Motherhood (Parenthood)...what greater blessing - Day 8

Every day as I contemplate my gratitude and what I want to post, motherhood comes to my brain and I always push it aside thinking I'll post about that later...partly because I don't know what child to post about first - since it is common to go youngest to oldest or oldest to youngest, I decided to start in the middle! Could it be because I am the middle - I often felt like I was to old for one group and to young for the other, as a consequence, I felt picked on on occasion. In my older age now, I realize I was actually very blessed because I had an opportunity to live with both groups of siblings. Anyway, Rachel, this is why I chose you! All of my children know one of the best ways to get my goat is to tell me I have a favorite child - BIG PET PEEVE! But just for today....I am going to concentrate on the Blessing of Rachel Christine in my life! Rachel has been my roller coaster child, when she is up, she is really up and when she is down she is down. In other words she has a tender heart. She always was willing to bring her friends into our home. As a young girl she was very outgoing and friendly to everyone, as she entered adolesence she became much more shy. Of course, I guess she couldn't have been to shy considering she loved being a cheerleader. She was always very into boyfriends. From the time she was two years old she was planning her wedding. She brings joy into my life daily as she wants to call and share her day with me. She is a caring and doting mother. AND...I have told my son in laws I appreciate them, but I think Brad knows he has a jewel as well. He has been good to help her express her feelings. I am so proud of their little family and their hard work to keep their relationship growing! How blessed will be the little Simpson girls! Rachel, I love you! Thanks for choosing me to be your mom!

Good Neighbors - Day 7 - a little late!

I really didn't forget my gratitude yesterday, but as I was sitting down to post, my neighbor called and reminded me of a Relief Society Event last night. ( I had totally forgotten all about it!) The group "One Clear Voice" came and performed. They were so talented and spiritual. It was a very wonderful evening. It was such an uplifting evening for me. AND....they were so totally down to earth and approachable! They did a number about gratitude and shared a comment from Pres. Monson. One of my Favorite talks is An Attitude of Gratitude, by Pres.Thomas Monsongo here to read it - http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=cac194bf3938b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1
Now I am sure there is a better way to post this talk, but I am still learning.... but the name of the talk will help you find it.
Anyway, thank goodness for my good neighbor who reminded me of the event. At every turn there is something to be grateful for!

Out of order maybe - but Hurray for Inlaws! - Day 6

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I had a discussion with Rachel yesterday about how lucky I was my daughters married good guys who didn't abuse their wives. I have been thinking alot about that today. I think one of my first experiences with that was my sister Shannon's husband. For the past nearly 20 years he has supported our family. At any family party with food, he is right there digging in and helping in the kitchen. Of course, my brother brought someone into the family that is also very helpful whenever there is a family gathering. I remember at Rachel's wedding Christine helped the whole day, of course she reminded me when her kids got married, she would have it catered!
I do feel such gratitude for the good husbands and fathers my son in laws are. It has been such a choice experience to observe their priesthood observance and watch their young families develop!


They to bring new life to our family! It is so fun to see how the Lord's plan of happiness affects us as we take it full circle!
I would be amiss not to include Don and Dorothy in my gratitude! They helped in grain many good qualities in Randy and they have been so loving of our family! Dorothy continues to teach us about a "get 'er done" attitude and there's no need to complain. One thing I learned from her was she might get disgusted with how somebody does something, but she keeps on loving them!
As for Grandpa Don, he has supported us in to many ways to name. One thing Jordan and I have discussed is he has never missed a birthday and the interesting thing about that is somehow he always manages to get the card there right on the exact day!
I can think of many more times where in laws have blessed my life, but these are just a few highlights! Our family may have a few skeletons lying around here or there, but I feel so blessed to have the family I have been blessed with! (watch out when I start bragging on my kids or worse yet, grandkids!

Thanks to the Teachers of the World - Day 5

Today was a special day! We were able to go to Logan and watch Conner in his primary program. As I watched all the beautiful children expressing ways they had learned they were children of God, I couldn't help but reflect on the teachers in mine and my children's life. I remembered clearly the Primary Sacrament Program when I was 11 (Yes, Rachel, they even had primary programs in the dark ages, te hee hee) and how excited I was to sing our new Stairway to Heaven song. (Not the pop song of Stairway to Heaven) I reflected on the many programs my children had been in both church and school. I looked at the places in life my children are at now and my heart overflowed with gratitude for the help that is abounding in good works out there from the Sunday School teachers, school teachers, the Bro. Tufts and the Sister Hoopes of the world. I am sure each of my children could name different teachers who have taught and led them, for this I am grateful. We are told the Lord is with us always through His Spirit. I also believe he uses people to answer our prayers. How wonderful it is after we are taught we can then teach and the circle of life goes on! If any of you out there have been reading my gratitude journal, I just want to tell you what an awesome adventure this has been for me. Each day I reflect on what I want to blog about and my heart just overfills with ideas of gratitude. It has brought a little sunshine back into my life as I have concentrated on what is good in my life, instead of bemoaning what may be wrong or hard. My goal was to keep this up until Thanksgiving, but I know I will have too many entries to quit then! And for my children reading this,....remember,
when you have a gratitude attitude, you are the happiest kind of girl or boy! Now go out and teach and share!

Hallelujah! Modern Convenience! - Day 4

I have many much more important things and people in my life to be grateful for, but today....I am grateful for modern convenience! How nice to have a beautiful tub with hot running water and lovely smelly soap to soak in and rejuvinate your body! How great to have a dishwasher to load the sticky grimy dishes in and they come out sparkly clean (with the right soap anyway) Lights, television, cameras, furniture, shelter, food and the list goes on! .... How grateful I feel for all these wonderful creations!

Day 3 - A Grateful Heart!

I am late in posting my gratitude today! I have been thinking about what I wanted to list next! After listening to my hardworking husband in the basement all day, I decided it what be appropriate to pay tribute to him! After nearly 30 years of association with this guy, I am sure I could write all day, but when I think of what I am most appreciative of, I think it would have to be his commitment to a cause! We have had many ups and downs in our relationship, but I never doubt his commitment to me. He has given me opportunities I never dreamed of! Some I probably never would have chosen, but what a trip it has been!I am so appreciative of his commitment to his priesthood responsibilities, of his willingness to take me to the temple, of his support of my family, but most of all of his desire to be a good husband and father. I will never forget watching him hold each of his children for the first time and the many times he got up in the night to change them and bring them into me. I think my love for him has grown the most as I have watched him pray, worry, and be proud of our children. What a joy it has been to share in the joy with him as our children have married and brought more angels from heaven to our home! We worry about our children together and we rejoice in our children together. I love his passion for God's great creations. He like my parents, has set a good example to me of enduring hard times and letting them strenghten you!


I look forward to sharing many more exciting moments with our posterity!

What a wonderful world!

Gratitude - Day 2

As I think about the world tendencies to blame others for all our problems, it makes me reflect on the blessing of good wholesome parents in my life. Did they get an instruction manuel to help raise me, most likely not! Did they do their best to set an example of hard working, honest people, a most emphatic yes! I believe we learn the most from the examples in our lives. I am so grateful for parents who kept on trying despite the adversity in their lives. Both of my parents are children of the depression. My father is one of the last WWII veterans. My mother lost her mother when she was just starting her own family. As I reflect on the opportunities I have to help my girls with their families, my heart aches for my mother. She did not have a mother to call for a recipe or advice or just to talk to about the cute things her children were doing. Soon after she lost her mother, she lost her little sister to childbirth. Then, just when they should be enjoying grandparenting my parents lost their firstborn daughter to cancer. Did I ever witness their faith falter - no! Were they always there for me - yes! At a crucial time in my life, when I had five small children mind you, my parents allowed us to move into their basement until we could get ourselves on our feet. I still remember the time when I was pregnant with Nathan and a little bit over the top emotional - Randy was gone for the first extended time in our married life. A rather large bee got in my house, silly girl that I was, called my parents and my dad made the three mile drive to my house to kill the bee. They have always set an excellent example of service to me. Sometimes to the dismay of my mother, you could always find my father helping the widows, shoveling the walks in the neighborhood. Both of my parents were always the last at the ward parties, in the kitchen doing the dishes, cleaning the church or doing whatever needed to be done. Have I experienced clashes of personality with my parents - yes, quite often! But their example in my life has been engraven on my heart and they are certainly one of my greatest blessings! Even in their twilight years they continue to show me how they serve one another. My heart aches for them as they struggle with the adversity of old age, but as is their pattern they continue to march on, putting their shoulder to the wheel!
Thank goodness for the gift of parents!