Gratitude

I very much enjoyed General Conference this weekend. I didn't get to sit intently, completely focused on every talk given, due to my 3 adorable, noisy, active children. Needless-to-say, I'm excited to download the mp3s of the talks as soon as they are on www.lds.org and listen to them at my leisure. I noticed that a recurring theme in many of the talks was gratitude. I have decided to list things I am thankful for – perhaps I'll even expound on some of them.

• I am thankful for the sunset I saw tonight on our drive home (from Utah). The sky was dark with rainclouds, and at the horizon the sky was a bright orange.

• I am thankful for a living Prophet. I loved listening to President Monson's talks – especially on the announcement of the new temples and his experience at the most recent 3 dedications. Can you imagine being a part of a choir of 1700 singers? Can everyone see the director? Is there more than one director? Cool.

• I am thankful for my children. They are so hilarious. Hyrum is right now telling us 'knock,knock' jokes. Here's one “Rodit! Knock, knock!” “Who's There?” “Um, Toto a ah a ha ha ah outside.” Hilarious!

• I am thankful for my missionary brother. I'm glad that I can contribute to his mission to be able help in a small way with missionary work.

• I'm thankful for Ryan.

• I am thankful that my parents were married in the temple, took me to church when I was little, and shared their testimonies with me.

• I am thankful for the many great teachers I've had – both at church and at school.

• I am thankful that there is music in my life. Piano, voice, violin, bass guitar, tin whistle.

• I am thankful that I don't have to work outside the home.

• I am thankful to be a part of a big family. Sometimes it is really hard, with our different personalities, ideas and varying ages, but I can't imagine it any other way.

• I am thankful for my Savior, Jesus Christ. I was reading 3 Nephi 9 last night and loved his words to the Nephites who were spared of complete destruction after the sign of his death. I have verse 13 marked: “O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?”

• I am thankful for smooth roads.

• I am thankful for ice cream.

• I am thankful for rainy days.

• I am thankful for homegrown tomatoes, grapes, raspberries, etc.

• I am thankful for stores with inhouse childcare.

• I am thankful for the Book of Mormon.

• I am thankful for good friends.

I really think I could go on for a while with this thankful list. There are so many things to be grateful for.

Baa!

Sabrina's school had a Wild Western Carnival last Friday. Ryan, as assistant Scoutmaster, went camping to Bruneau Dunes with the Boy Scouts, so I took the kids myself. We spent $20 on food, rides and games and had a blast! (Especially after meeting up with the Smith's.) I think the wanted poster of them there is absolutely adorable; the seriousness of Sabrina and Roderic, Hyrum crying, Roderic hugging them both. At the carnival there was a "train" ride, multiple bounce house toys, climbing wall, pony rides, bike rodeo and a petting zoo. The kids liked looking at the camel and zeebra and petting the goats (watching 2 of them fight as well). Apparently Hyrum picked up that animals say "baa."

When our home teachers came on Tuesday, Brother Ricks shared a lesson about tithing based on Elder Sheldon F. Child's talk, The Best Investment, from the most recent General Conference. Elder Child told a story of selling a calf that he had raised and requested that his dad pay him in silver dollars. To keep the kids interested and following along, Brother Ricks asked what a cow says, Roderic & Sabrina replied, "Moo!" and Hyrum said, "Baa!" We all had a good chuckle over that one. (I guess I've got some teaching to do.)

Sometimes

Music & lyrics by Fred Rogers © 2005 McFeely-Rogers Foundation
Sometimes I don't feel like going to bed
I don't feel like getting right up, sometimes.
Sometimes I don't feel like wearing my shoes
But sometimes isn't always

Sometimes I don't feel like combing my hair
I don't feel like washing my face, sometimes
Sometimes I don't feel like saying "okay."
But sometimes isn't always

Sometimes I do feel like going to bed
I do feel like washing my face, sometimes
Sometimes I do feel like saying okay
But sometimes isn't always

Sometimes I don't feel like sometimes I do
I feel like I don't like to feel, sometimes
Sometimes I don't and sometimes I do
But sometimes isn't always

Listening to this song yesterday on the CD, "Songs from the Neighborhood: The Music of Mister Rogers," I got to thinking. About motherhood. Sometimes I feel like spending my day on the computer. Sometimes I feel like reading a book to myself. Sometimes I feel like cooking dinner during nap time. Sometimes I feel like taking the kids to the zoo. Happily sometimes isn't always.

Then I was reminded of Elder M. Russell Ballard's talk, "Daughters of God", at the most recent General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He says, "First, recognize that the joy of motherhood comes in moments. There will be hard times and frustrating times. But amid the challenges, there are shining moments of joy and satisfaction." Sometimes isn't always.

Then I remembered a comment that the one sister in our ward over age 70 said about 2 months ago when teaching Relief Society. "My one regret from when I was a younger mother was that I cleaned too much." I certainly don't have that problem, but I want to make sure that when I look back at my child-rearing years that I have more memories of having fun with my children instead of nagging, yelling, or spending too much time on the computer, etc.

My sister (who doesn't have a blog) sent my mom a Mother's Day card, which my mom opened and after reading it, read it aloud to us (me, Ryan, Shanda & Jason). As she read it, we were joking about all the things she could have written, but didn't. She said she had recently re-read the talk by Sister Julie B. Beck from October General Conference, "Mothers Who Know;" and she wanted to thank my mom for being one of those mothers, and then gave examples.

I remember my mom not liking Mother's Day when I was younger because to her it just seemed like a day that she couldn't live up to. She felt she wasn't a perfect mother. I think receiving that card from my sister made her day. (It brought tears to my eyes.) I don't hope to have my children think or remember what a perfect mom I am, because I'm not. But is nice to have them thank me for the things that I do do for them.

Sometimes isn't always.

Amazing Music

Did you watch the General Relief Society Meeting Broadcast on Saturday night? If not, you're in luck because the audio is now available online at www.lds.org on the broadcast page.

I don't usually rave about women's choruses, however this chorus of Relief Society sisters from South Jordan, Utah had some amazing arrangements. They sang a most uplifting arrangement of "Hark, All Ye Nations" that gave me goose bumps. Click on the link above, select the English 16k audio stream and then fast forward to minute mark 24:58 to listen to that song. I enjoyed it so much. Then, when you're done with that song, fast forward to 1:13:48 and listen to a wonderful arrangement of "The Lord is my Light." Enjoy!

Conference Preparations

In order to have a more enjoyable General Conference Weekend where conference is not broadcast over the radio, a few things must be planned in advance.

Things we did wrong yesterday:
1) Malauna was sick all day on Friday, so dinner didn't get made on time, the kids didn't go to bed until late, then Hyrum was up cranky a lot of the night, so we didn't get out of bed until after 9 am.
2) Lunch was not ready to eat right at 12 noon.
3) Fondue Party preparations were not finalized. i.e. Malauna had to go to the store at 4:45pm to get whipping cream, caramel sauce and angel food cake.
4) All the yard work that Ryan has wanted to do for weeks was not able to be done (and next weekend we'll be out of town!)
5) Dinner was not ready to eat at 5 pm - Ryan hardly got a bite before leaving with the neighbor for the General Priesthood session.
6) Due to a late wake up, another late bedtime - at least we didn't have to bother with Daylight Saving Time. ;)

Even with all of this room for improvement, the spirit was strong in our house during the conference sessions and I did really like that. Roderic would shout out any time he heard the words "Holy Ghost," "Book of Mormon," "Baptism," or "President Hinckley." I was able to finish cutting out the fabric for Sabrina's birthday dress. Sabrina was able to make progress on her Fourth Article of Faith cross-stitch. And Ryan did some good work on our computer.

Today went much better.