Perfect Timing

When we got home from visiting my family for the weekend. I found a puddle downstairs in our house. The ceiling was wet and then we found the ceiling upstairs was wet too. It has been snowing and raining an unusual amount this week for our area. We think the roof leaked and made it's way down the wall to drip downstairs. We had been discussing Christmas and how much money we didn't have, and decided we couldn't buy anything especially with the roof leaking.
The bishop called and left a message to see if we wanted help with Christmas this year and go to Deseret Industries to help out. I called him back in the morning and told him I would have told him no if our roof wasn't leaking, but since it was I said yes.
I went through the clothes we have for the kids and made a list of the things we are lacking and I will have to see what is there at DI to figure out good Christmas gifts for the kids. I've collected a few small things over the year but it would be good to give something bigger since we have the opportunity.
We have been hoping to have our 68 Bronco sell to lessen our financial burden, and it hasn't yet. Refinancing the house fell through last week so we were not able to lower our payments. This was a great time to hear a phone call from our bishop. He is always mindful of us. We are BLESSED! I won't feel stressed since I know our kids will have what they need and good Christmas presents. I've recognized how important this factor is and I'm so grateful to have the stress minimized.

The Past has come back to Bless Me

I saw one of my ex-boyfriends this month and it had been about 10 years since I've seen him last. Although unresolved emotions turned up, I was grateful to see him happy and progressing in life. He's married with a couple kids and has a good job.
As I was turning over the unresolved emotions, I realized I was mourning the loss of his friendship. We had been best friends for years and only dated in college for one year. As I look back at our friendship and the qualitites he had, I see how it prepared me to marry my husband and to be able to support a very stubborn husband. (The ex also had an overdose of stubbornness.)
As my husband has become less stubborn and more open minded over the years, I can see why he was the one I was supposed to marry. Heavenly Father really looks after me and prepares me for things I don't understand in the present time. It was difficult for me to have my husband be so similar to an ex-boyfriend , with a constant reminder. (Hobbies, stubbornness, etc.) I thought I was being tortured at times but in the end it is turning out to be wonderful and exceptional!

I felt different and it was good

I was sitting on the couch in the living room and my oldest 2 children were with me. They were being silly and I felt happy. I even teased my son and adored his teasing and giggles he gave back. My daughter just giggled with us and I LOVED it. I felt different and it was GOOD.
For many years I have been struggling with postpartum depression and have lacked tolerance and motivation. It was sweet to have a moment of tolerance, but not just that, I actually enjoyed my children how I want to.

The Scriptures Say...

Last week I was having frustrating feelings toward a few siblings in my family. Those feelings came up because I was going through stuff that related to them with my own kids. I had feelings of helplessness, burdened, frustrated, among others. Thoughts came to my mind about the scriptures. Nephi did not have to repent when he killed Laban, and Abraham did not have to repent when he lied and said Sarah was his sister. This lifted a burden since I was feeling bad for causing contention. I know in a few incidents I was led by the Holy Ghost to say and do things and they were not received well, but I know Heavenly Father wanted me to do them.

The other thing that made me feel better was when we were reading the scriptures and it said "the Lord saw that it was pleasant". I thought the use of the word pleasant was interesting and then I thought that simple words were used throughout the scriptures to describe us or the things we do that are good. Other words are "it was good". The grand words are used to describe God and that is how it should be, "miraculous", "wonderful", "great".
My feelings of helplessness died since the Lord requires me to be good and pleasant. I don't need to do all the "fantastic" worldly stuff to be happy (Disney World, designer clothes, etc). I felt better because I can work on making my life good and pleasant and I don't have to compete to be wonderful or great. That's the Lord's job.

The Power of Being Trained

While I was leading the music in Primary yesterday, we had so much fun that I lost track of time along with everyone else! I was called to be the music leader for primary a couple months before and had struggled feeling the spirit and helping the kids feel the power in music. Now, I had just been trained for my calling and watched the music leader video and I had tried to follow the steps it gave me. It was absolutely amazing! We all had fun and the spirit was definitely there.

Taking Turns

I had the stomach flu last week and my friend drove my boy and her boy to kindergarten for me. We take turns so now we were off track for driving the boys. The next day her water pipe broke in her house and I was able to drive the boys for her.
I wasn't quite better yet and I usually watched her younger boys so she could help at the school when she drives but I didn't need to, so that relieved me. My husband happened to be home that day, randomly, so he watched our youngest as I drove the boys in and I also went to the grocery store kid free! It was a nice break.

It all came together

This was an especially crazy day for me. The kids had SEP's (school conferences), and music class was starting and I needed to be there for parent day. Unfortunately I had signed up for the SEP's at the same time as the music class. I asked my cousin to go with my son to his class and I would make it home to go to my daughter's after the SEP conferences.
My friend came over in the morning to bottle pears with me. She arrived late and we finished just in time for me to go to help in my daughter's class at 2:00. Then at 3:00 I did my son's SEP. After, I was going to send him home on the bus to go to his music class and I was going to stay for my daughter's SEP. My son's testing took longer than expected and he missed the bus. I told my daughter not to ride the bus but I could not find her. I saw her teacher in the hallway and she asked if I wanted to do the SEP early and I said yes, assuming my daughter took the bus home.
When we finished we rushed out the door with just enough time to drive home for my son's music class. As we rushed he said "there's she is!" and I said "where?" I looked over and my daughter was on the playground at the school right by us. A neighbor had taken her out of the office just a few minutes before. We all made it home safely! Together! We actually got home right when the bus did. My cousin panicked briefly since my son did not get off the bus but that was relieved quickly.
I was so blessed since I didn't leave without my daughter-it would have been crazy to drive 20 minutes back to the school (40 min round trip!), and the kids made it to music class with me there, and I was so blessed to get my daughter's SEP done early! I can't say how grateful I am for tender mercies! Not to mention the heartache of losing a child was avoided.