A Great Week

Glass blowing pictures perfect for this post.  Talk about
potential.  clear glass puddle turned to useful colorful
piece through a master's hands.

So, this post will be late because I have to load photos and with family time, don't have time tonight so will do so tomorrow.  The writing will be tonight.  I have to say I am starting to love my blog.  I wish I were more faithful about daily journal writing, but feeling like maybe my family and friends want updates gives me the incentive to at least keep up this weekly writing and even if I find that not a soul has read this, I feel like it is my spiritual journal, a way for me to rededicate myself each week, and by re reading it, remind myself of what I find important, and also kind of map my progress.  At times I feel like oh my goodness when am I going to learn patience.  When am I going to be a better wife, a better mother.  Because others might read this, I feel like I am putting my best self out there.  Not a fake self, but my best- when I read it, it reminds me of my own worth (in a humble way) and makes me want others to feel the same way.

So any who.  This week was awesome - it's not always wonderful to have few friends especially when your a budding teen, but it does make for a lot of family time.  We went to the mudflats - yep just what you might picture, an endless area of mud in which you dig for clams, clam worms (totally gross), moon snails (my favorite - google them they are soooo cool), crabs and other small creatures.  Unfortunately I was so transfixed with our finds, I totally forgot to take pictures (duh!!)  We went to the temple as a family - minus sweet McKye.  Doing baptisms with my kids was such a sweet experience.  The temple here is very small, so the ordinance workers basically go wherever the people are, so we had some sweet workers come to help us.  It's so awesome to see the way the spirit transforms you.  You could tell a difference before and after in the mood, patience level and love.  The hour drive home was calm and peaceful and just well different than the hour ride to the temple.  I think Kyler even commented on how the ride went so much more quickly going home than going to the temple, I think the spirit makes all the difference.
We then went to a primary activity with McKye and went on a nature walk where we found the coolest caterpillar.  We're going to see if he'll make a chrysalis and hatch into his beautiful butterfly.  Church was great today - even the ride home, it got a little rocky when we hit some traffic, but we watched a mormon message and the kids settled back down.  I think most of all, I was determined to have an awesome week and with an attitude of awesome, I didn't let the little things stand in my way.  There were still some ups and downs, but I focused on the ups and didn't let the downs get me down.

So no deep wondrous thoughts, just happy thoughts for today
Over and out
Nisha

Faith

I was looking for photos to post on the blog and this one caught my eye.  One because I can't believe how big Addie is getting, but two because the vastness of the ocean is just so amazing. 

 Something about the stars at night, the ocean depths, and the grandeur of the mountain peaks; while making you feel small, they also speak to the heart of our eternal potential.  At church yesterday the question was posed: what is the worth of a human soul?  

I was thinking it is greater than, it is more than.  The profound answer given from the heart of the lesson:

The worth of a human soul is it's capacity to become like god.  

Kyler gave a talk in Sacrament meeting on how repentance brings us closer to Christ, and he started his talk with the meaning of faith - for his talk faith being trust more specifically trust in Jesus Christ.  Trust that he loves us, wants what is best for us, and of course in the venue of repentance: that he will forgive us.

As I was thinking about this definition of faith - Trust in.  I wondered if I was living a life that gave other's trust in me.  Can my children trust me that I have their best interests at heart, do they really truly know that.  Do they know they are loved unconditionally and when they desire to make a change along the roads of progress, do they know I will quickly forgive them and do all in my power to help with that change.  

Well I certainly hope they know, but by asking the question I wanted to make sure the answer was one I wanted.  So this week I am going to show and tell my children about their infinite worth.  As vast as the ocean, the sky at night, and the mountain peaks, is the potential I believe they have - that every human soul has, but as they are in my care, I'm going to focus on them.  That doesn't mean I will give them everything they want, but I will Love them without boundary and I will make a greater effort to make sure they understand the limitless love I have, that they may more easily feel the love their savior has for them.  As I work within the walls of my home, I will then extend this to my coworkers, my patients, those I meet on the street, my ward members - so that each person I meet has a glimpse of the worth of a human soul by the way I treat them.  Those that are in a place to trust me, can put that trust in me; fully knowing I will serve them in whatever capacity I am able.

So this week, What do you think is the worth of a human soul, who puts their trust in you and what do you plan on doing with that trust?

Full senses

Well what a wonderful day.  I love when you can get so much accomplished and you're just on a spiritual high.  I just got put in as the primary secretary and went to town revamping the schedule to include children giving talks and having opening exercises, and completely organized the primary cabinet.  On top of that we had some wonderful talks on family both ancestors and are posterity.  We had a great time playing a game after church and we are really getting into the swing of things as a family.  We're back on track with a reading schedule, chores, piano, and family fun time.

We went rock climbing and boating this weekend.  The lake was SOOO-OO awesome.  The water was warm and I went surfing (wake surfing) which I hadn't done before but absolutely loved.  The only down side was I forgot the camera - so I am posting more from our Maine trip.

While we were rock climbing, we were unfortunate enough to stay a little too late and some of the fellow users of the quarry had a little too much to drink.  They started throwing rocks in the pond next to us, started getting a little close with some of those rocks and when we asked them to please watch out they used a few colorful words and threats thus precipitating our leave from the mountain.  The kids were a little scared, but it was a great jumping off point to discuss the value of having all our senses about us and not using substances that would blunt our own common sense, or lessen our enjoyment in our situation.

While we were enjoying testing our strength against the wall and fully experiencing all the experience had to offer, others were blunted.  I am truly grateful for the opportunity to experience the full sights, sounds, tastes and emotions the world has to offer and to share that with my children.  Instead of judging the rock throwers, I asked the kids to think about what they might be missing out on by having their senses dulled, and how we could act if we ran into them on the way out.  It was a great what would Jesus do moment out in the real world.
I love finding and interacting with those from other walks of life, for what it teaches me and the love I have for those around me.

I miss all those at home, but hope I can find positive points here as well.

who, what, when, where, why?

Over the last few weeks it feels like we are all adjusting and getting a little used to our own skin.  Kind of like when you bring home a newborn baby - you have to adjust to the new member of the family, on little sleep, your getting used to your post pregnancy body - realizing there are little adjustments that need to be made in multiple areas of life in order for everything to fit.  It's been about 2 weeks now that our entire family has been together, all kids are home from scout camp etc...  and we're sort of in the getting to know you stage all over again.  

Overall the kids are doing pretty good, they're finding new hobbies, have even made a few new friends, but sometimes the emotions get running high and they have a toddler time tantrum.  

At first I was all set to staunch any such behavior, but then I realized I needed to help them work through negative emotions not just suppress them.  In an effort to do so, I've been asking WHY a lot.  It's so fascinating being a parent, because as I ask them WHY, it makes me ask myself.  Such a small word but so profound, why do we do the things we do, feel the way we feel, act on those feelings, say certain things.  Is it part of our makeup, does it just happen, how much do we control, how much is an effect of our environment and the things that surround us.  As I was pondering on the WHY's in my life, it made me think of the W's.  The who, what when where and why.  Sometimes I get going through the motions of life, and don't really stop to make sure I am driving the boat and not just lazily letting it drift here and there, to and fro.  So my self pondering questions for my life direction will follow the W's this week.

Who am I?

Who can I help?

What would the Lord have me do?

When and where am I needed?

Why am I where I am, doing what I am when I am at this very moment?

I'm sure somedays I am fully aware that I am a beautiful daughter of God, where i am to learn and grow, to help those around me.  But somedays I think I could throw a tantrum to make a toddler proud.  I'm not sure who I am, or why I am going through the motions, what am I supposed to do and where am I headed in life.  Luckily I have this lovely blog to bounce ideas off, rediscover the answers to the above questions and then move forward.  I hope you pick a W this week and ask yourself a who, what, when, where why question, just to make sure your directing that boat and not letting the waves array you into waters not of your own making.  

On that note: the where and when of the last week has been fun.  We went up to Maine for our anniversary/Addie's birthday.  We only stayed 2 days, but it was so beautiful.  While the water is pretty frigid, it is so Wicked Gorgeous.  The water is clear and the coastline is breathtaking with Rock formations jutting out and up.  I can't imagine landing on that shoreline and starting a life in a new colony, but I am thankful for the chance to bask in the beauty of it now.