Feeling peaceful

My life is crazy right now. Being the planner I am and having every almost every aspect of my life being up in the air is very hard for me. Normally I have lists. Lists of things to do, lists of places to go, lists of what money is coming in and lists of where it needs to go. Lists of who needs what from the store. Lists of who needs to go where and when. My family knows "if it's not written down, it doesn't get done"

Lately there have been no lists (almost no lists, I can't be totally unorganized) No amount of planning or scheduling or list making will help me. There is too much in our lives right now that we just don't know! Luckily due to some of my last posts I don't need to go to that place right now. Despite all the unknown, unplanned, crazy going on--I am learning to find reasons that some of these things are happening and being grateful for them.

Our family has had a hard year. Physically, financially, emotionally. BUT-- our family has learned:

• to be patient


• to live within our means


• to talk through problems before they get out of control


• to read scriptures together on a regular basis


• to say personal prayers more often(we were already doing pretty good at family prayers)


• to forget our problems and help others through theirs


• to be more giving


• to speak kind words more often


• to find cheaper entertainment (which can be more fun)


• to talk about our fears, hopes and dreams, openly and honestly


• to solve problems together (not just letting the parents make the decisions, kids can have some great input!)


• to ask more often--"what are we supposed to learn from this?" and "what does Heavenly Father want from our family, what are we supposed to be doing and where are we supposed to be doing it?"

We are so much closer as a family. I feel so much closer to the Lord and pray that my family feels the same. Mark and I have been married for almost 16 years and I feel closer to him than I ever have. These trials have pulled or maybe pushed us closer. We both have our moments of weakness, but we seem to take turns and pull the other through. I am so thankful for Mark and for every single one of my sweet children. I am also thankful for having Pam living here. She is such a big help in every way and lets me vent. She is having trials of her own and I do my best to help her in turn.

So--despite all the insanity--I am feeling peaceful. I know that many prayers have been offered on our behalf. I know that prayers are heard. I know that our Father in Heaven knows our hearts, our wants, our needs. I know that He has a plan for us and is just lining things up to carry that plan through. I have felt Him carry me and hold me many times in recent months. I am so thankful for that comfort. If these trials are what it took for us to learn so much and become closer to each other and our Heavenly Father, then I am thankful for what we have been given. Good and bad.