Please and Thank You

I have been thinking a lot about Alma 7:23 ...more particularly the end of verse.

...asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.

Thoughts that tied like feelings to my heart:

I should take ALL my needs to Heavenly Father. Whatever it is I need. Spiritual or temporal. Whatever I need. Anything. Everything. Always!

And as quickly as I receive the answers I am seeking, I need to thank Him.

This week, I have been practicing this lesson.

Last night, I felt as if I was swarmed in a flurry of demands. Children to comfort, meals to be made, places to be and I was running an hour behind. I didn't know which to tackle first. And remembering this scripture, I took my 10 year old (who was one of these people needing comfort) with me to pray to figure out the BEST part so I could DO the best part.  My answer was different than I would have done, had I GONE ON MY OWN to figure out that best part. 

It had taken me almost 15 minutes to remember that I had FORGOTTEN to thank Heavenly Father for His answer. So, my daughter and I, who were now driving down the street, pulled over to pray. I thanked Him for His help in setting my feet straight. And immediatly, LITERALLY, I was flooded with peace and calm and comfort that I had thanked Him. And so I thanked Him again.

I know that Heavenly Father loves me. He wants me to KNOW His love and FEEL His love every day. That is why He gave me some understanding of this scripture this week.

I see the Hand of the Lord today

I see the Hand of the Lord today.

This morning, when I felt too tired to get out of bed and study together with DH,
I felt the tug of the Spirit to go,

and

heard the tender words of my husband
that his day runs so much smoother when we have our study time,

and so,

I listened.

This morning, as he and I read together,
I learned from Lehi's example,
that in all things and in all times I can show gratitude to Heavenly Father.

This morning, when the girls came up for prayers, breakfast and scriptures,
they were willing, and cheerful,
albeit tired.

This morning, when I knelt to pray, 
I felt the Spirit's comfort.

This morning, before our children left for school,
their grandma gave each of them a hug
and an "I love you!"

Thankful Thursday and French Cut String Beans

 When DH and I married, we decided not to postpone starting our family.  So we were not completely surprised when as newly weds we were expecting our first child.

What we didn't expect was nine months of morning sickness accompanying our scholastic poverty.

One morning we were discussing our plight...both of us jobless, with him in school and living in Hawaii. I had been having what seemed like severe cravings. I wanted a milkshake or fruit. Something fresh, or cold. That something did NOT include canned french cut string beans, which was what we had in our cupboard.

So, laying in bed, hoping for a reprieve from the nausea and vomiting, I tried convincing DH to go for a walk to the nearest Star Market or Jack-in-the-Box and buy me something my stomach would enjoy. Like a piece of fresh fruit or a milkshake.


DH is very practical. We had both been seeking for jobs for a couple of months but were still without work. And looking at the budget...of something like $11.00...and knowing that was all we had, he said very practically, "Honey, I'm sorry. We don't have any money for that. But, there is a can of string beans I can open for you."


With those words, I was convinced DH didn't love me. He did not understand my need to satisfy this craving. He didn't know that I could not stomach another can of string beans. But maybe he did. And maybe he knew that was the best he could give then.


And so, he walked to the shelf, picked up, yes, the last can of beans...which was the last can of anything on our shelves, opened it and handed it to me with a fork.


I slowly ate over half the can, all the while complaining in my mind about the lack of empathy he had over our situation. I thought nothing about this being the last can of anything. I thought nothing about my DH who had nothing for breakfast...and now nothing at all.


Needless to say, the beans stayed down for the most of five minutes. And then I cried. Cried over impatience with this situation. Cried over DH and lack of empathy. Cried over missing family. Just cried. 

Did Heavenly Father remember us in Hawaii? If so, I was convinced He would help. But where was the help?

Shortly after eating and spewing the beans, and feeling really left alone, the mail came. 

Enclosed was an unexpected check from a loved one whom I had loaned money to years previous. The money was enough to cover rent, utilities, expenses, groceries, and yes even a milkshake. 

Time and other pregnancies have helped temper me during these craving moments. To realize the world will not end if I cannot satisfy that craving instantly. 

It has been just recently that DH has explained his side of the story and that I have understood his love in giving me that last can of beans. My selfishness blinded my ability to see this.

Tonight, DH and I went to the temple and reminisced about this experience. I have tender feelings about it now. Tender feelings toward DH. Tender feelings toward God. 

So, tonight for Thankful Thursday, I am thankful for the can of beans.

Deseret Industries, a two year old, and a prayer

So, while spending a day out with my two year old...we stopped at the Deseret Industries.

We go there to look for books...when we are not looking for them at the library. So, it was no surprise when we walked in and my two year old says, " I like the libary! Yea. I like the libary!"

And so, into the "libary" section we went. She pulled books off the shelf while I scoured for some books I hoped to find.

While looking for books on my list, I pulled a copy of the Book of Mormon. I handed it to my two year old and asked her if she would like to have her own copy.

She took it from my hands, squeezed the book close to her chest and smiled. And then, much to my surprise, she flipped open the book, looked at the pages and said a little prayer out loud, thanking Heavenly Father for her book. She was sincere and so happy to have her own copy of the Book of Mormon. So she said another one.

The prayer was so sincere and simple! A sweet reminder that I can thank Heavenly Father for EVERYTHING wherever I am.

A broken doorknob and prayer

We left home to run a few errands before finishing our Saturday chores.

I locked up the house good and tight and away we went.

When we came home, to our surprise, the back door, the one coming in from the garage, would not open.

We wiggled the handle. Locked and unlocked the knob. When that didn't work, my husband tried all the doors...the ones that I bolted well.

We were locked out.

My McGyver husband got out a wrench and tried prying off the handle. I had children pleading for a bathroom and hovering over the fix-it man.

I remembered and quoted Sis. Beck's counsel she had learned from her father.

"If we're going to laugh about it in 20 years, we may as well laught at it right now."

It seemed to alleviate the tension and worry and put a few smiles on faces.

After a good fifteen minutes of prying and twisting, our six year old shouted out, "Why don't we have a prayer?"

So, we all piled in the van and dad prayed while we all exerted faith.

I hopped out of the van and wiggled the handle again. Still no movement on the lock. By this time, we determined the lock was broken. As I wiggled the handle again, I remembered movies where someone would use a credit card to unlock a door.

I tried a plastic card in the door...wiggled...and whah la! It opened.

As soon as the door swung open, it was as if light had jumped into each of us. All the children shouted to say how Heavenly Father answered our prayers.

We all went inside the house, happier than we ever had before going in. Happy children. Happy parents. Our eight year old, gleaming now, so happy to be INSIDE the house, asked if we had remembered to thank Heavenly Father for all the other MIRACLES he had given us.

Listing them off, they named all the times since coming here that Heavenly Father had delivered us from sickness, car troubles, back troubles, etc. They named off one experience after another. Each of them with something different.

Husband and I looked at each other. We could SEE the Lord's hand today. The children could SEE His hand and miracles today and all the yesterday's. We thanked Heavenly Father as a family.

Faith has been strengthened yet again.

"In the strength of the Lord, we can do hard things." Sis. Elaine Dalton