My Sketchbook, my Life

journal entry....3 {joy in the journey}

Another new painting.  I have discovered I love taking the talks -or quotes- that inspire me, and turn them into a picture that I see in my mind.  This one comes from Pres. Monson's talk in the October Conference of 2008.  You can read it here.

 One of my favorites parts is when he says:

 

"Send that note to the friend you’ve been neglecting; give your child a hug; give your parents a hug; say “I love you” more; always express your thanks. Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved.

Friends move away, children grow up, loved ones pass on. It’s so easy to take others for granted, until that day when they’re gone from our lives and we are left with feelings of “what if” and “if only.” Said author Harriet Beecher Stowe, “The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.”

Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey, and share our love with friends and family. One day each of us will run out of tomorrows."

-Pres. Monson

 

Somedays I forget. 

Somedays it may even be hard to find. 

But if you think about all that you are blessed with... no matter your circumstances- I am given so much...we all are.  Our Heavenly Father loves each of us, and wants us to be happy.  It seems like lately I have been looking too much at what I don't have, or what is not going the way I think it should, and I don't choose to see all that He has given me, and how much happiness I can have, if I choose to see it, and accept it.

And sometimes to find it- I have to give it away.  I am finding that the more I do for others, and help those that I love, that greater joy that I find.

 

 

journal entry....2 {enjoy now}

I had one of those moments the other day while with Madi.  You know, those moments when life seems to take on a different meaning and you grow a deeper love and appreciation for the teaching moments our Heavenly Father gives us.  Those moments that if not careful, pass by unnoticed.

BUsy, Busy, Busy... I was running errands with Madi.  We were driving to the millionth store and all the while dragging her alongside of me.  Regrettably I admit, wishing I was alone, so I could get things done 10 times faster. From the seat behind me,  Madi was telling a story that she had to proudly made up- it was nothing less than a masterpiece to her.  Her joy, her sweetness not deterred or underminded by my mundane tasks.  I was only half listening to her as I parked, gather my things, and thoughts of rushing, to get in and out of the store in record time, were in my mind.  I glanced in my rearview mirror for a moment, beauty radiated from her, I looked at her and could not turn away from the happiness that shown on her face.  It was a day out with mom- to her she knew nothing else except she had me all to herself, no sister or brother to compete with for my attention.  it was just her and I.  The Spirit whispered so softly to me... "stop...- don't miss these moments.  They will be gone too quickly.  Enjoy her now.  Enjoy her now." 

You know, I just need that reminder every now and then when I get so caught up with "duties" of life.  I am thankful that the Spirit helped me to remember, to remember these moments.  I spent the rest of "our day" running errands, holding her hand, enjoying her sweet company.

journal entry....1 {patience}

 

Patience is a virtue... a virtue that I do not do very well at.  I think of Heavenly Father, and the perfect patience that He has, that He is able to work with me & help me when I lack the patience myself.  I see how the little trials of daily life are little chances everyday to try to develop this celestial virtue- this quality that escapes me so frequently. 

Even more than the daily life- the heavier trials I am, and have been going through in my life- how they have changed me into who I am today... but still I see how much patience is going to be needed to fully endure them.  Elder Maxwell said "Part of enduring well consists of being meek enough, amid our suffering, to learn from our relevant experiences.  Rather than simply passing through these things, they must pass through us and do so in ways which sanctify these experiences for our good."

I read this and I look at my life right now and I see really how much patience is the key in order to succeed- to endure well.  If there is ever a time that has tried and tested my patience beyond what I think I can do- it is now.  So I pray every night that Heavenly Father will help me learn how to more fully develop this gift of patience.... this quality that has for so long eluded me.  And then I had this experience one night as I prayed:

Me:  ...Heavenly Father, if thou could please help me to hurry and learn patience.....

silence......realization what I had just asked......

silence.....humility.....

understanding.... 

I stopped- realizing what I had just said... and if there was ever a time when I have felt the patient, sense of humor I believe our Heavenly Father has - it was at that moment...   a laugh escaped my lips, as I contemplated my need to "hurry and learn patience"....

I saw my folly, and understood.  And I truely, at that moment, felt Heavenly Father smile upon me too-

I believe He laughed along with me.

"There is no way to go around life.  The only way is to go through.  How... could the Lord teach us patience without the dimension of time and without also providing for us the relevant experiences?"

-Neal A. Maxwell (Not My Will, But Thine   p.11)

 

 

A New Season...

Yep, I'm back.  I have debating within myself if I really was going to keep this blog going.  But if not any other reason, than it is one other thing I can do -instead of doing what I am suppose to be doing. 

Summer is over-and autumn is here!  I Love FALL!!  Which means ...Schools Back in.  I am experiencing for the first time life with all the kids in school all day.   I have been enjoying the time to really figure out what I want to do.  Some days the hours go by so fast, I don't get half of the things finished I had planned to while the kids are at school.  But then there are those days that the minutes seem to drag on and it seems forever before the clock will tell me its 3:30, and my home will be filled with the level of commotion that I am use to.  It has definitely reinforced to me that I am moving on to the next stage of being a mother.  No more little ones at home.  No more cribs, no more diapers, no more tantrums in the middle of Walmart... but no more rocking to sleep, no more midday naps together, no more tugging on the legs because they want to be held.  I don't feel sad, just a definite feeling that a season in my life has ended and a new one begun.  I am excited to be here, I am excited to watch them grow up.  I am excited to help them discover their talents, their passions, and to help them grow through a more independent time in their life.