Light

Every morning on the way to work I listen to a talk given by speakers from my church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, or the Mormons as most know us by.  It's a way for me to hear inspired words to uplift me and give me something positive to focus on for the day.  I feel like it brings me closer to God and helps me to remember things that are important for me to grow as a person.


Today I listened to a talk by John H. Groberg from the October 1976 General Conference.  (Here is the link in case you'd like to listen or read it, https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1976/10/there-is-the-light?lang=eng)  He recalls an experience he had while in the South Pacific and the prompting he got from God to get a young man, a missionary for our church, to the main island because he was sick and need medical attention.  However, there was a storm raging and in order to get him to the hospital they would have to go by boat.  There was only a small opening in the reef, which they needed to pass through and a small light that lit the narrow passage to get them to the island where the hospital was.  They were afraid they might not be able to see it.  The storm was gaining power and the conditions were worsening, but he knew he needed to get the young man to the hospital, so they went.  He talks about the brave captain who despite all of the adversity he was being challenged with, stayed calm and focused on the reef to find the light and get them safely through the reef.


It reminded me of our daily lives.  There are challenges we never expected to encounter, but if we stay fixed on Jesus Christ.  If we are kind, charitable, and loving, if we ask for help and try our best to do what is right, we too will be able to see the small, yet beautiful light.  May we all strive to share our love with others and come ever so close to being a light in places of darkness.

Mother's Day 2017

Mother's Day is a bittersweet day at our house.  It is the reminder of a mother gone, but still celebration of all of the wonderful influences that still grace us with their inspiring words and deeds.  This year as the kids left to visit their mom's grave I could sense sadness.  It broke my heart to know that they were suffering, were sad and there was nothing I could do to take that pain away.   The only thing I could do was understand and help them know I am here for them if they wanted or needed me. 


The rest of the day was filled with a wonderful church service about charity.  Food, family and CHOCOLATE!!  What is Mother's Day without chocolate right!!  It was fun to BBQ and spend time with our loved ones.


On the way home, I noticed this sweet post from Lucy on Instagram:

That simple, sweet message was one of the most precious gifts I've been given.  It was completely unexpected, but so powerful.  It made me realize that even though at times I've felt like I am not getting through to them or they don't see me as a mother figure....they do know that I will be there for them and that I do want to help them in any way I can.  I love them and in these quiet moments I know they must love me too!!


If you are struggling as a stepmom, DON'T GIVE UP!!  Those children need you and they will some day see how much you sacrificed for them and that you really did love them!  Get up, brush yourself off, and be the awesome only you can be for them!  I believe you can do it!  Its hard sometimes and good in other times, but you are exactly what they need!


Happy Mother's Day to all of you awesome mothers out there!

Happy Easter

I love Easter!  I love the sweetness that it brings.  Not the peeps and chocolate or the candy kind.  Those are all great, but the real sweetness is the gift our Savior, Jesus Christ gave to us.  He Lives!  He was resurrected and because he was resurrected so can we be. 


President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints said, "On Easter Sunday we celebrate the most long-awaited and glorious event in the history of the world. It is the day that changed everything. On that day, my life changed. Your life changed. The destiny of all God’s children changed. When I think of what the Savior did for us leading up to that first Easter Sunday, I want to lift up my voice and shout praises to the Most High God and His Son, Jesus Christ! The gates of heaven are unlocked! The windows of heaven are opened! Today and forevermore, God’s grace is available to all.”

I am so thankful for my knowledge of the Savior.  I am so grateful that he suffered for my sins so that I can be forgiven.  I am so happy that I get to live again with my family, that I will be able to see all those who have gone before me again.  I rejoice in the Savior and our Father in Heaven who loved us so much that they found a way for us to return to live with them again.  I love the peace and happiness that come from the gospel.  I know that He lives, that He loves us, and that He wants to help us.


#BecauseHeLives  https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2015-04-1010-he-lives-celebrate-easter-because-jesus-christ-lives?lang=eng

1st Day of Spring

I don't know about you, but there is something about spring that I love!  Maybe its the new flowers popping up, or the warm afternoons, no coats, flip flops, the beautiful sun shining again, the laughter of the kids exploding through my kitchen window from the backyard.  I think my favorite thing about spring is the renewed hope it gives me...a new year waiting to be lived....to be enjoyed...to be shared with the people I love!  Hope in the journey.  What's your favorite part of spring??



The Leprechauns came to visit

St. Patrick's Day came with some fun surprises!  Those silly Leprechauns moved our furniture around, sprinkled Leprechaun dust and left their footprints on our seats, BUT they also left us some yummy treats!!!!  Chocolate, Lucky Charms and some Leprechaun Floats!

For dinner we ate in green food style..sandwiches on GREEN rolls, GREEN grapes, KIWI, GREEN Caesar salad and Shamrock Shakes from McDonalds!  Fun night celebrating together as a family. 


I sure enjoy the time we spend around the dinner table sharing our experiences of the day, laughing and being together over a good meal.  I find that some of our best conversations are had here.  I hope our children will treasure this time we get to spend together...if not now, maybe they will appreciate it later when they are grown and have children themselves....after all, "The fondest memories are made when gathered around the table."

What's your Why??

Today while scrolling my Instagram feed I came across a post from @mintarrow asking "What's your Why?"  It got me thinking about why I do what I do in my life.  Why I married a widower, why I raise these adorable kids, why I go to work every day, why I try so hard to treat others with kindness, why I work so hard in my church callings and share my feelings about God.

I do it because, like many others I'm sure, I feel good and successful and blessed beyond measure.  I want to share my experiences with others and hope that it helps someone else. I raise these kids because they deserve as much love as they can get...even when their biological mother isn't me, but I love them (and my biological child) and they are my kids none the less.  I love my husband beyond what I thought possible.  I can't imagine my life without him & so of course I want to do as much as I can for him.  I work hard so we can all play hard, so I can learn new things & meet new people.  I love my church and the people I meet there.  I love the teachings and lessons about God.  I am forever grateful for the knowledge of my Savior and the wonderful blessings I receive because of HIM.

So the underlying message here is LOVE.  I live my life in hopes to show others love.  I have my weaknesses though and love doesn't always win out.  I'm moody, tired, stressed, overworked and underpaid just like everyone else, but I'm trying to build people up instead of drag them down.  I love my family.  I feel so blessed to call them mine.  I have so much fun with them and I love the time we are all able to spend together.  I love the stages of life they are at, I love to see them learning and growing.  I love hearing them laugh and building these memories with them.

So tell me...what's your why??



Tender Mercies

Have you ever had one of those moments where you know the Holy Ghost has spoken to you, where you know Heavenly Father has answered your prayers? It's one of the moments you want to remember, to etch it in your brain for the next time.  I was blessed enough to have one of those yesterday.


I was applying for a new job.  I wasn't sure if it was Heavenly Father's will that I get this job, but I got down on my knees.  I prayed with all the power of my soul that I would know the things I should say, that I would have peace, that I would be confident, and that I would be able to share the light of Christ with the interview panel if it was His will for me.  I was so nervous as I was handed the questions I was to review for the next 15 minutes before I sat before the panel who would critique every word I said.  As I sat there writing my thoughts on that paper, the ideas and impressions flowed to my mind.  Before the time was up, I was confident on what I would talk about, but nervous to enter the room.  My time was up and as I walked in the room and looked at the 5 people who would determine my fate, a complete and utter calm washed over me.  I was able to think clearly and answer the questions without hesitation.  I was perfectly me!!


As I walked out of the room I couldn't help feel relieved, but more importantly so grateful for the tender mercy that Heavenly Father had shown to me.  In my moment of need He was there.  He lifted me up and He spoke peace to my soul.  I'm so thankful for this gospel, for answered prayers and for a loving Father who is always there when we need Him.