Counting My Blessings



Manti Temple Grounds August 7, 2013

When ever we drive to Utah, 10 hours in the car, I always bring along a hand sewing project, a book or two, and a stack of magazines.  I don't know why I pack all that with me in the front seat.  All I really need is the Ensign.  I read it cover to cover and commit to read it the next month cover to cover.  That doesn't happen though.  I especially love the short faith promoting stories in the back.  Then I read the other short articles.  Love those.  I have a short attention span I guess.  Then, feeling guilty that I passed over the First Presidency's message I flip back to that. 

 

I read and reread President Eyring's message.  Recognize, Remember, and Give Thanks.   What he wrote about really struck a cord with me.  I've been thinking of it ever since.  "Journals are a way of counting our blessings and of leaving an inventory of these blessings for our posterity."  

 

 I knew I've been missing something from my life these past few years.  So here I go again.   Blogging {or in my case, Journaling}.  

 

 I love this picture of the children.  They remind me of how happy and blessed we are as a family.  We have challenges everyday.  Someone {me, usually} ends up yelling about something but at the end of the day I can see how blessed we are to have each other.  

 

I'm grateful for that long drive to Utah last week and feeling inspired to blog again.  This is for posterity!

The First Gift of Christmas

On Christmas Eve, after all the traditional happenings, it was time to settle the children down so the elves could get to work. Not an easy task. We had to read a few Christmas books: The Polar Express {we believe in this household & we do hear the ringing} and The Night Before Christmas. After reading that story I can never resist going to the front door and opening it to yell in my loudest & jolliest voice into the dark cold outside, "MERRY CHRISTMAS!" This is the most embarrassing thing a parent can do in front of their older children. I don't care. I still do it. And they actually follow me, hanging back a few feet, to see if I'm really going to do it.

This time Andrew yelled out the door too. So fun..:)

Then comes the great pleasure of tucking Andrew into bed for a long winter's night. I knelt next to his bed for 10 minutes or so just listening to him talk about all his Christmas wishes. The first wish he explained in detailed was how he knew Santa would bring him a John Deer tractor to ride on in the back yard. This is the thing he asked Santa for when he saw him at his preschool Christmas Party. I couldn't help the smile and happy heart as I listened...

A very good friend of mine had called me a few weeks ago to get the okay on a special surprise for Andrew from her 10 year old son. He was given a front loader as a gift one year and has out grown it and wanted to pass it on to a fellow tractor lover. We all know Andrew's dream to be a "Working Dad." Plans were made and the time was set for the special delivery. How wonderful to be on this end of the giving. It felt so good to know that Andrew would be the receiver of such a thoughtful & perfect gift, especially since we could not possible give him that amazing wish this year.

So the bell rang and we rushed Andrew to the front door to answer it. He had already been asleep for ten minutes. He couldn't believe his eyes. He was so confused but so happy. He rode it into the house and road it around in the living room {still no furniture} and he gave Peter a few rides. Then I read the note to him.

And with a beaming smile he said, "Mom, I'm so happy right now." I'll always remember how that felt. Amazing. He'll be hearing the ringing of Santa's bells for a long time. We all will. Thank you dear friends.:)

Thankful

John reminded us at our Thanksgiving dinner today about why this holiday was first started. We all know about the Pilgrims & Indians and their first Thanksgiving, but...about 150 years ago, a few days after the Civil War ended, Abraham Lincoln made a proclamation that the forth Thursday of each November should be a day of national celebration.

I love what Elder David Bednar said in October's conference: "...we should remember that “in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments” (D&C 59:21). Let me recommend that periodically you and I offer a prayer in which we only give thanks and express gratitude. Ask for nothing; simply let our souls rejoice and strive to communicate appreciation with all the energy of our hearts."

A couple of months ago I was over come with self pity. It was a real pity party. I was feeling bad about Peter's situation, and mine. I was feeling sorry for myself. I started to let the challenges consume me. A fussy and crying 2yr old. Being in doors all day. Not being able to go to the store. Shopping. No visits from friends or family. No play dates for the other children...and many many more. As I tried to figure out how to feel better about things, I came across something: "The Lord wants you to have a spirit of gratitude in all you do and say. Live with a spirit of thanksgiving and you will have greater happiness and satisfaction in life. Even in your most difficult times, you can find much to be grateful for. Doing so will strengthen and bless you."

This was an answer to my difficult situation. I made up a little game for myself. At the end of each day I would go over in my mind the happenings of the day and think of the one thing I was thankful for that day. The first day it was Fruity Pebbles. Peter's appetite at that time was very diminished. He needed to eat but wouldn't because of the nausea or effects of chemo. He was very fussy and unpleasant. But he liked Fruity Pebbles. He ate it for every meal. I was truely grateful for Fruity Pebbles that day. After a few days of this new little game my pity party ended. I was strengthen and blessed.

It's so good to have a day that we all can reflect on our blessed lives and think of the things that we're grateful for. But try doing it every day...It's fun.

A few pictures of our Thanksgiving...

Meagan & Addie helping with the chocolate pumpkin pie. Very serious work...They really were having fun. Those are the looks of focus and concentration when you're cooking.

Sydney & Andrew having a contest on who can eat the most rolls.

Uncle Gary taking his turn at telling what he was thankful for this year.

Kendall enjoying mashed potatoes.

Forget the pumpkin pie.

The party needs to be over, but it's just getting started. Grandma, this is where you would've wanted to take out your hearing aids. Addie & Maddie were putting on a play or dance. Andrew was pushing Sydney all around the house in the dump truck {watch out!} Peter was happy.

Not in photo: Meagan at the piano playing the Can-Can. Dad and Gary at the T.V. volume up to 50. Thys deliriously happy. Cheryl & Kendall nursing. Me, Mom, yes I can can.

Abundance of Blessings

I love Autumn time. Despite the heat wave {90 degrees} and all the fires raging 3o miles or so away from us, I feel very blessed.

We took Peter to another doctor's visit yesterday. He was scheduled to get an outpatient chemo dose today. But after the exam, the doctor said that there's no more chemo for Peter. Just to be safe, he cancelled the last two doses because of some of the side effects. The next step is the ct scan which should be done in the next week or so. I'm hoping for it to be completed before Thanksgiving. But I'll be patient. One of the things I'm learning about with this trial. Patience. I have so far to go...

The ct scan will give the doctors a look at the tumor. Most likely Peter will have surgery at the beginning of December. Unless the tumor is still too close to the main vein in the liver then he'll need more chemo. Then there's a slight chance that if the tumor is all gone then there's no need for surgery. Wouldn't that be great. Am I being too greedy to ask for such a miracle???

We have already been so blessed. What a wonderful time we are going to have at Thanksgiving Dinner when we go around the table and declare what we are thankful for this year. I know what I am going to say... Grateful for trials and challenges that increase our love for each other and our God. Grateful for Peter to be with us. Thankful for family and friends. For countless prayers said on behalf of Peter. And so much more...

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness...Thanks Veterans!

This Veteran's Day started off as just another break from school and work.

First breakfast. I was going to do buttermilk waffles but we got a craving for Fish LaKe French toast. Very yummy! {I'll share the recipe if I get a lot of request}.

The Papa's took all the grandchildren to see Madagascar II with Gary. We know some children are going to have a fun day...) While John & I took Peter to another doctor's appointment. After the appointment we took Peter to see the cows in Ontario, a few more miles away, but worth the drive.
Peter loves cows.

He gets so excited to see them up close and to hear them mooing.

He copies them and moos too.










His white count is really low again, so we kept him in the car and rolled down his window. He admires them from afar. He loves every minute. Going out to the dairy gives John a chance to scooped up some free fertilizer for the garden. The ride home is a smelly one.

Later that afternoon when we were all back together and waving our flags in the back yard, some one asked what Veteran's Day was for..??? Then the feeling of shame hit me. I have so much to teach them...

"Veteran’s Day is a day mixed with feelings of honor, grief and pride for those who have served our country. People of all faiths, races and backgrounds have given their lives and services to defend what we believe in, and we thank them for that."

I reminded them about some of our relatives that were in the service. Like Grandpa Merril. He enlisted in the army at 17 years old, lying about his age so he could fight and defend out country in WWII. He became a MP and landed on Utah Beach on D-Day. Amazing that he survived. He didn't talk about his war experiences with us much. But I've read and watched movies and documentaries {thanks to John}about WWII and other wars. I can only imagine what he and others endured and did in defending our liberties and freedoms. I am so grateful to be an American. So grateful for men and women who have the courage and honor to fight for us.

Sweet Surprises

I took Peter to a doctor's appointment today. A routine, once a week visit for blood work and outpatient chemo. He's getting use to these visits. He doesn't fight or cry to get his weight, height, or blood pressure checked anymore. That's a big improvement. Next, he sees the doctor. Our favorite one {they're all wonderful} Dr. Horvath, is a very kind, tender hearted, grandmother. She was out today. She has a clock in her office on a shelf behind her desk. There's a drawer under the face of the clock and it plays music when the drawer is opened. The Doctor has made a little game up with Peter. She's taught Peter about the drawer and leaves a little wrapped chocolate in it for him to find. When ever he goes to an appointment he always walks into her office and pulls out the clock drawer for his little surprise. He loves chocolate. It makes him happy and the rest of the visit goes well and he never complains to "go to see the doctor." So when he went to the clock today I knew he was going to be disappointed. He wasn't. There inside the drawer was his piece of chocolate. What a sweet woman! I'm a grateful mother.

Thanks Addie for the blanket fort!