My Roof's Safe Shelter Overhead

 "For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy."

-Psalm 61:3

I recently read a story about a great grandma who was a pioneer. She endured many hardships in her day. Reading about how her husband was so busy getting their family ready for the winter that he hadn't had time to build the roof on their house of just four walls has made me appreciate the simplicity of having a roof over my head. I recall a few years ago when we had to replace the roof that it felt like the most annoying way to spend thousands of dollars. My friend must have known that pain because she made it a point to let me know how nice my roof looked. It's so easy to take for granted the modern conveniences of today. I'm grateful for stories of ancestors who help us appreciate the things we take for granted, something as glorious as a roof. 

I am thankful for my roof's safe shelter overhead!

Blessed Companion

 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. 

-Matthew 19:5-6

When I was younger I worried that I might never find a husband. Being a wife and mother were my greatest desires and I didn't know what I would do if those goals were never achieved. Those dreams did come true and even still with the business of life it is easy to take these blessing for granted. The truth is that sometimes our biggest blessings are also our greatest challenges. Just like my children sometimes this man can make me crazy and I know, that even though he dosen't always tell me, that I make him crazy too. 

The truth is that there isn't anyone that I'd rather drive crazy. He's a good man, a wonderful husband and father, and he works very hard. I'm grateful that God made me to be a mother and a wife. I have truly been blessed with a wonderful family and I'm thankful that I have Kent by my side to help me raise my boys! Couldn't have asked for a better companion.

I am grateful for my husband!

For the Beauty of the Earth

For the beauty of the earth,

For the beauty of the skies,

For the love which from our birth

Over and around us lies,

Lord of all, to thee we raise

This our hymn of grateful praise.

For the beauty of each hour

Of the day and of the night,

Hill and vale, and tree and flow’r,

Sun and moon, and stars of light,

Lord of all, to thee we raise

This our hymn of grateful praise.

A few years ago I went through a very difficult time. I had really lost a sense of myself and my own voice. I struggled to feel loved and heard. I was blessed with a difficult relationship that only exasperated these feelings. It was a blessing because while it was hard, it was also the catalyst for necessary changes in my life. I dove into healing and loving myself. I spent time trying to understand my thoughts and allow them to help me love myself better. 

One thing that helped with all of this was pausing to enjoy the beauty of nature. When I saw something beautiful in nature I would stop and take a photograph of it. I am not a professional photographer, but I have certainly learned a lot about photography and I love to pause and see this beautiful world that we live in. I am grateful for the beauty of the earth, the skies, the mountains, trees and flowers, sun, moon and stars. I am thankful that amoung all the beauty in this world that the Lord made me to enjoy it all and add to it with my presence and my love.

I am grateful for the beauty of this earth! 

I Love to See the Temple

 "But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it." 

-Micah 4:1

Last night I was able to go to the Jordan River Temple with my husband. When the Pandemic began the temples were shut down for a time. There were members through out the world who sincerely missed the opportunity to go to the temple. I was certainly one of them. Being without the opportunity to go to the temple has made me more appreciative of the peace that is found within those walls. Because of my gratitude for the temple I have tried to make it there more regularly. 

In the temple we are able to make covenants with God and seal families for eternity. There is a wonderful feeling of love and unity that you can feel while in the temple. I often walk into the temple feeling troubled by the burdens of the world and walk out feeling that those burdens have been lifted. I am so grateful to be able to go to the house of the Lord!

I am thankful for the Temple!

*Photo Credit churchofjesuschrist.org

Right to Vote

 "Now it is not common that the voice of the people desireth anything contrary to that which is right; but it is common for the lesser part of the people to desire that which is not right; therefore this shall ye observe and make it your law—to do your business by the voice of the people." Mosiah 29:26

Today I am thankful for the right to vote. When it comes to politics I have stong opinions and I am grateful that I live in a time when my voice can be heard. I do not believe that it is easy (or good) for anyone living in the United States of America to blindly trust our government. I believe that no matter what your political beliefs are that the distrust is there. I also know that there are concerns around election integrity on both sides and because of that you may not feel like your vote doesn't matter. As long as we keep voting and letting our voice be known I believe that it does matter. Keep showing up my friends! Keep exercising your right to vote!

Photo from 2017 but no worries I did vote...

I just forgot a photo to go along with it. 😊

I Treasure My Children!

 "For where your TREASURE is, there will your HEART be also." 

Matthew 6:21

One of my all time favorite holidays is Thanksgiving. While I do enjoy the tasty foods and watching football the part I really love is looking for blessings in my life and being grateful for them! In Psalms chapter 127 verses 3 through 5 it says, 

"Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate."

This month as I focus on my gratitude, which I love to do in November, I want to add a little more to it. I want to add an action to that gratitude. Ironically, I hadn't planned to share my gratitude for my family and especially my children today. Tonight we spent a few moments playing hide and go seek in the dark despite the fact that I didn't want to do that. I suppose that is the kind of action that parents do over and over. They do things they may not want to do, but because of love they do them anyway. I hope that you will join me this month in counting all your blessings! 

I am thankful for my family! 

God's Family Dinner

The other night we took the kids out to dinner at the local buffet. You know, the place where you can get salad and pizza, ham and potatoes, tacos and fish and rolls and ice cream all at the same place? Something happened though as I sat there. I looked around and I saw the most amazing diversity, but not of food. It was an amazing diversity of people! I saw Asian families, Hispanics, African Americans, Native Americans, Caucasians and even a group who was hard of hearing sitting at the table next to us. It was as if God had invited all of his children to dinner that night and we all sat down and ate together. 

I couldn't help but notice how similar we all were. Families sitting down and enjoying spending time together while eating. A child dancing under the hand dryer in the restroom while getting scolded by an older boy. Parents and children making their choice of menu items, and everyone seemed to be happy. I'm not sure if anyone else noticed, but I did. The diversity in that restraunt was beautiful. My heart walked out of that building lifted because of what I had experienced.

My friends, don't believe the lies that America is broken! Do we always get along and see eye to eye? Of course not! Yet where else can so many diverse people sit down together? I truly feel it was a gift from God. We will always have problems to overcome and we will always have to care for the vulnerable. It has always and will always be that way, but we don't have to be a divided nation. We don't have to be fearful of one another. We can all sit down together at God's family dinner table and feast on his love. We do have to leave a couple of things at the door. You've got to leave your pride, your hate and your judgement. You're going to want to bring your compassion, forgiveness and love. You can keep your ideals and your healthy belief systems. I pray that you will join us for God's family dinner, where all who are willing to partake of God's goodness are welcome! Join us! Come feel the peace of the Savior and come and feel loved, while we feast together!