Grateful Fast Sunday XXXVII

I am exhausted this Sunday. Our church schedule changed to the afternoon and that means no afternoon nap. It also means that our Primary children change classes. It was so busy today directing all the parents and children to their classes. Even the children that were here last week couldn’t remember their new classes! Of course, we also had children that had missed church last week and new children. It was tiring but wonderful. Today we spoke about choices and consequences. I was able to share some great stories from the scriptures and have the kids think about the choices that the people in these stories made. The kids in our primary are so insightful. I love working with them and that makes all the exhaustion worth it. Because I just wanted to go to sleep, I was tempted to not write this post. However, I knew that I wouldn’t do it this week either. I have another paper dueand will be spending time focused on that. I had to express my gratitude tonight.

This month I am grateful for the following. . .

1. That our plans for Kenya are starting to fall into place. We are about six months out but we are arranging training schedules, family visits, and sending in the school application. Getting on top of at least a few details makes me feel a little more relaxed.

2. The comforting power of the Holy Spirit. I normally worry quite a bit. This is especially true during pregnancy when it seems like a million things can go wrong – even if you are doing everything right. However, this pregnancy has at times been unbearable. Every worry takes on extra power because of the tremendous amount of stress I am under. I think I would have long gone over the edge if it were not for the gentle whisperings of the Holy Spirit. He has comforted me and helped to ease my worries. I still worry but the sting is gone.

3. AJP and BLP. They are such great kids. They have taken on much more responsibility this fall and have risen to the challenge. Another wonderful thing about this fall has been to see how excited they are about the new baby. I worried (what a surprise!) about how they would react. I thought maybe they would be jealous or upset but they have only expressed a sweet and sincere love. They will sometime come up to me and give me a hug around my belly and say that they were hugging the baby. It has been a reassuring and delightful response.