The gift of Blog

One of the BEST gifts I have ever been given (besides my family) is a new just for family blog my children created.  So far, they have been posting their testimonies of Jesus Christ.  Even Esther and Serena's are recorded, word for word.  I LOVE it!!! Best of all, this is a gift that will just keep giving for as long as everyone cares to contribute.  I sure do love my family!

My Christmas Wish List

• For Rob: That each member of his family will show their love for him in a unique and special way. That his heart will become even more centered on Christ and his eternal possibilities.
• For Jessica:  A healthy baby with a beautiful delivery and that the rest of her pregnancy will be comfortable. Joy in her career, family, and church life.
• For Mick:  A true feeling of success at work and at home. Pure enjoyment in continuing the journey of enlightenment he has been on. . .probably his whole life. 
• For Kenny:  Health, long life, and happiness. (And some really cool toys!)
• For Tim:  Unmistakable inspiration regarding career and family. Peace from following that inspiration. A tenderness and compassion for his wife which will earn him her unconditional love and undying devotion.
• For Cassie:  Peace and happiness in marriage.  That her husband will always acknowledge her as an equal partner and important part of his life.  A beautiful family.
• For Nichole:  Divine direction for her life and the ability to recognize that direction.  Peace in possibilities.  Courage to decide then do.  And many more dating and courtship opportunities.
• For Marissa:  Several different happy possibilities for her life and the courage to make choices.  True peace in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
• For Rachelle:  Happiness in marriage. Contentment to take time building a good foundation for a family with her husband and the Lord.  Enjoyment in what she has achieved in her life. 
• For Cameron:  Direction for his new family from the Lord. Success in his educational pursuits.  Peace and health for his parents and sisters. 
• For Jamie:  Renewed dedication to her educational goals and a greater sense of satisfaction from the hard work she puts into her studies.  A deeper love for the Savior and His gospel through meaningful scripture study and prayers.  The ability to be still and feel peace.
• For Esther:  That she will feel safe and loved in her new family.  A desire to really read her scriptures.  The ability to be reverent and feel the Spirit.  A growing sense of her individual worth. (And some really neat toys!) A sense of emotional freedom (or the ability to show and share emotions in a healthy and positive way).
• For Serena:  More snuggle time. More family fun time.  A good chance to be a kid.. . but a building desire to grow. . . educationally, emotionally, and spiritually. (Toys, toys, toys!)

More than anything, I am thankful for the beautiful family the Lord has blessed me with.  And I pray that we will be blessed with an eternity of love and joy together.

Peace in a Song

I have had a very lovely hymn on my mind all day. It is entitled, Each Life That Touches Ours for Good and the text is by Karen Lynn Davidson. I love the words of this sacred hymn. . .

"Each life that touches our for good
Reflects thine own great mercy, Lord;
Thou sendest blessings from above
Thru words and deeds of those who love."

"What greater gift dost thou bestow,
What greater goodness can we know
Than Christlike friends, whose gentle ways
Strengthen our faith, enrich our days."

"When such a friend from us departs,
We hold forever in our hearts
A sweet and hallowed memory,
Bringing us nearer, Lord, to thee."

"For worthy friends whose lives proclaim
Devotion to the Savior's name,
Who bless our days with peace and love,
We praise thy goodness, Lord above."

I think the words to this hymn are wonderful. Obviously, the third verse makes this hymn appropriate for a funeral, but the other three verses would apply any time at all. And the music this hymn is set to is also beautiful. I really enjoy listening to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing this particular hymn. Now that I have really looked over the words, I shall enjoy it even more.

Spring, Spring, SPRING!!!

What a beautiful morning in the Pacific Northwest! The sun is shining and I am luxuriating in it's warmth through the window. MMMMMM. If I were a cat, I would join Monster and Ludo for a peaceful nap in the snug armchair. Outside, the daffodils are in bloom. Our neighbors are mowing their lawns. The smell is exhilarating! I love the fragrance that only comes with spring. And the BIRDS!!!! They have the sweetest and most relaxing songs! Although Spring is not my favorite time of year, there is no denying that I LOVE Spring!

Dreams

The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams.
~Oprah Winfrey


In my lifetime, I have had many dreams. Some I have been blessed to live. . . others I have been blessed to forget. Right now, I am living a dream that isn't quite what I thought it would be.

The dream: A cute little farm house with plenty of room for a garden, chickens, a couple of sheep, a llama, a milk cow, and maybe even a couple of horses--out in the country where we can still see the stars at night.

The reality: A very cute little farm house on 25 acres. Apple and pear trees, grape vines, black berries, and PLENTY of room for a huge garden. A huge three (and then some) car shop. An 18 stall horse barn with 120 sq. ft. arena, office, tack room, and hot water wash room. Lots of pasture space. And on a clear night, all the stars anyone could hope for.

The reality also comes with 13 horses currently residing at the horse barn. And boy are those horses a lot of work! They must be grained, fed, and turned out between 7 and 8 every morning. Thirteen stalls must be cleaned, waterers and feeders must be scrubbed, floors must be swept, buckets must be cleaned and refilled, pastures must be picked out, and water troughs must be washed. Horses need lunch by noon, then grained, fed and turned in by 5 every night. Since horses don't take a day off, neither do the girls (who do all the work themselves).

The work is quite physically demanding. But the girls still love it. Well, they LOVE the horses and although they don't get to ride, they are willing to do the work just to be around the horses. Unfortunately, hard work isn't enough. The girls must also try to please the horse owners. That can be tricky.

Additionally, the barn and pastures must be maintained. Water pipes repaired, holes patched, boards replaced, fences mended, and the list goes on and on.

So, this dream didn't turn out like I thought it would. I am thankful for what I have, though. I am learning so much about my family and myself. In the end, life is the real adventure afterall.

A grey and rainy day

I love rain as a general rule, but today everything just feels grey and rainy. This must mean that I need to do service for someone. But what can I do? Who needs me to do something for them today? Time to pray and ASK.

Reflections

Hmmm, it has been awhile since I last posted on my very own blog. I have been through some rare moods over the past week. But today, I am simply thoughtful . . . as the music probably reflects. I am not trying to find myself or anything like that. I truly believe that I am whoever I decide to be. Sometimes I lose sight of that and get sidetracked. The hustle and bustle of daily life covers up the calm and reflective side of me. I get so busy, I forget to take time for the deeper thoughts that keep me in balance. Music is such a big part of finding my balance. I need to remember to make time each day to close my eyes, inhale, and just be.