Refuge from the Storm

"Be positive and the world will be a better place"

When I was a teenager I received a special blessing where I was promised many great things for my life. If I made good choices I was promised an eternal companion, children, happiness. Right smack dab in the middle of this blessing was that quote above. All alone by itself it practically shouted to me.  Be positive Danielle...and this world will be a much better place.

I have struggled to adhere to such seemingly simple advice my entire life.  I am in fact very good at finding the negative in almost any situation.  Its a "special" talent I have.  And as I look back I can see how this has affected my view of my life, my choices, this world that I live in.

The past few weeks have been nothing short of a challenge.  I faced some difficult family situations that were emotionally and physcially exhausting. I got sick...sicker than Ive been in as long as I can remember. I got angry. I let that anger fill my heart and bring me down very low.  Everything became a challenge. Simple things that I enjoy about my daily life were not enjoyable.  I couldnt sleep, wasnt hungry. I let myself become miserable.

All of the things that I was letting get to me were outside of my control. I cannot control my family members. I cannot control being sick.  These things were really bad to go through. I felt pain and great heartache.  But I chose to feel misery.

Life is full of pain. Its how we learn, how we grow.  But through these painful trials in life we have the choice to embrace the misery, or look to hope. To wake up and look around and realize, yes I hurt, but I am also so blessed.

I walked around my house the other day and felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. I have a clean comfortable little home. Three wonderful children and a husband that loves me.

My angels 

dancing in the kitchen before dinner

We are warm, we are fed, we are comfortable. Now I have to choose to be happy. Be positive, so my world will be a better place for me and for the loved ones I share it with.

Yes being sick sucked. But it forced me to relax. To lay on the couch and read stories with my kids. To forget about the chores and the daily distractions.  And no one noticed the housework that was missed (except me).  I got a break from the daily distractions of a very busy life.

Jack did kind of sort of help out with the chores 

The world is so filled with negativity. The minute we walk out our doors we are slammed with the challenges of a world that is embracing evil.  The news makes me sick.  The phrase to live in the world and not of the world has never been more important.

After this last week I was so desperate for an escape. I am so thankful that that escape came. I was able to go to Time Out for Women with my mom and aunt.  It became the escape I needed. The wake up call to stop dwelling on the negative and be happy....be positive. Every single speaker seemed to speak directly to me. Even down to my challenges Ive had with my calling. I left feeling not just uplifted but loved. Loved by a Heavenly Father that knows me, loves me, and desperately wants to see me happy.  I just need to humble myself and ask.

There are too many good things in my life to let the heaviness of the bad weigh  me down.  I truly am blessed and filled with gratitude and humility. I am so thankful to have been reminded of that this weekend. How lucky and loved I am.

The Big O5

My "baby" turned 5 this week. Its really hard to believe that my sweet little boy is already five. Where did the last five years go?? I can see them when I look in the mirror at my tired eyes and forehead wrinkles...but it has all just gone by so fast. Jackson is such a sweet boy. I have to wonder what good I did in some other life to deserve such a wonderful little blessing. He melts my heart.

Last night Jason and I stayed up and decorated the house for Jack to wake up to for his birthday. We covered his door with paper for him to run through when he woke up. Instead...he crawled under it. Jason told him...dude you run through it. lol. He quickly got the idea.

After breakfast and a few super fun trips to walmart and costco with all three kids and just me (am I crazy or stupid to do that? probably both)...we went swimming at the monon center with Jackson's cousins and some family friends.  The kids had a blast! It was great to be able to go swimming when it is so dang cold outside.

My sweet niece Lilly

Jack and his provocatively posing cousin Liza

Jason, his mini me Layla and sweet Ella

Ella got cold...and overwhelmed

cousin Brody...the oldest of all the kids

me and chubby girl Ella..maybe chubby girls

Jill and her friend Meagan and the only pic I could get of Pookie

The kids all had a blast. I was exhausted after taking all three kids to walmart and costco then swimming with everyone...I was ready to crash. But it was a lot of fun. After, we all came to my house for cake and ice cream. For the last 3 years Jackson has continued to want Harry Potter cakes. This time Walmart out did themselves with this awesome masterpiece.

Hogwarts at its finest

Blow those candles Jack!!

It was pretty tasty too

 Heres us singing oh so beautifully to Jack

So another year down in the books for my sweet boy. I am so proud of the little person he is becoming. This is a big year...soccer...t-ball...KINDERGARTEN! Guess he's not my "baby" anymore. But...tonight when I asked him what his favorite present was he told me it was spending the day with me. He may not be my baby...but he will always be my sweet little boy :).