re-programming when this boy would return from a weekend with his dad, but entirely worth it.
What a blessing it was at that time in our family's life.
Funny, what thoughts flood your brain just by looking at a little treat.
I am thankful for "urges", promptings, impressions, what ever you may call them.
I am more thankful when I follow-through or act upon them.
It is a lesson that has repeatedly been taught to me, when something is important to me, no matter how dumb and unimportant it may seem, if it is important to me, it is important to my Heavenly Father too. He'll see that I have all the help I need. It goes for all of us.
These thoughts were re-affirmed after sacrament meeting as I visited with a few people I admire so much, I look up to them, I love them dearly. They related experiences, circumstances and concerns that some might think of as small in relation to other cares, but important to them personally. People, thoughts, ideas, or combinations of these, were placed in their paths at just the right time, to help them. It happens all around us, everyday. Some people call these "coincidences", I think they are something else, from somewhere higher.
God is indeed, good.

Another day at the Temple..

Today we were blessed to be able to attend the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house.
I was so disappointed to have not been able to go to the Draper Temple open house, but the wait was worth it. Merrill was able to take the whole day off (that was not possible in February and early March.. for SOME reason.)We took our time today, and thoroughly enjoyed it.
The best was seeing Lynn's face when I told her she was really IN the temple, not just the waiting area, like on Saturday at the Primary activity.But even better than that was to see the looks on their faces when they entered the Celestial Room..
Jaws dropped.
We all longed to stay in there for just a little longer than the walk-through.
Tears came to my eyes instantly, to think of having my three girls there with me and my husband.. together as a family in the holy temple.
I so look forward to the day when we are all there together again, dressed in our temple clothes.
They loved the chandeliers everywhere, the beautiful flowers, and the brides room, of course.
I remember my mom telling me as we went through the Bountiful temple's open house, when I was 15, "This is where I will help you get ready on your wedding day." What an image that produced.. and a goal that was already set, became more concrete.
I told my girls the same thing. I pray that it has the same effect.We sat in a sealing room, where families can be bound not only for time, but for all eternity, and listened as a sweet couple bore testimony of the Priesthood that has the power to bind us forever.
After they spoke we had the girls look up, into the mirror directly across from us.
"Do you see how our reflection goes on and on and on? That is how our family is. We go on forever!! There is never an end, we'll never be apart."This makes me all the more excited to take them there, someday..
I can't wait..
Really, I guess I can.
The Spirit felt was so strong, and I was thankful that they had boxes of Kleenex strategically placed by the doors of the Celestial room :) What an awesome day!

Stake Conference...

Let me first say, I had to pray and ask for help in improving my attitude first thing this morning.
It was our stake conference, the senior primary kids were singing, I was supposed to be at the tabernacle by 8:15.. for my family, yeah, right. Plan of attack, I was going to take Peyton and leave Merrill with the other two to get them ready and there by 9. It was kind of a headache planning all of the logistics last night, not to mention the getting to bed late part, kids who didn't sleep well... I could really go on. So I needed a higher power to help me get my attitude in check.
By the time conference started, my attitude had transformed. I didn't have to sit on the stand, like I had thought, Merrill and the girls were late, but it was of no matter to me. It was just Peyton and I, so relaxing and nice listening to the kids sing. I felt the Spirit. Conference was great. The message seemed to repeat itself to me, "Go to the temple"... Merrill and I were talking afterwards, I was telling him we really can start going once a month now that Peyton isn't attached to me (a much longer post for a time when I am feeling happier about it...) and we could make it a date, dinner maybe too? He isn't as gung-ho as I am, but we'll see if I can't get that to change ;) I know it has always been important to go, but during these times, we need to strengthen our home and fortify it as much as we can.
We also went to his parents home to eat Daddy-Suey (Dixon's chop Suey...) and fried rice. Darlene makes a fried rice that I would die for! We were also celebrating Kaitlyn's birthday (Happy Birthday Katie-McCookins!!!) And now I kick myself in the butt for not taking a pic of her gift.. I liked it :)...

My new Prophet!

While I am a little sad to think about changing the picture that has hung on my fridge for so long, I am excited to put up the picture of President Thomas S. Monson. (I do think President Hinckley's picture will linger for a while... and not just because it will take me a while to get to the distribution center...)
I cannot put to words the feelings I have felt as I watched the press conference announcing the new First Presidency of the Church. I felt calm. That is the best that I can do, but there is so much more to it than that. I felt peace as I heard each of them speak and address questions from the press. I am so thankful for the Spirit, that brings these feelings.
I am so excited for General Conference in March!

So I was just laying in bed, finally able to lay for more than two minutes without having to get up and help someone go potty or get a drink or tell them to stop calling their sister a baby... ANYWAY... I was reflecting on the day, well more like the past couple of weeks and what a spiritual high I've been on. Two weeks ago was our primary program, big deal. It went great. I got so many phone calls, comments in passing, and even a note in the mail, all from people who were saying thank you and what a great job the kids did. Then there was general conference... need I say more? Then the baptism Thursday, then fast and testimony meeting today. It has just been awesome. I feel so blessed and so loved.
Right at the moment, I hurt though! But I feel so blessed at the same time. Pregnancy hurts. You know, leg cramps, sciatic pain, braxton hicks, heartburn... see why getting up and down is so much fun tonight? Yeah, but I am so thankful that I get to do this. I really do love being pregnant, I enjoy every minute of it. In fact, Peyton is getting so active now, others can actually feel her movements on the outside! Merrill enjoyed a little dancing bit last night and Lynn felt her for the first time during sacrament meeting. I loved seeing the look on her face when she realized who was making those tiny thumps. That brings us to a whole other realm of motherhood, something else I am entirely thankful for, even when someone spits at their sister because she called her a baby...

My day started kind of early. It was that short time before dawn that the sun isn't up yet, but the sky is giving up the darkness. Ashley was crying, in her sleep. I can usually just let her whine for a few seconds and she quits. This morning, she didn't. On and on it went. I clumsily got my preggo body out of bed and went to her. She was surely asleep. I started to console her as she kept mumbling, "Daddy left me.... Daddy's gone..." I thought for sure she is having a very unpleasant dream. Then Lynn's sleepy voice comes, "I thought I would talk to you in my sleep to make you feel better..." there's a yawn and some lip smacking, "...but I don't think it's working." She rolled over and was out again. I just laughed. I thought it was so sweet that even as groggy as she was, she was still trying to help her sister to feel better.
I got to attend a baptism tonight. It was awesome. I was in awe at how well the program was put together and which songs were selected, I was thinking about what an amazing job the elders had done only to find out that this ten year-old girl had put it together herself! Asked the speakers and everything! I am so thankful for those experiences, that even though I had a hectic day, I am able to go somewhere that I am guaranteed to feel the spirit.