Reflections

Ok, so I've been in a reflective mood again lately. Jeff and I laid in bed last night and said how exhausted we were. I am studying like mad for this National test I have at the end of the month and he is working like crazy to get all of his clinical hours in by the end of the month. Not to mention work on his part, young mens, and family responsibilities. I have been trying to give 110%to my sweet kids, young womens, visiting teaching, my two jobs (although it's only a few hours a week), studying for my written which is at the end of the month and my performance which is next month, doing homework, meeting with my mentors, meeting with my friend for study groups, and then of course the list of motherly duties- laundry, cleaning, dishes, cooking etc that just naturally come with being a family.

     It was funny because I was talking to a friend the other day and she mentioned her sister complains about all she has going on with her kids and such and she always says, "Hey, you chose this." That, my friends, is so true! I LOVE my family with all my heart and I did choose this. I chose to bring these amazing children into this world which is an incredible blessing! I'm praying that I can push really hard this year and get to a point where I can be done with school forever while my kids are growing up so I can be there for them. Heaven forbid anything would happen to Jeff I would be able to provide. 

      SO, yes it is hard right now and we are tired but what a wonderful life we have and how BLESSED we are. I am SO grateful that all of my decisions have been made with the Lord's help. I know we are right here right now because this is where we are supposed to be. This is what Heavenly Father wants me to be doing right now. I am SO grateful that I can call on His strength to buoy me up when I can't make it any further. 

     I heard this quote the other day John Taylor said about the whole "eat, drink, and be merry" philosophy and holy cow I loved it! I had never quite thought of it that way. So it's kind of long but super good and simplifies a lot of things for me:

           " If I am a being that came into the world yesterday, and leaves it again tomorrow, I might as well have one religion as another, or none at all; 'let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die.'If I am an eternal being, I want to know something about the eternity with what I am associated. I want to know something about God, the devil, heaven and hell. If hell is a place of misery, and heaven a place of happiness, I want to know how to escape the one, and obtain the other. If I cannot know something about these things which are to come in the eternal world, I have no religion... If there is a God, I want a religion that supplies some means of certain and tangible communication with Him. If there is a heaven, I want to know what sort of a place it is. If there are angels, I want to know their nature, and their occupation, and of what they are composed. If I am an eternal being, I want to know what I am to do when I get through with time...."

    I thought that was such a cool quote. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints teaches these things. I am so grateful I have a knowledge of these things and that I have something to work for because I do know there is a life after this one. I do want to know what I can do to avoid eternal misery and grasp eternal happiness. That is what the gospel is all about. That and the hope that this isn't it. There is a heaven, we will go there. We will see our loved ones who have gone before us and we can be with them eternally if we will but follow the teachings of our Savior, Jesus Christ. It may not be easy but it will be worth it.

    So again, forgive me for my ramblings I'm just trying to sort through my feelings and emotions and get to that place where I find the lift I need to stop my complaining and keep moving in the right direction and do the very best I can.