Free Fun Free Form Friday: Seeing Things Through Loving My Baby

I've been seeing a few things that seem, to my vision, to relate directly to spiritual things and, especially, God's Love.

My baby has hurt herself a few times.  Mostly because she's not really in control of her little body very well yet.  She's only seven months old.  Really, it makes perfect sense.  She has jerked around and hit her head on a drawer.  She has fallen over by overcompensating and hit her head or fallen on her face.  She has bonked herself with her hands a few times.  It's pretty comical, really, but I can also see that it's frustrating to her.  A few times as I've comforted her over her latest upset, I've realized that her situation is very much like me with my Heavenly Parents.

Do you see it?

Well, I don't know how in EVERY example in my life, but I'm willing to figure that I'm responsible for my own pain at least half the time.  I can't think of HOW, for the most part, but I'm certain I am like a baby in spiritual matters, so it just makes sense that it would be so.

Also, I've found myself working to make my little one's life more comfy.  When we go for walks, sometimes the sun is right in her face.  I often notice and go out of my way (making myself uncomfy) to shade her eyes from the sun.  She looks obviously like she is more comfortable AND completely unaware of what has cause the change.  I think this is very much like my life in Heavenly Father's hands/shelter.  I believe that I do not see or comprehend all the ways that Heavenly Father works to make my life more comfortable.  I can't see His hand shading me from the sun, but I enjoy the blessing of greater comfort as a result of His work on my behalf.

As I've come to see these things more clearly, I feel so grateful!  I'm so thankful Heavenly Father is always working to protect me and bless and prosper me and my family!

Free Fun Free Form Friday: a Meme on Reflecting

I'm so excited to share a lovely quote joined with a great photo.  The quote: from Jane Austen.  The photograph... one of mine!  I'm very happy with the composition... it's pleasing, I think.  I hope you enjoy the two together.  DO tell me what you think, please!

Free Fun Free Form Friday: My Little Boy in a Suit

We've been out and about a bit in the last two weeks.  Mostly because I waited until the last day of December 2013 to take the children to the Temple and then had the opportunity to go again within the same week because it was a new month.  Jmy asked a few days after one trip and I was happy to say YES for once!  It was a blessing for all of us.  We had a lovely Temple day on January 4, 2014.

Going to the Temple means getting extra dressed up.  We didn't wear the same outfits, but we did wear nice and pretty clothes.  Jmy was in a suit and tie.  The girls did not wear the same dresses as in the post linked above, but they were very nicely dressed in dresses.  I don't ALWAYS make sure Jmy is in a suit and the girls in dresses, for sure, but I am working to make sure they are very neatly dressed.  It makes a difference.  It really does!

Why?  I'm glad you asked!

It's because of the way others perceive.  When the children are dressed very nicely, people rarely say, "You've got your hands full," with the sorta negative tone or expression.  It's difficult to describe if you haven't experienced it, but there is a BIG difference between those who say that same phrase with wonder and awe or congratulations and those who say it and sound like they mean, "Why on earth do you have THAT many children!!?"  Truly, there is.  When the children are dressed very nicely AS WELL AS behaved wonderfully, I hear the latter much more frequently than the former.

Just the other day, Saturday, Jan. 4th, we went to Chick-Fil-A as part of our Temple trip (we don't always or even often get to do that, so it was a bonus) and our cashier asked if we'd just gone to church.  We hadn't, so I told her no.  She asked why we were so dressed up.  I often would use that opportunity to share that we go to the Temple, but this time I shared the other reason, "Because it's easier to convince people that I know what I'm doing when the children look good."  I do know what I'm doing (most of the time), so it's MUCH easier to interact with people when we LOOK like it!

It was interesting that day... SO many people sorta stopped what they were doing to look at the children and smile and say something kind.  I think it might have been a little bit like being a celebrity... very surreal!  I mean, we go everywhere together and that rarely happens QUITE the way it did that day.

Pretty fun, all told!  :)