So yesterday started with, "This breakfast tastes yucky," and ended with, "This dinner looks gross." It was one of those days where no matter how much you did or what you tried, your kids were still unhappy, whinny, and just down right cranky. (And of course it was the day they refused to take naps as well.)
I didn't realize at my moment of pure insanity why it felt like I was running a daycare. Then, I heard the CD player playing, "It's a Small World" and hundreds of children's voices were singing in every language imaginable. Talk about funny! The last thing I needed at that moment was some child from Holland telling me in Dutch, "A smile means friendship to everyone." I know what a smile means!!! And gosh darn-it, we're not smiling today! So don't start!
I actually texted my husband a little before work ended and said, "Just a warning, the witch is in." He was so sweet to hurry home and help, instead of run to the mountain and hide. I had to laugh when at dinner prayer, I literally prayed for, "Peace in our hearts and happiness in our home."
I also called my sister, who is so sweet to think that I'm the world's most perfect mother, (and typically, I am), and that nothing every goes wrong in our home. I said, "JUST SO YOU KNOW...(with my children crying in the background)...TODAY IS NOT A GOOD DAY!! I MIGHT LOSE IT ANY MINUTE!!!"
So, I guess I am writing this post to let every good mother out there know that...frankly... Sometimes there are just days when the breakfast is yucky and the dinner is gross. But it isn't necessarily the cooks fault!
Today I'm thankful for...
A warm home, and a comfy bed
Best friends
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
Angels To Bear You Up
Yesterday, I felt Heavenly Father's love for me. I was helping my children get settled down to eat, (which is always quite a process). As I was doing things that really seem pointless at times, or things that are just mundane, I thought to myself, "I wonder if the little things I do matter to Heavenly Father?" Literally, right after I had that thought, my daughter looked me in the eye and said, "Mom, I want you to know that you are doing a really good job being a mom." I thought, "Wow! If that wasn't a direct answer to my question!"
The scripture came to my mind, "I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts and mine angels round about you to bear you up." (Doctrine and Covenants 84:88) Again, I realized that I have Heavenly Father's angels in my own home and that the work I do everyday is eternally important.
Today, I found another scripture that took on new meaning. "And now, he imparteth his word by angels unto men....Now this is not all. Little Children do have words given unto them many times, which confound the wise and the learned." (Alma 32:23)
I was glad that my Heavenly Father loves me enough to reassure me that I'm doing what he wants me to do. And I loved that he used my little angel to deliver that message to me.
The scripture came to my mind, "I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts and mine angels round about you to bear you up." (Doctrine and Covenants 84:88) Again, I realized that I have Heavenly Father's angels in my own home and that the work I do everyday is eternally important.
Today, I found another scripture that took on new meaning. "And now, he imparteth his word by angels unto men....Now this is not all. Little Children do have words given unto them many times, which confound the wise and the learned." (Alma 32:23)
I was glad that my Heavenly Father loves me enough to reassure me that I'm doing what he wants me to do. And I loved that he used my little angel to deliver that message to me.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
More than Just Stories
Last night, I had one of the most beautiful experiences with my children. As a child, I can remember being fascinated by the prophet Moses. He's still one of my favorites. I knew how much my children loved to hear the scripture stories, and so I thought they would LOVE the movie "Prince of Egypt". So we rented it and watched it with the kids last night.
As you know, the story starts out with Moses's mother having to place her baby in a basket and send him down the river, in hopes of saving his life. (All the while, we were explaining to our children what was happening.) I looked over at my daughter, Natalie, and was touched to see tears streaming down her face as she watched this little baby being place inside a basket and pushed down the river. I immediately realized that maybe this movie was too intense for her young age, and I wrapped my arms around her and took her into the next room where we rocked and talked about what she had just seen. She continued to cry while saying, "What's gonna happen to her baby?" I began to cry too as all of a sudden the scripture story I knew so well became very real to me. A mother, just like me, who loved her baby very much, really had to place Moses in a basket and send him down a river in hopes that he's life would be spared. I had never really thought of Moses's mom and the part she played, and her feelings, but last night, she became my hero. My heart ached for her and the trials she faced, and I wanted to have faith like her.
In my prayers last night, I thanked Heavenly Father for the many righteous women, especially mothers, whose stories go unnoticed, yet their affect is world changing and life altering. I hope to be such a mother.
Another such moment happened about a month ago. We were teaching the children about the prophet Abinadi. My children were on the edge of their seats listening to what was going to happen. When we got to the end of the story, and said Abinadi was burned for his testimony and his beliefs, our son said, "But...he was choosing the right? Why did he die?" Again, that story became very real to me as I realized how tough it must have been to be the only one to be doing what was right and to still receive "punishment" for doing so.
The people in the scriptures are people. They really lived. They had fears. They had hard times. They were tested and tried. I know that their lives are recorded for us to benefit from. I had my desire to live righteously renewed last night. I want to be numbered among the righteous that gave their all for what they believe. I want to be remembered as "more than a story" to future generations.
I heard once in a fairytale storybook, "And although they did live happily ever after, the point is that they lived." So it is with the scriptures.
The point is that they lived.
As you know, the story starts out with Moses's mother having to place her baby in a basket and send him down the river, in hopes of saving his life. (All the while, we were explaining to our children what was happening.) I looked over at my daughter, Natalie, and was touched to see tears streaming down her face as she watched this little baby being place inside a basket and pushed down the river. I immediately realized that maybe this movie was too intense for her young age, and I wrapped my arms around her and took her into the next room where we rocked and talked about what she had just seen. She continued to cry while saying, "What's gonna happen to her baby?" I began to cry too as all of a sudden the scripture story I knew so well became very real to me. A mother, just like me, who loved her baby very much, really had to place Moses in a basket and send him down a river in hopes that he's life would be spared. I had never really thought of Moses's mom and the part she played, and her feelings, but last night, she became my hero. My heart ached for her and the trials she faced, and I wanted to have faith like her.
In my prayers last night, I thanked Heavenly Father for the many righteous women, especially mothers, whose stories go unnoticed, yet their affect is world changing and life altering. I hope to be such a mother.
Another such moment happened about a month ago. We were teaching the children about the prophet Abinadi. My children were on the edge of their seats listening to what was going to happen. When we got to the end of the story, and said Abinadi was burned for his testimony and his beliefs, our son said, "But...he was choosing the right? Why did he die?" Again, that story became very real to me as I realized how tough it must have been to be the only one to be doing what was right and to still receive "punishment" for doing so.
The people in the scriptures are people. They really lived. They had fears. They had hard times. They were tested and tried. I know that their lives are recorded for us to benefit from. I had my desire to live righteously renewed last night. I want to be numbered among the righteous that gave their all for what they believe. I want to be remembered as "more than a story" to future generations.
I heard once in a fairytale storybook, "And although they did live happily ever after, the point is that they lived." So it is with the scriptures.
The point is that they lived.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Parting is such sweet sorrow...
In closing to the Olympic Games, which were amazing, as always, I would like to share this video. I thought it was quite funny, and sad in some cases. Anyway, enjoy and...see you in four years!
Click on the following website, or cut and paste to your address bar.
http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/assetid=2388c991-8f24-4c3a-9e93-c084de991f72.html#wacky+moments+from+games?__source=msnhomepage>1=39003
Click on the following website, or cut and paste to your address bar.
http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/assetid=2388c991-8f24-4c3a-9e93-c084de991f72.html#wacky+moments+from+games?__source=msnhomepage>1=39003
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