The Things They Do

make me laugh!

Miss A does NOT enjoy having to get up in the morning.  She will even get up and start to change and then lay around her room for a long time before continuing the morning "get ready" process.  Such torture.  This morning I walked into the girls' bathroom to put something away had heard someone in the bathtub.  Miss A was hiding in the tub behind the shower curtain wearing only underwear and holding her clothes.  I asked her what she was doing.  "I don't want to get up."  Um?  Aren't you up?  She's a silly girl.

Baby came to me and said "let's go."  She is silly too. And I love my silly girls!

Live In The Present

Today at church the last hour was combined Relief Society/Priesthood class (Adult women/men).  A new High Councilman spoke about living in the present.  He works on the corporate level as a "mental coach".  My lovely diagram above kind of tells what he talked to us about.  And I will now try to explain it.

Some people live in the future.  They fear the future and the future doesn't even exist.  They have anxieties which is a watered down version of fear.

Then some people live in the past, dwelling on mistakes or changes that they can not change.  These people are depressed.

The top back and forth arrows represent someone who goes back and forth between past and future, never in the present.  I think I fall into this category lately.

The 3 types above don't live in the present.

Thinking of the future isn't all bad.  We need to plan, have goals.  This motivates us.  But then move back to the present --> into action.  When we are in the present, "the now", we do.  He said that the Holy Ghost only lives in the present.  An example he shared was that this last week he woke up early every day (not on purpose) with thoughts about giving a couple of talks today (anxieties/future).  He then got up to write down the thoughts about what he should share (present).

He shared a children's book story:

A farmer's stallion ran away.  

The nieghbors came and said: what bad luck.

Farmer: maybe.

The stallion came back with 2 wild horses.

The neighbors came and said: what good luck.

Farmer's reply: maybe.

The farmer's son was riding one of the wild horses, fell off and broke his leg.

The neighbors came and said: what bad luck.

Farmer: maybe.

The army was passing through town recruiting and passed by the farmer's son because he had a broken leg.

The neighbors came and said: what good luck.

Farmer: maybe.

The point was that we don't know what is going to happen.  Live in the present.  Bad may be happening to us and it may be good for our future.  Action can change the bad to good.  But just worrying about what the bad will do for the future won't change it.  Good may be happening to us and we pray it stays that way.

Selling our home was a heart wrenching choice.  It still is hard at times because we miss the neighbors and area where we lived.  But we can also see the good that the move has brought us.  Better financial position, nicer home and we are learning a lot from the people around us now.  Life still isn't easy (is it ever all easy?), but working on present problems can make the future easier (I hope).

I wanted to get this down so that I could remember to live Now.  Although sometimes I feel like my hands are tied here in the present and want to skip to the future.  But I guess skipping takes action as well.  Ha.

It makes me think of my little ones too.  I need to enjoy the moments with them today and not dream of different moments that may not ever come. 

Enjoy today.

Love today. 

Live today.

You Will Find What You Are Looking For

Happy Valentine's Day!  Love is in the air.  The sunshine makes that easier.  I wish the warm weather would be here to stay, but unfortunately it is only here for a short visit.  I'll take what I can get though.

Many people see hearts everywhere they look.  This weekend I found one with my potatoes.  My daughter found one with a chip.  I think that when you are looking for something you will see it.  Hearts, love, kindness, happiness, misery.  You will see what you focus on.  I remember when my mom got in a car accident when I was younger.  The car that hit her was a Crown pickup.  We never saw any of those around . . . until the accident.  And then we saw those cars all of the time.  Kind of happens when you buy or are looking to buy a particular car.  They pop up everywhere.  So where is my focus?  Am I happy?  And if not, why not?  Where does my focus need to be?  Simplicity helps me.  I look forward to Spring and Summer.  To be outside playing in the sunshine with my family and friends.

So, today's focus: love and happiness!
xo

Just. Breathe.

I usually try and exercise before the kiddos are up.  Didn't happen today because I couldn't fall asleep for a long time and then was up with a couple of the kiddos during the night.

So the 2 little ones accompanied me during my exercise today.  Yoga was part of that.  I had another migraine coming on and wanted to try and push through it with yoga.  It mainly worked.   During a balancing pose the instructor was suggesting ways to make it more difficult.  I'd like to add one: have a little child hug your leg.  Then for extra energy during yoga receive kisses and hugs from you little ones.  Additional challenges can be added with little ones intertwining with you during your poses.

My migraine dissipated, I believe, mostly from the breathing.  The instructor continues to remind you throughout to just. breathe.  Life is busy and, for me, I forget to just. breathe.  I was recently advised to slow my mind down.  I get ahead of myself with the many things I would like to be doing.  I need to stay and enjoy the present and not skip to the future plans that hasn't, and may not, happen.  Don't get me wrong.  It is important to have future plans/goals.  But I also need to not miss the moments that surround me now.  Good and bad.  We can learn and grow from both.  
I really appreciate President Uchtdorf's talk from last General Conference, "Of Things That Matter Most."  He was reminding us to just. breathe.  Relish in the good around you.  Get back to the basics.  Grow from the inside out.
I am grateful for this transitional period in my life, even though at times it is very hard.  I already can see some personal growth and growth for my family.  Each day is new day.  And each day I need to remember to just. breathe.  Move forward to become my true self.  And in the big scheme of Life it will all work out.