Rambling thoughts for surviving the storm ...

It's been a busy summer with a lot of comings and goings, family visits, birthday parties, babies growing up and all the daily stuff. It's a joy to have the little people under foot and reminds me many times of when our big ones were little and how hectic the days can be. Once you're a "mom" the daily needs consume ... balanced meals, creative stimulation, survival skills, offense and defensive protection ... and certainly no self-indulgence time. Some days you just wish the sun could be the moon, for just a minute.

But it is a blink! These hundreds of selfless acts of service are molding your family into men and women of strength and confidence, joy and peace, understanding, kindness, faith ... all the things you are praying for them to be. Sometimes I miss being in the eye of the storm, yet see from a different view now where the air seems clearer and easier to breathe. So grateful I had the blind faith to find peace in the storm and know "this too shall pass," therefore my mantra became, 'find joy in EACH day.'

So in watching our young families in the eye of the storm, I often smirk with familiarity as it's the same story. Yet in this season (gwamma), we no longer walk in blind faith, but know the Lord DOES build men and women of light (as witnessed in Andy, Todd, Heather and Ashley). I am grateful for the power of the family circle and our responsibilities to it no matter which station we occupy. He is a wise Heavenly Father to give us family support to lift when one is down, (or pull down when one is too high), and to carry one anothers burdens. It is continued joy for us!

So young ones, just be the sun. The moon comes out ... eventually. xo












"In these preparatory years, you young women spend much of your time in schools or jobs where you receive accolades, honors, awards, ribbons or trophies. When you move from that stage to young motherhood, there is a dramatic drop-off in outside commendation. Yet in no other capacity is there more opportunity to serve selflessly as Christ would do by taking care of hundreds of daily physical, emotional and spiritual needs. You will bring the light of the gospel into your homes -- not to be seen of others, but to build others -- men and women of strength and light."
~Susan W. Tanner ~