Merciful Sunshine

Last week we had our first big family vacation in almost four years. We took the kids to Disneyland for the first time for some long overdue "family time." I'm not a huge amusement park fan but Disneyland is just one of those childhood memories every kid needs--or at least that's what my kids have been telling me for months!

I faithfully watched the weather reports and was disappointed to learn that about half of our planned vacation time would be during stormy weather. But what could we do? There was positively no way to reschedule our trip. We arrived in California planning to spend some time at the beach before going to Disneyland but it rained. . .A LOT! So we had to skip the beach and instead sit in our hotel watching TV and listening to the rain. (But I was able to watch the Les Miserable 25th Anniversary Special on PBS so the day was not a complete loss!)

The morning of our first Disney day was bright and sunny and so was my disposition. We were ready for a great day. But as we boarded the bus at our hotel I noticed the ominous storm clouds in the west and as we entered the park the sprinkles started. By the time we walked down Main Street we were in an absolute downpour.

It was clear our hoodies were not going to cut it in that kind of weather so we headed to a gift shop to buy rain ponchos. But unfortunately so did about 500 other people so there was an enormous line. My sweet husband, who at times seems to stand in line for a living, got in that line and patiently waited while I took the baby to a quiet corner and did what any self-respecting mother of four would do in that situation--I sat down on the floor and burst into tears.

We had come all this way. My husband had been through so much to be with us. We had been waiting literally years for an opportunity to take a trip like this.

I could not believe this was happening. I generally try to manage my expectations and try not to get my hopes up, but just this once I wanted it to be my turn to have my expectations actually met.

So I prayed. It may have been one of the most selfish prayers of my life but I prayed that the Lord would stop the rain so that we could have a good experience as a family. I recognized that there were probably farmers in the area that needed that rain more than I needed a good vacation but I prayed for sun anyway.

Thirty minutes and $40 worth of ponchos later, we all suited up for the rain. We left the gift shop and walked out into the sunshine of a bright California morning. There were a few lingering raindrops but the rain cleared completely within the next five minutes.

I started to cry again--tears of gratitude to a Heavenly Father who loves me enough to grant me such a wonderful blessing in a rather unimportant matter when I really needed it.

I believe in tender mercies. I know the Lord granted me a very special one that day.

We continued to have beautiful weather for the next two and a half days. The rain returned late in the day on our third day but we were about "done" by then. Plus, we were prepared with some really cool ponchos when the rain finally hit again!



We decided to extend our trip by one extra day and make up for our lost beach day before heading out of town. We had a wonderful afternoon on the beach which was just the icing on the cake of a really great trip.

Life is beautiful!

25 NEW things you might not know about me!

This week a few of my friends have posted lists of facts about themselves on their blogs. I already posted something like this two years ago but I thought an update might be fun--plus I love lists!

1. I am in the middle of a "Facebook Fast." I deactivated my account last week to help me overcome my total lack of time management skills. I might login again someday but for now I need a break from it. (Honestly, this is probably why I am even writing this blog post. I haven't sent my random thoughts out into cyberspace for over a week--I think I'm going through withdrawal!)
2. I can only think of one occasion in the past seven months when I have traveled by car and not been the driver.
3. I think frozen TV dinners are just glorified leftovers
4. I hate leftovers.
5. I met my husband on a street corner in Korea.
6. I love to drink Dr Pepper with fresh limes in it.
7. I rarely watch TV (well, at least TV intended for grown ups) but I always catch "Community" on Hulu.
8. I haven't had a cheeseburger in over three weeks (sadly, this is a big deal).
9. I got a Sleep Number bed for my birthday last year and I rarely have insomnia anymore. (Getting up in the middle of the night with a toddler. . .now, that's another story)
10. I love to cook.
11. I haven't updated the music on my iPod for three years.
12. I am a "regular" at the rec center track three mornings a week. My baby is very popular with the senior citizens.
13. I have been a primary chorister for almost 2 years. It's my favorite calling ever.
14. I have a love/hate relationship with the Army.
15. I don't like winter. . .at all.
16. Roller coasters make me sick.
17. I have never worked a cash register.
18. My favorite movie is The Incredibles.
19. I have a serious phobia of hitting deer while I'm driving--which makes the road trip I took to Phoenix with my kids last fall pretty much the scariest thing I've ever done.
20. I'm also a little scared of canning. (I can't quite come to terms with the whole "do it wrong and you could kill your family" thing.)
21. I may never have long hair again.
22. I am a very bad tooth fairy.
23. I have no interest in college sports. (I really don't care if Utah beats BYU!)
24. I'm not very good at being patient even though I have been given LOTS of opportunities to practice.
25. It's time for me to stop procrastinating and just go do the dang dishes!

I'm Thankful For. . .

1. The innocent mischief of a clever one-year-old

2. A healthy body--I can't run fast but I CAN run (when I decide I want to anyway)

3. Children who are thriving despite all of my shortcomings

4. True friends, old and new

5. Living within our means

6. Webcams, email and all the other modern conveniences that keep me connected to what matters most

7. Eternal perspective

8. My own goodly parents

9. A warm home to protect us from the literal and figurative storms that rage

10. Faith, Hope and Charity

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Mourning With Those that Mourn

Lately I've been thinking a lot about Alma's counsel to "mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those who stand in need of comfort. . ."

In the past few days I have attended two funerals and met a man who lost his son in combat in Afghanistan just a few weeks ago.

One funeral was for the father of a close friend who had been in poor health for many years and unexpectedly passed away. This is the fourth immediate family member that my sweet friend has lost in less than ten years. I don't know her family very well and debated whether or not I should even attend the service, but Alma's words continued to come to my mind and I remembered that funerals are about bringing comfort and peace to the living. So I went and I'm very glad I did. In learning about this humble faithful man I was able to understand and love my friend even more.

The second funeral was for a remarkable young man from an amazing family that I have known for many years. This sweet brother had been severely disabled since birth and had never learned to walk or talk, yet he leaves an incredible legacy of love and faith with everyone who has ever known him. I felt very blessed to be able give a smile and a hug to his family members and feel of their love for him and their faith in his eternal purpose.

Talking to the father of a fallen hero was probably the most difficult of all. I was at a complete loss for words. All I could do was look him in the eyes and say, "Thank you." I was filled with so much gratitude for the sacrifice his family has made and for their faithful example as they carry on without their beloved soldier.

As I have pondered these experiences I have come to understand something about Alma's words that I didn't know before: Mourning with those who mourn is not an obligation it is a privilege.

A Few Thoughts I Have Had Recently That I Could Never Actually Say Out Loud. . .

1. By the looks of that grocery cart you're having simple carbs with a side of trans fat for dinner.

2. If your daily status updates on Facebook are always about what's happening on your favorite reality TV shows, you need to reevaluate your priorities.

3. I told you so.

4. Did you sue your tattoo artist for that mess on your back?--because you should.

5. Please don't complain to me about how much your husband has to travel for work.

6. You do know that Robert Pattinson isn't really Edward Cullen, right?

7. I completely disagree with you but I'm not going to tell you that.

8. I am such a freaking dork!!

9. Dude, those soccer players that you are maniacally yelling at are eight-year-old girls. Calm the heck down!

10. Are you serious with that outfit?

The 5K

Let me just start by saying that I live in pretty much the greatest ward there is.

Our bishop firmly believes in the need to "do hard things." At the beginning of the year we were challenged to read the Book of Mormon before April General Conference. He called it the "Ironman" challenge because reading the entire Book of Mormon in that short amount of time is not an easy undertaking. After that spiritual challenge was complete he challenged us to something physical--a 5K race.

So for the past several months our ward has been working together to prepare ourselves to be up to the challenge. There have been classes on training and nutrition, groups of walkers and runners meeting to workout together, and a fireside focusing on the spiritual nature of running this race of life. It has been inspiring and motivating and unifying for our ward.

This morning was the race.

Now I admit I wasn't as prepared as I could have been, but I knew at the very least I could walk it without too much trouble, having already done a 5K earlier in the summer. And I actually ended up running more than I thought I would.

But in the end the value of the experience wasn't even about the running. It was great to be part of something bigger than me--a goal we have all had together and now we were seeing come to pass. It was sweet to see people of all ages pushing themselves to do something difficult. I heard cheers of encouragement and laughter. I felt an immense measure of joy to be out with friends on a crisp fall morning enjoying this beautiful world the Lord has given us.

I don't even know who finished first and it doesn't even matter. We all won today.

Pancake Epiphany

I made pancakes for dinner today. (Yes, I make pancakes for Sunday dinner. I do it all the time. It's supposed to be a day of rest, you know. Having pancakes is actually a good day. Some Sundays we all just kind of forage around in the refrigerator.) We were almost out of Bisquick so I made them from scratch, which honestly only takes about three minutes longer than making them from a mix.

As I was cooking I was reminded of that Pepto Bismal commercial that came out a few years ago where the kids surprise their parents with breakfast in bed. The mom says, "What's this?" to which the kids joyfully reply, "Pancakes!" The dad digs in as the mom whispers, "We don't have the stuff to make pancakes." (I guess the implication is that dad will now need a dose of Pepto after his mystery breakfast.)

So today as I mixed flour and baking powder with a bit of milk and egg and such, I was struck with the thought--Who in the world does NOT have the stuff to make pancakes?! They are made from the most basic of pantry essentials. Even if I don't have milk or eggs in the fridge I always have those things in powdered form in my basement. I also have two cases of maple syrup that I got at the Lindon cannery. I always have the stuff to make pancakes.

I guess that's the beauty of provident living. That come what may--whether it be spontaneous breakfast in bed or a major natural disaster--at the very least, we can have pancakes.

And that is a very reassuring thought.