Friday, October 19, 2012

Joy

I've been reflecting on how many times in my life I've felt real joy.  We are taught in 2 Nephi 2:35 that we are meant to have joy in our life.  I have also been personally promised that I will have joy in my children.  In the pre-earth life the hosts of heaven shouted for joy at the decision to come to earth and use our agency.  I am generally a happy person, but I believe that joy is greater than a general happiness. 
The most recent moment that I remember actually shouting for joy was when I found out that my brother was a match to donate a kidney to my dad who was on the waiting list for a transplant.  The feeling of peace to not have to worry about my dad's health, the love I felt for my brother for his sacrifice, and the overwhelming sense of gratitude to my Heavenly Father for His mercy toward our family overcame me and I literally shouted for joy.
Other times in (relatively) recent memory of true shouts of joy are the days I found out I was pregnant with each of my children.  Again the relief, peace and gratitude all mixed together ended with a shout for joy.
I recently attended the baptism of one of the boys in our Ward Primary.  I am not related to him but I know him and am friends with his parents.  When he was baptised you could feel in the room a collective, silent, shout of joy. 
At the marriage ceremony of my brother-in-law and his wife, in the celestial room, you could, again, feel the collective, silent shout of joy.
What do all of these experiences have in common?  The feeling of the Spirit of God, prompting gratitude to Him for His great blessings.  I learn in Galatians 5:22 that the fruit, or products, of the influence of the Holy Ghost are love, joy, peace...and faith.
It is a personal goal of mine to make more time in my life to feel the influence of the Holy Ghost and focus on remembering those moments of true joy.

When was the last time you felt the need to shout for joy?

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Come Back

I have been contemplating my blogging comeback for a while and have been putting it off for a lot of reasons, none of which are any good so I will spare you the effort of hearing them.  So I will just give a run down of major events

The past several months since I've posted have seemed so busy, busy, busy.

We had an excellent summer.  The boys did a lot of backpacking and hiking while the girls stayed at home and slept in beds.  We went swimming a lot at friends pools.  Mr. A and I went paddle-boarding with some friends, it was our first time.  It was fun and easier than I expected.  A's brother got married and we are super excited for a new sister-in-law.  The Haltermans from AZ came to stay with us for a few days (we literally live less than 6 miles from the beach and less than 20 from Disneyland.  We love having company so if anyone wants to come stay, please do!).  My nephew Jacob (E's most favorite being in entirety) stayed with us for a week then E went to stay with him for a week in the Bay Area.  We had a family reunion with my side of the family at Lake Tahoe.  E went to Cub Scout Day Camp, which he thought was the best thing ever.  I got a new bike so we have been doing some family cruising. 

Lots and Lots of fun!

My new goal is to blog every Friday, starting tomorrow. 

Contemplating topics....

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

She crawls

The little lady crawls, she just started today.  She thinks she is pretty hot stuff (and she is).
It's fun to finally see the things that she has been just dying to be able to do, but been unsuccessful at until self-propulsion was possible, like messing with the DVD cabinet, looking out the window at birds, chasing after me when I don't take her with me from room to room.
Have I told you how EASY this baby is?  She is quite possibly the easiest baby ever.  She isn't at all as high maintenance as everyone has told me girls are.  She cries when she's hungry or tired.  She eats baby food well and when you lay her down to sleep she just does it.  She is happy and smiling almost always and loves to watch her brothers. 
She likes to look at animals but more specifically dogs.  She loves going for walks and being outside.  She loves swimming.  She dances when she hears any sort of music, but really loves the Powell Electric commercial.
She is wonderful!