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.

Happy Family Home Evening

Yes!

We had a Happy Family Home Evening tonight!!!

YEAH!!!

Let me clarify...it was formal...ish...kind of...but not.

It really led off like some kind of circus affair. Hmmm. Not what I had in mind for FHE.  But it was happy all through FHE.

We began with me conducting FHE tonight...and well...I was conducting a formal meeting of one (me).

So, noticing that everyone else was really in a FUN mood, I tried changing my tone  from formal to ... semi formalish but trying to be fun... (okay, truth be told...I hate admitting it...but too often I act like Rabbit from Winnie the Pooh. Ish)!.

As the opening song started, "Love at Home", oh my, I wondered about FHE for this night. 
The redition was...Something Unlike I've ever heard...truly!

I believe from the sound of the family, 
we all sang the hymn...
in our own key...
with parts...
on purpose.

Really.

I exagerate not!

It was really something else to hear. I wonder if I will get to hear a replay of this one day.

I think by at his point I figured out that what I really needed to do was smile and breathe and listen and watch...because everyone was Happy! And FHE is about happy.

When the laughter died down, we did have as quiet and reverent of a prayer as we could.

The playful mood continued and so we had some kind of move and stretch and laugh some more before we moved to scripture and motto.

Our lesson started with a brief 2 minutes of Q&A of "What makes you Happy?"

Answers that were common were: no school, playing with family, laughing, being kind, love at home. 

Then, we divided into teams. Each team picked a scripture from the Topical Guide under HAPPY, and then prepared a song with actions to sing for the family.

Team dad and daughters 2&3 read from Psalms 127:3-5. They sang a medley of "Daddy's Homecoming" and "Happy Family" and ended with a Cheer. It was AWESOME!

Team 11 year, Mom and 2 year old read a scripture from John 13:15, 17. We sang "Jesus Said Love Everyone" with actions from all three of us. It was SWEET!

By this time, we were all together in a Happy Family mood.

We rallied together and played a round of 3 five minute games that included everyone:
Build up blocks and let the youngest knock 'em down... Lots of laughter
Chase after the youngest for the missing block...More laughter
and finally....
Hide and seek!

There were no tears. It was a great night of games!

When the games ended, we joined together for a final closing of FHE and reviewed that things that make us Happy.

We agreed that how we treat each other affects us being Happy.  Being kind to each other makes a happy home.

So, for our activity this week:

Each of us drew a secret "Happy Person" out of a hat. 
For the rest of this week, we are to do something for our "Happy Person" to feel happy.

I'd say, tonight's FHE's was HAPPY!

To boot, we had fudgy yummy no bake cookies for a treat.....mmmm!

40

Wow! Am I really here? Did I really hit this pinacle of age...okay, it is really not old, just a mile marker.

As a girl, I pictured me as 40 and together, you know...with-it, well mannered children, bliss at home...all the time, joy and calm.

Well, the reality is not like that pretty perfect picture. I am still trying to get with-it, I am expecting baby number 5, we are all learning patience... sometimes we get it...and sometimes we don't. As for calm and well mannered, it is nice when this happens especially in public places...but that is occasional.

So, life is not what I painted as a girl, but it is what it is.

I guess this is where the line, "Come what may and love it" comes in very handy!