A Daddio

Today my Dad and I went on a run together. It was so nice to be together doing something we both enjoy... even if it wears us out : ). My Dad has always been such an example to me and one of my life heroes. Today I just feel very blessed to have him as my dad and to be so close that we can enjoy simple acts together.

One thing I remember my Dad teaching was that if it's important to me, it's important to him. This has always stuck with me, especially as I have kids of my own, and I realize how basically that just reaffirms how important I am to him; that even if I'm excited about something that would otherwise bore him to tears, he will be excited right along with me because he not only wants me to have joy, but he wants to be right there, involved in my joy.

As we were running and talking about different things it was clear that this was true for all of my siblings and I found myself thinking about how much our Heavenly Father cares for each of His children individually and how I need to really appreciate my girls as individuals as well as sisters. I guess today I just feel very blessed to have such a great Dad, and to share my interests with him.

Just one example of this is when my Dad started karate years ago with me because he wanted to be involved in something that I wanted to do. One year ago this weekend he received his black belt because he stuck with something that originated out of one of the interests of his children. I am so proud of my Dad, both for earning his black belt and for taking an interest in one of my interests- and by doing so, in me- years ago and sticking with both. I love my Daddio.

Different Blessings

Today the girls and I went on a trip to the zoo with some friends. The ride in the car was actually quite pleasant and it was great to get to know my friend, Elizabeth more. As we talked about different things I spoke of how one of the main things I've learned in this life is how people are so different.

I know this may seem so simple, but people are different. We have different histories, different talents, different ambitions, different priorities. I often have to remind myself of this as I get frustrated that someone chooses differently than I would etc., but today I realized how grateful I am for our differences. And despite all of our trivial differences, one thing always remains the same: the love of Savior has for each of us. Isn't it interesting that we are all so different, but He loves us individually the same. I think sometimes I find myself equating differences with being better or worse, as strengths or weaknesses, but really it's just simply different, and differences in and of themselves are not bad.

I feel the Lord's kindness in my life today as these thoughts came to my mind. I am grateful that people are different. Life would be rather dull if everyone was the same as me, and I hope to be more open-minded and aware of others' difference, and not view them as weaknesses, but as what makes them unique.

A Short Cut

Today I bit off a little more than I could chew on my run attempt and I was very grateful for a friendly community member who gave me access to a much needed short-cut. I was trying to run the whole way around Lake Limerick, but hadn't ever done it before and got quite tuckered out way on the other side of it. There's a nice park there that has a dock that hooks up to a path alongside the lake that cuts off about one mile of the loop made just by roads, but the gated entry was locked. I feel very blessed to have met someone who told me how to access the park- we need a separate pass- and let me use hers so I could make it home much sooner. It was a blessing on many levels- I met someone new, I got to take a breather while she got her pass, the girls got a much more scenic trip in the jogger by the lake, and I made it home much faster and less exhausted than otherwise. I know that Heavenly Father uses others to answer our prayers, and I'm glad He does so even for the littlest of things.

A Nice Run

Today I feel the Lord's kindness in my life by blessing me with a nice run. It is a tricky thing to have all of the factors in place to have what I consider to be a good run....that means no dogs chasing me, no girls crying in the jogger, no cold lungs, no swallowing bugs, no rainy mud puddles, etc etc. All these factors do play into how much I enjoy my run, but honestly most of the contributing factors are internal...and mostly mental. If I feel weak or tired or cranky or sore then I find myself just wanting to give up and stop, but if I can control my mental attitude and stay positive than I feel great. Today, I guess was just a turning point for me, because I decided to just go for it and do double what I've been doing and it was hard and I walked some, but it felt great to do it. I need that feeling to continue to drive me and help me stay positive in my future training. I am grateful for a nice run today.

A Painting Lesson

I've been thinking today about how sometimes we need help and how we need to be the ones to ask for it from the Lord. Today I painted the girls' room- hooray!- and I realized how I sometimes like to think that people are mind-readers and can know exactly what I'm thinking or wanting them to do. I think that probably a lot of women feel this way, especially towards men, and today I was no different. I had taken down some different things from the walls in the girls' room to prep it for painting and was just waiting for Drew to putty in some of the holes so I could get painting. Of course, did I communicate this?...no, I just assumed it was obvious and he could read my mind.

Well, I really wanted to get painting and since Drew hadn't magically read my mind, I went ahead and puttied the holes myself, and went on painting. There are a few things I learned from this...1) I can not putty or fill in holes worth anything- I actually let Abbie even help me on a few of the low ones and honestly she probably did better than I did...2)Drew would have done far better had I just asked him... and 3) I'm the one that should have asked!

I was thinking about this as I continued painting and how I was hoping that Lauren would just keep napping so I could finish another wall, when I realized I was doing the same thing again! Even though Heavenly Father can technically read our minds and knows our thoughts, He still expects us to ask and then receive. He gives us the choice to act...that's one of the reasons to even be here- to act and choose for ourselves- and then once we act, then He will as well. The scripture, "Knock and it shall be opened unto you" comes to mind, and I think I sometimes fall victim to just knowing that Heavenly Father knows my wants and needs so I don't need to ask, but today I was reminded that that responsibility is still with me. Instead of just hoping that Lauren would take a long nap, I said a prayer asking for that specifically and my prayer was answered- I finished the whole room and cleaned the painting supplies before she woke up.

I am grateful to have a Heavenly Father that knows me; I am also grateful that He lets us act for ourselves; and I am especially grateful for His kindness.

A Great Day

Today was a great day! I really feel like I've finally got this two-kid thing figured out (one year later...). The girls and I got up and did our morning routines and then were off to the grocery store- they didn't squabble at all so we got done 20 minutes earlier than I had expected so we could drop off the refrigerator stuff at my mom's, then it was off to the library for toddler storytime that we go to every week, and then back to grandma's where the girls had lunch while I went to the pool to go swimming. Afterwards, I picked up the girls and the groceries and it was back to our house for naps and before long Daddy was home and it was dinnertime and family night. I just feel so blessed to have great, fun-filled days with my girls instead of stressful ones, and I've just been noticing that they're definitely more the rule than the exception, which hasn't always been the case. I am grateful for the Lord's kindness in my specific day today and in my life as a whole.

A Fast

Today was the first time that I have fasted in a long time. Eating for two with pregnancy and nursing doesn't really accommodate a healthy fast, so it is so great to be able to participate and feel the spirit through fasting. Fasting can provide such blessings, and I am grateful for the opportunity that I had today...I was even suprised how I wasn't really even hungry: I just tried to remember the purpose I was fasting for and the sacrifice gladly came. I am grateful for the small blessing of being able to fast today.