The Last Few weeks

My Sundays have changed in this new year. With a new meeting schedule and new callings come more meetings. I seem to have little time or energy to write when I have time. Once Sunday is gone, my writing time seems gone, too. I have to figure something out! I have had several thoughts over the last weeks, things I have read that have resonated as truth and events I have attended that have enriched me. I will paste two of those articles: http://segullah.org/daily-special/tiger-mothers-mormon-mommy-bloggers-and-happiness/

http://ldsmag.com/index.php?option=com_zine&view=article&ac=1&id=7386

I also attended a stake relief society meeting yesterday. I really felt like some of the things said were answers to questions I have had for months. Our stake president was talking about in 3 Nephi where the people come and touch the Savior's feet and hands. He said it was such a profound experience that it blessed not only them but their children and grandchildren through the change it wrought in them. He asked if it was the physical act of touching His hands and feet that changed them. He said it was not, but the Holy Ghost bearing testimony to them. He told us that we have the same opportunity everyday to have spiritual experiences that can change our natural man little by little to make us into what God wants us to be. I liked that. It is amazing how many times reading the scriptures you can continually be taught from verses you have previously read.

Other than these uplifting things, life has been the normal busy. My Gideon is now quite proficient at walking and not yet one year old! Here is a photo of the kids in their recent activites.

Look!

I took the kids skiing over the weekend while Bridger stayed home with the little boys. Bridger has taken Brynna skiing once before. She basically skied between his legs. I tried that at first and I wasn't up for holding her and letting her sled down the hill all day. She needed to figure it out. So she spent the day learning, which means lots of falling. She would sit in the snow after she fell and look at the ski lift, other skiers who were passing by, the trees around us. I would say, "Brynna, Look! This is what you need to do to get up." I said, "Look!" quite a few times on Saturday. I was getting frustrated she was not looking at what I was showing her. Yesterday in our family scripture study, we were reading 1 Nephi chaper 11 where Nephi is getting the interpretation of his father's dream. The Spirit kept saying to him, "Look!" I love the exclamation mark. It made me wonder how many times the Lord tells me to Look! and see the tree and I see the people around me and not the glorious but somewhat distant tree in my future. In the same chapter there is a part where Nephi is told to "Look!" and he think he will see the Spirit again, but something else is shown to him. I think this happens to me, too. I think I have in mind what the Lord should do for me and it doesn't happen, but I neglect to see the other greater things the Lord has in store for me to see. It was quite a ski lesson for Brynna, but a greater lesson for me to Look! in my life at what the Lord has for me.

My life

Last Sunday I had a migraine and couldn't bear to look at a computer screen. All week long I have trying to put my thoughts together to post. My life feels a little chaotic right now and I find myself feeling like I am treading water, with waves washing over my head from time to time. The Savior has been my lifesaver I am clinging onto. I am just trying to keep up literally and figuratively. I have always been one to easily overload myself. I scheduled myself with 23 credits in college because I could. If I have a free minute, I am likely to fill it because there is nothing scheduled that can't be squeezed in somewhere else. I always end up showing signs of fatigue in one way or another. I just read this quote on Sugardoodle. "If Satan can't get you to be bad, he'll make you busy." A common sentence in my house lately is, "I am too tired to care!" It is good and bad. Some things that need to slide, do and unvariable some things I shouldn't let slide, do as well! I keep telling myself these are growing pains of personal growth. I have tried to slow down as our prophets have counseled. I took my kids out of TaVaci this semester. I am trying to teach them piano myself instead (which in a way is MORE work). I didn't sign my girls up for dance this spring. I am trying to find that balance in my life. I really suck at the Wii balance games, too. I always think, this is a waste of my time. My kids love them, though. They think they are fun. If I let myself have fun maybe I would relax and be able to float on this sea of my life.

Listen to briggsimans Playlist

Daven's Three!

Today is Daven's official birthday but we have been celebrating for days already. We took him to McDonalds last week when Dad was off of work and did cake, ice cream and presents yesterday when we still had cousins, aunts and uncles in town (and no late dance practice). He was giddy with excitement when we sang to him. How fun it is to watch our children grow, exhausting but fun! (P. S. The cake is a Mario hat if you can't tell.)

Nativity

Our nativity with Joseph (Corban), Mary (Brynna), and baby Jesus (doll). Shepherds who were sore afraid (Kjerstin) and Angel (Daven).

Ketchup

Currently there is laundry to be folded and put away, a book to be read so I can pass it on to someone else, a family home evening to cement into place but I am sitting down to write. Ketchup is a sweet-and-sour condiment typically made from tomatoes, vinegar, sugar or high fructose corn syrup, and an assortment of vegetable seasonings and spices such as onions, all-spice, cloves, cinnamon, garlic, and celery. I don't know if that accurately will describe this post but I do need to catch up since it has been 3 weeks since I have written a post. In 1876, Heinz tomato ketchup was advertised: "Blessed relief for Mother and the other women in the household!" I think that is a better descriptor of this post since the need to put my thoughts in a more concrete form is necessary. It has been an interesting Christmas season. I really feel like I eventually got the Christmas spirit. As I would start to form a complaint of why we do all this at Christmas, I would think of Christ and how He suffered for not only our sins but all our other sufferings that was not necessary. I think how it is not needed to give this toy to a child but how our Heavenly Father answers our prayers and supplies our needs and our wants. It made me especially grateful for the gospel. This is the sweet portion of the sweet and sour catchup. I think because of this blessing the Lord has allowed me a clearer look at myself- a picture of myself through His eyes. I see things that are good and things that are not so good that I never noticed before. It gives me a list of things I need to work on. It is a little sour to the mouth but I suppose the sweet and sour together make a good combination.