Sunday, September 16, 2007

THANKFUL TO BE IN A RUT!!!???

Lately I feel like I have just been stuck in a major rut! I was going to write a post about how unhappy I've been lately and how I just don't know what to do to make it any better. But then luckily our sacrament meeting today was meant solely for me. Don't you love when that happens? First we sang "Sunshine in my Soul". I love that song, it's so happy. I found it very fitting because lately all I've wanted to do is fill my house with sunshine. Now this may sound silly, but since we do live in the desert we tend to keep shades and curtains drawn because it's so hot outside that you do whatever you can to keep the sun out and the electric bill low. The last couple of days though as soon as I wake up I open all the curtains and shades to let as much light in as possible, and it automatically cheers me up a bit. Then a speaker talked about a woman who had a lot of things going wrong in her life so she decided to turn them around and say why she was thankful for these things instead of complain about them. Last but not least we sang "Count Your Blessings", another song I love, and I do have oh so many blessings to be thankful for. So instead of making a list of complaints, I'll turn them around and find reasons to be thankful for these hardships. Let's see if this works!
I'm thankful that I've been sick, tired and/or in pain for the last 8 months because it means that I will soon be bringing another child into this world.
I'm thankful for a toddler who is a complete handful at times because it means that I also get to enjoy the sweet moments at other times.
I'm thankful that Jared got fired because it means that he gets to spend more time with us and help me get some much needed things done around the house. Also it may give us the push we need to make a move, either in location or just career paths...who knows.
I'm thankful to have the opportunity to get frustrated with the in-laws sometimes because it means that we're able to live so close to family who loves and cares for us. For example, just the other day Dianna (mother-in-law) brought me some flowers out of the blue which brightened up my day and helped to bring more "sunshine" into my home. I love having fresh flowers!
I'm thankful to have not lived by my family for a while because now I KNOW how much I NEED, APPRECIATE and LOVE them. (By the way, I've been thankful for this for long enough, so let's all figure something out quick!)
I'm thankful to have bills I can't afford because it means we have a roof over our heads, food in our tummies, clothes to wear and cool air to breathe.
There's so much more, but this list could go on forever and I've got to get dinner going. Anyway, I do feel a little better. I really don't like to complain and be down in the dumps. I truly am so very blessed in my life and sometimes I just need to take the time to sit down and "count my blessings". I'm still trying to convince myself that I should actually be thankful for some of these things, but I know someday I'll look back and realize how they made me stronger and blessed me and my family.

2 comments:

Heather said...

I'm so sorry you have been feeling down lately. I wish there was more I could do to help. But making these lists WILL help. I read, in Simple Abundance, to keep a gratitude journal, and every night write down 5 things you are thankful for. It is so easy to write down what's wrong, but sometimes it's harder to think of what's right, especially in trying times. Also I saw a quote that I LOVE, I want to make it a plaque for my houses, it says "grant me the patience to deal with my blessings." It's so true, our trials are our biggest blessings. Even if we don't see why at the time. They make us stronger, they bring us closer to our Heavenly Father, and they make us re-evaluate and re-prioritize. Hang in there. I know that there is a lot of sunshine to be shed on your happy home.

RC said...

I AM THANKFUL TO HAVE SUCH A BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER; HEART, MIND, SPIRIT, SPEACH, THOUGHT, AND OF COURSE OUTSIDE AS WELL.
I AM THANKFUL WE ARE A CLOSE AND LOVING FAMILY. (NOW WE JUST NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET CLOSE IN LOCATION?)
I FIND IT AMAZING HOW AS A FAMILY WE ARE ALWAYS IN LINE WITH EACH OTHER, EVEN DURING TIMES LIKE THIS.
IT'S LIKE MY QUOTE OF THE WEEK, WHICH I DID NOT CHANGE THIS PAST SUNDAY, BECAUSE I STILL FELT I NEEDED IT'S MESSAGE.
I AM SO PROUD OF YOU.
LOVE,
MOM