Mamma's Nest

We've all heard it said that their are more than two sides to a coin. I am continually amazed at how true this is and that as I gain perspective and experience in life, I find that there is almost always a better way of seeing things than what I thought was best.

I love "Ah hah" moments. You know the kind! When all of a sudden a truth strikes your mind and heart simultaneously and you get chills or warm fuzzies because you recognize the truth for what it is. These moments are "journal worthy" aren't they?

I had such a moment the other evening while helping dip cookies in chocolate for our Super Saturday. Several women were talking about how tired they get having children come to their beds in the middle of the night because they're lonely or scared. I remember those days even though I think I had a lot fewer than most women and that's because Jeff made me promise when we were expecting our first baby that I would never bring the baby to bed for nursing or for sleeping. (We had friends that put their baby in bed with them the first days of its life and it became so spoiled by this that the couple's marriage disintegrated and eventually ended because the wife insisted it was okay that the baby sleep with them and the husband got so tired because of the crying baby and having to go to work early, that he wanted the baby weaned from bed. When the wife refused, each fought to have things his or her way.)
Thus, my promise to Jeff that children would not be allowed to sleep with us.

When our oldest started coming into our room in the middle of the night and laying on the floor without waking me, I soon discovered a potential accident waiting to happen since I nearly stepped on her a couple of times. I tried to reason with her and explained that she had to stay in her bed and not come in and lay on the floor because I might step on her. I didn't think she understood until I put a lock on the outside of her bedroom door and told her that I didn't want to lock her in her room at night but if she continued coming in my bedroom, I would have to for her safety. The sweet child never left her room at night again. There's more about that but I will spare her the embarrassment at this time.

So, the other evening as everyone was sharing their wisdom of children sleeping in mom and dad's bed, my dear friend, MaryAnn shared her experience which I think is charming and so Christ-like. Here's what she did to solve the problem:

She made "Momma's nest." MaryAnn gathered blankets and pillows and piled them in the corner of her bedroom. She told the children that she gets so tired because she has to feed the baby at night and she needs her rest. "So if you start feeling scared or lonely, come to Momma's nest and just settle in. That way Momma will get her rest but I will be close by in case you need me really bad." MaryAnn said that many a morning she would find two or three of her little offspring nestled in the nest cuddled together.

I can just see love, kindness, and closeness developing because of this sweet nesting idea. Can you?

Yellowstone, Love and More

 Don't you just love a day when your heart is so full of gratitude that you realize you are receiving a glimpse of what heaven will be like? I sit hear thinking about my family and friends that I love so much and then my thoughts turn to this weekend's trip to Yellowstone and I feel gratitude again. What a beautiful world we live in. Everywhere I look I see the handiwork of a loving Father who gave us this earthly opportunity to explore opposites and to find out what we're really made of. I love our campus. When I go to Yellowstone and see the big, blue sky or the multi-colored, clouded skies with streaks of sunlight highlighting a mountain top, and the tall pines and the mountains and valleys with the wild grasses and flowers, crystal-clear rivers and streams and the deep blues of Yellowstone lake; or when I see a 4-pack of coyotes playing near a stream and among tall grasses and river otters romping joyfully from sandy beaches to still river water and then back to the sand for a moment in the brilliant sun; or when I hold hands with my sweetheart as we travel down the windy mountain roads on a walk or in a heated car when it's cold in the morning or an air-conditioned car in the mid-day; or when I get an unexpected phone call from a sweet daughter when I'm standing at the base of the Tetons (while on a wilderness walk!!!); or when you see a large group of people gathered together to see "what's out there," and all are excited to see a wolf, a mother bear with her triplets, or a baby elk or baby bison; or when you and your sweetheart decide to take a quick stroll down a little-used trail and an American Eagle soars right over your head and you realize together that 5 seconds earlier or later on this trail and the eagle would never have seen you nor you see it, and you know--you just know Heavenly Father loves you and wants you to be happy even though the "campus tests" are hard--some are oh, so hard!!! But hey!!! I'll just keep on holding on. I'll keep looking for beautiful vistas and I will cling to memories of good times and hard times because I know I would not appreciate the good times if hard times had not come my way, too.

I also want to add here something that I remembered or relearned that I had almost forgotten about when I was in a struggling moad. Satan will get you down any way he can. There are times you will feel or hear a nagging voice in you head telling you that life is too hard or life isn't fair, or he will tell you to quit trying because you can never get things right again. Satan has as many ways to discourage us as we have weaknesses. And, Satan never gives up! He's a nag! And he will keep pushing buttons until he finds where your weaknesses are. And now here's the thing I remembered that I had almost forgotten about which I have a testimony of: Satan hates good, peaceful, truthful music. He can't stand to be in the same room where good, peaceful, truthful music is playing. So, I try to keep good music playing in my home, now (once again), every waking hour. And I am sure you can guess, the old nag has abandoned me. For a few weeks before I remembered this truth, every quiet moment was disturbed by Satan's influence. He really wanted to get me down. I would pray to dismiss him over and over again. This always helped. But when I remembered to keep my good music playing, I was no longer plagued by interruptions from that evil one. So, turn on the Tabernacle Choir, some Primary music, or the Hymns. I think you'll find this truth to be very helpful in helping you to find gratitude in your heart instead of doubts in your mind.

What Can I Do on the Sabbath?

The Sabbath came and I was not successful in doing much differently than I usually do as per my quest detailed in June 6 blog. Because my sweet little granddaughter was visiting & sick, I did not breech the subject of “no T.V.” We watched the Gnome Mobile and Curious George (probably Sabbath appropriate). I am not giving up, however. In fact, last night at our family home evening group, I told of my dilemma— “I want to keep the Sabbath Day holy in a better way.” Here is the best advice I think anyone could have given me.

Approach the Sabbath Day with a list of appropriate things that CAN be done. The logical reasoning behind this is that if children (or anyone for that matter) are continually told what they cannot do, they will eventually rebel. By nature, people need to know positives—things that they can do. We need to give them ideas and possibilities.

Does this make sense? I am confident that this is a truth that can be applied to many situations in our families. “Tell me what I can do—not what I can’t do.”

The Lord has commanded us to keep the Sabbath day holy. Truly this requires determination and ever-guarded diligence. The world, today, is full of distractions and is not always helpful in our efforts to observe this law and we must be ever-watchful because of this. To help your family, create the above mentioned list of “Sabbath Cans.” Perhaps you could make a “Sunday Brightener Box” containing ideas for Sabbath activities. You might include reading Church magazines, visiting grandparents or shut-ins, writing someone (like missionaries), playing games, etc. Be prayerful about this. What might be appropriate to me may very well be inappropriate to you. Your Sabbath choices are between you, your spouse, your children and the Lord.