Day 7 #GiveThanks

 The last couple of days have been wonderful. Mr. D. Brined a turkey and took on a lot of the cooking projects. I was able to spend some time with the kiddos on a thanksgiving project. The Lord helped a video come together, that I felt the spirit strongly at different moments. I am so thankful for my little family. And for our extended families. For the righteous women and men who have gone before us. 

   Happiness is: a zoom meeting with most of my extended family. What a blessing to get to see everyone in your craziness of life.                          

Day 6 - Air Hugs #GiveThanks

 My daughter can be such a thoughtful little girl. For a while, I would leave at 5:30 p.m. to go to water aerobics. She would hear me going to the front door and as I would be closing the front door she would come running from there dinner and she would give me a hug or run to show me an I love you sign. 🤟🏼 Sweetheart! 

Today she finished her lunch and got down to go take her nap. I turned around to find her giving my legs a hug and she hugged Daddy... and then not able to get back up in the booth with her brother she said, "TK, air hug!" And he and she proceeded to send each other air hugs. Then her happy little self said goodbye and ran down to her nap. When she is happy, she is sunshine! And she freely gives away love--and so easily. She can be very, very thoughtful.

                                                     Happiness is: SLEEP and bedtime!                          

Day 5 _ COME FOLLOW ME, FAITH AND INSPIRED CHILDREN'S LITERATURE. #GiveThanks

Tonight was my night to prepare something for our Come Follow Me time. I stepped into another room to read and prepare. This week covers Ether chapter 12! So much good stuff. 

As I thought about the faith presented in that chapter, I pondered what I could share with my children about faith and what it is, and how to teach them. I grabbed a book that has illustrations of where we were before we came to this earth life. 

We talked about how they already exercised faith in Heavenly Father by choosing His plan and coming to earth to get a body, gain experience, and to choose to serve Jesus. Both my children's eyes lit up when I told them they had already exercised great faith. The spirit was present.

Then we read this book: 

It is based on a true story of a little family that right before planting season, their father is called on a mission to Norway. Because of all the demands on the mother, they are very late planting their precious grains of wheat. When everyone's fields around them are green and tender, their field is still just brown dirt. The daughter is devastated and angry at God for having her father on a mission. She is fearful that their crop will be lost to an early frost. 

Soon a swarm of crickets comes into their little area and devours all the fields leaving nothing behind to be harvested. The daughter is again angry... 

"In the days that followed, thunderclouds caused a heavy darkness to settle over the battered community. "Go away." Eliza cried. "there's nothing left to run-on now." 

None of it made sense. She had been faithful when Papa was called. She had worked until her hands blistered and her tanned skin was as dark as the soil. She had prayed without stopping and had tried not to murmur. Yet their beautiful valley was chewed to shreds. Eliza had never felt quite so dark. Angry words came blurting out.

"We need Papa!" she cried. "Papa should have said he wouldn't go!" But before her last words were lost in the dim light, she felt Mama's hand resting firmly on her head. 

"Choose Eliza," she said. "Will you keep giving your heart to fear and sadness? Or will you give it in faith, to God? Choose this day--yes, or no? It's time to choose."

The girl goes to be alone and think and comes to the conclusion that she will live by faith. I won't go on with the story unless someone out there would like to read it, but our living room was filled with a very sweet spirit. Mr. D gave our closing prayer... it was wonderful and heaven was in our home... 

We did the reading program of 1000 books before Kindergarten with my two oldest. We have been working on it (not for the program, but the program went along with what we were already doing). I don't have a theme when I go and check out library books... I just start down one shelf, pick out 40 to borrow and then proceed to do the exact same thing, starting off where I last grabbed books. We have already gone through most of the children's literature at our public library. And in all of that reading... there have been maybe less than 10 books total that moved me/inspired me to the point that I wanted the book in our home. That seems crazy to me!!! So why do we get the books then? For the fact that I get to snuggle and be a "good" mommy without trying as I am not usually having to be a referee or hush contention. My kids eat it up and if I didn't fall asleep while reading they would let me read to them for hours. 

I am sooo thankful for inspired children's literature. Literature that helps them to think, to ponder. Literature that inspires them to come closer to Christ. I am grateful for the reminder of the faith my children already exercised towards Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ before ever joining our family. And I am thankful for our Come Follow Me time. 

  Happiness is: Orange cake brought over by our thoughtful neighbor. YUM!

Day 4 - Humans #GiveThanks

About a month before school started, I was reading The Friend magazine with my kiddos on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. We had read through several articles and then came to this one.

I started reading and then was overcome with emotions. My kiddos asked me why I had stopped reading. And then they asked me why I was crying because I wasn't/couldn't talk. Back up a few months... with COVID 19 I had many friends who had chosen and/or were impressed to do homeschool with their kids. I had been praying for months about what was right for our family. As I read this article to my children, it was impressed upon my heart that God wanted my children in school. That He had people to reach out to--through my children. And that they would be a light for Him and bring others to Christ. It was hard to choke back the emotion. I had been pondering and praying for so long. And here was my answer. I was/still am deeply grateful to God for the personal revelation for our family. 

I have been incredibly overwhelmed by the amazing teachers and staff who have faced COVID challenges with courageous hearts. What an absolute blessing it has been to have them love and serve not only my children but our whole community. And I know that such teachers and staff can be found in any community! I applaud them and their tireless efforts. My family prays for them. 

This weekend someone needed help on their home, and good men, including my husband, came together and gave up most of their Saturday in physical labor. I don't toot their horn or the fact that I have an awesome husband [it is a true statement he is awesome but that is beside point! 🤪] --but I PRAISE the fact that there are good men who give of their time caring for the needs of those outside their own families. 

We had a fairly large, somewhat last min project this past weekend. Mr. Dashing and I put out calls to many different folks to help. The troops came in! Masked up, everyone so willing and eager to help. One friend, in particular, is a mother to eight between her blood and foster children, and give or take on any day she can have a household of 11+. She has a can-do attitude, and she is amazing at "rolling with the punches" as she likes to call it. With a large family of littles up to a stellar Senior, to say her plate is "full" would be a gracious understatement. But yet she gave of her time and energy to a project that needed to get done. She helped on Saturday and then again on Sunday. In thanking her in a text, she responded, "...Please keep letting us know of service opportunities." !!! Never mind that just a month ago this same beautiful friend gave her whole Saturday to help pack someone's house who needed help and she rallied in the troops and made a way for more people to show up and help the very desperate situation. 😍

From the mail carrier who will slow down her pace just so my little boy can go and love on her, to the folks at the grocery store who always open up a lane to check me out at nearly closing time so I don't have to take my mountain of a grocery cart through self-checkout, to another friend who when I was apologizing for all the inconvenience I felt I was causing her--she rejoiced in having the opportunity to give service. ... These folks are so inspiring to me. And I often leave from my interactions with them wanting to be better. 

Today, and MANY days, I am grateful for HUMANS who reflect the Savior's love. Who give of their precious time selflessly. They all make me want to be better. 

  Happiness is: a freshly cleaned sink and floors that have been swept!

DAY 3 _ HE, IS, BESIDE US[me]. HYMN 93 #GiveThanks MUSIC

Today was Sunday #2 of no singing or even humming--but my heart was more at peace with the notion. The opening hymn was Prayer of Thanksgiving. We pulled out our hymn books that we take in our diaper bag as a habit of wanting to be able to read the words with our our young children and not have them think we are on our "phones". 

My eyes became wet as I read through the start of verse two: 

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining, 

Ordaining, maintaining his kingdom divine;

So from the beginning the fight we were winning;

Thou, Lord, wast at our side;

All glory be thine!

Beside US [me, my family and the little COVID respecting, distancing, mask wearing congregation, the world] to guide us, our God with us joining. In those words, I almost could not see or sing them in my heart as my eyes were blurred...but it was as if the Lord himself was reminding/saying to my heart, He was beside us/me, joining with me in the silence of listening when we can't sing. Being beside me through the craziness of the days.  It was a beautiful impression. 

Church was wonderful! I am so thankful I was able to partake of the sacrament. When the sacrament cloth covering is gently laid over the bread and water--sometimes a wrinkle comes up in how the fabric settles.  I am always filled with gratitude when a deacon or priest will take notice and take the time to smooth it out. It is a reminder to me the tenderness we should keep of love and adoration for the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ and His atoning body/blood. 

The speakers were sublime, inspired, and obviously worked to have the spirit as they prepared and shared. Their messages were of hope and gratitude focused in and on the Savior. I wish all my family could have been there to hear their words as I have done a somewhat poor job trying to retell their talks! 

In between the talks, was a father daughter duet on the piano of My Heavenly Father Loves Me. which my little two year old started to sing in our pew. 😍 

This is a recording of Alan Walker (my friend's visiting dad) playing at a different ward meeting... but this is the song he and Mallory played today. It is beautiful! And what they were playing about [lyrics below] is equally beautiful. Thank you for sharing your gifts of music!

1. Whenever I hear the song of a bird

Or look at the blue, blue sky,

Whenever I feel the rain on my face

Or the wind as it rushes by,

Whenever I touch a velvet rose

Or walk by our lilac tree,

I’m glad that I live in this beautiful world

Heav’nly Father created for me.

2. He gave me my eyes that I might see

The color of butterfly wings.

He gave me my ears that I might hear

The magical sound of things.

He gave me my life, my mind, my heart:

I thank him rev’rently

For all his creations, of which I’m a part.

Yes, I know Heav’nly Father loves me.

The whole meeting was a spiritual feast. Thank you Heavenly Father, for letting me get to partake in such beauty church meeting.

  Happiness is: this statement from my four year old. Never-mind that it was at 5:30  this morning.  They put their chairs in a circle and each had a copy of  The Book of Mormon... Oh, the tenderness--seeing them "study" my favorite book! 

Day 2 #GiveThanks

 I was putting Bugaboo down for his nap. As I went to shut the door he raised up in bed and looked concerned at my hand in the door. I wondered if he thought that I was going to shut my fingers in the door. I said good bye but he still had a look on his face that he wanted me to do something. He finally said, "Mom, do I love you sign." Then I realized he was trying his hardest with his two year old fingers to make "his" sign. My heart melted that he wanted me to do the sign. 

The other day in the car, I moved my mirror so that I could look at him and smile. He was working with his hands and I just smiled back not realizing what he was trying to do. After some "hard" work, his little exasperated voice came and said, "MOM teach! Teach, teach I love you sign, teach." Then I realized what he was trying to do with his hands. So I showed him how to do the I love you sign. 🤟🏼. 

I know what he was wanting me to do, but in my mind I seemed to hear was that I should teach him how to love. Teach him how to show love. Teach him how to receive love. Typing this out seems a bit funny as he is a toddler. HE is the one who can teach me a thing or twenty about love. And yet what am I teaching, by my actions, reactions, or non-actions about my love and God's love? 

Today I am thankful for a little boy who wants me to say I love you.

#GiveThanks

 Happiness is:  a little beautiful four year old saying, " Heavenly Father loves you" with her own I love you sign... on my 38th birthday. What a profound gift. 

President Russell M. Nelson on the Healing Power of Gratitude​ #GiveThanks

#GiveThanks

Hello my friends... it has been five-ish years since I have posted on here! Much has happened. 

I found out a week ago that President Nelson was going to share a movie with the world... and I have looked forward to this day with much anticipation, and my soul has rejoiced!

President Nelson requested for seven days to make our social media turn into our gratitude journal. I closed my Facebook a while ago and I pondered if I was to open it back in an effort to do my contribution of sharing. My mind came to this blog.... this blog that has so many bits and pieces of my soul and study all over it. This blog took a back burner and then a near extinction. But like finding an old friend, the Lord has soothed my soul with past "journal" entries on here that I had forgotten and even reading, can't remember happening. There is defiantly power in recording the God moments in our lives. 

GRATITUDE JOURNAL 

So I start off this seven-day venture with thanks to GOD for allowing me to hear a prophet of the Lord pray! We have some beautiful stories of prayers in the scriptures and even pieces of when the Savior prayed, but rare the full details. 

Today, I feel overwhelmed to know that God has a living prophet on the earth today. Just like Adam was a prophet, Noah, Abraham, Moses--for their day to lead and be God's mouthpiece on the earth, I know that President Russell M. Nelson is God's ordained, and chosen by God, prophet. I am filled with gratitude for the technology that allows me to get to hear from him outside of the scheduled General Conference message. I felt it was a sacred privileged to be allowed to hear how he prays. I pictured in my mind's eye that I was in the temple as he prayed. I rejoice that God has not left us alone to wander and wonder!

 Happiness is:  a little four year old coming up and asking if she can wipe down the stairs and banisters for me. ❣️😍 And if that wasn't enough she then asked if she could wipe down the walls and the cabinets. Yes, PLEASE! What a sweetheart.