I don't know really where to begin... maybe with last night. As I sat on the couch after reffing a couple of basketball games, exhausted, full of gas and unsure of what I would like to eat next, I looked at the small stack of mail that actually comes to our house. In it was a small envelope addressed to James and Amanda... and curiously it was from us also. (Kind of weird) It is was a small note with a gift card to Mackenzie Pizza saying, "We admire your dedication and faithfulness to the gospel, your family, and each other. May you enjoy using this gift to spend some time together!" ... -The Phamily Phun Phantom
Is it bad that my first thought was, "They don't know how to spell fun..." It was such a nice little treat and surprise that we were astonished that someone would think to send it to us of all people. We are just the little family that is in the behind the scenes and called on when needed and give of whatever we can. Not the family that needs recognition or special attention. We try to be stalwarts and strong... but whoever this family is knew better. I appreciate their thoughtfulness and love to take the time to do such a small act of kindness.
It seems as though these past couple of months have been a huge topsy turve of critical points in trial and faith and perseverance for us. Lists always seem easier to make than explaining in great detail...
And maybe for each bullet point an entry well be written at a later time.
1. James and I lost three hard drives full of critical information for his school projects, business info, ten years of pictures. After a month and $2000 later we were able to recover one of them... the others are still waiting.
2. Past issues arose and we are now dealing with those again... with success this time around! I hope.
3. After about five EPT's, a doctors test and an official visit to the OB... I am expecting our third baby July 7th.
4. I got through almost two months feeling like I would throw up but never doing it while all of my goals that I had set for the "off season" were pushed to goals for when I could actually feel like doing something.
5. I accidentally left my purse in the car last night... unlocked. We woke up to find that everything of plastic nature in the purse had been rehomed to someone else's needy hands. Bummer deal... Luckily, they left about $300 worth of signed checks and took the $10 bill instead and the Mckenzie River Pizza gift card that our kind Phun Phamily had sent us. I think I was most bummed about that.
But after all this stuff that has occurred over that past couple months, I can't help but sit here and think, "Isn't life great?" We are so blessed to have our small family who love to be with each other. Life is all about having trials and being tried. We have the choice of getting over it and learning from it while attempting to maintain some level of sanity or pulling ourselves and others down into a slow pit of pride and selfishness. I am so grateful for the gift of choice. Next time I will make different choices, (like make for dang sure my purse is inside the house and car doors are locked...) but I don't regret having learned lessons from these past trials. I feel stronger and better for who I have attempted at becoming with a whole bunch of work to go. But that is life. Right?
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Sunday, November 20, 2011
"I picked this dress out all by myself to wear to the temple."
These were Annie's words as she came to sit down with us to our late dinner of pizza and homemade banana pudding this evening. She was wearing a white dress with little shoulder straps and a huge smile. She was so proud. And we were very impressed that our little drive past the closed for maintenance Billings temple last week paid off. We asked her what she was going to do at the temple. She said, "Go inside." and the with further prodding of what she would do inside, she said, "Get married to Hank." We will work on straightening that one out later... hehehe.
At my Grandma's funeral, one of my uncles shared that the lesson that he remembered most from growing up from his mom was the importance of being married and sealed in the temple for all time and eternity. All of her 7 kids were able to achieve this great blessing and the family has been so blessed for it.
That has become one of my most important principles that I wish to teach my children, to be married in the temple. All of the choices leading up to this goal are choices that will bring them safety, joy, peace and strength. They will know who they are, who their savior is and most importantly that they can be an eternal family.
At my Grandma's funeral, one of my uncles shared that the lesson that he remembered most from growing up from his mom was the importance of being married and sealed in the temple for all time and eternity. All of her 7 kids were able to achieve this great blessing and the family has been so blessed for it.
That has become one of my most important principles that I wish to teach my children, to be married in the temple. All of the choices leading up to this goal are choices that will bring them safety, joy, peace and strength. They will know who they are, who their savior is and most importantly that they can be an eternal family.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Chalk, $100, Tires
Three tender mercies as of late.
1. I went to the local auction yesterday to look for some very needed tires for our truck and trailer. Turns out that you need tires to have rubber cover the metal binding for them to be safe.... :) So, the tires obviously went for three times the price I was willing or able to pay for them. As I was observing the items being auctioned off I saw a cute little pink storage container, a helmet, and a huge container of chalk. I thought, "oohhh! Annie and Hank would love it!" As it always proves true, the lot went for alot more than I could or would pay for it. The funny thing is the old man standing next to me bought it. I leaned over and jokingly said, "that'll be fun for you to draw pictures on your sidewalk!" He said, "I am looking forward to it." But really is was for his little granddaughter. I remarked, "She will love it! I know my little girl would." We bid each other well... kind of... I got a phone call and walked away. As I entered the building again, the old man found me and insisted that I take the chalk for my little girl. I was touched by his sincerity and kindness and recognizing an opportunity to let someone feel that they were listened to and cared that their little girl could have fun with a box of chalk.
2. A phone call from our kind, wonderful, and very amazing landlords resulted in our rent being lowered for the winter months. That just doesn't happen ever! I so desperately want to be able to do for another family what they have done and are doing for our family during this time of our lives! We will pass this Huge tender mercy forward! We are so indebt with blessings!
3. The forementioned tires that went to the auction to buy and then didn't... well, we were given a set that will work perfect from my parents and my grandpa!
This I believe is proof of the simple concept... If you give what you have, you will be provided for! We are so grateful for the little miracles that occur everyday!
1. I went to the local auction yesterday to look for some very needed tires for our truck and trailer. Turns out that you need tires to have rubber cover the metal binding for them to be safe.... :) So, the tires obviously went for three times the price I was willing or able to pay for them. As I was observing the items being auctioned off I saw a cute little pink storage container, a helmet, and a huge container of chalk. I thought, "oohhh! Annie and Hank would love it!" As it always proves true, the lot went for alot more than I could or would pay for it. The funny thing is the old man standing next to me bought it. I leaned over and jokingly said, "that'll be fun for you to draw pictures on your sidewalk!" He said, "I am looking forward to it." But really is was for his little granddaughter. I remarked, "She will love it! I know my little girl would." We bid each other well... kind of... I got a phone call and walked away. As I entered the building again, the old man found me and insisted that I take the chalk for my little girl. I was touched by his sincerity and kindness and recognizing an opportunity to let someone feel that they were listened to and cared that their little girl could have fun with a box of chalk.
2. A phone call from our kind, wonderful, and very amazing landlords resulted in our rent being lowered for the winter months. That just doesn't happen ever! I so desperately want to be able to do for another family what they have done and are doing for our family during this time of our lives! We will pass this Huge tender mercy forward! We are so indebt with blessings!
3. The forementioned tires that went to the auction to buy and then didn't... well, we were given a set that will work perfect from my parents and my grandpa!
This I believe is proof of the simple concept... If you give what you have, you will be provided for! We are so grateful for the little miracles that occur everyday!
Truth
I should be sitting here doing my billing for the previous month... or a million other things. I cannot stop contemplating and rethinking over and over one simple concept. The concept... what is truth and how do I know what is true? I have been thinking over the past couple months of what are things that I can absolutely without a doubt say that I know to be truth. Not "maybe truths", not "it would be nice if they were true", or "I am pretty sure it is truth". (Hopefully you are following me still.)
I have discovered that I have a list that is rather small of complete and absolute truths that I can say with all depth and sincerity of my heart are true and will never change no matter what or whoever changes or influences any aspect of the purity of the truth. (There are other truths that I know, but they hinge on the fact that these truths are true.)
The truths I know:
1. This is the most important. I know that I am a daughter of my Heavenly Father and that I am of divine worth. I know that He loves me and knows me very well and perfectly. I know I can pour out my heart to Him in gratitude and sorrow and know that I will be understood and be given comfort and strength.
2. I know that I have an elder brother Jesus Christ who is my Savior and Redeemer. I know that He gave His life for me personally and atoned for my mistakes. I know that He can identify perfectly with how I feel in every situation in my life.
3. I know that when I try to base my life on His example of how he lives His life, I will be happy.
4. I know that the Book of Mormon is another Testament of Jesus Christ. It is the book that will bring you the most happiness and understanding when studied than any other act.
5. I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and that he was able to restore Christ's church once again on the earth in it's fulness.
6. I know that my family loves me and accepts me.
7. I know that I have alot to offer and through serving others and giving of the blessings that we receive as a family we are entirely blessed one hundred fold.
I came to find these truths not because anyone told me to believe them. I have put to practice the "try it and find out" method with a lot of prayer and even more trial and error. I cannot nor will I ever deny these truths. It runs that deep in who I am and where I come from eternally.
I have discovered that I have a list that is rather small of complete and absolute truths that I can say with all depth and sincerity of my heart are true and will never change no matter what or whoever changes or influences any aspect of the purity of the truth. (There are other truths that I know, but they hinge on the fact that these truths are true.)
The truths I know:
1. This is the most important. I know that I am a daughter of my Heavenly Father and that I am of divine worth. I know that He loves me and knows me very well and perfectly. I know I can pour out my heart to Him in gratitude and sorrow and know that I will be understood and be given comfort and strength.
2. I know that I have an elder brother Jesus Christ who is my Savior and Redeemer. I know that He gave His life for me personally and atoned for my mistakes. I know that He can identify perfectly with how I feel in every situation in my life.
3. I know that when I try to base my life on His example of how he lives His life, I will be happy.
4. I know that the Book of Mormon is another Testament of Jesus Christ. It is the book that will bring you the most happiness and understanding when studied than any other act.
5. I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and that he was able to restore Christ's church once again on the earth in it's fulness.
6. I know that my family loves me and accepts me.
7. I know that I have alot to offer and through serving others and giving of the blessings that we receive as a family we are entirely blessed one hundred fold.
I came to find these truths not because anyone told me to believe them. I have put to practice the "try it and find out" method with a lot of prayer and even more trial and error. I cannot nor will I ever deny these truths. It runs that deep in who I am and where I come from eternally.
Monday, October 31, 2011
What more could you want?
Sunday, October 30, 2011
S to the 4th: The Five Minute Family Home Evening
S to the 4th: The Five Minute Family Home Evening: We had a family home evening tonight. We have been trying to have one every Sunday evening for about a month now... I took much comfort in ...
The Five Minute Family Home Evening
We had a family home evening tonight. We have been trying to have one every Sunday evening for about a month now... I took much comfort in what a friend said last Sunday at church. "Family Home Evenings will only last about five minutes in total with small children. Don't feel like it doesn't matter..." That is about what ours have been lasting for the opening prayer, song, lesson, activity and treat... Not too bad right? Annie invented a song for us to sing, Hank played with the pumpkin seeds James was using as a visual for the Faith as a Mustard...errr. pumpkin seed comparison. My favorite part was how while we ate our "apple pie" all Annie could talk about was how we had sung her song that she made up and how she and Hank had helped make the "Apple Pie." James thought that the closing prayer for our little FHE would be sufficient for the night night prayer... not a go. Annie refused to accept that and we all had to say the prayer for the night again as we do on normal nights. I am so grateful that for the many weaknesses and mistakes that we have made that we have been able to manage to instill somewhat of a tradition on our kids of this simple act of family prayer. Hopefully our five minute FHE's will also take root.
I get frustrated a lot because I look at the whole picture and see the "catastrophe" when if I could narrow in and see the little miracles than I can be happy with and that eventually they will add up to an innumerable amount of perfection right? For example, I spent most of Saturday organizing the kids clothes (and believe me, I have not done that all summer and I had boxes and boxes of clothes that had so graciously been gifted to us...) I walked out of the guest room feeling satisfied until I walked into the rest of the house and saw the disarray. I lost all satisfaction of doing what I had done and began seeing the whole mess. The tender mercy really was in that I had just organized all the clothes, done all the laundry and put it all away!!!!! That is a miracle in itself.
Lastly, I am so grateful for this past summer... Did I mention I am 95% done with work this summer and I mean Fall! I get to be a mom to my kids and learn about everything that I missed out on this summer. I love my work. We are soo blessed to work for and with the people that we do. Many have it far worse than we do. But this next six months of getting to be mommy has been well earned! I cannot thank those who have helped us out soo much this summer with caring for our kids and checking in to make sure we are still alive.
I get frustrated a lot because I look at the whole picture and see the "catastrophe" when if I could narrow in and see the little miracles than I can be happy with and that eventually they will add up to an innumerable amount of perfection right? For example, I spent most of Saturday organizing the kids clothes (and believe me, I have not done that all summer and I had boxes and boxes of clothes that had so graciously been gifted to us...) I walked out of the guest room feeling satisfied until I walked into the rest of the house and saw the disarray. I lost all satisfaction of doing what I had done and began seeing the whole mess. The tender mercy really was in that I had just organized all the clothes, done all the laundry and put it all away!!!!! That is a miracle in itself.
Lastly, I am so grateful for this past summer... Did I mention I am 95% done with work this summer and I mean Fall! I get to be a mom to my kids and learn about everything that I missed out on this summer. I love my work. We are soo blessed to work for and with the people that we do. Many have it far worse than we do. But this next six months of getting to be mommy has been well earned! I cannot thank those who have helped us out soo much this summer with caring for our kids and checking in to make sure we are still alive.
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