I started making a "happy list" last month. Basically, I began jotting down (well, typing in all honesty) anything that makes me happy whether it be simple and mundane or spiritual and eternal in nature. The last time I did this was exactly 10 years ago and in about a month's time I had named 134 things, people, places, activities, etc... (the total amount which would fit
on my lined paper!) It's so fun to read over the things I valued as a Junior in high school. I can see that I have grown up a lot but that I am still the same old Carrie too. For example, these things didn't quite make it on my list this time around: #86) driving a boy's car, #124) school spirit, #116) Mario Cart, #90) sleuthing (spying), #23) my dog Tilly, #64) swimming at Ryan Parker's house, #25) SLLRA, and #63) frozen yogurt outings. However, I still love: #6) sunshine, #16) clear, glassy waterskiing water, #28) cookie dough, #32) new shoes, #38) dancing, #54) reading my journal, #72) praying, #81) sisters, #98) Hawaii, #131) freshly shaved faces, and #134) seeing someone I've missed.
I began a new list simply because I wanted to feel grateful and remember how blessed I am, especially on those days when I am feeling discouraged or frustrated. Lately, I think my faith seems to be less than it should--my faith in others and in myself as well as my faith in the fact that my daily prayers are heard and answered. It is imperative for me that I see all the ways my Father in Heaven is blessing me and loving me and extending His hand into my life. With that assurance and calm understanding I can continue to express the desires of my heart even if they aren't met in the timetable or way that I expect.
D&C 78:17-19 "Verily, verily I say unto you, ye are little children, and ye have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father hath in his own hands and prepared for you. And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours. And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more."
Some things from my recent list: #3) Kissing my babies goodnight when they are sound asleep, #23) Hour long phone conversations, #24) Heidi’s almost daily blog entries, #16) All the love notes and cards from Joseph that I have saved over the years, #53) Jogging in Hyde Park, #55) Thinking of my “little Ben” while standing right by Big Ben, #44) Summer Vacation with the WHOLE family, #6) Caroline’s fluffy hair, and #17) The Priesthood in my home.
family but even more special to do work for your own family which is why we were there. Joseph's dad has been furiously working on family history (he's becoming like you mom!) and had 50 cards of children and couples for us to seal together. My favorite moment of the night was when Joseph and I were representing a couple and Maggie's husband Justin was being sealed to them as their son. The sealer read the names of the parents and then said the name of their son, Simon Whitmore. I felt such quickness and joy leap in my heart and I looked at Joseph and saw him smiling back at me. Since our little boy is named Simon (although he goes by Bentley) I suddenly saw this ancestor as a sweet, young child who had parents that just ached for him to be theirs forever. It was my first time doing sealings for children to parents instead of just couples and it was so wonderful. Its such a beautiful part of the Gospel, the fact that we can be together as families forever. I love my family more than any other people in my life and know that
temples make it so we can all be connected beyond this life.
