I spent some time on Babycenter today, something I haven't done in months. There was a troll, of course, again, someone pretending to be what they aren't. It's awful being lied to, and it made me feel icky to even see people posting to the troll's thread.
So I clicked on another thread "How many kids did you have by 28? Would you change anything?" Responding to that question brought back a lot of memories, of my babies, and the ones I lost. My heart filled with gratitude for what I have, for the joy and pain that I've gone through that has made me so much better, kinder, more understanding.
So carrying that forward I started a thankful thread, and my inbox has been dinging with new posts ever since. Good women are posting away, feeling the spirit of gratitude, which is the Spirit of God.
Lord, thank you for the power of gratitude and the effect it has on the whole soul.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Life done right
I worked this morning with an amazing woman. She is so humble and sweet I think people overlook her, but every time I spend time with her I leave thankful that I know her. Just talking about our schedules and lives while waiting for the kids to show up I realised that she is really doing things right. God didn't hand her a silver platter life, but she loves her life, she loves God, and she lives her life for God and her kids.
Lord, thank you for women like that, who set such an example for me.
Lord, thank you for women like that, who set such an example for me.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Brilliant smiles amid the tears
I met this little baby today. She was so cute. It upset her to be away from her family, but if you could get her to smile it was this whole face thousand watt kind of smile.
Lord, thank you for those smiles and the joy they brought me.
Lord, thank you for those smiles and the joy they brought me.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
The industrial revolution
Sometimes I wonder, do machines really make life better?
Naturally I don't mean the centrifuge or what ever other machines doctors use. Those are no-brainers in the life-bettering area. And, yes, I understand that technology has built upon itself so that each new device is the culmination of the ones before and the ones before are vital links in the chain of progress.
I just... I think our lives are too complicated, too automated, too saved by "labor saving devices." It's like we are liberated to the point where we have nothing to stand on and nothing to hold on to. Oh I could think about this for aged if I let myself, but I won't.
I will however state that the washing machine is a must in my book. I've washed clothes by hand, and I don't know how on earth women who had to do it all the time ever got anything else done.
Lord, thank you for bringing me to Earth at a time and place, when I can have a washing machine. I really do appreciate it.
Naturally I don't mean the centrifuge or what ever other machines doctors use. Those are no-brainers in the life-bettering area. And, yes, I understand that technology has built upon itself so that each new device is the culmination of the ones before and the ones before are vital links in the chain of progress.
I just... I think our lives are too complicated, too automated, too saved by "labor saving devices." It's like we are liberated to the point where we have nothing to stand on and nothing to hold on to. Oh I could think about this for aged if I let myself, but I won't.
I will however state that the washing machine is a must in my book. I've washed clothes by hand, and I don't know how on earth women who had to do it all the time ever got anything else done.
Lord, thank you for bringing me to Earth at a time and place, when I can have a washing machine. I really do appreciate it.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Going to Church, Insurance, Experience, and Perspective
Wow I really am behind on this... sigh. Life is crazy.
Sunday I was so glad to be back at church. It's crazy how much you miss in such a short time. Church is something that re-fills my cup, so I'm so glad the kids were well enough to go.
Monday was manic, I went to work, came home and worked on the house. Then went back to work, then put a dent in the car on the way home. I'm fine, and it's only a car. The insurance will pay for most of it. I just wish the yellow pole had been taller. But yeah, it's only a car.
Tuesday was more work, and I'm still sore from it. Amazing how the motivation of an appraiser coming can get you through your to-do list. I thought, half way through the day that it's a good thing we've learned all these skills and that we have the right tools. There is no way we could have done all this without the backgrounds we have.
Today has been another long day, but right now they all feel that way. While driving down the road I remembered passing the same place this fall and bright yellow leaves were twirling and spinning down from a tree, gilding the street in fall brilliance. That moment had been deliriously happy. I remembered that in that moment I thanked God for allowing me these wonderful times between the stressful times. I knew life would take another turn, I know very well that life is about growing, but those moments between are so beautiful, and I'm thankful that I know I'll have more of them soon. This is just a moment.
Lord, Thank you so much for the chance I have to go to Church each week. Thank you for Insurance to make up for my blunders. Thank you for the experience that I have gained in my mere 31 years. Thank you for perspective, and the peace it brings me.
Sunday I was so glad to be back at church. It's crazy how much you miss in such a short time. Church is something that re-fills my cup, so I'm so glad the kids were well enough to go.
Monday was manic, I went to work, came home and worked on the house. Then went back to work, then put a dent in the car on the way home. I'm fine, and it's only a car. The insurance will pay for most of it. I just wish the yellow pole had been taller. But yeah, it's only a car.
Tuesday was more work, and I'm still sore from it. Amazing how the motivation of an appraiser coming can get you through your to-do list. I thought, half way through the day that it's a good thing we've learned all these skills and that we have the right tools. There is no way we could have done all this without the backgrounds we have.
Today has been another long day, but right now they all feel that way. While driving down the road I remembered passing the same place this fall and bright yellow leaves were twirling and spinning down from a tree, gilding the street in fall brilliance. That moment had been deliriously happy. I remembered that in that moment I thanked God for allowing me these wonderful times between the stressful times. I knew life would take another turn, I know very well that life is about growing, but those moments between are so beautiful, and I'm thankful that I know I'll have more of them soon. This is just a moment.
Lord, Thank you so much for the chance I have to go to Church each week. Thank you for Insurance to make up for my blunders. Thank you for the experience that I have gained in my mere 31 years. Thank you for perspective, and the peace it brings me.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Everyday heroes and Conversation
Last night after work I stopped by the church for the ward Valentine's Day party. For the first part I mostly just danced with the grandkids of some friends that were there. The teens, for some reason, think standing in a circle and slightly moving to the beat qualifies as dancing... sigh kids these days. So I had fun anyway. The whole ward knows I'm a nut, so it's not like I had to be embarrassed to be dancing with a six year old, a four year old, and a nine month old. Sister Xob Liam does crazy stuff like that. In fact a friend even came up and asked me to teach her the country swing that I had been showing the six year old. So I dance with her too.
I was about to give up however and go home. It had been a long day, I'd worked a double (kids were at Grandma's), and I can only do just so much to try and help the poor teens. Just then they announced a game of musical chairs. While they set up I said a few goodbyes, but caught the end of the first round.
The music stopped and a 4 year old boy was left without a chair. I smiled with pride as a young man who didn't even know the boy quietly got up and stepped to the side while the others excitedly showed the boy to the chair that was vacant, like he still had a chance to win if he hurried.
I resumed my goodbyes and the next round started, and when the music stopped again there was that boy, out again, except that the young man who had beat him to the last chair scooped him on to his lap and another young man snuck away to the side. Now I was interested, so I lingered, watching.
From then on the little boy was right by his new friend's side. When the music stopped they were there, stacked two deep in a chair the others made sure they got. Round after round the chairs dwindled, until it was one chair, and three boys.
That round lasted an eternity, and we all laughed and cheered over the antics of the two teens and the 4 year old. Suddenly the music stopped and, before he even realised it was time to sit, the boy had been scooped up by both teens and planted in the victory seat.
I love that there are still heroes in the world.
Today I have been able to spend quite a bit of time with Joe. That doesn't happen often, between our work schedules and life in general we are like two ships, rocking on each other's wakes. Today he stayed up really late. We got some work done at his Mom's house, went to lunch all seven of us, then the kids went home with her and I brought Joe home to sleep. Instead of sleeping like he should he sat and talked with me for a while, about art and fences, and who knows what else, you know just talked. It wasn't a power meeting about how to handle the hurdles we are up against, it wasn't catch up time on all the information the other doesn't have. It wasn't strategy planning for handling the kids. It was just talk. It was nice.
Lord, thank you for everyday heroes, and for for long conversations with my husband.
I was about to give up however and go home. It had been a long day, I'd worked a double (kids were at Grandma's), and I can only do just so much to try and help the poor teens. Just then they announced a game of musical chairs. While they set up I said a few goodbyes, but caught the end of the first round.
The music stopped and a 4 year old boy was left without a chair. I smiled with pride as a young man who didn't even know the boy quietly got up and stepped to the side while the others excitedly showed the boy to the chair that was vacant, like he still had a chance to win if he hurried.
I resumed my goodbyes and the next round started, and when the music stopped again there was that boy, out again, except that the young man who had beat him to the last chair scooped him on to his lap and another young man snuck away to the side. Now I was interested, so I lingered, watching.
From then on the little boy was right by his new friend's side. When the music stopped they were there, stacked two deep in a chair the others made sure they got. Round after round the chairs dwindled, until it was one chair, and three boys.
That round lasted an eternity, and we all laughed and cheered over the antics of the two teens and the 4 year old. Suddenly the music stopped and, before he even realised it was time to sit, the boy had been scooped up by both teens and planted in the victory seat.
I love that there are still heroes in the world.
Today I have been able to spend quite a bit of time with Joe. That doesn't happen often, between our work schedules and life in general we are like two ships, rocking on each other's wakes. Today he stayed up really late. We got some work done at his Mom's house, went to lunch all seven of us, then the kids went home with her and I brought Joe home to sleep. Instead of sleeping like he should he sat and talked with me for a while, about art and fences, and who knows what else, you know just talked. It wasn't a power meeting about how to handle the hurdles we are up against, it wasn't catch up time on all the information the other doesn't have. It wasn't strategy planning for handling the kids. It was just talk. It was nice.
Lord, thank you for everyday heroes, and for for long conversations with my husband.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Dave
I haven't seen him in years, but today I'm thankful for Dave. He was our Doctor in Ohio. The first time we met him he saved Tali's life. After that I didn't want to see anyone else, and it was a good thing, because he took such good care of us. He was in his residency at the begining, but when he set up his own practice an hour from hour home we gladly made the commute.
He just listened so well, not like any Doctor I had ever known. He also thought about us when we weren't in the room, like we were family and not just patients. He delivered both Jay and Jordi, beautifully I may add.
I'm afraid that for the rest of my life I will forever hold every medical professional up to him, and they will all fall short.
Lord, thank you so much for putting us in the right place, at the right time, and in the right hands.
He just listened so well, not like any Doctor I had ever known. He also thought about us when we weren't in the room, like we were family and not just patients. He delivered both Jay and Jordi, beautifully I may add.
I'm afraid that for the rest of my life I will forever hold every medical professional up to him, and they will all fall short.
Lord, thank you so much for putting us in the right place, at the right time, and in the right hands.
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