Mom, what do you want for Christmas?

Many years ago, my young son asked me what I wanted for Christmas. I pondered that question. Really pondered that question...then came to a decision. I told him that I wanted peace on earth. (That is what I really wanted...I had two young sons...I was thinking of their future) My son then, rather dejectedly said, Oh...I was hoping you wanted something like lipstick.

Gone are those days of innocence. Oh how I miss them.

Oh-how I still wish for peace on earth.

Let it begin with me.

fun on the 4th

may God bless America

from the ward pancake breakfast...

...and the rockets red glare

...bringing a part of our heart in the philippines home with soda

...fun fourth food

...and Captain America

all in all it was quite a perfect day!

Open! Open! Open!

We started this tradition leap year 2004. Each family member answers questions about things like what they ate for breakfast, favorite book, what they are wearing, goals...and then we seal the papers up and wait 'til leap year to open the envelope. For 4 years the envelope hangs on a bulletin board. And the excitement is building! I can't wait for everyone to come home...

musings from a missionary mom

I can't express enough how wonderful it is having a son out on a mission. I am so amazed at how Heavenly Father blesses us. I know I could not adequately enumerate all the blessings that we have been blessed with--I am sure that I am not even aware of all that we have been blessed with...

But-there is a feeling of peace that has permeated my soul since I dropped my son off almost 5 months ago. I do not miss the everyday-ness of my son. (Which is surprising...) There is peace in our home. There seems to be an additional dose of warmth, love and kindness in our home. Before he left, I dreaded the holidays I would celebrate without him. Our family holiday traditions have been an important part of who we are as a family. But, the holidays have been easy. Easier than I thought they would be.

Last month we ran out of money before we ran out of month. I checked the food supply and we had enough for our needs. We might have a few mac and cheese nights, but, we would get by. In my morning prayers, I offered thanks to Heavenly Father for all our blessings...I then joked that I wasn't even going to ask for a surprise check in the mail, because I knew we didn't need it. When I went to the mailbox, was I ever surprised to find a surprise check in the mail! AND-it was from the DMV of all places...according to their records I had overpaid the registration...and they hoped they had taken care of the problem in a timely manner. Not a big check--but now we could have salad with our mac and cheese. I smiled...and once again bowed my head-humbled at how the Lord truly does bless us and can make our lives better than we could even imagine. The next day? Another surprise check. This one a bit bigger.

I continually stand all amazed at the love...

angels among us

I have shared this story with many people, but I guess I feel the need to document it here...

This story happened a few months ago, right after I dropped our son off at the MTC...

 I had forgotten to take my bills to the post office and against my better judgement decided to put them in my mailbox for pick up. It was a blustery day that day, and as I was running out to help a friend I noticed that my mailbox door had blown open and the bills were precariously perched at the end of the box. I pushed the letters back deep into the mailbox, shut the door tightly, and ran off to do some service. When I came home, my fears were realized. The mailbox was open and in the mailbox was sitting only one outbound letter.

I already was in a bad place and this was the proverbial straw. I found an envelope sized piece of paper and tossed it into the wind to see where it would go. I started to follow the paper, but the winds whipped it faster than I could follow. I was downcast. Perplexed. Completely overwhelmed. As I walked I was plagued with the following thoughts: What do I do now? Look around the neighborhood for my bills? Hope that some good samaritan finds them puts them in a mailbox? or better yet return them to me? Do I call the bank and cancel all the checks...and pay huge fees for this service? My heart turned heavenward. I prayed to Heavenly Father that I might know what to do. I prayed for a much needed peace. I kept on walking. Looking in bushes, leaf-filled gutters, anywhere that errant envelopes might be hiding. When I reached my pre-determined stopping point, I turned around and headed for home. My heart was still very heavy. Why was my life so hard right now? Why was everything a trial? As I continued walking I glanced across the street. To my amazement I spied the paper I had tossed in the wind, and next to the paper, stuck in a little plant was an envelope. I crossed over and picked up the letter. It was indeed mine. The owner of the house quickly appeared. I am sure she was wondering what I was doing on her lawn. I explained to her my situation. This woman, whom I had never seen before, started helping me look for other envelopes. She explained that she was rarely home at this time, but her vacation had started that morning and she was leaving that evening to head north. As we were searching around her and neighboring properties, another woman came out. My newly found "angel" explained my plight and the other woman knowingly nodded and went to her mailbox and pulled out another one of my bills. She had found it in her backyard in a box. My heart was lighter. I had found two of the bills. Just that little bit made my load lighter. About an hour later there was a knock on my door. My "angel" had found another
bill. Less than two minutes later, she had returned. She found another one on her return trip home. I had some errands to run and when I returned my kids said that a lady came by and had found 2 more missing envelopes. Life was looking up. I was feeling very blessed. By the end of the day, all but one envelope had been returned. (And, because the check cleared the bank, I know that some other person deposited said bill in a mailbox for me.)

How grateful I am to know that Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers...and to learn that often the prayers are answered by another person. I will be forever grateful for this angel in my life...who took time out of her life to help me...a stranger...at a time when I really needed help.

"Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."