most blessed mom!!: January 2013

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Blessings are Hard Work!

Though life can be challenging, I have been very blessed.... but sometimes it is so much work!

My printer is broken, the kitchen faucet can no longer limp along as is- it needs replacing NOW! And, of course, the expenses keep piling up...

BUT

I have been blessed! I have been assigned extra hours at work with both attendance school to supervise and home/hospital students to visit. I have an opportunity to do some PAID inservice. The catch? All of these blessings mean an additional number of hours of working- and no, I am not complaining. I am very grateful for these opportunities- not only for the extra income, but also for the learning I gain by completing each task. There is always something I learn- and great new people to meet too.

It seems in life that often what we ask for will come to us, but only in the Lord's time and only when we are willing to put in the effort necessary. I have been blessed with parents who taught me to work! We were always doing things as a family - growing gladiolas to sell at the Farmer's Market, raising bees, working in the vegetable garden. And all of these things contain wonderful memories for me!

Psalms 90:17

"And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it."

I know that blessings will come in life, I know that they can mean that I will have more work to do, and I know that I should remember to be grateful for both the blessings and the work!

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Difficult is Not Impossible!

The past week or so has been difficult... I suppose life hasn't really gotten any harder than 'normal' for me, but it has felt harder of late.

Now I could write all of the specific complaints, I could pretend that I handled everything just right, I could expound in detail how I really reacted to all of my challenges and obstacles that make up life...

But

Instead, I am going to write about what I should have written days ago; the things I learned in Stake Conference (An LDS church meeting)! These are the things that I know to be true...

The truths that make all of the difficult challenges of life NOT impossible!

"Regardless of my own weaknesses or insecurities, I've got what it takes. Heavenly Father gives us what we need to overcome." Brother Tullis

President Stoddard: the children of Israel walked across on dry ground and saw their enemies drowned behind them, but it did nothing to change their hearts, to change their true spiritual selves. Shock and awe will not result in a stronger testimony. Our Heavenly Father communicates through a still, small voice.

And

WE are the most important things to our Father in Heaven!

President Baer: asked, "How many believe that you will receive the gift of the Celestial Kingdom?"

"It is because of Jesus Christ that the Celestial Kingdom is a reality for ALL OF US,"

"If we do not believe, then we are not yet fully converted."

"God is willing to give us whatever we are willing to receive..." See Alma 29:4-5

"When God tells us what to pray for, that is the highest form of prayer."

And even though I may feign to forget the following sometimes, I KNOW IT IS TRUE:

Through the atonement of Jesus Christ, we are able to do things above our own abilities!!

I am so blessed to know the truth of these teachings! So, I'll spare myself the pity party and enjoy the good things life ALWAYS has to offer!

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

A Year that Changed My World!

2012 was full of challenges and so very many wonderful opportunities!

January:

My nephew, Jeremy, left on his LDS mission to Finland (really left in Dec- but close enough!). I had a student pass away unexpectedly. Charly received word that her book would be published! And Eric and Alison told us they were expecting... that's right, they had a healthy little piano!

February:

Much to my dismay, I hit minefield after minefield in the dating world as I 'met' (on the Internet) one con man after another! The 'joys' of older dating!!! And I had to try to get a decent picture of myself to boot...

not sure how successful that turned out.

But an email sent by my principal entitled "Why Men Die First" sure made me smile!

March:

The dreaded dating world did not disappoint... on helping me meet more con men, that is... Oh well! Began to consider taking a break, but also began to feel I should take a giant leap of faith by joining an expensive dating site...

Jon earned his first 4.0!!! Such an exciting accomplishment!

And my favorite quote of the entire year- from my Adilynne Sue: "We are going to Aunt Deanne's?! She is my best friend!"

April:

New chairs!

Springtime!

No more engine in the garage!

Great food!

April 6th: Charly got the job! Macey's Deli could not have made a better decision!

And I followed those promptings of the Spirit to join eHarmony. Result? Luke!

April 9th brought me this profile:

The one thing I am most passionate about:
I want to do good, through learning and service, to the extent God grants us capacity and wisdom to do it. I love to learn from the scriptures, languages, history, creating software, new skills, and music (though little time, some piano & organ), and want to be far better at lifting others toward our Master, to peace, joy, and eternal life. To learn to be like our Father, and help others.

I was so impressed with his testimony of the Gospel and his willingness to share it!

April 20th: Alison's graduation from BYU!!! And this text: "I'm by a bench to your right"- The start of the BEST thing EVER to happen to me!!!!

May:

Eric received a full tuition scholarship to the University of Utah! The best Mother's Day:

And life became very complicated very fast as Luke needed to date more people, and I began a waiting game...

Loved this quote because it SO helped me to hang in there while I waited: "Maybe faith isn't any more complicated than simply believing there is a purpose behind hard things and allowing God the latitude to do it His way instead of ours."

How true!

And on May 27th, Luke and I attended the wonderful baptism of his twin nieces, and then made it official- we would date exclusively.... Wow and Yikes!

June:

Summertime!

A big storm knocked over half a tree... which meant that I finally was able to get rid of that tree... Yeah! Not one I enjoyed.

And lots of fun with my girls!!

And another terrific Celtic Celebration! Love Charly being part of this!

July:

Spent the 4th with Luke's family being carni's! We helped run a carnival booth for Luke's brother... and Josh came too! Fun times!

Then, there was camping, as in real, honest-to-goodness camping, in tents and everything! Yes, I must have really liked this man- plus he is so much fun!

Devon was married- and Antoine was there too!

And Jon and Charly had the best experience on trek!

August:

6 chicks spent the remainder of the summer living with Jon!

Charly, Sue and I saw 'Wicked'!

Spent a few last summer days playing with my girls...

Luke showed me the true meaning of love by giving his beloved unicycle to his nephew!

Best article of the year: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765597847/What-if-we-had-only-what-we-were-thankful-for.html?pg=2

I discovered that even while I was overworked, I LOVE my job!

August 13th! Charly's eBook is released!!!

And spent a day at the beach with my family and Luke's children! Not bad for the end of summer and beginning of the school year!

September:

Dates with Luke are always amazing- and not run-of-the-mill either! A date off-roading in his dad's truck, a date to the dump, two dates cleaning two different church buildings... and then there was the date picking up the dog run for his sister...

September 22nd- Best day yet!!

And I said yes!

October:

General Conference changed our family for good- and for the better! Charly decided to serve a mission for the LDS church, and Jon will be leaving on his mission up to six months earlier than planned! Such exciting news!!!