Tender Mercies

Alright, I couldn't just ignore what has transpired today.  I have to write this down now before I forget.


Today during Fast and Testimony meeting a brother, who our family has gotten to know pretty well, got up and began his testimony taking about Chapter 20 of Mosiah, where the daughters of the Lamanites where taken by the priests of Noah.  The Lamanites thought it was the people of Limhi so they gathered to war against them.  He quoted verse 11:

"And it came to pass that the people of Limhi began to drive the Lamanites before them; yet they were not half so numerous as the Lamanites. But they fought for their lives, and for their wives, and for their children; therefore they exerted themselves and like dragons did they fight."

He then commented about how, for a mythical creature that isn't supposed to exist, there sure were a lot of them at church today.  He bore testimony about how so many of the men in our ward were fighting for their families and how the Lord was with them.  He then talked about how at work he likes to listen to the Mormon Channel app on his phone because with how many hours most people work around here it is hard to really study the scriptures for a couple hours.  He told of an experience he had one morning where he learned that he wasn't the only member of the church at work.  How the missionary opportunities that he'd been praying for stumbled in his lap.  He was comforted to know that he wasn't alone anymore.  Then a talk came onto his Mormon Channel speaking about exactly what just happened to him, and reminded him of how the Lord knows us, He knows what we're going through, and He takes every opportunity that He can to show us how much He loves us.


The spirit was so strong and my testimony grew.


Church continued and I had a BLAST in Primary.  We were without a piano player, and I knew that I didn't want to start teaching our kids Christmas songs without someone to play for us.  So I literally threw together an idea.  I gave each child a quarter sheet of paper and had them write their name with a crayon.  They were all confused when I told them to crumple it up in a ball.  Senior Primary gave me the weirdest looks!  I wish I had had a camera...  Then I asked if anyone knew what was going on outside.  They all said, "Uh, it's snowing..."  I then opened my hands with my crumpled paper and asked what I had.  They all caught on and said, "A snowball!"  I then counted to 3 and let them all throw their "snowballs" at me!  They LOVED that!!  I then picked snowballs off the floor and we sang those children's favorite Primary songs.  I went great, and our Primary Secretary even grabbed a piece of paper during Senior Primary so that she could do it too.  Haha.


After all of our meetings were finished we arrived home and TJ asked if he could take a nap before going out with the missionaries because he had a headache.  I said sure, that Dru would be getting sleepy soon anyway, and I might be able to join him.  She didn't get sleepy as soon as I had hoped, but after almost finishing her bottle she was pretty drowsy.  I placed her in her crib and she immediately started crying.  Now, for all of you who may not know, Dru HATES sleeping in her crib.  And I've been crippling her by going and getting her and rocking her back to sleep.  Of course I'd have to sit there for about an hour (sometimes longer) because she'd have to be completely OUT before I could lay her in the crib.  She has some sixth sense and can tell when I'm laying her down in it.  She's just fine with being laid down on OUR bed, but not hers... go figure.  Anyway, last night I said NO MORE.  I vowed to myself that I needed to be strong and resist, for her sake.  So this afternoon, once she started crying, I told her I loved her, that she was a big girl and could go to sleep on her own, and left the room.  I hate hearing her cry, so I knew that I needed to actively distract myself and not lay down to try and take a nap myself.  So I turned on the computer and loaded Pandora to listen to church music while playing with my new digital scrapbook software (that's right, they were having a great deal and I couldn't pass it up! Future posts with finished projects to come!).  Anyway, guess what the first song was that Pandora decided to play for me?  The PERFECT song for my current situation.  Hilary Weeks - Who You Are.  I sat here at the computer and cried along with Dru, but for a totally different reason.  My Father in Heaven knows me!!  He loves me, and I was reminded of the brother's testimony this morning.


Dru just woke up, but I wanted to post the lyrics to the song.  I couldn't find them anywhere online except for another blogger's site, so thank you for taking the time to share these lyrics!

I know you wonder if you'll ever have a day
When the kids stay calm, the laundry's done, and the dishes are put away.
And sometimes you feel like your days are spent and gone
And the question running through your mind is what have I gotten done?
And when you finally have a moment to slow down at the end of you day
I know Father would say:

Believe in what you're doing
Believe in who you are
Hold tight to the truth that you're a daughter of God
Believe in who you're becoming
Believe in who you are

It may seem simple - all the little things you do
But the lives you touch matter so much. And there's no one else like you.
And Father needs you to stand tall and faithful to be all you can be.
Oh, if you could see what he sees.
When it's hard to believe in yourself and you feel like you're beginning to doubt
Remember:

He believes in what you're doing
He believes in who you are
Don't lose sight of the truth that you're a daughter of God
That he believes in who you're becoming
He believes in who you are

I believe in what I'm doing.  I believe in who I am.  I believe in who I'm becoming.  I know that I am a daughter of God.


I know that we are ALL sons and daughters of a Father in Heaven who loves us, and if we're paying attention, He will tell us so.

Warmest Wishes,
Tiffany