Eternal Families, Joy

I wasn't around my kids for 9 whole days!! That's the longest I've ever been away from them. After I picked them up from the airport and dropped my mom off later that same day, it was amazing to me to see how Ally and Daniel reacted to being home again. They have always been sooooo good about playing with each other or entertaining themselves. They play in the front room or in their bedroom. Well, Friday evening, they both would follow me around the house and set up "imagination play zone" right at my feet, no matter where I was. The kitchen, the foot of the couch, the table, my bedroom. They just wanted to be with me at every step. It made me think about how special it is to have a family in this life and that having a loving home brings great joy. And then it made me think about how happy Heavenly Father must be when we try to be close to him like Ally and Daniel were with me. Or even happier when we are faithful and return to him at the close of mortality. As a mother, having Ally and Daniel have taught me a lot about the feelings that Heavenly Father has for me and each of us.

Joy in the Journey

Tonight I took the children on a little walk so that I could deliver something to a lady in our ward. I was focused and walked with purpose. The girls on the other hand stopped at every little rock and grasshopper and leaf. I was initially annoyed and wishing they would just walk! But then I looked up around me and saw the beautiful mountains and the clear sky and the colorful trees. I realized that I needed to find the joy in our journey!! Hardly ever a walk has gone by the the girls aren't enchanted with all the little beauties of this world. "Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey, and share our love with friends and family." -President Monson

Joy

We redeemed my Sagebrush gift certificate for dinner today. After that we went to the Richfield swimming pool for the first time. We took 6 Carters and only about 60 minutes to make it from the door of our house to the steps of the pool. We got there with about an hour left until closing time so the lifeguard let us in free. We were the only family there and had run of the kiddie pool. The kiddie pool was just shallow enough the Brooke and Viana could stand everywhere and Ram could even walk around half of it. Viana could not even contain her excitement that she got to shower before we got in the pool as well as after and that there was a giant ocean mural scene painted on the bathroom walls. As we were rinsing off to go home she said to me, "This has been the funnest day of my whole life."
It is all about outlook, attitude and recognition. I think everyday can be the funnest day when we get to spend time with our family.