Proved in the crucible of adversity and affliction

It has been a long weekend,  full of unexpected trials.  I still don't deal well with change in my schedule,  so it helps to read good quotes about it. This is a great one I found this morning.  I feel inspired and hopeful.  :-)

We now know, and we all knew when we elected to come into mortality, that we would here be proved in the crucible of adversity and affliction. …

“Being human, we would expel from our lives physical pain and mental anguish and assure ourselves of continual ease and comfort, but if we were to close the doors upon sorrow and distress, we might be excluding our greatest friends and benefactors. Suffering can make saints of people as they learn patience, long-suffering, and self-mastery” [Faith Precedes the Miracle (1972), 98].
In that statement, President Kimball refers to closing doors upon certain experiences in life. … Doors close regularly in our lives, and some of those closings cause genuine pain and heartache. But I do believe that where one such door closes, another opens (and perhaps more than one), with hope and blessings in other areas of our lives that we might not have discovered otherwise.
(From teachings of Howard w hunter,  page 52)

Don't You Give Up

Allen and I are headed to the temple this morning, with high hopes of receiving peace and reassurance after many successive trials have hit us hard. We know everything will work out. I've appreciated studying this morning an article entitled "Discovering the Divinity Within Us," and in it was quoted Jeffrey R. Holland. This article was speaking of a girl who was troubled one night. Her sister texted her these words. His words were comforting:

“Don’t give up... Don’t you quit. You keep walking. You keep trying. There is help and happiness ahead... You keep your chin up. It will be all right in the end. Trust God and believe in good things to come.”

I know that Heavenly Father is assisting me and cheering for me as I make mistakes and move forward despite them. I know I have a divine spark within me, because I am His daughter, and that the most important things in the world are not things. They are my husband, my children, my family, and my knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And so, I will continue through these trying times with gratitude in my heart and with an optimistic outlook.

Joy school

Today was my 2nd day to teach joy school this week,  and it went well.  I love having my kids with me as they learn.  I love teaching them!

A snapshot of our day:

The crowd and I went to Target as we shopped for last minute items for class.  Inspiration was clearly there,  because the M&M cookies I bought on a whim worked perfectly as birthday treats for the unexpected birthday girl.

Once home,  I put baby girl in her crib with a sippy cup and books,  prepped last minute papers as I ran out of printer ink,  had a "no Legos in joy school" meltdown by my buddy, who then wiped off his tears and happily vacuumed the floor for me,  and started class with some fun giant puzzle time.  The kids loved it!  And they worked so well together! Despite two kids getting lost during their potty break, puzzles ended well and the lesson continued. Curly boy loved having his turn to put in the puzzle pieces!

We had snack time early,  a book read on Youtube since I'm currently on the library's black list for an overdue Paw patrol dvd, an impromptu head-shoulders-knees-and-toes,  and lots of "No no no,  don't touch them!  Two hands space between you two! " The kids loved the video of the Train Who Could,  and they were all saying,  "I think I can" all morning.

Then a Joy Boy visit and lots of giggles,  wiggle time song and dance,  tower building with boxes (and a reminder lesson on being kind and apologizing when accidentally hurt and also forgiving), and cookie time finished our day.  Phew.  Oh yes,  and they set goals on things to learn,  like zipping zippers,  folding laundry,  and making paper airplanes (yes,  little buddy,  again,  lol). Baby girl was up and finally calmed down with breakfast cookies (my saving grace,  lately!) And we finished with airplane throwing and birthday cookie time.

Now,  I'm at the gym, breathing deeply and enjoying the mental and emotional silence.  I'm so grateful for gym time! ! I'm so excited to work out! It was a fun day at Joy school.

Inner Peace

Since starting on this new road of more organized living and of being more mentally aware of where I am and of what I am doing, I have realized that I am exhausted by the end of the day. I fell asleep with Cammy last night at 9:15! While this isn't entirely abnormal for me, the complete feeling of being done for the day was new. A feeling of tiredness because I'd accomplished so much, and of complete fulfilment. Even though there were still dirty dishes and laundry to do. I realized this morning in my personal study that a feeling of inner peace is needed.

As I read the words of Howard W. Hunter, he emphasized that true peace comes from a complete trust in God. He gives peace as I trust in Him. As I try to fill my life more with homeschool, Joy School, organized waking and sleeping, and lots more cleaning and playing, I need peace!

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart betroubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27

On the Road Not Taken

I watched my three kids this last week, and many thoughts came to my mind. How quickly they are growing (they are currently 4, 2 and 1 yr olds), how much they have learned and yet have to learn, and how much I dearly love them. I consider many of the decision that I have made which have brought me here to where I am today, and I realize I have made many that have taken me, as Robert Frost wrote, on the "Road Not Taken." There were many options at different points in my life, and I chose the one that looked best for me, although there were many good options. And those pivotal decisions have made all the difference.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.