Day 5: Hot showers!!

I love hot showers!  Not only do I love hot showers, but I love hot showers in the dark.  I know, weird.  It makes me feel extra warm.  Every day I look forward to taking a shower.  It is one of the rare moments in the day that I get to be by myself, all alone, in my own space, uninterrupted, without little voices calling my name, or  little bodies crawling all over me.  It becomes a time of stillness and a time to ponder.

That time in the shower has turned into one of my favorite times because it is a time of stillness where I can reflect on; my day, what I can do more for my kids, how I can improve as a person, and a time for me to pray and listen for guidance through the Holy Ghost on challenges I am facing.  I have come to look forward to that time of stillness each day amongst the hustle and bustle of daily life.  I have had many a prayer answered during those quite moments in the shower.    

It is through the quiet moments of stillness that the Holy Ghost can speak to me and to you clearly, uninterrupted, and teach us how to become better in all areas of our lives.  I need all the help I can get, so my goal is to make more moments of stillness each day!

Tomorrow's challenge:  make time for stillness

Day 4: I am a daughter of God

Today I was reminded that I am a daughter of God and that I have a loving Heavenly Father who truly knows me.  The power of that knowledge is priceless.  As I sit back today and review my day, I am amazed at the many incredible people Heavenly Father put in my path that brightened my day, made me laugh, made me feel loved, inspired me to stand a little taller, reminded me of my value, and strengthened my testimony.  What an incredible blessing.  Through these associations I have felt the love of my Heavenly Father.  Had I not stopped to recognize His love today, I might have missed it.  What sweet assurance to know that He cares for me.  His love is always there, I just need to look for it.

Tomorrow's challenge:  take time to see and feel His love

Day 3: A simple flower

Today I am grateful for the beautiful flowers on my kitchen table.  My sister sent me these flowers for my birthday.  I have loved seeing them in my kitchen over the last couple of days.  I have noticed that every time I see them I smile.  They remind me of her and remind me that I am loved.  It doesn't take much to brighten someones day, so my challenge for today is to make someone smile!

Tomorrow's challenge:  make someone smile!!

Day 2: My Little Alarm Clock

It was 5:45 a.m. this morning when I heard the door slam shut to my 3 year old's room.  I looked over at the clock and immediately began to feel frustration building up inside of me.  It only took seconds before he was in my room letting me know that he wanted to watch t.v.  I quietly let him know that it was too early in the morning to watch t.v., which he then immediately began to cry as loud as he could.  This indeed only made my frustration increase more and my blood pressure rise.

Tired and grumpy, and in an effort to get the last few minutes of sleep I could, I told him to hop into my bed and lay on the pillow next to me until my alarm went off.  As I was laying in bed with him by my side and listening to my husband sleep away, I thought, "A mother never gets to sleep in peace."  Right then, this little 3 year old hand slid under the sheets to hold my hand.  Instantly all the anger and frustration of waking up earlier than I wanted to melted away and I was reminded of my blessing of being a mother.

I am reading this great book titled, I Am a Mother by Jane Clayson Johnson.  In that book she says, "When mothers themselves begin to revere their callings, so much can change.  And surely, when a woman of virtue values motherhood above other pursuits, her children will "arise up, and call her blessed" (Proverbs 31:28)."

Tomorrow's challenge:  value motherhood

I am but a spring chick!

Today is my 35th birthday and the first day of a great year to come!!  Last night I found myself, during the last few hours of being 34, standing in front of my bathroom mirror, plucking out my gray hairs.   My first thought was, "Boy, I need to go get my hair colored", then my thoughts turned to all of the experiences I had had the last year and all that I had been through.  I reflected on how hard my year had been.  I can truly say it was the hardest year of my life, even harder than the year my father died when I was 16.  The year was an emotional one filled with struggles starting with the birth of my 6th child, post partum depression, moving my family across the country with a baby only a few months old, the stress of trying to sell two homes, trying to adjust myself and my family to a new home, new surroundings, a new neighborhood and friends, new church friends, and dealing with homesick feelings and feelings of being a single mother as my husband was gone most of the time with his work and church callings.  As I sat there last night in front of my mirror, I thought that I could either continue to feel sorry for myself, or I could decide to make this coming year, my year of being 35, the best year of my life.

This morning when I woke up, I rededicated myself to seeing my life and the challenges I face as a cup half full and not half empty, to strive each day to not give or take offense, to focus more on the things I am grateful for, to strengthen my relationship with my Savior, Jesus Christ, and to be an influence for good to all those I associate with, for I am "but a spring chick" and can do all things. 

"Spring chick???", you might ask.  Let me explain.  A few years ago my sister called to talk one day.  We where talking about our age.  She told me of an experience she had that week.  My sister ran into one of her old piano teachers whom she had not seen in a long time and who was now in her late 70's.  Her piano teacher told her that when she was in her mid 50's she was complaining about her life and how old she was.  A 90 year old women in her ward overheard her talking and said to her, "My dear, you are but a spring chick.  You have a whole life ahead of you."  This one statement made her realize that she did have a whole life still ahead of her and that she could do and become whatever she wanted.  With that knowledge, she went to college in her 50's and eventually got her PhD in a music related field and went on to teach piano pedagogue as a professor at the university.  To this day each year, she puts on a piano concert for her family and dear friends on her birthday of pieces she has learned and mastered throughout the year.  If that is not inspiring, I don't know what is.  I think of all of the lives she might not have touched had she focused on how old she thought she was and didn't believe in herself to become what she could become.  

This story has inspired me to believe in myself and remember that I am but a spring chick who can do and become anything I put my mind to becoming.    

During this coming year, I am determined to become a better me; a better wife, mother, daughter, sister, neighbor, and friend.  My goal is to share, through this blog, the things I learn each day during my 35th year that help me become who Heavenly Father intended me to become.  My hope in doing so, is that that my journey may be one of  inspiration to others.  May we all enjoy the journey!!  Happy Birthday to me!!!