All of God's Creations

I totally saw a Dow ( a deer a female deer, Ray a drop of golden sun)about to cross the street this morning on my way to work. It watched me, and as my car was creaping closer, it frantically hopped back into the woods. As I watched it disappear, It noticed it stop and look back at me. And as it made eye contact. . .it was gone. I couldn't see it any longer. Mostly because my car was still moving forward. Luckily ther were no cars moving toward my direction.


Monday Morning, as I was driving to work, I saw the most beautiful wild Turkeys crossing the road. They waddled more like a Duck, than ran like a chicken. They moved fast across the road, but took their time once they made it to the grassy shoulder. Cool to see.



I love all of God's wonderous Creations. . . . .Except spiders and snakes, which keep getting into my HOUSE somehow. It is really unnerving when you are picking up toys off the floor and them one of them crawlers away from, or tries to snap at you. I am getting the heebeejeebees just remembering it.

"Mommy, I don't remember when I did that!"

Last night I stumbled upon some pics of Seiler sitting in the Fridge. When he was stronger enough to open the fridge, about 18 Mos. old. til two and a half, he would ALWAYS sit in the fridge. Of course the door was open. I'm not sure if he needed to cool down his bum or if he just found His seat in the Kitchen. I showed it to Seiler last night, he said "How big was I, Mommy, I don't remember when I did that!" Ryann did though. She wanted to sit there too, but only if Seiler did it First. I will try to post the picture tonight. It's too cute.

Just One More Thing!

Sorry guys, I was looking up Hilary Weeks website, because I saw hwe at Time Out For Women a few months ago and LOVE her new CD. Anyway I was looking at some of her messages and this one totally stood out to me. Here come the tears again:

Lane Ends, Merge Left
I have a somewhat strange little tradition. I have absolutely no recollection of when or why this “ritual” started…but, every time I see a Frito-Lay truck, I think to myself, “Everything is going to be okay.” Surely there is some logical and intelligent explanation of its origin. I have some faint memory of it being a funny experience. Nevertheless, a Frito-Lay truck brings a smile to my face and a simple, reassuring thought to my mind.

Funny how something common, transposed by creativity becomes meaningful. It is still the same thing, you just choose to see it differently.

Before you read any further, I need to tell you that this devotional requires a few minutes of your time and a little participation. If now is not a good time, come back when the kitchen is tidy, the kids are settled and you have a few minutes of uninterrupted time. No, wait, who knows when that will be. Maybe now is as good of time as any!

This won’t be hard – I think it will actually be fun. First, look over the common roadside signs listed below. Then, pick one or two that jump out to you.

Stop Wrong Way
Yield Keep Right
One Way No U Turn
Speed Limit Do Not Pass
Slow, Children at play Service Vehicles Only
Detour Do not Enter
No Pedestrian Traffic Construction Ahead
Work Area Ahead Surface may be icy
Slow, proceed with caution Road closed
Stop, do not enter No Outlet
Dead End

Now, turn those signs into an object lesson. Create an object lesson or phrase that means something to you personally. Let it relate to your current circumstances. Perhaps it could remind you of something important. Maybe it could be something that makes you giggle or brings a smile to your face.

For example: STOP. “Stop worrying about the things you can’t control.” Or, “Stop after one helping of apple pie.” Or, “Stop all self-defeating thoughts.”


Give it a try…


I wish I could read some of the ideas you came up with!

We see road signs every day. Why not turn them into quick, positive reminders! The negative things of the world are already plentiful. This could be our way of adding more positives!

Just in case you’d like a few more ideas, here are some additional “object phrases.”

Speed Limit
– Someone give me a ticket, because I am speeding through life!
– There is a limit to how fast I can go each day. It’s okay to slow down.
Detour
–What am I allowing to detour me from doing the important things?
Slow, Children at play
– Slow down and play with the children!
Yield
– Yield to the promptings of the Spirit
One Way
– One way I can teach my children is by example.
No Pedestrian Traffic
– I need a little time to myself, so no disturbances for the next couple of minutes!
No Outlet
– Oh yes there is! Repentance!
Surface may be icy
– On the outside one may seem cold or aloof, but on the inside they want to be warmed by love.
Construction ahead
–…And it’s going to make me better and stronger than I was before.

“How true it is that what we really see day by day depends less on the objects and scenes before our eyes than on the eye themselves and the minds and heart that use them.” — F.D. Huntington.

Go Hillary for finding the words to encourage ourselves to think possitivly. I am going to try to use this example to remind me to find the simple Joys in Life! "If I only had today" is an amazing song. I sing it to my husband all day long. He is annoyed, but I love it.

Oh what a Beautiful Morning, Oh what a Beautiful Day. . .

I don't even know where to begin. . . .for at least a month we have been sleeping in EVERYDAY! Late for everything. Even School. Surprised that Ryann's School hasn't called, to complain. I would tell Brandon everynight to set the alarm earlier, so that if he felt the need to push snooze, we would still be able to get up on time. I'm not sure if he did or not, because I am a deep sleeper, and never heard the alarm at all. And then rushing around every morning to get everyone up and ready and out the door. Sometimes without breakfast. This routine has been driving me crazy, and I was blaming it on Brandon for not waking us up on time. Oops, Sorry Babe. It was so stressful, I asked my mom if she would call our house every morning at 6 o'clock, just until we were in the habit of getting up early. She declined. So, I offered her a small fee. She declined stating, I was old enough to get up on time by myself! This is True, but it wasn't working. Much to my dismay, My children both slept in my bed last night. Ryann said can't we all just sleep in here tonight. and of Course Seiler agreed that would be a great idea. I can't recall why Brandon and I went along with it. . . . but we did. I said a prayer for a bunch of things, but focused on the earge to wake up and be alert when the alarm went of this morning, so that we could read scriptures as a family and have breakfast together and get to school and work on time. As everyone fell asleep last night, I couldn't. I kept thinking of what I would do If I acctually woke up on time the next day. As the snoring in my bedroom began, I got out of bed and went in to the kitchen, suddenly wide awake. And unloaded and reloaded the dish washer (a new one by the way) moved the laundry around started a new load, folded some. Made the kids beds and carried them to them. Tucked them in and kissed them goodnight. I did all of these things, so that Brandon wouldn't be burdened by them in the morning.Of Course I can beleive it, but I am still in shock. Brandon and I both woke up, didn't even push snooze, I don't think. I woke the kids up and carried them to the table wrapped up in a blanket, fixed them a bowl of cereal, blessed it, and read them a story from the book of mormon. Together we got the kids dressed, hair and teeth brushed and out the door. Ryann was early to school today. Lunch packed and all. I am completly happy about not being stressed out at all this morning. . . .I am so greatful that I can rely on my Heavenly Father for the kind of help that I really need. To keep myself and my family sane, I mean happy.
"When life gets too hard to Stand, Kneel"

I am NOT in the mood. . .

for Halloween this year and I don't know why. I just decorated my porch this year, and that's it. Ryann was mad, because she said mom decorate our porch More. I said it was enough, because I just filled up huge wagon on my porch with fall leaves and pumpkins and twigs. She said, you don't have to make it look pretty mom, make it scary like the one across the street. ( they have green and purple lights and spiders every where.) I told her, Next Year, I promise. What is the deal? I don't even want to take them to the Trunk-or-Treat this year. Help somebody wake up the Holiday Spirit with in me. . . . . . . . . . .I'm waiting.

This is What I Got:

You are thoughtful and care very deeply for your family. A loving home is of great
importance to you and you always try to make people feel welcome. Although you have a great capacity to love, you also have a great capacity to hurt, so at times you can be
sensitive. You're firm when you need to be, but people trust your judgment and
appreciate the kind way you always handle things.


It is All true, unless you know me well. It is Mostly True!!!!!

There is Beauty All Around

I love this part of the Fall Season. These trees are popping up all around us.It is beautiful here in the Ozarks!!!!

Where are all these TEARS coming from?

I cannot believe it. During Sacrament meeting a young man who recently came home from his mission was talking, since me children were talking(not whispering) I could not here much of what he was saying, but then he broke out into a beautiful song, my eyes teared up, while hushing my kids. Sunday After our Home Teachers left, Brandon took Seiler to go Home teaching with him. So, Ryann and I got into our p.j.'s and decided to turn on the t.v. before bed. Luckily it was on the BYU channel. We crawled up in my bed and watched the end of The Other Side Of Heaven. And as the Elder was leaving the Island to go home, the song God Be With You Til We Meet Again was sung. The TEARS came rolling down. As we said family prayer that night, the Tears came rolling. The next morning as I watched Ryann run into the School Building, I started to tear up. I don't know what hit me, how ever I am very grateful that it did. Minus the Crying Part. I thank my heavenly Father everyday for all the beautiful things in this world he created for me.....I love the word to the Primary song My Heavenly Father Loves Me.

The Things Uncle Josh Can Talk Seiler Into.......

It is crazy how much Seiler loves his Uncle Josh. As of Last week. I was looking @ Seiler's hair and playing with it Thinking that he needs to get it cut. Whenn I see a tiny black dot on his head. So I investigate it further and notice there is a black hair growing out of it. As chills go down my spin @ how gross itwas, I told my mother (who was sitting right beside me). Seiler quickly said "Don't pull it I want to be just like Josh!!!!" (only opposite of course.) Seiler often asks me why he doesn't have black hair like Josh, why he has to have white hair like me......I simply state, because your my child. Not Josh's. And I love you just as much if not more, blah-blah-blah, etc.
Some days he seems to be okay with that answer, other days not so much.
Anyway, moving on.....Last night we ate dinner @ my mother' house. She made Chicken Breasts stuffed with Apple and Sage dressing, sourcream whipped potatoes, and a carrot & pea mix. All of it was so delicious. Except the peas part. (my least favorite veggie. the only one I will not make my children eat. toooooooo gross.) So uncle Josh talked Seiler into eating his peas, and he did. Impressive, but still gross. Then he noticed that I left mine on my plate, and Josh told him to feed me one. I was not a happy camper, and I did NOT open my mouth for it. The pea fell on the floor, so he went back to his plate to get another one. Brandon made me feel bad, but I could not make myself even pretend to eat it. Seiler thought it was all fun and games. Glad someone was entertained......it sends shivers down my spine just wrighting about it.

It's Raining, It's Pooring . . . .

It is such a gloomy day here in Springfield, MO. When it Rains here, it rains and rains and rains.
But. . . . . I am in such a good mood! Don't you just love the feeling you get when you have your Visiting teaching done for the month? Well I got mine done for October, and let me tell you, even with the grey skies, IT IS SUNNY IN MY OFFICE TODAY.
Sounds so dumb, but I can't stop smiling. The message this month struck a weird/shocked/confused look on my face as I was reading the importance of Gender. I had a quick thought of: Is this really a concern women of our Faith are struggling with? But as I read it again the next day, I realized, it's not about wanting to be a man, but being proud to be a woman; and finding joy in the work you do. . . . Each of us are created in the likeness of God. We are born in the female gender for a reason. It defines who we are, why we are, and who we are to become" I especially enjoyed what Sis Beck stated on this topic, "A woman who treasures motherhood on earth will treasure motherhood in the world to come". Being a mother is DEFINITELY the hardest job I have ever had. You can't clock in and out. It's a job you don't get paid by the hour for, you don't get extra for putting in over-time, but reap rewards year after year for it. I am so grateful for my friends and family who love and inspire me to be better. I am grateful for all the examples I have to be a great mother. I know that Our Heavenly Father loves each and everyone of us, that we came to this earth women for a reason, to teach and love and lead and shine the light of Christ on those around us. I am grateful for the Blessings we will receive if we but Endure to the End. Hold Fast to the Rod Sisters. Be Happy to be you. Love ya Lots.