Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Good Christian Men --- Rejoice!!

As the mother of girls who are grown up -- or almost grown up -- I have had the chance lately to be extremely grateful for the good Christian men in my life and in the lives of my children.  It's a new kind of terrifying to have a daughter old enough that she could choose to get married if she wanted to.  It's less terrifying because she's smart and even less terrifying because she has good Grandpas, a good Dad, and lots and lots of good Uncles to look to as a guide for what a good Christian man is like.  So today I want to say a quick thank you, thank you, thank you to all of the men who know how to live the gospel in such a way that my girls look up to you and enjoy your company.  I have hopes that my girls will find someone like you.

To all of the wives of those men -- give them a thanks from me.  Because of them I can be more hopeful than terrified.  My girls will, when the time is right, find good Christian men -- and then we can rejoice!

Monday, April 19, 2010

Please Pass the Possibilities

Have you ever had a problem that is so hard that you have given up on finding a solution?  You've hit a dead end, or you've found a giant chasm in the path and you don't know what to do.  Wouldn't you like to sit down at a table and say, "Please pass the possibilities," and then have them handed to you?  Well, in some ways I think life is like that if we do not allow ourselves to give up.

We take our troubles to the family table.  Heavenly Father is there and lots of brothers and sisters -- some who are expert in fields you may never have even heard of.  You sit down and tell Heavenly Father all about the problem and what you have done so far.  Then you say "Would you please pass the possibilities?" -- and he does!  You are so happy!  And then you look more closely at them and realize you don't like either of the possibilities you've been given.  You ask if you can exchange them and he says "No, those are good for you, you have to keep them"  (It's a little like being handed your two least favorite vegetables to eat).  Now you have a choice -- you can leave the table and storm and fuss and get very mad -- forgetting that you now have possibilities when you didn't before.  You can stay at the table and keep them and feel a bit sorry for yourself.  Or you could stay at the table, keep them, and ask for more possibilities.

Much to your surprise, you are given more!  Perhaps Heavenly Father hands them to you directly, or perhaps, he passes them around the table and you get them through your brothers and sisters.  When you look at these you are not sure about them but you take them.  One possibility, when you try it, ends up making that first possibility you were given easier to handle (like being given cheese sauce to go with that broccoli).  One you're not sure about, but it turns out that once you've accepted it, it makes you see clearly what you have gained from that first thing you had to keep.  Maybe you even get a possibility that seems a lot like dessert!

I am thankful to have been reminded in a few different ways lately that even if I can't see a possibility for a solution, it doesn't mean that their isn't one.  Miracles happen.  When I see a dead end, or a giant chasm -- I might be able to look from a different view point and discover that the road continues or that there is a bridge I hadn't seen.  When I face a challenge and feel weak, and angry, and worried, I can turn to Heavenly Father and find power, and love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). 

In the future I hope to always remember that if a problem seems impossible to solve, I can ask --"Please pass the possibilities!"

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Food Allergies: Part Last

I'm about ready to move on to a new topic -- but here are a few last things I've learned.

1.  Make your own cookbook -- when you find something that works type it up and stick it in your book.  It makes looking for recipes at dinnertime less complicated.

2.  When you start to get frustrated again remember that there are resources that you might not know about yet and start looking.  Sometimes help is a google search away.

3.  I read somewhere that it is better to treat an allergy matter of factly.  Don't treat your child like they are picked on and they are less likely to think that they are.

4.  Finally, be willing to ask questions --  so here is one for you:

Dan one day will go to school, he will have birthday parties to attend and ball games with treats.  At some point, no matter how matter of factly I treat his allergy, he is bound to feel a bit picked on because he will be different.  Any suggestions on how to help him through that?  Most of you won't have had to deal with that before -- but neither have I -- any ideas?