Lessons Learned from My 2-year-old by Liz Heap

I was perched on the side of the toddler bed tucking my two year old daughter, Emery, in for the night. She was tired and had voluntarily climbed in and pulled up the covers.  I sat there for a few moments talking to her and asked if she wanted me to sing her a song.  She answered with a whisper, and I leaned in closer and asked her to repeat what she had said.  This time I heard her clearly, “Get Off My Bed!” 

I was taken back a little, but soon found the humor in her honest words.  After all, this was quite normal behavior for Emery.  She is fiercely independent and wants to be like all of her older siblings.  She wants to put on her own shoes, open her own doors, crack her own eggs for scrambled eggs, mix her own brownies, and pour her own milk!  In her mind, she is a independent individual and needs no one to help her (unless she is hurt or wronged in some way).  Although I wish she was self sufficient, I find myself annoyed that she will not let me help.  Obviously she is not old enough to accomplish all her tasks on her own and it takes a very long time to convince her that sometimes my help would be beneficial.

As I was contemplating these rituals we repeat every day, I suddenly realized my relationship with my Heavenly Father and my Savior Jesus Christ is similar in so many ways with Emery’s relationship to me.  I obviously need their help to guide me through my life. Most importantly I need the atonement that Jesus Christ offers to me.  Yet so many times I fail to ask in prayer for help.  I push aside or don’t listen to promptings from the Holy Ghost.  I skip scripture study because I am too busy or too tired to read.  I fail to use the atonement to correct my faults and failings.  And still, a loving Father in Heaven patiently waits for me to see and understand.  The Savior waits with arms outstretched for me to ask for His help. 

How grateful I am for the opportunity to be a mother and occasionally see me through His eyes.

Just Be Happy Today by Jana Eisley

So, My Birthday was an Ordinary Tuesday...

It's been a season of birthdays at our house. I always struggle with birthdays. I'm not great at giving gifts, I'm not the best at throwing parties, but I do try to make each person feel special on their birthday. We sing, we cook favorite foods, we wrap up little (usually edible) surprises, we give lots of hugs, we write lots of love notes, we have cake and ice cream, and everyone is super nice to you because it's your birthday. 

It's tradition.

It's true, I'm a grown up. I have been for quite a few years now, and sometimes I can't even remember how old I am, but I also have a birthday. Being a grown up means that often, birthdays aren't that exciting, but we can still hope, right?

I guess I'm a bit predictable, because when my kids asked me what I wanted for my birthday they also said "AND DON'T SAY A CLEAN HOUSE AND HAPPY KIDS!" But really, seriously, that is what I want! What could make a mom happier than a clean house and happy kids! I don't need expensive gadgets or fancy perfume. I don't need jewelry or days at the spa. (I can always use some chocolate though.) All I really want is a day of blissful peace, when the house isn't an obstacle course and everyone is kind to each other. Is that really too much to ask?

So I woke up that morning and it's my Birthday. It's a normal Tuesday. My husband is working. He's up and gone before I even stir. I've been through this before, so I know what today will be like. I know last nights dirty dishes are still in the sink. I know that the laundry is still piled up by the washer. I know that I will have to be chauffeur, chef, teacher, nurse, and mommy, just like every other day. I know that there is no one else coming to my rescue today. I don't mean to make it sound like my life is awful, it isn't, I'm living the dream, but today is My Birthday, and I can't help but wish for something different. 

But then, I make a decision. Today something will be different. Today, I will be different. Today, My Birthday, I will choose to be happy. I choose to have a good day, no matter what.

So, I did.

I still washed all the dishes, moved on the laundry, cooked, cleaned, taught and bandaged scraped knees, but I did it all while being happy. And because of that many special moments of Birthday Greatness stand out. 

I found a note from my husband on the bathroom mirror. "Happy Birthday Jana!" Awww! My kids made me (burnt) toast. Lol! My sisters texted me, and I got a special call from some family singing me "Happy Birthday" which was a highlight because my niece told me I could be anything I wanted for Halloween! That's good to know! I got so many pictures and love letters... and I even had a few friends drop things by. Because I decided to be happy each little moment of love expressed seemed to have a greater impact. I felt loved and supported. 

I still made my own dinner, and it was a favorite of mine. I still haven't made my cake because I was too tired to do it that day, (though my kids want you to know that they made cupcakes the day before) and anyway I got enough chocolate to sugar me up for a few weeks. I guess the moral of the story is that, well, I had a good birthday, even though it was just an Ordinary Tuesday. And it made me wonder... could every day be like that? Could I really just decide to be happy? Is it really that simple? I think maybe it is. After all "Men (and women) are that they might have joy"  Isn't that why God put us here? So for now I will take my mantra off of  the mug my sister got me for my birthday... (even though it hasn't arrived in the mail yet)

 "I Think I'll Just Be Happy Today"

90 is greater than 100 by Celeste Crandell

Many aspects of the teachings of Christ can bring peace and protection. I feel that paying a full tithe has truly blessed my family and given me peace in times that could have been overwhelmingly stressful. 

Before moving to Saint Johns, my husband, Oman, worked for Catalyst at the paper mill outside of Heber. We had lived in Heber since 1992, but knew we would probably have to move in order for Oman to find employment after we found out the mill would be closing down.

Oman began applying for jobs almost immediately, but with no real success. We were, of course, nervous for our family of eight to loose our income and health insurance. Miraculously, Oman was one of the six men asked to stay and continue employment for five months after the mill closed. This was a great blessing, as we had two children serving in the mission field and we were concerned about continuing to support them financially. As the time came and Oman no longer had a job he continued to be blessed with work. A plumbing contractor needed his help on a big job for several months. Then he found work in New Mexico. He took the job temporarily, until he could find permanent work with benefits. He was getting discouraged as he continued to interview, but without positive results. During this time we were fasting and praying we would find work where the Lord wanted our family. We continued to pay our tithes and I remained surprisingly calm and assured all would be well. As I look back on this time I am amazed that I wasn't freaking out and I truly feel I was blessed to be a calm in our family's storm.

President Henry B. Eyring taught, "By our decision now to be a full-time payer and our steady efforts to obey, we will be strengthened in our faith and, in time, our hearts will be softened. It is that change in our hearts through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, beyond the offering of our money or goods, that makes it possible for the Lord to promise full-tithe payers protection in the last days (see D&C 64:23). We can have confidence that we will qualify for that blessing of protection if we commit now to pay a full tithe and are steady in doing it."

A saying of Getulio Walter Jagher e Silva that he shared in the December 2017 Ensign has become a favorite. He wrote, "I like to say that the law of tithing is contrary to mathematics because 90 will be greater than 100. As we give the Lord 10 percent of our income, He promises to "open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it" (Malachi 3:10)."

I truly feel 90 was greater than 100 at that time in our lives and I believe my faith was increased and I was blessed with a peace that only the Savior can fully offer. It was not a worldly peace, but an indescribable feeling that all would be well and it was.