Mama's Little Helper

Blakeley likes to mop

She likes to help me with laundry

She likes to feed her sister

She likes to help me decorate

And she likes to help me vacuum...

Blakeley is actually scared of the vacuum but she loves to open the closet door to help me get the vacuum out and put it away.  She also likes to "help" me wrap the cord up.  The other day I had left the vacuum out for awhile and she was already in bed when I went to put it away.  Here's what I found when I opened the closet door:

She had put her little toy vacuum in the closet where the real vacuum goes. 

All of these duties make her so tired...

Such a good little helper. Don't know what I would do without her.

Where's Phoebe?

So True

How Faith Helps a Mother

I was asked to be a guest speaker at the Mia Maids Young Women (girls ages 14-16) activity tonight at church.  They wanted me to speak about how faith helps a mother.  Here is what I said:

I’m grateful for the opportunity to be here tonight and I’m excited to share some of my experiences with you regarding faith, and specifically, how faith helps a Mother. I hope that what I share with you tonight will help you in some way and that you may feel the spirit and feel the love that the Lord has for you.

There are going to be times in your life when you will be required to have faith. I was thinking about how a lot of big decisions in life require a certain amount of faith because you’re faced with a choice and you hope to make the right decisions & you don’t know in advance what the outcome will be. Such as whether or not to go away to college, who to marry, when to start a family, and how many kids to have, among other things. One of the biggest milestones in life is becoming a Mother because everything changes and you’re no longer just responsible for yourself. Your perspective on life changes. Faith is definitely a requirement in Motherhood.

Tyson and I were married for almost five years before we had Blakeley. We both worked for Verizon Wireless and were used to our lifestyle and our double income. We pretty much bought whatever we wanted whenever we wanted and I drove a fun two seater sports car. When I found out that I was pregnant with Blakeley, my mindset shifted and my priorities changed. No longer was I as concerned about myself and the materialistic aspects of life as I was this child that I was going to be entrusted with and the future of my family. Instead of caring about what car I drove, I cared more about nurturing my children and becoming the best mother possible. So bye bye went the sports car and the funny thing is, I didn’t even care. It was no longer important to me.

I realized that I wanted to trade in my career so that I could stay home and raise my children. I had a good career but I knew that life as a Mommy was far more important. It was actually more of a yearning, just a feeling I had that I knew it was what I was supposed to do. In my mind, however, I didn’t know how it could possibly happen. Tyson and I were so used to our lifestyle and our double income. Logically, I just didn’t know how it would be possible financially.

I prayed continuously during those nine months that the Lord would provide a way for me to stay home once Blakeley was born. At times, I became frustrated because I didn’t feel like I was getting an answer and I still felt like I was SUPPOSED to stay home.

At the time, we lived in Florida and one day, I think it was at Stake conference, our stake president was speaking about tithing and I had an ah-ha moment. He said, “Just take the first step in faith…” Although he was talking about tithing, I had a moment of complete clarity where I felt my mind and heart being enlightened and I felt the spirit so strong and those words spoke to me regarding my desire to be a stay at home Mom. “Just take the first step in faith…” In other words, I needed to just have faith and make the decision to quit my job and know that it would all be OK. This was very scary to me since it was the unknown and I had no idea how it would all work out.

So fast forward a little bit…Blakeley was born and I was on maternity leave from work and even on the way home from the hospital, I was crying to my sister on the phone because I wanted to stay home so bad but still, I just didn’t see how it was going to work out. Tyson & I had talked about it at different times and we felt like it was the right thing to do but we still didn’t really have a game plan as far as how I should go about quitting my job or when I should quit.

One day, a few weeks into my maternity leave, I just told Tyson, “OK, I’m going to call my manager now and tell her I’m not coming back to work.” It was as simple as that. I called her and told her that I’d thought a lot about it and that I wasn’t going to return to work. She was really nice about it & totally understood. Well I was planning on going home to California to visit in a couple weeks and I still needed to go back to my job and clean out my desk and get my stuff. A few days before I was supposed to leave on my trip, I called my old boss and left her a vm that I was going to go clean out my desk.

What happened next is the most amazing thing.

Long story short…It turns out the company had to lay off some employees and I was actually laid off so I got a severance package.  I immediately knew that my prayers were being answered. That meant that I got a lot of unexpected money and healthcare benefits and it set us up nicely to start our new chapter in life with our new baby. This was such a huge blessing.

Words cannot express the immense joy I felt when I found this out. I was in such awe at this miracle and I completely attributed it to faith, prayer, and Heavenly Father’s goodness. I could not have planned this better myself and it strengthened my testimony so much that Heavenly Father does hear our prayers, and more importantly, that He does answer them. And the timing of it all was extraordinary. I had just enough vacation time left to cover the exact amount of days I needed so that I didn’t have to return to work before the lay offs were to take effect. Some people might call this a coincidence but there is just no way—coincidences do not exist. Heavenly Father’s love for us and His desire to make us happy are what exist. This was a righteous desire that I had and Heavenly Father blessed me with it and made it happen. He knows the desires of our hearts and He wants to make us happy. It was such a testimony building experience to me regarding faith because we literally had to take a leap of faith, with no knowledge of what the outcome would be.

There is a quote by Martin Luther King that says, “Just take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase…just take the first step.”

I think this experience was so profound to me because it opened my eyes to the fact that Heavenly Father can do all things- even things that seem impossible to us. I had absolutely no idea HOW it was going to work out for me to stay home. I just knew that I wanted to and I felt like I was supposed to.

Situations like these enlighten my mind and enable me to see the power of God.

D&C 76:12 By the power of the aSpirit our beyes were opened and our understandings were enlightened, so as to see and understand the things of God—

We as humans place limits on things…we say, “that can’t happen because of this obstacle or this road block stands in the way. But Heavenly Father is amazing and is more powerful than we can comprehend. Don’t let your inability to see how it could happen stand in the way of your dreams.

This is where faith comes in. Faith does not just happen. You can’t just decide to have faith. Faith is an action word and it requires you to put in some effort and work at it. Prayer goes hand in hand with faith. I think it starts with prayer and builds from there. Reading your scriptures is also essential. I have developed a process that I use and we will talk about that a little later.

Another profound experience that I’ve had with faith as a Mother is when Skylar was in the hospital. I think experiences like this one where we aren’t in control and where we feel powerless are harder to endure. And they require faith on a completely different level. This experience strengthened my testimony and increased my capacity to have faith and to understand what faith actually is.

When Skylar was born, she had a blockage of tissue where her stomach and intestines meet. It just had not developed properly and it prevented her from eating. The milk would either just stay in her stomach since it could not go downward through her digestive system or she would throw it all up. By the time she was three months old, she had been in the hospital for 7 ½ weeks and had three surgeries to correct the problem.

I’m going to share a few of my journal entries from when Skylar was in the hospital. They are pretty special spiritual experiences that I had and I feel like they were glimpses of heaven. These moments greatly strengthened my faith.

4.15.11
This morning I prayed for Skylar to feel of Heavenly Father's love and comfort and then about 10 mins later the image came to my mind of Jesus sitting next to her hospital bed and I saw Him holding her and rocking her. Such a comforting image. Exactly what I needed.

4.17.11
I was driving to the hospital to see Skylar just now and I saw the temple in the distance up on the hill. As soon as I saw it, the first word that came to mind was "hope." And I was reminded that the temple is a great symbol of hope. Then the word "faith" came to mind. I was at a stop light a little bit closer and could still see the temple in the distance. As I stared at the gold angel Moroni, the words "good tidings" came to mind. And I felt the spirit.

I then realized that we pass by the temple every time we drive to the hospital. When I had that realization, I felt the spirit very strong. How lucky are we that as we endure this trial, we get to pass right by such an amazing symbol of hope, faith, and good tidings?

I'm grateful for our faith and the knowledge that we have that comforts us and buoys us up in these difficult times.

4.26.11
This morning at the end of my prayer and my begging & pleading that "He let me have her" and that "He please heal her" I envisioned Jesus standing at her bedside in the hospital with His hands touching her abdomen on her incision doing just that...healing her.

Tyson gave me a blessing last night and in it, it said she would be healed.

I need to have greater faith. Many scriptures that I read this morning said my prayers would be granted according to my faith.

5.21.11
One really big thing I've re-learned through this ordeal:

I know that by leaning on Heavenly Father, we can overcome any trial.

I don’t think I’ve ever been in a situation where I felt so many different emotions. It truly was a roller coaster ride that I was not expecting. There were moments of joy and happiness as she seemed to improve and then times of utter heartbreak when progress stalled or something went wrong. As a mother, it is so hard to stand by helpless while your child suffers. My sister is a therapist and she told me that the bond between a mother and child is nine times stronger than any other human relationship. You want the best for your children so it is so hard when you have absolutely no control.

You will come face to face with difficult trials, and some of them will make you feel so overwhelmed that all you can do is cry, pray, and put it all in HF's hands. There comes a point where there's nothing else you can do & you have to let go and have faith and trust in Heavenly Father. You have to trust that everything we endure happens for a reason and that Heavenly Father knows all things. He sees the beginning to the end…and we don’t.

One of my favorite quotes says, “Every experience God gives us and every person He puts into our lives is the perfect preparation for a future only He can see.” ~Corrie ten Boom

During both of these situations, I prayed continuously. After I would pray, I would open my scriptures and the things I read gave me comfort and strength. One of my favorites is D&C 84:119-120:
For I, the Lord, have put forth my hand to exert the powers of heaven; ye cannot see it now, yet a little while & ye shall see it, and know that I am, and that I will come & reign with my people. I am alpha & omega, the beginning & the end. Amen."

This is one of my all time favorite scriptures. What peace and comfort it brought me and continues to bring me. This scripture reminds me to have faith. It reminds me that if I do what’s right and make good choices, Heavenly Father will bless me and he has so many blessings in store for us. And it reminds me to be patient and that everything happens in the Lord’s timing. “Faith in God includes faith in His timing.”
Faith requires us to do all that we can do and then put it in the Lord’s hands. Another one of my favorite scriptures is D&C 123:17: Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed."

I absolutely love this scripture because it’s basically saying, after we do all that we can, we need to sit back with confidence and have faith in God.

Prayer and reading scriptures go hand in hand with faith because prayer is how we talk to Heavenly Father and reading scriptures is how He talks to us.
I have established a little process

1. Identify question/concern

2. Take your question or concern to the Lord through prayer. Pray to the Lord for guidance & comfort & ask Him your specific question. Ask him to feel the spirit & to feel his love & comfort

3. Search your scriptures (even if you don't receive an answer right then, I promise you that between your prayer & if you sincerely read your scriptures with real intent- seeking an answer, you will at least feel comforted & feel a lot better than when you started.)

4. Write down any inspiration or revelation that you receive- This is so important! You would be amazed at how easily you forget things if you don't write it down.

5. Stay positive. It’s easy to get discouraged if you don’t feel like you get an answer right away. Just keep praying and know that everything happens in the Lord’s timing and it happens that way for a reason. Continue to pray and start the cycle over and as you continue to read your scriptures, you will feel the Lord’s comfort and you will gain faith and strength to overcome the situation.

6. If it’s a difficult trial you’re going through, get a priesthood blessing. That will bring comfort and shed some light as well.

D&C 121:36: "That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven..."

I love that scripture. I don’t think we truly comprehend how powerful the Priesthood is. We need to use it- that is what it’s there for.

By doing these steps when you have a question or concern or you’re going through a trial, you’re putting the situation in the Lord’s hands which is the best thing you can do. Your faith will be strengthened because you will be able to recognize direct answers and guidance from the Lord as you do these things and as you write down your experiences.

The fact is that I’ve learned a lot this past year. And I mean a LOT. It was uncomfortable, it made me stretch, it pushed me out of my comfort zone, and it was a struggle. Nobody likes to feel those things, right? But when we go through experiences that make us feel those things, that’s when we’re growing and learning and Heavenly Father is molding us into the person we’re supposed to become. These trials teach us compassion teach us what faith really is and make us grow closer to the Savior. As we grow closer to the Savior, we become more like him.

This is part of a post that I wrote on my blog that kind of summarizes what 2011 meant to me.

What a year. This has been a year of perspective. A year of faith. A year of adversity. A year of lessons. A year of survival. Ultimately, it’s been a year of joy and rewards. A year of gratitude. A year of TRIUMPH.

The rewards we’ve received this year have no monetary value. Prosperity did not come in the form of wealth. In many senses, we’ve been "poorer" than ever before, yet, in a greater realm, we’ve been made abundantly rich in qualities that truly matter such as humility, compassion, strength, gratitude, and faith. We’ve been made rich in understanding and we’ve truly been refined. We’ve received a greater understanding of what true happiness really is.

This life is such a whirlwind and so many things are out of our control. This year, we have been reminded that Heavenly Father is in control. Our faith and testimonies have increased tenfold as we have leaned on Him through some of our greatest trials. I know that Heavenly Father has the power to do all things...even what seems "impossible" to us. I've seen miracles this year which have opened my heart and enlightened my mind. At those precious moments, the worldly haze lifted and I gained a clear perspective on the things in life that are of the most value. We have our health, we have the gospel, and we have each other…our precious family. We are rich beyond measure.

“When you have come to the edge of all light that you know and are about to drop off into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen: There will be something solid to stand on or you will be taught to fly.”

This year we have truly learned to soar.

As you go through life and trials come your way, lean on Heavenly Father and he will guide you out of the storm. With faith, you can overcome any obstacle, as it relates to motherhood and any other aspect of life. God is powerful beyond measure and He loves you more than you can comprehend. Motherhood is wonderful but it is hard and it definitely requires a partnership with Heavenly Father and it requires faith. I challenge all of you to use the process I outlined , especially in times of hardship so that you can see the great blessings in your life.

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Recognize These Guys?

Just So T..i...r...e...........d.....

(She doesn't usually eat in the high chair...she has just wanted to sometimes lately.)

Cute Teefers

Skylar's first popped through at the end of December & here is a pic of it!  She now has two teeth.  I will have to post a pic of both of her teeth soon.

Phoebe

Here is my sweet Phoebe girl.  I can't believe she turns 7 next month!  Poor girl doesn't get nearly as much attention as she used to but we still love her.  Blakeley loves to play tug o war and throw toys for her.  It's pretty cute to watch.

Remembering a Great Man

“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michaelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, 'Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.”
- Martin Luther King Jr 
 
My favorite person in history
 

The Many Faces of Blakeley

...mean faces, that is...

You are Perfect Just the Way You Are

So I've been meaning to write this down for awhile.

I went walking/jogging awhile back (Nov 28th) and all of a sudden out of nowhere a little voice in my mind (the Spirit) said, "You're perfect just the way you are."  I totally shed a few tears while I pushed my girls in the double stroller as I contemplated the profound message.  And I just kept repeating that to myself like a mantra.  It kind of came out of nowhere but I needed to hear it.


I think as females, we all have body image issues and it was just really comforting to receive that message at that particular moment.  Another heavenly message!

So I just wanted to share that with YOU. 
YOU ARE PERFECT JUST THE WAY YOU ARE!  Remember that.

It's true and I've been thinking about that off and on for a month or two.  That we are perfect, not only physically, but we are perfect where we are at this point in time in our life.  We are where we are supposed to be and doing what we are supposed to be doing.  Ponder that.

May we learn to really believe this:

Thanks Mom!

So I was driving yesterday and saw this bumper sticker on a car and it kinda hit me.  I don't think I've ever really thought about the fact that my Mom actually gave me LIFE.  In a sense, I think most of us take that profound action for granted...that our Mothers decided to go through nine months of pregnancy to give birth to us and give us life.  There were a few other bumper stickers on this car that I saw and they were obviously pro-life from a political standpoint (which I am too.)  I was thankful that I saw it and that I was able to take a moment and really appreciate that decision that my Mom made. 

And if you re-read the message, it kind of puts things in perspective.  Smile!  No matter what you're going through...you're ALIVE!  That's a pretty great thing.

Thanks Mom!

HONK, HONK!!!

I just happened to see these videos on You Tube.  Check em out.  (Warning: Get the kleenex ready!)  Let's not take life for granted!  Thank you, Ben Breedlove. 

Click here for Part 1

Click here for Part 2

(Ben passed away on Christmas day 2011-- a week after he recorded these videos)

The Happiness Project

My sister posted something on Facebook recently about wanting to get a book club together to study & learn about "The Happiness Project."  Too bad I don't live close to her or I'd be all about it!

THE HAPPINESS PROJECT is the memoir of the year I spent test-driving the wisdom of the ages, current scientific studies, and lessons from popular culture about how to be happier – happily, it was a #1 New York Times bestseller. As one of the hundreds of experiments I've conducted, I started this blog. Here, I recount my daily adventures in pursuit of happiness. –

Gretchen Rubin

I've been reading the blog frequently this past week & find it interesting.  Who doesn't want to be happier?!  I guess I'll have to read the book although I don't do much reading these days.  Here's the link to the blog.  Check it out:

http://www.happiness-project.com/happiness_project/

Things Don't Have to be Perfect

So, I've realized over the last few years that things don't always work out the way you plan...and things will never be perfect...AND IT'S OKAY.  I'm talking about our expectations of ourselves, ladies.

Let's rewind a few years.  It's before we had kids and Tyson and I went to Utah for his cousin, Eric's wedding.  We lived in Florida at the time and had not really planned too much in advance but decided to go at the last minute.  So we're in Utah and we're driving the two hour drive with Ty's parents to get to the wedding which was at the Manti temple.  So we're about fifteen minutes into the drive when I noticed my temple recommend was expired.  I didn't think it was a big deal and we all just figured once we got there, a nice temple worker would call my Bishop and get the okay to let me in.  We even called our Bishop in Florida to give him a heads up so he could expect the call.

So we get to the temple and we're walking in and I hand my recommend to a temple worker.  He wouldn't let me in which I totally thought was a joke at first.  Long story short, I couldn't get in because when a recommend is expired, it's as if you don't have one.  Now, had I just forgotten it (if I had a current recommend), then they would call my Bishop and get the approval. 

Heartbroken does not even sum up how crappy I was feeling as I went back out to the car while everyone else went into the temple for the ceremony.  I was sooooo distraught and upset that I just bawled the whole time in the car.  We flew like 3,000 miles and here I am stuck in the car, unable to participate & witness a super spiritual event.  I'm sure I prayed and asked for comfort.  Tyson's sister, Chelsea must have gotten there at some point so after I let it all out in the car, I calmed down & walked around outside and ended up finding Chelsea.  And then Tyson was out before I knew it.  (It was a super short sealing...felt like 15 mins.)

Later that day (I think it was that same day?) as we were driving through the gorgeous mountains on the way to Tyson's cousins, Chuck & Amy's cabin, I had a serious "ah ha!" moment.  It was like the brightest lightbulb went off in my head and it was one of those heavenly moments where I received the strongest impression that told me, "Things will not always work out as planned...AND IT'S OKAY."  Emphasis on the "it's okay" part.  Even as I type it and think about it, the words on the page don't do that moment justice.  It was like a learning moment for the rest of my life.  It was just the sweetest reassurance that some things that we focus on just aren't that important when it comes down to it.

How often do we expect perfection?  In other people, in our situations...and most of all, with ourselves?  Not to say we should let everything go and just throw our hands in the air, but...well, sometimes that is actually what we need to do.

As I write this, I reflect on the crazy day I had yesterday.  Just to give you an idea of my day... I've been sick all week, laying on the couch to rest as much as possible between the demands of motherhood, my house is a disaster, my kids drove me nuts (OK, a certain two year old whose name starts with B and rhymes with "Make me..." decided to claw the crap out of her little friend's face that we were babysitting...looked like a cat attacked the poor boy and just continued to torment me all day with her antics), I made a bunch of phone calls to get payment arrangements set up for Skylar's healthcare bills which I've totally been putting off because it's so overwhelming and by the time I was done doing that, I was so emotionally and mentally drained.  By the middle of the day, I was at my wits end, about to check myself into the loony bin and I still had to survive the rest of the day!  ...Happy to say that I did.  Phew!

My point is...we can only do what we can do when we can do it.  (That is a Tyson quote.)  My disaster of a house will only be a disaster temporarily but until I feel better and can muster the energy to clean it...a big fat, OH WELL!  It's OK that this has not been the best week and that my house is a disaster and that I won't get a "Housewife of the Year" award for this week.  I'm doing the best I can.  And that's all I can do.  Weeks like this make me appreciate normal weeks.

So, learn from me...quit expecting everything to always be perfect.  Give yourself a break.  I've decided that it's impossible to keep your house perfectly clean all the time with little kids anyway.  I think it's important to recognize what we do accomplish each day.  Some days, the simple, essential things are all I'm able to do.  Some days, if I feed the kids, change their diapers, & keep them alive, I have to call it a successful day.

P.S.  Don't forget the 11th Commandment:  DO NOT compare yourself to others.  Everyone's circumstances and experiences are different.

   














I want to read this book:

Grocery Store Fun

Forgiveness

I really liked this quote & had never heard it before.  Forgiveness is something I want to really focus on in 2012.  Letting go of old baggage that I've carried with me for years.  It's time to let go and move on & progress!  (Easier said than done, for sure.)  But with prayer, I believe it's possible.  Who's with me?  

Cheers to New Years Eve on the Couch!

I’m reading Moses 1 and the thought just came to me…(personal revelation…the Lord comforting me and reminding me of what I already know deep down.)



I need to accept the challenges and obstacles that I’ve been given and that I am enduring now. I need to accept my future challenges. Just accept them in advance…that way when they do come, I will not be so shelter shocked or in disbelief but I will immediately know that there is a purpose for what I’m learning and a specific reason that I’m enduring whatever it is. The fact of the matter is that Heavenly Father has already mapped out my life- there is already a plan in place for me. So instead of throwing a tantrum by theoretically laying on the ground like a two year old and pounding my fists and feet on the ground and screaming at the top of my lungs, I need to just ACCEPT these things. It’s for my own good. I cannot see the future but it will be GRAND!


Has He ever let me down? NO!


I feel like I constantly go through the pride cycle…things will get tough which causes me to read my scriptures religiously and with MEANING and enthusiasm and zest and then things get good and then even better and I lose steam and slowly focus more on worldly things (without really meaning to) and then I go through the same cycle over and over and over.


When am I going to learn?!


I have such great experiences of personal revelation and spiritual promptings when I’m in the right frame of mind and my thoughts and efforts are focused more on spiritual matters. It’s just human nature, I guess and just goes to show that unless we are DILIGENT and really make effort to do the things we know we are supposed to do, then we are just going through the motions and even though we’re doing those things, we’re not really progressing to our FULL POTENTIAL. We are missing out on special spiritual promptings and blessings because we are too distracted by the worldly chaos of life that is so aggressively impeding our days. Our ears are too busy searching for a song on the radio and our eyes are bright with glee from the worldly whims of happiness that come from material things and then quickly leave us feeling so empty.


I’ve been feeling quite discouraged these last few days, to be honest. Partly because I’ve been feeling kind of sick and my house is a disaster and then recently, for a different reason. The adversary knows how to manipulate our thoughts and turn things around if we let him so we go from being happy with our life as stay at home Mommy to having feelings that we’re missing out on the fun and excitement of life because of our special role and because we have little ones. IF WE LET HIM is the key to that statement. It mostly came about because of New Years Eve, believe it or not. We went to a Church Stake New Years party that was for families and we were done by like 8pm. Then it was like…what do we do now? It’s still so early…bleh! And of course there’s not much you can really do with a baby and a two year old and actually enjoy it late at night, so we went home, put the kids to bed, and then sat on the couch watching the New Years festivities on TV where the world was partying, carrying on, and having all the excitement.


Well to the adversary, I say…Poo on you!


There is freedom in sitting on the couch with my babies asleep in the next room. There is protection in that. We won’t be getting hit by a car on our way home later that night by a drunk driver…we won’t be surrounded in an atmosphere that will only carry us further from the spirit where the adversary can slyly sink his grip in us with the false luster and the superficial glitz and glamour that he wants us to believe we’re missing out on. I am in no way passing judgement on people who go out…I just know that for me and my past experience, it was a lonely, superficial world that ultimately did not bring me ANY true or lasting happiness. Frankly, it only encouraged me to make even more poor choices. Again, that’s just me and my experience.


If I would have been asked, “OK Kendra, in order for you to have children, you are going to be required to sacrifice a few things…errrr, OK, maybe A LOT of things. You won’t be able to go to the movies whenever you want, you won’t be able to pick up your parents from the airport when they come to visit because there won’t be enough room in the car, you will get stretch marks, there won't always be money to get your nails done, and you won’t necessarily be able to go hit the town for New Years Eve at the drop of a hat…


Now, after hearing all of this which is just a fraction of what motherhood will require, are you still willing to be a mother?”


Ummm, DUH!


The fact of the matter is that the benefits far outweigh the superficial worldly ideals that are placed on motherhood and rearing children. My life is so much more meaningful with these adorable faces in it!

Bottom line…I’m grateful for these heavenly reminders of what’s truly important when my mind and thoughts become so uninvitingly clouded sometimes. It allows me to get my mind straight and again, recommit myself to be diligent so that I can have the kind of life that I truly want. That I can have lasting happiness where my family is my foremost priority without worldly distractions. That I can discern the adversary’s lies and cast his unwelcomed deceit from my mind and life.


I’m grateful for the source of protection that I have from the gospel. Let’s face it, folks…we ARE a bit different but I’m ever so thankful for the foundation of hope and faith the gospel gives me that no matter what trial I face, I know who is there for me and who will help me through it.  And that we are protected when we live the teachings of the gospel.


Cheers to motherhood. Cheers to New Years Eve chillin at home. Cheers to doing what I know is right and what makes me happy no matter what the world thinks.


Booyah!


This is what matters right here!

Worth Your Time...Read 'Em!

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Lately, all of the Ensign articles that I've been hearing about one way or another and reading have been amazing and have helped me so much with a challenge I've been facing or just by shifting my mindset so that overall, I'm happier and mentally healthier.  I go from feeling bleh to feeling rejuvenated and have a fresh outlook on what's going on in my life.  The bad doesn't seem so bad!  The good is actually GREAT!  I'm so grateful for the uplifting and inspired material that I read and that we are so lucky to have the freedoms we enjoy to do such.

This first article was used as a main resource in the amazing Relief Society lesson that was given today.

The Best is Yet to Come
By Jeffrey R. Holland

As a new year begins and we try to benefit from a proper view of what has gone before, I plead with you not to dwell on days now gone nor to yearn vainly for yesterdays, however good those yesterdays may have been. The past is to be learned from but not lived in. We look back to claim the embers from glowing experiences but not the ashes. And when we have learned what we need to learn and have brought with us the best that we have experienced, then we look ahead and remember that faith is always pointed toward the future. Faith always has to do with blessings and truths and events that will yet be efficacious in our lives...

To read the entire article (which you soooo need to do!), click here

And here is one more article that is amazing...


Living the Abundant Life
By President Thomas S. Monson

At the advent of a new year, I challenge everyone to undertake a personal, diligent, significant quest for what I call the abundant life—a life filled with an abundance of success, goodness, and blessings. Just as we learned the ABCs in school, I offer my own ABCs to help us all gain the abundant life.

A- Attitude (Have a positive attitude)
B- Believe (Believe in Yourself)
C- Courage (Face challenges with courage)

To read this entire article and be inspired, click here


Gotta love it!