"Little Women" Family: It's All About Perspective

Friday, April 01, 2011

It's All About Perspective

A couple of weeks ago, I burnt my hand while cooking cookies. A couple things went through my head...
1) "Ouch! This stings really bad!"
2) "This burn is totally going to scar! What a bummer!"
3) And then I thought about NieNie (Stephanie Nielson- a Mormon Mommy blogger, who was burned in a plane accident over 80% of her body.) I'll tell you what, it made me feel pretty guilty for the first two things that went through my head.
4) Next I started thinking about all that I have been going through in the last couple of months, since Calyssa was born...

Problems with getting Calyssa to eat and gain weight
A nasty form of Mastitis
Aurora's broken leg
Abscess on my Tonsils
Due to my low immune system, from the antibiotics, I caught a cold and then gave it to Calyssa
Which led to another Abscess on my Tonsils
Sariah broke her arm

I started thinking about how my trials were like this little burn, compared to all that NieNie (and many of my other friends) have gone through. And yet, they have dealt with their trials in such an amazing way, and they continue to inspire me everyday!! For example, they inspire me to have a good attitude, they inspire me to get down on my knees when things get hard and let my Heavenly Father know that I am struggling and ask for His help, they inspire me to turn to my Savior, Jesus Christ so that He can lift my burdens, they inspire me to see the tender mercies of the Lord along the way that help me get through each trial (like the fact that our former Bishop happens to be an Ear/Nose/Throat Doctor), etc.

As the next few weeks went by, my list continued to grow...

Mastitis again (Tender mercies- I was able to get ahold of my OB right before closing on a Friday and get my friend's pump right before she left on vacation)

Then, due to my low immune system, from the antibiotics, I caught another cold, and again gave it to Calyssa

Which led to another Abscess on my Tonsils (which I just got 2 nights ago)

Each time I get discouraged, I look down at the small scar on my hand and think about just how small my trials really are. If NieNie, and my other friends, can get through their difficult trials, I can definitely make it through mine. I am thankful for that small burn on my hand and the perspective it brought me.

These trials have also reminded me that I have the best friends and family in the world, who have really been there for our family! I am so thankful for all of them!! :)

(Last night, my Grant, and our friend, Grant, gave me a blessing, in which they blessed me to feel the love and concern that our Heavenly Father has for me. Among other things, he also blessed me that I will need my tonsils out very soon, but that I will be able to continue to feed my baby and will make a full recovery. What a comforting blessing it was!! I continue to play those words over and over in my mind. I am so thankful for the power of the priesthood in my life!!)

My Favorite Part of The Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 17:21-24

"21 And when (Jesus) had said these words, he wept, and the multitude bare record of it, and he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them.

22 And when he had done this he wept again;

23 And he spake unto the multitude, and said unto them: Behold your little ones.

24 And as they looked to behold they cast their eyes towards heaven, and they saw the heavens open, and they saw angels descending out of heaven as it were in the midst of fire; and they came down and encircled those little ones about, and they were encircled about with fire; and the angels did minister unto them."

http://scriptures.lds.org/en/3_ne/17

To learn more about The Book of Mormon or to get a free copy: http://www.mormon.org/book-of-mormon/

Our homeschool program!!

My style of homeschooling is "public school at home." We began homeschooling on our own, the 1st year. Then we were enrolled in the Washington Virtual Academy (WAVA) for 3 years. Now we are enrolled in ORLA. Our girls are taking several classes at an Elementary School that is no longer used for a typical Elementary School. Instead 450 homeschooling students (K-12) take classes there with certified teachers (you choose which ones and how many) but you do have to be at the school with them until they are 12 (in another room with toys for the younger kids) or sign them out to a friend. Then you fill in the rest at home. For example, my girls take Music, Art, P.E., and Science at the school 2 days a week and then I teach them Math, Language, and History at home, on the other 3 days. The school also pays for an additional $300 a year of curriculum (like the Math, Lang, Hist.) We do have to keep up with a certain number of hours per week. We also have a "home room teacher" that helps us with everything, like deciding what extra things to do at home and making sure we don't miss anything. We are really enjoying this program-- it truly is the best of both worlds! If you have any questions, email me. :)