The gift...

Let me start by saying thank you for reading. If you are here and reading my little rantings from day today, it means a lot to me. Since my 2nd child was born I have battled with depression. My mood goes up and down. I usually do better when I have healthy food in my body and a good exercise routine going...but I am human and a mother of five so often it is drive thru and the exercise I get chasing children...

Life at best is often difficult. In the past SEVEN years since our sweet and Darling #2 has been born I have had many things happen that would make a girl a little down...

I have had a miscarriage (and though it was the year after #2 was born and I have been blessed with three children since then, it is funny that the memory and hurt of that still lingers a little).

I went through my parents getting divorced...

Then remarried! Long and strange story...

Then my mom being re-diagnosed with breast cancer.

Then a fabulous year before her decline.

A brother moving away.

Our mother past away.

Now that could get a girl a little down.

But since then let me tell you just a few of my joys:

A sister and I who had let our relationship slip were reunited.

My brother moved yet again (but closer and many of us siblings

have seen each other in the past two years).

I have had 3 more beautiful children, bringing our total to 5 amazing blessings.

I have grown more deeply in love with my husband through each passing day and week. That doesn't mean we get along perfect, so if you are having a bad husband day, don't get down on you...unless it is your fault...then say sorry and move forward ;)

I have seen weddings, cried at funerals, welcomed nieces and nephews into the world...

I have had family reunions, and park days, beach days, trips to visit loved ones.

I have witnessed my oldest child make a commitment to follow Christ and be baptized.

I could go on and on...but I think that you can see, my joys outweigh my sorrows.

There was once a hallmark commercial that talked about how a person goes to dozens of birthday parties, a hand full of weddings and a couple funerals in their life. Maybe it is because of our strong religious ties, our deep friendships, or bad luck...but I have been to more funerals than I can count. And if I didn't have a firm faith in God's plan and the path that keeps going after this...I would be writing from a funny farm and it would likely be gibberish. I am grateful for a beautiful plan that included eternal life, eternal families and a loving Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ. It gets me through the bad days...and even the not bad, but just hard days.

This blog has been an amazing source of free therapy. Who would have thought sharing my funny, sometimes serious and often sarcastic side with all of you would be a vent that brought me joy but it has. My husband finds nothing of value here and I was having a little trouble with that, since I often pour my best self into these pages...

But recently I received a GIFT!

A friend copied the blog entries and pasted them into a beautiful journal for me to reflect back on. I was so touched by this time consuming and selfless act of service. She truly and deeply touched my heart and for her, I am so grateful. So my challenge to all of you reading this...find someone...and serve them. It can be anonymous or face to face...just serve. Get lost in the giving and you will feel so good that you will want to do it again and again! Thank you for the gift of being readers, you have boosted my confidence and joy the past month!

Make it a great day! Only YOU can!