Humbled

A big scare just happened in my home. Nobody was hurt but it could have turned out awful.

I was in the kitchen making apple crisp while my husband and daughter were in the living room reading a book together.
The oven was already at it's right temperature but I wasn't ready to put the apple crisp in so I opened the door to let some air in while I finished making our yumminess. I had the thought to tell my hubby that the oven door was open so to make sure our girl didn't touch it. Well I pushed away the thought thinking I'd hear her if they stopped playing and she came into the kitchen. So I kept preparing the apple crisp when I heard my husband ask me to make sure she doesn't touch the oven. Note: He didn't know the oven door was open, he just felt impressed to tell me to make sure she didn't touch the oven. So I turn away from what I'm doing and there is my baby girl, standing right by the oven not doing anything. Just standing there looking at me. I quickly shut the oven door and rushed to her.
Now, knowing my girl, there is no reason she should not have touched the oven. Seriously, she is discovering anything she can right now and her hands are everywhere she can touch. The oven door being open would have been something new for her to "discover" because she obviously never has before.
So I write this story for my own learning and remembering.
Tonight we had an angel helping us. There is no question in my mind an angel was keeping my baby girl from reaching out to touch the open oven.
I'm so grateful my husband listened to his prompting and I definitely learned my lesson. It could have been disastrous but I know we had extra help tonight and although I was mad at myself and scared stiff, right now I just feel so grateful.

TV?

Bless all of our hearts. Really.
That's how I have felt lately anytime I turn on the TV. Way too much swearing, people who forgot to get dressed all the way, and just plain worldliness. yuck.
I'm not sure how I feel about it. My husband and I talked about it the other night- whether or not we want to have televison/cable for our kids. Neither of us think it's a very good idea. There are some positive things to TV, but it seems like the bad is starting to out weigh the good.
I'm not a huge TV watcher, but there are certain shows I do like to watch:
Biggest Loser
American Idol
Dr. Phil (some may chuckle at that but I really love his show! Yes, my friend and I even went to it once)
Sports Center
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (with my little girl!)
But, regardless of these good shows, I just don't know if it's worth it. Even commercials are becoming very suggestive and offensive. It makes me cringe to think of what it could be like in 10 years.
A couple weeks ago we were watching American Idol and their coach that week was Lady Gaga. (the name should have been warning enough) What in the world!?! Is she what this world has come to? She was practically wearing pannies, a shirt with chain things on it and high heels. Then if that wasn't bad enough her face was ridiculous. black paint around her eyes? Seriously, bless her heart. I was upset that this "family show" had someone like her on there. My husband and I just kept looking at each other like "is this real? are people like that?" If "sheltered" is what I am then I'll stay that way! Anyway, it actually made me really sad too. Satan is having a hayday out there. People are so so so very lost.
On the bright side, my husband and i love love love sports and we enjoy watching them together. Some of TV is very inspiring and motivating. The other day on the BYU channel we watched a documentary on Del Parson and his paintings of the Savior and it was very neat and spiritual.

There are pro's and con's to everything in life and this is something I have pondered lately. As a mother and homemaker of the home one of my primary responsibilities is to make sure my home is a place where the Spirit can dwell. I take that very seriously. In the bible dictionary it says that only the home can compare with the temple in sacredness. wow. that says it all. that tells us exactly how our homes should be and how important and sacred they are.
So, as I've been writing this, I think I have an answer. It's amazing what writing things out can do.
What are your thoughts?

Grateful

I hope everyone takes time often to stop and realize how blessed they are.
I sure do.
Although, it bothers me how easy it is to forget.
Why is that?
I think about that often, too. Why is it so easy to start complaining and forget how many blessings we have?
I have every reason to be the happiest person on earth.
Growing up my mom taught us to replace the word lucky with blessed. I love that.
I truly am so very blessed.
I have grown up a member of The Church of Jesus Christ, I come from an incredible family with parents who love and respect each other and siblings who have become best friends. I married an amazing man who is my very best friend, my in-laws are all wonderful, (honestly, I could not have hand picked better in-laws, I love them all)!, I have a beautiful healthy daughter, and I get orange sticks every year for Christmas :) Life is Good!!
Really, sometimes I am just in "awe" about my life and am so grateful for my many blessings.
I think if I started making a list of all my blessings I would be overcome with all I have been given, and I would have a more humble and grateful heart.
I think I just might do that. A list that I will keep adding to throughout the years.

Mothers Day

I know it's not Mothers Day yet but I have been thinking about my mom a lot in anticipation of Sunday. Wow where to even begin, I have no idea.

To simply put it, my mother is incredible.
She is beautiful, sweet, sooo fun, caring, hilarious, sensitive, loving, tender, and all things good.
I love her with my whole heart.
She is the kind of mom and friend everyone wants to have.

My mom was blessed to be able to stay at home with us kids growing up and it was such a blessing to us kids in return. I have 4 siblings and we are all so close to my mom. No kidding- I'm the youngest, all my siblings are married but we ALL still talk to my mom at least once a day. We are a close family and I love it. :)

My mom is to take a lot of credit for that. She is definitely the heart of the home.
She has always been so supportive, and encouraging of everything good us kids wanted to do growing up. There was never any doubt whether or not family came first, she showed us that we were #1. And to me, hands down the best nurturer out there.

I can't even tell you how many times my mom has been the answer to my prayers. She is so sensitive to the Spirit and will lend a helping hand wherever she can. Selfless is another good word to use to describe my mom.

I know I would not be where I am today without my mom. She is an INCREDIBLE teacher. I have learned so very much through her example and her patience in teaching.

My mom and I do so much together. She is the first friend I call to go do something, the one I can talk to about anything, the one who knows me so well, the one I can always count on, the one I ALWAYS have a blast with.

So Thank you mom, thank you for being so wonderful.

I have so many wonderful memories with you and from you I learned so much of what I know now. I feel so blessed to be your daughter and try to make you proud. I love you more than you know- you are so very special to me. I hope I can be the kind of mother to my children that you are to me.

Happy Mothers Day!!!

Feelings

Wow. I feel like I'm starting to overcome a huge trial. It feels great! And I'll explain how that has come to pass but let me back track a bit. Goodnight- I have been ridiculously down about everything lately. It has stunk. No fun. But I felt like I could not get out of this mode I was in. I'd like to blame it on the weather and although it hasn't helped, I know I'm only to blame. Because happiness is a choice-it's a state of being. Circumstances don't define happiness. But needless to say, I have been really struggling lately. Motivation, self-esteem, confidence, contentment- you name it. It all took a toll on me. I know we all have moments like this- so let me tell you what has helped me out:

I just finished reading a book.

A great book!

It's called Defined by Christ by Toni Sorensen. I loved it. She has a unique style of writing but I truly enjoyed it and it helped me so much.

This lady who wrote the book has had one. hard. life. Anyone who has read the book will know that because she talks about it. She talks about how for so long she let everyone around her and her circumstances define who she was. Then she embarked on a journey and talks about 7 truths (that apply to everyone) she learned in discovering who she really was and how she learned to let herself be defined by Christ only.

Isn't that refreshing? All the worldly pressures can just go out the window! The only person we should let define us is our Savior, Jesus Christ.

I love that.

And when we can learn to be defined by Christ we will have the greatest self esteem, amazing motivation and confidence. Because that is how Christ see's us. He is always rooting us on, always there to help, full of unconditional love.

So, goodbye bad self esteem, no motivation, contentment, and confidence- I know who I am and I've got lots to do! It feels good.