That I am Not Alone

I am very grateful that I am not alone in motherhood. My sister just sent me this link http://deseretbook.com/video/view/192 to a wonderful insperational talk for an Apostle of the Lord. I love being a mother and the joys it brings. But I definantly know some of the trials that being a mother brings as well. They can be long and hard. I love to be with my children and to see them grow but I daily struggle with the hardship that comes with trying to help them learn and grow. Some times it can make my heart tired. I love my husband and am very grateful that he helps me in parenting every day but at the same time I don't think he knows what it is like to be here all day everyday. I am grateful for other mothers that know and understand the daily trials of being a mother. For mothers that love their "job" or really the resposibility of being a mother and keep going and trying every day despite the hardships and that look for the joys and not just the trials. Thanks Moms for helping me know that we are not alone in the trials and blessings of being mothers.

Growth

As I was driving home early this morning I noticed the through the fog that the little blades of grass were bright green and taller than yesterday. I think it is the first time that the grass has grown this spring. It was fresh and crisp and new. I am grateful that everything has a chance to grow. It is beautiful to see spring because of the fresh growth. It is also beautiful to see people that grow and change. I love to watch growth, in family, friends, myself, trees, grass, flowers, anything. Growth takes time. We have to be patient for it. But just like the little blades of grass that finally grew it comes and is beautiful. I pray to be patient to see the growth in myself and in my family and that others can see growth in themselves and their surroundings.

Sense of Humor

Today I am grateful for a good sense of humor and a family that can play together. It was an amuzing day! Fun but crazy.

Hard Work

Today I am grateful for Hard Work. We are doing some deep cleaning at our house today. No it is not easy and yes I am tired and so are my kids. But we have accomplished a lot. The bathroom is germ free and shinny, the kitchen cabinets don't have grim on them anymore, the kitchen table, bench and stools have a new coat of stain and varnish on them (we cleaned them so well we took the varnish off - opps), basebaords and doors are almost white again and the boys toys have now been sanitized. We still have a lot to do but it is great to be able to do the work and to see the clean afterwards. I am grateful to the energy, know-how, ability, time (almost have that), and excitement to get the job done. Keep at it and maybe it up will be all done sometime - atleast I can hope!

Little Kids

We have missed having little kids in our home for a while now because mine seem to keep getting bigger. But for the past few weeks we have been able to watch our friends two little kids a couple of times a week as they have been getting ready to move. We have sure had fun feeding a baby and teaching a 2 year old to talk again. It has been really fun to see my kids interact and play and help so much. So I am grateful for little kids and the lessons and smiles they bring.

Learning

I am grateful for my intellect and the ability to learn. Learning hasn't always come easy to me. I have struggled often through grade school and through college. Even though I have struggled to learn I am grateful that I kept trying and was able to learn what I needed to. I am grateful for my education and all the people who helped me. I am also grateful that prayer helped as well.
(I guess I did learn grammer at some time. Hopefuly I fixed all of my previous errors. I still can learn to fix mistakes!)

Spring - well not yet

Today it is raining. It is "Spring" - at least we thought it was. But really I am grateful that it is not yet beautiful and sunny. The kids have school work to do and it is much easier to get it done if they are not daydreaming about playing in the sun. So I am grateful for the rain so that we can get our work done that is inside work. When the sun comes out we will have enough outiside work to do then. But for now we still need to finish what we have started inside. I am grateful I have more time.

Warm toes and Moms

Ok, This morning I am grateful for warm toes. It is Sunday today and we all got ready for church hoped in the car, asked the kids if they all had shoes and when to church. Upon setting up for class I looked down and saw the reason why my toes were still warm. Yes you guessed it. Today I went to church in my slippers. No I didn't mean to and I even checked my kids to make sure they have their shoes. So at the lunch table after church I asked my kids if they would please remind me to get my shoes next week. But you know I am still very grateful my toes were warm during church today. I guess I can blame my mistakes on loosing an hour of sleep (whos idea was daylight savings anyway) Just kidding, my mistakes are all mine and no one elses.

I am also grateful for uplifting messages about personal revelation during the church meeting and a class about the importance of a Mothers role. The children wrote a poem for their moms so I thought I would do the same.

Mom

Serving, Caring, Working

Who loves to give to those she loves

Who is the my angel I've prayed for and needed

Who listens to the spirit and follows the way

Beautiful, Helpful

My Mom

Teaching my Children

I am grateful that I get to teach my children, that I have the ability, time, resource, education, support (great husband), love, sometimes patients and mostly inspiration to do so. It seems like every time I am up against a wall and don't know what to do, I can pray and find the answers to how or what to teach my kids. I am grateful that the I can feel that inspiration and that I can spend the time with my children and learn with them.

I am also grateful that it is not just with scholastic topic that I can teach my children. I am grateful for the background and knowledge and direction to teach them how to live in this world, how to work, how to love, how to play, how to be happy and how to feel inspiration of their own.

I am grateful that I can be a mom. For a long time I didn't think I would be. I love to teach children and to love them. I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to teach and love 6 crazy, wild, loving, happy, trusting and forgiving children that are my own.

Sunshine

This morning I am grateful for a good night sleep and the sunshine. Although bitter cold this morning during my early morning travels the sun was still there. I am glad the sun is coming up earlier in the morning, that way I feel justified in being up. I will take the sun every chance I can. I think I get more than just Vitamin D out of the sunshine.
I also am grateful for the hugs last night and this morning that I got.

I Am Trying Hard to Think......

So it is days like yesterday and today that I made this blog. The days that you don't feel real grateful but you know you should. So I am writing to help me think of things I am grateful for, so here it goes............Well I am trying ok.......

I am glad that I get to go to sleep and try again.
I am glad for a half an hour of quiet at the church this morning (even if it was at 6:00 AM)
I am glad that it will be warmer soon. (hopefully tomarrow)
I am glad that I the CO detector hasn't gone off today (really that is a great thing - hopefully it is fixed)
I am glad that the dishwasher works.
I am ..... (I am still trying)
I am glad my 9 year old wrote a book today (about horses).
I am glad my dog likes me (that is why I have them so that when it doesn't seem like anyone else does at least the dog does - notice I said "seems" I know they really do it is just in the perspective)

Well hopefully that helped me a little bit. I guess every little bit helps.

Ok so I still need a little help. So I will go to the next thing I try.... talks from the Prophets. This is what I found.

"Let us follow Him. Let us emulate His example. Let us obey His word. By so doing, we give to Him the divine gift of gratitude." President Thomas S Monson Oct. 2008

Well I guess I will follow the quote and keep trying to be grateful. And I think I will go and hug my kids and husband. That usually helps too.

CO Detectors

Well, today I am grateful for Carbon Monoxide detectors. Ours went off this past week and we have repeatedly tried to "fix" the problem but last night we figured out the whole or should I say hole problem. We knew it was with our hot water heater but we found out that our vent in the garage got a big hole in it sometime very recently. So since we are all ok, due to our CO detector, all we have to deal with is no hot water for a day or two. It is kind of funny because we are learning about the Colonial period in US history, so my two teenagers commented that we are getting practical experience for the Colonial times because we are heating our water to do the dishes by hand. Who knew life to teach us such great lesson!
So I am grateful for lifes lessons, willing children, a husband that can fugure things out, time, patience, Sunday - a day of rest - and my CO detector. - Oh and Hot water - when it is available!

I am Grateful for the Plentiful Snow!

Ok - Today it is snowing quite a bit. So today I am grateful that I have a warm fire going and I was prepared and went to the grocery store yesterday. That means I get to sit inside, play with the kids, work and not leave the house! I like days like this. It is beautiful outside with a new layer of fresh white snow. It makes me feel peaceful and excited all at the same time. We have gotten a good 6-8 inches this morning and more on the way. Maybe I will go skiing in my yard or just watch a movie with my kids on the couch. I guess the snow makes me feel like avoiding all of the necessary things that I should do. But I am grateful for that feeling anyway.


Have a great day! Even if you don't get to enjoy the beautiful snow.




PS the bench in the pictures was completely uncovered and on grass this morning.

Laundry

Ok - I am not really grateful that I have to do tons of laundry for my 8 person family but I am grateful that today I was practically caught up. Practically is pretty good for me. I hardly ever have a day when there isn't any laundry to do so today when all I had to do was dry my girls clothes and wash some towels it was good because you see our hot water heater had a big problem today and we didn't have any hot water today. So I didn't get a shower and we didn't get to clean the dishes. But that is ok because our laundry was practically done. So I didn't get to wash the towels or the dishes but at least I didn't have to do them today.
And thanks to that wonderful fix-it man at my house that I love so much. Life would definantly be harder without him. I am thankful for him today too. (at least it only took me 4 1/2 hours to get a hold of him and his was in town!) - Hey I'm looking on the bright side:) :) :)

Slippers

I am Grateful for my slippers.

I haven't always had slipper I want to wear. Most of the time I get the dollar store version that fall apart in a few days and feel like walking rocks. I guess that is what happens when you little kids know you want slippers for Christmas and the dollar store is where they love to shop. So I have worn these hard slippers now and again hoping to keep my feet warm over the past years and then just given up on slippers and worn my running shoes all day long. All this to have warm toes.

But this past year I got some great slippers thanks to a willing husband and some forethought buying on my part. But now my toes are warm ~well most of the time, if I put my husband's thick socks on too.

So I am grateful for slippers so I can enjoy the beautiful white scenery in the north.

I guess this is just the begining

Often times it is the little things that make me smile everyday.

I am grateful that today the sun is shining. I may not be able to go outside because my feet will freeze but the blinds are open and I love to feel the sun shining.

I am grateful that my children haven't needed me for the past few minutes. But I am also equally grateful that I can be there for them when they do need me.

I am grateful for a day of rest on Sunday to reguvinate my spirit and body as well.

I am grateful for the waffles I had for lunch. They may have been in the freezer for a while but they were good this afternoon.