Margaret Thatcher, former Prime Minister of England, died yesterday of a stroke.
Hearing this news turned my mind to a quote I like.
I appreciate her values and her strength to teach others to work hard and to choose right.
She said this:
“I am in politics because of the conflict between good and evil,
and I believe that in the end good will triumph.”
We do love GOOD.
A friend shared this TRUE GREATNESS message by Howard W. Hunter. What a great read.
These were my favorite parts:
This message about the meaning of TRUE GREATNESS reminds me
of some thoughts I’ve had lately on sincere HAPPINESS.
This was a good connection for me. {more on that some other day}
Anyhoo … We have a sunny day to greet here during spring break.
Gotta get my game on as a mother.
Just after 3 a.m., I glanced at the white board on my way to the laundry room.
I read this quote I had written yesterday.
While laundering Truman’s blankets and clothes soiled with barf,
I tried really hard to feel grateful for something.
I was grateful that I wasn’t cleaning things up alone… that Jimmy was along-side me.
I was grateful for hot water, soap, and a washing machine.
I was grateful that we have a steam vac for the carpet.
I was grateful that we didn’t have more kids barfing.
I was grateful that barfs don’t happen often.
And a few minutes later, I was grateful to be back in bed and able to fall asleep quickly.
All but Eliza woke for the day by 6:30.
I knew it was going to be a ‘dig deep’ day for me.
I was having a hard time being kind or patient.
So this morning I’ve been thinking about how I can DIG DEEP.
This is my all-time favorite quote about this principle of the gospel…
having a reservoir of faith to call upon when things get hard.
Today – is only a dig deep day.
I know other times of life will require digging very, very deep.
I’m grateful for strength from the Lord.
In light of recent news headlines, I feel so strongly to emphasize to my family my belief in these principles.
It seems really strange to have to teach elementary school-aged kids that only marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God. This is all I knew when I was young. We didn’t have to hear so much about Gay Marriage … or no marriage. But these are principles we are teaching our littles.
We recently had a family devotional and talked about eternal identity. Before you were born, you were either a boy or a girl. Once you came to earth, your gender stayed the same. After you die, you have this same identity. God has decided our gender… it is part of our eternal identity.
We started memorizing the Living Christ a few weeks ago. Our plan was to memorize a section a week until Easter and we would have it completed. Well… the kids rocked that first week. Then we all got sick and things went down hill. I love that we know that first paragraph though. We’ll regroup someday on this idea.
Right now, I feel so strongly about the principles in the Family Proclamation, that I think this summer we’ll attempt to slowly memorize it.
We have a purpose. He has a plan for us. We are so blessed to have these eternal gospel truths.
so hey… a few weeks ago, Hillary Weeks spoke at our Stake R.S. Fireside. Her message was about being changing our thoughts to be more positive. I realized that part of the downfall of this winter was my thoughts. So – I decided to jump on-board her billionclicks.org “Be a Clicker” idea. It’s time to make it more official so I’ll try a bit harder with my thoughts. Think Happy … Be Happy.
I put together these little cards with info on ‘clicking’ from billionclicks.org. They’ll remind me the power of positive thoughts.
I got some for the kiddos. Abe is the most enthusiastic about it. When he’s having a rough time, I try to gently remind him to ‘be a clicker’. We’re working on this together. He has more clicks than I do.
Max and Truman are the funniest. They ask Abe to be their coach so he sits on a stool in the kitchen. They run around the kitchen and living room as fast as they can – clicking as many times as they can. They stop when they get to their coach. He tells them ‘good job’ and how many clicks they have. They keep running around and around and around. It is great exercise. And since they don’t quite understand the positive thoughts thing, it will hopefully at least keep them happy and having fun. I did tell Max that every time he chooses the right he can click.
This weekend things were getting rough… we’d all been together all week being sick at home. We needed some encouragement. So I instigated this:
I love my family! Max loves to learn new phrases in Spanish. When tensions were high, I would call out “Amo a mi familia” and a few would repeat it cheerfully (mostly just Max). I don’t know if it did much, but I know it helped me remember that the reason we serve and give and sacrifice for each other in our family is because of LOVE.
The other morning when I was blow-drying my hair, I had a funny movie clip come to mind. It has quite made my week. Remember in the 3 Amigos when Lucky Day gets put in El Guapo’s dungeon and is locked up? I’d reenact if for you if you were in my home, but ya know…. that’s embarrassing. I couldn’t find a very good youtube video. So basically he’s chained (hands & feet) and he has to walk forward to pull the release.
He chants “Gonna make it. Gonna make it. Gonna make it. … I Made it!!!” (Then he gets slammed back to the wall … only to have to start over again). This has been my cheer this week.
“Gonna make it. Gonna make it.”
Abe stayed home from school all week + last friday. He had the flu, strep, and a cold that hit at the end. Now he’s itching from the amoxicillin.
Max got a fever on Saturday and stayed home from preschool (broke his heart) all week. Now he has the cold. He said this morning, “I’m having a bad day.” And then sniffed his nose.
Jimmy and Liza got sick on Tuesday. Jimmy had a doozy of a flu and is still going with the tail-end cold and aches. Liza didn’t eat or sleep much for 3 days. She moaned and groaned during the nights and wouldn’t nap during the days. I think we’ve wiped her nose a thousand times. Oh – the worst part was that she would wake up and barf all over her bed… a few times. Ugg. Worst thing ever to clean up cottage-cheesy milk barf.
Hannah got a sore throat and aches on Wednesday and stayed home from school on Thursday and Friday. It was NOT strep throat. She’ll hopefully be fine by Monday.
Any mom knows that having sick kids and a sick spouse makes for a hard week… a long week. Though it was hard we pushed forward. “Gonna make it. Gonna make it.” A few times we thought we were near the end. “I made it” … only to be slammed back against the wall. “Ouch!” “Gonna make it. Gonna make it.” Press forward again.
We were most definitely sustained by the Lord. For example… one day this week, laundry just had to be done. Six loads washed, dried, folded and sorted … if you know me, this was truly a miracle. How was it possible to get dinner made, drinks and meds delivered to the appropriate kiddos, take care of that mountain of laundry, and still have any energy left to get tots in bed. Really – a miracle. For this endurance I am grateful.
I know there were other instances of little miracles that kept us going. A friend brought dinner. A friend ran an errand for me. Sisters encouraged and advised. A mom listened every single day as I gave our daily update, “Well, we’re still alive.” And all the prayers sustained us. I was able to take a nap the past 2 days and it did wonders to rejuvenate me. I’ve had a lingering cough, but never was too sick and delirious. We are blessed.
And yes… we’re gonna make it! I’m feeling encouraged!
p.s. as a sidenote… I’ve been kicking myself and questioning my ability to keep our family healthy. Did we eat too much sugar? Did we not eat enough healthy veggies? Did I not keep surfaces and the air clean enough to kill the germs going around? Should we still get flu shots even if we get sick? I’ve decided definitely YES on that one. Whenever I kick myself about it, I remind myself that I’m honestly trying my best in all these areas. We’re just doing our best… come what may … and try to love it? That sounds hard right now… but I’ll love when we’re all healthy and strong and can dance to silly music again.
1st theme of the day… inspired by my friend Julie.
2nd theme for the day… the thought on our white-board… for me, for Hannah… our positive affirmation.
3rd theme for the day… this is for Janey. Isn’t it so true some days?
Took Abe to the doctor this a.m. Strep throat … and the flu. Nice. Or not. At least antibiotics will help something. He’ll be on the mend. He’s gotten enough movie time in during the past 6 days for the entire year.
Liza is laying in my lap watching baby einstein. She keeps sinking deeper. She moaned and groaned all night long – poor little thing.
Jimmy is curled up in bed with a belly ache, fever, and cough. He got up with Liza once last night so I could have a few hours of sleep. Bless him.
Hannah is having lunch with the principal because she was the top reader in her grade this week for the jazz read-a-thon (2,000 minutes). She is thrilled.
Tru & Max are playing super mario… because I needed a break.
We have 6 loads of laundry waiting and a counter full of dishes… yes, I believe I must gird up my loins, fresh courage take.
With the tender mercies from God, we will make it through… and look forward to sunnier days.
Oh good… the sun just came out for a second… see… there is always hope.
Yesterday evening when I was getting Liza’s jammmies on, I realized that we had been abundantly blessed that day to endure. With sickies all over the place, this mama was somehow able to take care of everyone. It wasn’t because I was super capable or patient… It was strength from God. It helped that Jimmy could snuggle Liza since they were both sick. It helped that Tru watched movies – oh, like all day. It helped that Hannah did a little here and there. But blessings from above were evident.
I’m so very grateful.
I like this mormon message by Elder Bednar about Tender Mercies…
I bought grape-nuts the other day. Ya know … Hot Grape Nuts is perfect for wintertime. I found a thought-provoking question on the back of the cereal box.
We all have our own El Guapo’s in life… I mean… Mountains in life. And for me I have had different mountains at different times.
My mountain in college was figuring out who I wanted to be. That was hard. It worked out. I had a few more years to grow alone than I hoped for. It was good for me.
My Mountain after I got married… my health. Recuperating from Mono and trying to get back my energy. Moving to Florida was tricky only because it was like a foreign land to me. But it was good.
My Mountain after 2 tots… how to keep my house clean. Still working on that one obviously.
My Mountain after child #4… wow. Mothering so many littles.
My Mountain after child #5… busy calling and still figuring out how to keep my house clean, have energy, mother tots with love, etc.
Right now…
My Mountain:
Most of that combined plus…
Parenting: child #4 who keeps me hopping/dragging more than the other 4 put together. Sometimes I don’t know that I am capable of managing it. (oh wait – that wasn’t positive… but it’s how i feel some moments).
Myself: my physical health, spiritual strength, my attitude, balancing responsibilities, fun, and duty.
I’ve climbed a few mountains… ok – really I’ve climbed one mountain twice. Mt. Timpanogos. It was hard even when I was younger, littler, and more energetic. P.S. Always wear sunglasses when you hike to the top of a mountain. If you don’t, and you’re an albino like me, your eyes will burn.
So mountains – They are spectacular once you get past the HARD. Getting myself back on track … back to HEATHER… is like climbing a mountain. It’s little daily decisions that affect so much. It may take a few years of tots growing older and becoming more capable people, but I’m going to get myself back… health-wise.
Wow – this just keeps going, now doesn’t it.
I have a new plan … more on that later. “I know, right”… like there could be more after all this jazz. But it involves being more positive… changing my thoughts.
We were encouraged recently at a fireside to write a positive personal statement (ok – really that’s my wording)… part of the Positive Affirmations to create change. Changing weaknesses into strengths is my goal with this.
And just for the record… as I was typing this, Eliza barfed all over her crib, the carpet, and all her beloved blankies. I hate cleaning barf more than anything. As I cleaned and tried not to cry, I kept telling myself over and over… I am a strong, positive, healthy, loving mother and woman of faith. (really – that was in between “i hate cleaning up barf.”)
Positive thoughts might get me partially THERE… I’ll keep working on a plan of action to find more joy despite the HARD… or because of the HARD… which is it?
Good grief… could this get any longer… but while I’m at it… I wanted to document the recipe for Hot Grape Nuts. It’s important for posterity. hee-hee.
