Just a thought....

Just as a reminder this is a part journal, and scrapbook for myself and my children.  I hope that I can pass on at least a few of the lessons I've learned onto them.

I saw this on someone elses blog and it really hit me.  (This person has had some experiences happen to her recently, that I couldn't imagine going through, and just the thought of it brings me to tears.  Yet, she has been resilient and such an example of faith.  I'm sure she has her hard times, but she has helped me become more thankful for what I do have.)  Sometimes we are always wondering why something is happening to us or others.  This seemed to help me realize that everyone has these moments.  This is a quote from the April 2010 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

President Uchtdorf: "Often the deep valleys of our present will be understood only by looking back on them from the mountains of our future experience. Often we can’t see the Lord’s hand in our lives until long after trials have passed. Often the most difficult times of our lives are essential building blocks that form the foundation of our character and pave the way to future opportunity, understanding, and happiness."

Sometimes I forget that the Lord is helping me mold myself into the person I want to become, my prayer and hope is that I let him.  I know that I have so far to go, but I pray that the Lord will help me make those right decisions, so that if nothing else my children will have me as a good example.   I keep asking myself hundreds of times why Corey and I keep experiencing it seems like the same challenges, one of our biggest challenges seems to be employment and maintaining it.  However, I wouldn't change it for a minute.
1- We have seen the promises of our bishop and my father come full circle, when they both counseled us to "no matter what" pay our tithing  and truly "pour you out a blessing, that there has not been room enough to receive it." (Malachi 3:10)
2- Because of the time that Corey was unemployed and played Mr. Mom, Corey and Derek are now best buddies.
3- I've learned the art of being "cheap"
4- We had to accept help on occasion but also had to feel the burden of paying it back and forward.
5- Corey and I have found that date night hasn't had to be expensive, just there.
6- Corey and I have realized that most of the things that we thought were important really aren't, and found new priorities in our lives.
7- I have realized that there are always someone who is worse off than me, and most of the time they are having a better attitude that me.  How grateful I am for those who set amazing examples of love, kindness, and testimony for me, regardless of their circumstances in life.
7- Most importantly I have learned that my husband really will listen and love me no matter what.  Even on those days when I wake up crying because of our situations, or fears.  He doesn't care, he just holds me, let me cry (even if why I'm crying is because of him), and reaffirms his love for me and his testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  He reminds me that most of the time we don't know how it is going to be okay, but he just knows that the Lord listens and hears our prayers, and because we are living the best that we can (not because we are perfect) he will bless us. 

I don't know if we will ever know why we have to experience the things that we do, but I'm truly grateful for my family and friends who support me the best they can through everything.  I know that sometimes I may not like the advise or counsel that is given but I probably needed to hear it.  But most importantly you at least cared enough to try.  I know because of these experiences, trials, hard times, or whatever you want to call them, I have a chance to become a better person.

An Attitude of Gratitude

Recently within the church that I attend there has been an emphasis on gratitude, not only on us as individuals being grateful but also the church leadership being grateful for those who help the work move forward.  Just in case any of you don't know I'm the nursery leader for my ward (this is the LDS term for church congregation for anyone reading this that may not be a member of the LDS Faith.)  And just in case you were wondering it is a little bit of a thankless job.  I'm responsible for 6 leaders and around 24 kids between the ages of 18 months - 3 years, and I absolutely love this job.  These special children are so wonderful and have such an amazing spirit, and I'm not just saying that because Derek is part of this group.  So often as we will be discussing those simple basics truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ they teach me.  They remind me often how simple the church is really suppose to be.  As one of the kids told me a couple of weeks ago, we are just suppose to be good.  Now, if only we actually lived and kept it this way.  It is true, we do just have to be good, and thankfully we have such a perfect example, our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Not only is he a perfect example but I truly believe that he is aware of every one of us, and knows pains, our struggles, and our joys.  I know that through the gift of the Holy Ghost, he will send us a spirit of peace if we will only invite it into our hearts.  Now you may say what does this have to do with nursery, or with being grateful, well here it is.  I'm grateful for wonderful little spirits (that haven't been tainted by the world just yet) that teach me every Sunday that our Heavenly Father loves us.  I see this in their prayers, and them singing the church songs.  I'm grateful for wonderful leaders who help me so much and who without them, I would be one huge failure.  I'm thankful for the leadership above me, who has confidence and trust in me to do what is best for these special kids. 

Several weeks ago I attended a conference where Sister Julie B. Beck spoke, she is the Church Relief Society President which is the Church's Woman's Organization.  She said something that has just stuck with me. She counseled those participating in the conference “you’re doing better than you think you are” but at the same time “we’re not doing as well as we could.”   She also counseled the need to avoid being distracted by things that are nice to do at the expense of things that are most important.  I'm grateful for the reminder that I really am doing pretty good, but that they know that I and we still haven't reached our full potential. 

I'm grateful that yesterday I was able to hear a living Apostle of Jesus Christ speak.  I heard his testimony and felt his spirit, it was a reminder once again how much our Father in Heaven is aware of us.  I'm also so grateful for a wonderful husband who loves me dearly.  Last Friday Corey was laid off again, and this was something that was a total surprise.  When he fulfilled the call from the union hall he was told that they had enough work for at least a year, now two months later they were handing him his pink slip.  I got home from work and Corey gave me the bad news.  We had a pretty quiet dinner.  We had found out that he was number 26 on the out of work list with the union, so I was expecting him to be without work for several weeks, boy was I wrong.  Later that night Corey got a call.  An owner of a small shop had gone in and wanted to basically hand pick his apprentice that he needed.  Because he ran such a small shop he didn't have the luxury of getting someone who would only work half of the time.  He started going through the files of those apprentices who were on the out-of-work list and started going over Corey's.  He asked why he had been let go, because it seemed like he was such a great worker.  He called Corey's latest Foreman and he gave Corey a glowing review and said that he would be stupid not to hire him, so he did.  So within four hours of getting laid off Corey was back at work.  When Corey told me that he had been laid off, I was really getting nervous.  Over the last 2 years Corey and I both have experienced several lay offs and needless to say we have depleted our savings account.  I was wondering how we would make it with out this cushion that hadn't been replenished.  I know my Father in Heaven was aware of us, and I'm grateful for that.  I'm also grateful for an honest, hard working husband who makes it possible for those glowing reviews and the blessing to come because of it.  Needless to say I'm thankful.  I'm thankful for all the wonderful people that are in my life, who keep me going on those down days that we all can experience.  I'm thankful for such great extended family who have always been there and who I know will always be there for us when we need them, even if all that I need is just a hug and a listening ear.  I'm learning more and more that being thankful leads to more blessings which leads to more reasons to be thankful and etc, it is a never ending cycle that I love.
I know this is a long post and I'm sorry, but I just had to publicly share my gratitude. 

Happy Halloween!

So this fireman costume was what we were trying to get him to wear for Halloween, however, Derek had other plans.  The night before we put this on him, and man was it a task.  Don't let his friendly happy face fool you, he was a pain in the toosh.

On Halloween, I tried to get him in his costume and there was no convincing him that he needed to be a Fireman, he insisted on being Thomas the Train.  This costume came via Grandma Carol last Christmas, all I can say is that at least we had a costume on him.  I just didn't want to be that parent, who didn't even dress up their kid.  That night was actually really rainy and right before we left to go to the Trunk r Treat it was super cold and hailing.  Luckily it cleared up right before it started.  It was dark and cold but at least the kids weren't wet.

 Annistyn was a darling Cinderella, and was so excited to get candy!  Derek ran so far ahead of me I missed my shot of him knocking on Grandma's door, luckily I could keep up with Annistyn because her shoes were to big and she couldn't run very fast.

It took Derek a little bit to understand that you weren't suppose to eat the candy as soon as it got put in your bucket, you were suppose to wait until you got home.

Trying to get a picture of both of these two together sometimes can be quite a chore, today was no exception, they never wanted to look at the camera at the same time, oh well!

These buckets were way full by the end of the night.

These girls are in my ward and I just had to take a picture of them!  I thought that they looked so good all dressed up together.  Just proves you can still have fun with Halloween, even if you are to old to go trick-r-treating