Feeling Good Through Service

When I say my prayers, my mind is overwhelmed with the struggles of my family and friends. All different, health problems, loss of jobs, fertility issues, addictions, depression. The list seems to go on and on. My heart feels so heavy. I feel like my prayers alone are not enough. Today I visited a friend and brought her a little something to let her know she is loved. I don't know how much it helped her, but it filled my heart with joy. I am so grateful to my mother and other wonderful examples I have had of serving others. Now that I am a mother myself I realize how busy my own mother was. Somehow she would find the time to serve others, and she always had a smile on her face. I am so grateful for all my family and friends. My testimony of the gospel has been strengthened through them. I know that God lives and that he loves us. I think we don't always realize that our trials can strengthen us, as well as others.

Day in Idaho

This week, my sister Kali and I spent Wednesday in Idaho falls. We brought Hyrum and Walter with us. Matt spent the day at Lagoon with Jane and Eli. He is such a good dad and husband. I am always so grateful he spends so much time with our kids. They always have such a blast with him. We had a nice drive up. Other than my lead foot got me a speeding ticket; I always enjoy talking with Kali. When I go to Idaho, it reminds me of my childhood-all the familiar sights along the way. First the "Welcome to Idaho" sign, all the nothingness, then Pocatello. Ah not to much longer. The Army store. Off the exit I almost always miss- I don't know why. Over the tracks and straight on to Sunnyside Rd and then to Ammon Rd. I love seeing the Speedymart at the corner of Sunnyside and Ammon Rd. I always want to go in and buy some penny candy. My cousin Stephanie and I would ride bikes there as kids to get penny candy. It was something I always looked forward to doing when we came to Idaho.

We went to our aunt Leslee's house first. Up her dirt driveway, past all the farm cats, in the back door to the welcoming sound of lots of family. Seven of Leslee's eight kids were all there with all of their kids. It was one house full. That's what I love about her house, the more the merrier. It's always crazy. Between the sucker-making, quilting, large meals, napping, movie-watching, and chatting, there is always something going on. I love it though. Because that's how its always been. You just squeeze in where ever you want.

We had a nice time visiting. Catching up on everyone's lives and just talking about whatever came to our minds.

Once we left Leslee's house we went to visit Grandpa Garner. He is doing good. As good as you could expect I suppose. I walked in his room and saw a picture of he and my Grandma. They looked lovely, happy. It has almost been twenty years since my Grandma passed away. Then I saw Grandpa. He looked like he was just putting up with life. Passing each day waiting for his turn to leave this earth. I thought about our purpose here on earth, how we are given challenges and joys. Sometimes I get over a challenge and think "Oh good I made it I am clear now right, no more hard for me. " Then I realize life is a treadmill once you conquer something, it is on to the next thing. Hopefully we can see the joy that is in each day. And even though it is a treadmill, it is also a ladder that we can climb and get better. I think living out each day is a trial for him but I think he finds joy in each day as well. Grandpa has a good heart. Every time I visit with him I am astounded by his memory. When he is telling me a story, he can tell me the first and last name of his childhood neighbor. One of my favorite things is stories from Grandpa.

We left Grandpas with mixed feelings. It was really nice to see him. At the same time, my heart was aching for him. Only being able to imagine how hard his trials in his life have been. It was now time to go home. Walt was sad for a while but we still had a good visit on the drive back to Utah. I hope to get back to Idaho sooner before later.

At the End of the Day

Today I have:

-changed four stinky diapers and four wet ones

-cleaned up from breakfast

-cleaned toothpaste of the bathroom mirror and counter top

-picked up the toys in the front room three times

-loaded the dishwasher twice

-swept up the kids popcorn form their snack

-picked up two boxes of sidewalk chalk

-re-rolled the roll of toilet paper

-dealt with seven temper tantrums

-cleaned up from lunch

-de-greased the kitchen from the cube of butter Hyrum got his hands on

-cleaned chocolate Popsicle off of my quilt that someone thought was their napkin

-swept the kitchen floor twice; I am afraid the ants has discovered the three little pigs live at my house.(Walt doesn't count yet since he is still on the milk-only diet.)

-cleaned pee of of the toilet seat in the half bath

-cleaned pee of the toilet seat in my bathroom

-re-buried the hole the dog dug in the back yard

-cleaned out the frog tank, it was starting to look radio active. The kids leave in our yard all summer long for the frogs the continue to bring home from the reservoir.

-bathed Hyrum and Eli twice

-showered Walt once, thank heavens Jane can do that on her own now.

-cleaned up from dinner

-discovered Eli and his friend had peed in the toy Dora swimming pool and pooed in my cleaning bucket that was in the garage. Oh I know, it just gets better. Then they took some of the spare keys and stuck them in the poo like it was a sand castle.  (I am starting to think there is something with boys and the bathroom duties.)

-managed to calmly teach the boys about honesty and using the bathroom in the proper place.

-put up with the tears that followed the consequence of that action and grounded Eli.

-somehow survived Eli being grounded all day.

So you know that book Love you Forever. It is one of my favorites. Well, in the book the mother talks about one day she feels like she lives in a zoo. Time goes on and she talks about how she wants to sell her kid to the zoo. I think today I chose "C" all of the above. In the book, at the end of every day after her child was sleeping, she would sneak into his room and rock him and sing to him. I am so grateful for the end of every day after my kids are sleeping. The house is quiet and peaceful. My body and mind start to unwind. I love to check on them all before I go to bed. Their faces are so sweet. My heart is filled with so much joy and gratitude for them. It is nice to end the day no matter what happened to be on the list.

Kids Say the Darndest Things

Today, my two-year-old Hyrum noticed a picture of Matt and I before we were married. We both had kinda puffy hair in the picture. He said " that's Daddy and Mommy. Daddy has fat hair and Mommy has fat hair too."  

I said, "really Hyrum, is that what you think."

" Yes mom, for reals." I love how he can make me laugh.