Cool experiences I want to remember...

I've been getting discouraged really easily lately. I've had a few days that have really left me feeling incomplete. I keep wanting to be more consistently reading the scriptures on my own and not just as a family on a regular basis. But just like finding time to take a shower, finding time for spiritual nourishment is hard to do with kids around and still come out feeling clean and refreshed. Well, this morning something amazing happened! Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING seemed perfect! I got up read an ensign article, got breakfast for Luke (which is a totally entertaining experience in and of itself), fed Noah, and started on the laundry all before everyone else was awake. Then, as each kid woke up I was able to pray with each one of them individually (it's been a while since I was able to do this) and everyone was totally getting along with each other. Kelly was helping everyone get their cereal, Brad was happy and smiling, Luke was being soft with Noah, and Charity was bouncing around the room being sweet to everyone. It was seriously PERFECT!! I was thinking, "This is going to be an awesome day! and it's all because of the Ensign article I read, and my prayers" and I was so happy about it. Then immediately, I felt the Holy Ghost telling me to that it was not going to stay like this all day. I had the feeling that this was not how the whole day was going to be. BUT that I needed to enjoy this moment for what it was, and not put conditions on it. In the past I would think times like this meant that the day was going to be wonderful, and then if anything went wrong I would think, "Oh, nevermind, that was nothing, this day is awful" and forget about all the good that had happened and wondered why Heavenly Father had not blessed me more since I had done what I was supposed to. Not this time though, the Spirit had prompted me to remember how nice this felt and to enjoy it and let it make me happy and let it make me smile no matter what the rest of the day was going to be like. I needed to enjoy it and cherish it so that my happiness in that moment could carry me through my day and whatever it had in store. Well, the Spirit was right- this only lasted for about an hour or two before things got a little crazy. It was normal crazy, not anything too big, but thanks to this prompting nothing SEEMED like a bigger deal than it was, and I was able to stay calm and patient through each little fit. It was incredible!! Like a light had gone on! Just cherish the little moments, enjoy them for what they are, and let them carry you through the hard times. I just want to remember this forever! And it's funny because all the times that we are told to find time each day for scripture study or prayer- spiritual nourishment, I've always felt like it would just make my day better- the kids would magically turn into perfect little angels and all would be well. Now I know that it may not do that, but it does open ME up to more inspiration and deeper insight and understanding. It makes me SO HAPPY to think about this :) I just want to remember it!

So another cool thing that happened today- Brad was totally throwing this huge tantrrum (not the first time mind you :)) who knows what he was freaking out about, but he was MAD. He was yelling at me and hitting me- total blood boiling moment for me. I usually don't handle these situations very well and I usually end up feeling like a crappy mom before things get worked out. Well today, just before my last nerve, I remembered something that Nate had said one time about the Savior. He said that one of the greatest things the Savior had said was, "Come Unto Me". Nate relates this to parenting by saying that Heavenly Father doesn't tell us to go to our room, he wants us to go to him. He wants us to feel his love when we have done something wrong rather than feeling his anger. So when Bradley screamed his last scream at me I decided to try something new. I reached my arms out and told him to "come here". He of course doubted me and wouldn't come (I almost cried when I realized that he felt that way), but I told him again to "come here" and then went over and picked him up. He melted in my arms and stopped crying, stopped being angry. It was incredible! We didn't say anything, just hugged for probably 4 or 5 minutes. After the hug, we talked about what was wrong, and he apologized for what he had done wrong, and then we even had a little laugh. I thought it was the neatest feeling ever. I don't know that this will be the solution EVERY time one of my kids does something wrong, but it felt like the right time to do it with Brad, and hopefully I will be able to recognize those times in the future. I really thought this experience was one to keep with me, so I hope you all don't feel like I'm an idiot for putting it on my blog. When Sherry said that she thought it was nice, I decided what the heck. Plus I look at this so often, I knew it would be a good place to keep a reminder.

I really feel like these moments of inspiration came to me through the Holy Ghost because I had opened my heart and my mind to my Heavenly Father this morning and I am so grateful to have learned this. It will motivate me to do better with finding time for the Lord tomorrow, and hopefully forever. My kids deserve to have a mom who is more in tune to the Spirit. What a great day this is!!