So many blessings!

Tonight I've got trials and tribulations on the mind. This morning I was praying on my way to work as I tend to do, and was really focusing on what I am grateful for. Because even though I have a ton of stuff going on that is kind of stressing me out, I'm so totally blessed!! I started thinking about how easy it is for us to think that the world is falling apart, but really... it's not. Really, my trials are not that big. Yes, they are real to me, but if I put them in perspective, they’re just not that bad. It's like a pebble. If you hold a pebble up to your eye it is HUGE!! It appears that there is no way around it. You feel stuck and much imposed upon. But then, if you take that stupid pebble and you throw it across the room, you see it for what it really is. A pebble. Something tiny, not even worth noticing as you step over it and move on with your day.

It seems like lately things around here have gotten a little crazy. Between Mike's back problems, having my brother-in-law move in, and just being an emotional women attempting some crazy goals it's been a little nuts. I've had that pebble good and close to my eye. I was reading in my scriptures about a people that were in bondage. They had some serious burdens being laid on their shoulders. And when they prayed to the Lord, he helped them and made their burdens light. "And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord." This scripture really hit me right between the eyes. Because yes, I have trials, but as I said, if I can step back and look at them, they’re not that bad. I have not been very cheerful or patient, which in the end just makes things that much more worse. I guess what I'm getting at, although I do have hard things going on right now, I have also been SOOOOO blessed! I have a wonderful family that supports me, I have a warm home to call my own, I have a darling husband that has a strong work ethic and is willing to show his love for me, I have the gospel in my life to hold me up, I have a fantastic job that I love, I have plenty of food to eat (probably could do with less :), and I have the opportunity to help out a family member. Ultimately, life is good.

Last week I made an effort to track my emotions and as I mentioned, it went really well. This week I am focusing on getting my minerals and vitamins in. And more importantly on being cheerful and patient with things that I find hard. I know that as I strive to do that, the Lord will help to make the rest light and more bearable.

Something that has been a HUGE strength to me is YOU! Thank you so much for reading my blog, for leaving comments, and even for those silent readers. I still feel your strength, and it is MUCH appreciated!!! Thank you!

Let's go and have a cheerful (and patient) week! What are you grateful for?