Day 2: Highlight a Hero

 

This is my "Texas sister". She is my HERO! She is a wonderful example of Christlike love. In 2010 I first met her at church and two weeks later she was taking care of my two little ones while I was in the hospital having two more. She helped so much!!!!! She offered to tend kids so my husband and I could go on weekly dates. Not having any family herself, she sat by us in church every week and always helped manage kids. She became part of the family. Frequently she'd stop after work and help with baths and bedtime and it would lighten my load and give me another adult to talk to as I was tired at the end of day, especially because my husband was busy trying to figure out a new job. She took care of the four kids when I was at the hospital for my 5th baby (she even dressed and took the four to stake conference by herself--that's tough!) and watched all five over a weekend so we could celebrate our anniversary away. Those years of being far from family and having so many dependent little ones was exhausting, but she was a gift from God that blessed me again and again through her service. She also became such a tender friend. I was so sad to move away and I'm so thankful for memories with her. She found humor in situations. Her laughter is contagious! She sparked my interest in walks around the neighborhood and scripture study and those habits have stuck. Her kindness and angel acts of service were inspiring. She ministered secretly to many. The way she reached out to her family, especially her nieces and nephews, was so loving and thoughtful. I loved helping her with her family Christmas projects. Today she is a rockstar aunt to 30! Yes, Catherine, is my HERO that I wanted to highlight today. 🥰

#LightTheWorld
#GiveThanks

Moments to Memory

I'm thankful for moments. This is my breakfast, a delicious moment and now a memory. Life is full of that.

Today I #GiveThanks for Family!! People who I can laugh with, learn from, serve, and make memories with. 🥰

My parents were wonderful examples to my siblings and me. They provided enriching experiences and taught us so much! Thanks Mom & Dad 💕

I'm grateful for the family I grew up in and the one now I created with my sweetheart.

Each person is a gift from God with talents. They each have taught me something--

R: dedication, endurance, practicality & planning
A: humor lightens problems, ask the right questions, there's always more to learn
A: creating from resources, passion and time give amazing results
J: friendliness to others, start work right away
E: make decisions easily & be confident
J: be nice to everyone, being content with flexibility

Families help us become better. "Often the greatest lifts we receive come from within the ranks of our families." (Marvin J Ashton, Oct 1973)

We're off on a roadtrip (hence, I had to finish the rest of the pie! 😉).... to spend time together, see cool things and make memories. I'm thankful for a husband (I actually met over pumpkin pie 🥧), that plans such fun things for us and reminds me to "live in the moment". He makes me so happy❣️ Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  

***

Day 7 of #GiveThanks
R: family
A: moments & memories
A: family trips
A: food
J: nature
E: vehicles--planes & cars
J: clothes

***
My daily hope 💓

Ether 12:4 "Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety HOPE for a better world" #TheBookOfMormon

I'm thankful for hope. #GiveThanks

Music and candy

Allen said it best: I don't like days I don't have school because I feel lazy.

Yes! It's nice having a break from school but it's really hard to get anything done send get everyone motivated when people think they're on vacation and just want to be entertained. They lose privileges but they don't care. Strange mindset. 

Instead of dealing with frustration I made rolls, worked on laundry, finished updating my new address spreadsheet & addressing Christmas cards, dropped books to the library, delivered dinner (stew, rolls and pumpkin pie with cream) to Savannah, put away all laundry, finished leftovers for dinner, and final packing.

 MUSIC! 🎼 I'm thankful for good music that makes me dance and sing while I do housework. I just can't hold still when there's good beat on. 😁 Sometimes I sing a lot! (Once upon a time I was a kindergarten teacher with classroom routines revolving around song. One mother at parent teacher conference said her daughter loved school so much and would come home and sing for the rest of the day. 😂). I love musicals and soundtracks and holiday tunes. I'm grateful for soft, uplifting music too. I feel inspired by powerful messages taught through hymns. I love having the ability to play piano and clarinet. I'm excited to serve again as primary chorister (whenever we go back to church 😉) and I'm ready with a basket of props and a fun dress for Singing Time with Sister Tucker. 😃👍 I'm thankful for opportunities to serve. #GiveThanks

***

Day 6 of #GiveThanks

R: the outdoors

A: music & candy

A: driving school

A: the Atonement

J: Youtube

E: clothes

J: sisters

***

I'm thankful for mercy. 

[Ether 11:8 "And the people began to repent of their iniquity; and inasmuch as they did the Lord did have MERCY on them."] #TheBookOfMormon

Mercy is shown after turning to the Lord ❤️

#GiveThanks

***

Sugar! I'm thankful for candy and treats. They sweeten up life and sometimes save mine. 😉 Yay for quick glucose that will raise low blood sugars in a pinch. #GiveThanks

Turkey Hands 2020

Day 5 of #GiveThanks

R: electricity

A: the Book of Mormon

A: my phone

A: books & food

J: technology

E: Legos

J: turkeys & pajamas

We made our annual "turkey" thankful hands last night. ✋ 

It's always cool to leave home when it's dark and see how nature change around you as the sun rises. I saw some Christmas lights over a fence.

I need to finish address/Christmas card project. There might be a fire pit and movie later with the family. The kids haven't really started their chores yet. They are laughing and hanging out. They are loving this break from school.

Three things I posted today for #GiveThanks...

Technology! I'm thankful for the superpower of technology: the Internet, emails, Alexa, smartphones, computers, Zoom ... Technology allows me (all of us) to connect with people, be in two places at once, take photos and video and easily share them, be entertained, educates, pumps music or announcements throughout the house, gives reminders, grants the ability to attend meetings, school or doctor appts from home saving driving time, and makes purchases that appear magically on doorsteps. It's definitely a superpower in our day! 😃

#GiveThanks

I'm thankful for the #TheBookOfMormon  

{Ether 10:2 "for he REMEMBERED what the Lord had done in bringing Jared and his brother across the deep; and he did walk in the ways of the Lord"}

*Remember* Such an important principle.

#GiveThanks

I'm thankful for these magazines. I'm grateful for the spiritual boost they give me. I've read the Ensign for years and I smiled as I finished the final one (Dec 2020 issue) this morning. Next year starts the international Liahona magazine. #GiveThanks

Thanksgiving feast

 It's Thanksgiving break off of school. I got up to walk but the kids slept in. Right now we're enjoying a social distance Price is Right episode.

Yesterday our family had our Thanksgiving Feast. It's become tradition to kickoff the Thanksgiving week with the meal, eat leftovers a few days, and then head out of town on a trip. I'm grateful for traditions.

Most years I cook mostly solo, but yesterday I had several helping hands all eager to get in and help and bond and learn skills. I smile as I recall four girls surrounding the trash can peeling potatoes and then sweet potatoes, the boys cutting and helping with the dishes. Helpers stayed nearby to open things, get out ingredients, stir, throw away,  cleanup, add things to the shopping list for a future trip, and we talked and just enjoyed time in the kitchen. 

I'm so thankful for food, family and fun. I'm thankful to have a kitchen with an oven, microwave, sink, counters, drawers of utensils, a fridge and freezer, cupboards of dishes and a table to sit at and enjoy our meal.

I'm thankful for this family, each person adds more flavor to the mix and I'm honored to be a mother. I'm grateful for all the time we've spent in our comfortable home together this year.

#GiveThanks 

Day 4 of #GiveThanks

R: food

A: kitchen

A: Ramen

A: house

J: tv

E: books

J: school

Savior's Sabbath

Day 3 of #GiveThanks

R: cars

A: the Savior

A: my mom who helps with the dishes

A: my family

J: books

E: family

J: friends

 ...

• 8 CFM lesson by Emma and mom
• 9 zoom church
• 10:30 zoom EQ mtg
• 12:30 zoom EQ ministering interview
• 2 porch ministering visit--Ross & Allen
• 3 home ministering visit--Ross & Allen
• 4:30 zoom ministering visit--Ross & Allen
• 5:10 Thanksgiving Feast!
• 6 ward leaders family history meeting
• 7 zoom primary program
• 7:45 pies!
• 8 zoom EQ ministering interview

What a full day! And in between Ross would check in the kitchen and help and then be off again. I'm thankful most of his meetings were at home because it saves the time of driving. We saw him more 

I'll post Thanksgiving feast photos tomorrow.

***

(Full thought that didn't all fit online...)

I #givethanks for my Savior.

I am thankful for the Sabbath Day, #HisDay dedicated to worshipping our Savior, remembering His Sacrifice for me, renewing my covenants, learning of His teachings and feeling of His Spirit, all helping to fill my reservoir so I can begin another week. 

Jesus Christ is all powerful. Our Creator. He extends mercy and invites all to follow Him. Every #ThankfulThursday I recite The Living Christ to remember His role in Heavenly Father's Plan. 

I'm grateful for the relationship I have with Christ--that He makes my weaknesses stronger, forgives my mistakes, strengthens me to bear my burdens and offers me power beyond my own. Through keeping covenants I have made in His temple I can be exalted and be with my family forever. Dedicating a day each week to honor Him--who gives me all--is a privilege. 

I came across these words this week in my study of the history of Relief Society... 

Sister Eliza R. Snow wrote of our Lord: 

✍️“He marked the path and led the way,

And every point defines

To light and life and endless day

Where God’s full presence shines.”

He truly is our LIGHT. One of my favorite hymns is #89 The Lord is My Light". I remember singing this hymn every night to my kids before bed for months straight. I sang it so much I easily had all four verses memorized. I would sing as tears rolled down my cheeks. Why? I was exhausted. My husband was studying for a second Bar exam in a different state, 8 years after he passed the first one. The first Bar studying was really tough and we had two little ones at the time. But this time we had five demanding kids, and, out of all the states, California gave the hardest exam. We knew if we both worked hard he could pass. I was determined to be super supportive and "single parent" so he could really focus and learn the material. And I'm sure it was a challenge for him too to be near and not take a break and jump in and help because he's such a helpful father and husband. We both kept our eyes on the goal. I worked really hard to do things on my own and not bother him. The only breaks I got were on Sundays (because he never studied Sundays), youth night for my calling as a YW counselor, and a date on Friday. Everything else I was on my own. I tried really hard for almost three months to never bother him. Each day was a challenge. By the end of the day--after school, dealing with kids ages 11, 8, 5, 5, 2, homework, errands, housework, dinner, baths, and finally bedtime--I would look toward the LIGHT because I knew my Savior was very aware of me. I would sing about Him. He was our bedtime song and I would lie on the floor and sing (so the kids would calm down for sleep) because that was all the energy I had left. The days went on and on and on. It was really hard. I'll never forget that time. My faith grew so much! {To end my story Ross took the CA Bar and passed and a month later I was called as the ward YW President and served four years. That experience prepared me for that.} 

And to end this post, I'll share the 3rd verse of that hymn...

🎶The Lord is my light; 

the Lord is my strength.

I know in his might 

I’ll conquer at length.

My weakness in mercy 

he covers with pow’r,

And, walking by faith, 

I am blest ev’ry hour.

[Chorus]

The Lord is my light;

He is my joy and my song.

By day and by night

He leads, he leads me along.🎶

I'm so grateful He is our LIGHT and leads all of us along. 🥰b