I am so grateful for this season that we have to remember the birth of that baby boy in Bethlehem. I found out this morning that a friend's son had passed away and felt such sadness for them in loosing their son, but at the same time an overwhelming sense of peace that the gospel of Jesus Christ brings. How lucky they were to have him bless their family for a time and how wonderful is the sealing and promises of temple ordinances.
As I have been putting up my decorations this year, I have had one thing continuously running through my mind. This comes from one of my Young Women leaders (Paula Wood). She was so wonderful at bringing the spirit of Christ into Christmas and in our YSA family home evenings in teaching us ways to really bring the true spirit of the season. She gave my parents a frames copy of this one sentence and it hung in our home all year long. "As we yearly prepare our homes to celebrate his humble first coming, let us daily prepare our hearts to celebrate his glorious second coming." So as I was spending hours putting up my nativities, trimming the tree, unwrapping each treasured ornament, I asked myself "What have I done this year to prepare my heart for that anticipated day of the Savior's return? Have I been more kind? Have I helped someone in need? Have I strengthened my testimony?" It has been a great period of self-reflection. May I daily take the time to prepare my heart.
13 And behold, he preached
the word unto your fathers, and a mighty change was also wrought in their
hearts, and they humbled themselves and put their trust
in the true and living God.
And behold, they were faithful until the end;
therefore they were saved.
14 And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the
church, have ye spiritually
been born of God?
Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this
mighty change
in your hearts?
Along that vein, I am grateful for my home, both my temporal home and to be near a place that resembles our heavenly home. Nathan commented this week that he loves coming home to our warm, bright little home. I admit, I love it too, especially with the Christmas lights on and the decorations up, goodies cooking, and some semblance of order and cleanliness. Sometimes I wonder if we shouldn't have looked at buying a bigger house because if we have as many kids as we want there will be much sharing of bedrooms and it will be a little tight, but them I think of my ancestors and how little they needed to get by and how wonderful it will be to be out of debt sooner and remind myself that this home meets our needs and I am grateful. Sometimes I complain about how far away we are from everything. There is very little retail in this area. I feel like I have to go for a drive to even get groceries, but then I remember that the reason we chose this area was not for convenience of picking up a few food or household items, but because here we are close to what is most important. We can walk just a short distance and be at the temple or numerous family member's homes.
I am so grateful for the temple and our closeness to it. Nathan and I are blessed to be able to go together frequently, Although it is not as frequent as it has been in the past, my mom reminded me that we are entering the part of our lives where we may not be able to go once a week because we have increasing responsibilities at home with our family. I am grateful that my family lives close and are willing to watch Spencer for us while we go to commune with the Lord in His holy house. It is wonderful not to have to worry about him while we are there. He loves "Ma-ma and Pom-pa's" house and his Aunts "Lil-lil and Tist-ty" and Uncle Jimmy.
I am grateful for a husband who took and takes me to the temple, who makes me a better person and loves me unconditionally. He takes such good care of me and I cannot imagine my life without him. He is a wonderful priesthood holder, example, counselor and friend. I am grateful that he is able to provide for us and that his work does not require him to be away from long periods of time.
I am grateful for a sweet little son. I know I am very blessed by the choice spirit that Heavenly Father sent to our family. Grandma Marva tells me all the time that I don't know how lucky I am to have such a good boy. He is kind, helpful, fun-loving and patient. I love all the little family moment that we get to have together. Yes, he does have his exasperating moment when he is cranky and stubborn, but they are few and far between and quickly forgotten when my even-tempered Spencer returns (usually all this takes is a snack or nap). I love that on the way into church this morning he was singing his own little Spencer song and that this afternoon when he didn't want to take a nap he was calling for Aunt Kristi and when I called from the the other room that Aunt Kristi was not here and would not save him from a nap he called "Come ere Doo-ee". He likes to call me by my first name when he is being sassy. He makes me laugh and smile and love being a mom.
I am grateful for my body, for a body that is healthy and strong and rarely gets sick. The beginning of this second pregnancy made me truly appreciate that. With Spencer I was hardly sick at all, a little smell-sensitive and a lot tired, but not sick. With this baby I could hardly get off the couch most of the first trimester. Thanks to Spencer for taking care of me and playing blocks or reading while I rested and my mom for feeding us most nights when food did not sound like something that should be eaten. This past week I had a cold that lasted all week it. was. terrible. I couldn't sleep, couldn't take anything to help me sleep and just felt generally awful. It made me appreciate how rarely I get sick and that usually my body is able to kick it in a short amount of time.
I am grateful for good friends. One in particular that has become part of my family. We finally have her trained that when people ask if we are sisters we just say yes. She got me through some of what could have been a very difficult time of life and together we had the most fun I think anyone could ever have. I love our girl nights, laughing about old memories, and making some new ones. I know I can always count on her. One of the quotes we decided best fit s our friendship is by Aristotle. "A true friend is one soul in two bodies." We often don't have to communicate at all and just know what the other is thinking of feeling.
I am also grateful for new friends. We have been blessed to make some friends in our ward that I love being able to see every Sunday. I know it will be important for Spencer to have good friends and I worried because he is the only one his age. Come January he will be the lone man in nursery for a year unless someone else moves in, but the older 11 -year old boys in primary have adopted him as part of their class and are so good to involve him and keep him happy (since he won't stay in nursery for the last hour and I am now primary chorister). He has one friend who he just adores. He finds him ever week during sacrament and will run up to him after the meeting or during if Mom and Dad will let him. I know that these boys will be wonderful role models for him in the coming years and that he will look forward to the day that he can pass the sacrament and move into young mens like his buddies from primary.
I am grateful for the primary songs. I have been really nervous accepting the call to be the primary chorister. I know that my primary chorister growing up was a key person in shaping and building my testimony. Rhonda left big shoes to fill in my mind and no way was I up to the task. I haven't been in primary since I turned 12. I am grateful for the children in my ward in helping me learn and fulfill my calling. Their testimonies are so sweet and simple like the teachings and words of the songs. I am grateful that I will be able to re-learn all of the words and melodies and filll our home with the spirit that is found in them.
I am grateful for those who willingly serve. I was in charge of the decorations for the ward Christmas party last night and our bishop had some very grand ideas for what he wanted to have happen. I am grateful for committee members who helped with gathering materials, calling people, setting up, taking down and so much more. I am grateful for ward members who lets us use their stuff and willingly dropped it off and helped with all the work involved. I am grateful for a bishop who truly loves our ward and emulates Christ as he strives to lead our ward to becoming a Zion people. I am grateful for the missionaries in our ward. They are so hardworking and they remember and represent the name on that black tag.
I have so many more things that I am grateful for but they shall have to wait for another time as we are supposed to be leaving for dinner with family. May we all fill our homes with the spirit of gratitude and love this Christmas season.
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