"The Future is as Bright as Your Faith"

Derek is working today, and I'm trying to figure out how to best spend my Sunday afternoon at home with our kids. Jane had fallen asleep on the way home from church, so I laid down to read The Ensign and take a little nap (the boys were entertaining themselves well with Legos.) Just as I began to fall asleep, Jane woke up prematurely-- she hadn't eaten lunch. After feeding her, I decided to play the piano while the boys still played with the Legos-- they had migrated from the basement to the kitchen. I made it through 1 1/2 Primary Songs before Jane and Luke wanted to play the piano with me. I tried helping them but of course they wanted to play their own music. I went to the backyard to water our garden and let Jane come out on the back porch, but she cried for me to hold her and so I finished the job with her on my hip.

It's hard for me to accept that being the mother of young children often means ONLY getting the basics done-- feeding, cleaning, diapering, clothing, etc. Of course I know that those things are essential, but it's hard to let go of the idea that they are chores to check off my list so I can get more important things done.

Despite this mild discontent, I am grateful for my boys playing so nicely together and getting along so well. I am grateful for Jane, wandering around the house (as long as I'm within her reach) with her basket hooked on one arm with her wash cloth in the other hand-- two of her new favorite things-- and am amused by her even as she flails herself to the ground in a tantrum, her tulle skirt flying up to add to the drama.

I am grateful for a few special people who have inspired me this afternoon without even knowing it. Jenna and Nick, my awesome sister-in-law and brother, who just celebrated their third anniversary and are the sweetest, most romantic couple. My cousin(-in-law) Shari whose latest post reminded me to cherish time with my family. Stephanie Nielson, whom I don't even know, but who inspires me every time I read her blog. She is the mother of four children and is recovering from a plane crash 9 months ago in which 85% of her body was burned. (Thanks, Megan, for introducing me to her blog.)

I am especially grateful for my sweet husband who has to work today. :( I especially dislike Sundays without him, but am grateful that he misses being with us just as much. This residency has been the most challenging period of our life so far. Next week marks the end of year two, one to go. (Right about now I am so grateful he's not doing surgery. The timing just wouldn't be right for our family... the boys are really starting to need him around more.) It is hard not knowing what next year will bring. We are in the process of searching for jobs that will fulfill his commitment to the government (National Health Service Corps) in return for his scholarship. Ultimately, I have faith that Heavenly Father will lead us where He wants us to go, just as He has since we have been married and began this journey together nearly 10 years ago.

I am grateful for this trial-- we have each other, we have our health, we have our children, and above all, we understand the Gospel. We have family and we have friends, whom we are blessed to make more and more through the many changes we continue to experience. President Thomas S. Monson's most recent General Conference Talk, "Be of Good Cheer" is so inspiring and really puts the small trials of my life into perspective.

Picture to come... I just need to add more memory to our comptuer before I can upload photos... another thing on my to-do list. But now I'm going to cook dinner. :)