My Shattered Platter Miracle

I was so busy disciplining yesterday that I completely missed the miracles until today!!

Yesterday, my 3 older boys were sent downstairs to the cold-storage food room to look for a jar of Almond Butter.  They looked so intensely that Jordan (my 7 yr. old) decided to even climb on top of the refrigerator!  (I'm still not completely convinced he thought the Almond Butter was up there.  He is a self-proclaimed monkey.)  

No Almond Butter was on top of the refrigerator; but when Tyson found Jordan up there, he decided to  playfully yank him down.  Of course as they both tumbled to the ground, something was bound to break.

I was oblivious to the happenings deep in the basement; but moments after I had sent them downstairs, Tyson and Jordan walked slowly up the stairs.  They entered the kitchen with their heads down and presented the crumbled pieces of my favorite platter.  They were so sorry because they knew I loved that platter.  It was the platter I took to every event.  It could be both elegant and casual at the same time.  Sure I bought it at a garage sale, but it was a great find.  I wouldn't be able to find another one like it.

I was so upset; I hardly said anything to them... that's how bad it was!!  I told them they were going to have to talk to their father about it when he came home.

Now let me clarify... in my mind, if breaking this platter were truly just an accident, I wouldn't have been upset with them at all.  I would have been sad for the loss of the platter, but I understand that accidents happen.  All I could think was that these boys were being rambunctious, and that is why it broke!

I called Abe and told him about Jordan scaling the fridge, and then he interrupted me and said, "Oh no!  They broke the crystal!"  Not even really paying attention to his comment, I said, "They broke my favorite platter!"  Abe was very understanding of my sadness and promised to discipline the boys when he got home.

The boys were worried all night.  I forgave them, but I was still frustrated at their need to wrestle around so much.  (Most boys that I've seen naturally love to wrestle; and as a mom, I'm trying to accept that as part of their nature.)

Tonight I made 4 sheet cakes:  2 for a baptism and 2 for Jackson's all-day wrestling tournament the next day.  I would have liked to have used my special platter, but it was obviously gone.  When I entered the food room to try to find a different platter, I realized what had really happened the night before.

On the floor were many more remaining pieces of my shattered platter.  Then, I noticed that the pieces were all around my very most beautiful and sentimental piece of crystal.  It was a cake stand with an ornate top, and it was also a punch bowl when you turned it upside down.  I had wanted one like it for years, and my mother had just given it to me a few months ago.  This was way more valuable and way more meaningful than my platter.  I thought to myself, "Wow!  I can't believe this didn't break!  They crashed right on top of it.  Why didn't it break?"

Then, a soft voice entered my head and said, "I kept that safe for you... I knew it was even more important to you than the platter."

I had been so worried about making sure my boys' careless behavior received the proper discipline that I didn't take a moment to notice what God had done for me.  Actually, my own behavior was quite careless.  If my platters and crystal were really that special to me, I should have known better and placed them in a safer location.

I began to think about all the times I am quick to judge my children's behavior when I am at fault of the same thing.

Just yesterday, Abe came home to a kitchen floor full of remnants from our taco salad feast.  I was in the process of telling him how messy the kids had been making their tacos when Abe began to laugh at me.  There I was dropping tomatoes and lettuce all over the floor while accusing the little ones of the entire mess.

I discovered 2 miracles tonight:

Even though my platter broke, God kept my crystal safe.  I'm so grateful HE did.  That shift in perspective made all the difference in the world.

The other miracle is that he taught me to be more thoughtful of my own imperfections as I discipline my young children.  That doesn't mean I don't discipline them for their misbehavior just because I make mistakes too.  It means that I have more compassion and more quickly on their little sorrowful hearts.  It means that I trust their intentions more just as I would like my good intentions to be trusted by my Heavenly Father.




{This picture is merely a demonstration.  Everyone is smiling sweetly for the picture... except for 2 children...  Oh yes!  It's obvious which 2 children were the ones who got into trouble today for their rambunctious behavior.  By the way, I do love the excitement they add to the home.}

Tyson's Daily Miracle

I woke up to a miracle this morning...

Every night I write my daily miracles after the children are all in bed and the house is cleaned up.  Last night I was completely exhausted.  

I saw God's hand in my life many times throughout the day; but as I sat at my computer, words would not come to me. I decided to take a short nap and slept the entire night on the couch!

I woke up this morning, looked over at the computer screen, and saw Tyson typing one of his miracles for me.  I think God may have wanted Tyson's story to be told instead.

Here is the Daily Miracle my sweet 9 year old wrote this morning in exactly his words: 

DAILY MIRACLES

CHICKEN MIRACLE

One night I was gathering my chickens,

and putting them in the shed. Then I

noticed that one of the chickens was

missing! I looked and looked, but I

could not find it. I said a prayer. I still

could not find it. Then I had an Idea!

I left the pen door open, so if it comes

back while I’m sleeping, he can go in

the pen!

The next morning I was going to take

the chickens out, when I heard a noise

in the pen. I looked in the pen and saw

the lost chicken! I was so happy! I

know Jesus answers our prayers. I

know that Jesus loves us.

Trusting Jesus in Bolivia

Today my husband and I were faced with 2 very big decisions that would change the course of our lives significantly.  We prayed, discussed the pros and cons, and made a decision based on how we felt.

I believe those feelings came from the Holy Ghost who guides us and confirms truths in our lives.

It's scary to take a step into the unknown not knowing exactly what the outcome will be.  At the same time it's exhilarating to place that kind of faith and trust in God that HE will take care of us as we earnestly seek HIS will.  At a young age, God gave me experiences to be able to learn to trust those feelings even when the "unknown" wasn't what I had in mind.

At the age of 21, I had an awesome opportunity to work as an intern for an ABC affiliate in Dallas, TX doing sports news.  I interviewed professional athletes from the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers.  I was young, single, dating a ton, and living very independently.

Everybody... the players, coaches, and other reporters all knew me as "The Mormon," and they liked how I did things.  I worked hard and got interviews that nobody else could.  Even several reporters gave me their cards to help me get future employment.  I thought I saw exactly where my future was heading, and it seemed very exciting to me.

Things changed quickly during one lunch hour.  I remember sitting at a long table eating with a bunch of reporters and camera crews when they all turned their attention to me- the only young person, the only female... and the only Mormon.  They respectfully asked me question after question about my beliefs.  I LOVED answering their questions, and I loved how I felt answering them.

Right at that moment, I realized that I wanted to be a missionary so I could feel that way all the time.  God had spoken to my heart, and I knew I had to serve a mission.  In that moment, I had made a decision that would drastically change the course of my life.

As a sister missionary, I would serve for a year and a half. I would not be allowed to date.  I would only be allowed to call home twice a year- Mother's Day and Christmas.  I would only be allowed to listen to music that could be played at church, and I would have a companion with me 24 hours a day.  It sounded tough, but I... was... ready!!

I turned in my papers and received the call to go to Bolivia!!  I was ecstatic to learn Spanish and to go to one of the poorest places in South America to teach about Jesus!!  I left my position working with ABC.  I left my boyfriend, and I left all my things.  Nothing could get me down!!  I was going to serve the Lord!!

We arrived, and I immediately loved the people.  I loved their clothes, their homes, and their hearts, but  those first few months were not what I had expected.

Parasites attacked my body, my companion only spoke Spanish- which I did not understand yet, and I felt very, very lonely.

The people knew I only understood a portion of their Spanish; so when they wanted to talk about something really important, they didn't even look in my direction.  I wanted so badly to be helping them solve their problems too and ease their pains, but I just felt like a dummy sitting there.  I tried to watch my companion's facial expressions.  When she looked sad, I did too.  When she looked shocked, I did too!  When she laughed, I tried to laugh too.

... but I was really just sad.  I had gone to Bolivia thinking I was going to do great things, but I felt like I was a complete failure.  There wasn't a single person anywhere in my area that spoke English, and I felt like my Spanish would never be good.  I couldn't even teach anyone.  Many thoughts ran through my mind:  "Why had I come?  I was doing great before I left.  Was I supposed to be here?"

The next Sunday at church, I had decided to try extra hard to have a good attitude.  I sat on my bench trying to understand what the speakers were saying, but I was completely clueless as to what was going on.  There was nobody I could talk to about it!  Despite my efforts, my sadness was returning. Tears were forming and about to pour out of my eyes, so I rushed out of the meeting to go hide in the bathroom before anyone could see me have a break-down.

I guess I wasn't discrete enough because several sweet Bolivian women followed after me.  Even though I really wanted to be alone,  I could see so much love and concern for me as they tried to comfort me.  I appreciated their efforts, but the more they spoke, the more I cried because I couldn't understand a single word they were saying!!  They were comforting me in Spanish!  My head was swirling, and I just wanted to go home.  A phone call to my mom would have helped... but I couldn't call her.

The concerned women brought me into the Bishop's office.  He spoke to me in more Spanish trying to comfort me as I blankly stared at him.  Seeing that I was not grasping anything he was telling me, he opened his English scriptures.

After a few minutes of searching, he looked up at my tear-streaked face and said in his best, broken English, "Trust Jesus."

I stammered out a few words in Spanish trying to tell him that I already trusted Jesus- that's why I had come half way across the world!

Despite my responses, my Bishop continued to repeat his same message and knelt by my side saying, "Trust Jesus."

He said it so many times that I felt a physical change within me.  I felt myself letting go of every fear, stress, and doubt.  I literally felt my shoulders lift and my heart regain hope.  I thought I had been trusting Jesus all along, but I hadn't really trusted HIM.  I hadn't let go of my worries.  I was trying to teach with my own strength and ability, but Jesus wanted to make a useful servant out of me even without the ability to speak.

Because of this wise Bishop's advice, miracles took place.  Instead of crying myself to sleep every night, my tears dried up, and I literally sang in the streets!  I sang Zippity Doo Dah and You Are My Sunshine- songs don't get too much happier than that:)  What a contrast of emotion!  My pain was so exquisite, and now my joy that replaced it was just as exquisite!!  HE had taken my pain away; I had learned to trust God to make more of me than I could be on my own.

Soon after my meeting with my Bishop, my companion and I went to see a man that was going through a great deal of sadness.  He began to tell us about his problem, and he looked at me while he spoke.  At first I got worried; nobody had told me about their problems before in Spanish.  They usually looked at my companion.  Now I couldn't react to her responses; it was all on me.  I thought, "What if he finds out I can't really understand that much Spanish yet?"

I prayed so hard, cast away all my fears, and concentrated on how much God loved him.  I decided it wasn't about me or my fears anymore, it was about him.  As I looked at this man, I felt what he was saying.  My ability to understand was not blocked by my human incapabilities.  I trusted Jesus; I let HIM work through me.

Even though I didn't know the exact words that were coming out of this man's mouth, I knew exactly what he had said.  After he poured his heart out to us, he asked me for advice.  I silently thanked the Lord as the words he needed to hear flowed from my lips in Spanish.

I went to Bolivia thinking I was going to do great things because I had gifts to share, but God wanted me to first understand HIS power before HE would allow me to use those gifts.  Once I truly trusted HIM, then HE could trust me to use my gifts with HIS power accompanying them.  We are always so much more powerful when we are fully trusting HIM.


I had to be stripped of everything, so that I would be compelled to trust HIM even more.  That experience guides me today, and I thank God for the miracle of personal revelation.

A Change of Heart Today

I had to get all the kids out the door extra early this morning, and we woke up extra late!  I hate it when I do that!!  Stress rises, and I slip into my Lucille Ball mode.  Both my mother and I have been told by our husbands that we could create Lucille Ball episodes on a regular basis.  

Abe asked how he could help me get out the door quicker.  I said, "Hold the baby!"  One minute later, in my brainless state of mind, I asked, "Where is the baby?"  Abe was sitting there holding the baby of course.  Minutes later, I threw some clothes at Abe and said, "The baby doesn't need to be held anymore!  Dress Juliana!!"  Abe was late for work too and had to take Jackson to a class, so he helped as long as he could but really had to leave.

Thinking the other 5 children and I were leaving for our destination just minutes after him, he kissed me and said, "I know you don't really like me that much right now, but you're going to see a miracle in this."  I immediately thought, "Miracle in this?  No way!  I'm late, and I'm grouchy."

I called all the children to head for the car and realized my keys were gone!  My heart sunk!  The children and I searched everywhere, dumped out all of our bags and prayed for help, but we could not find them!!  

Then, after about 15 minutes of searching, I finally slowed down long enough to listen to what the Spirit was telling me.  Only when I was quiet in my mind, I remembered that Jackson had asked to use the keys late last night to get into the van.  That meant the keys could be anywhere, and he was not with us to tell us where they were.

Ugh.. I needed help from Abe because he had an extra set of keys.  If I called him for help, I would have to say sorry for being so grouchy, and I would be making him even more late for work.  I really didn't want to call him for help; I wasn't ready to be humble yet, but I had no choice.

That sweet man didn't even make me feel bad when I told him of my predicament.  He didn't even tell me how much this was going to cause problems for him with his work.  In a very forgiving tone, he said, "You know you're really cute when you're mad, right?  I'll be there soon."

Abe had the choice at that moment to add fuel to the fire or to change the entire tone for both of us.  He chose "the road less traveled" and said I was cute.  I'm pretty sure there was nothing cute about me.  Between God humbling me by my loss of keys and Abe humbling me by his undeserved kindness to me, I knew I was seeing a miracle in this- just as Abe had said I would. 

God loved me enough to put my relationship with my husband above being on time to an appointment.  I needed to start over this morning, and HE provided me with that opportunity.  I realize it is much better for those who are humble without having to be compelled, but I'm grateful the humbling took place nonetheless.  I'm grateful for a forgiving husband, and I'm grateful I had a new start to a beautiful day.

I'm grateful for God's daily miracles.  

Following Jesus on the Ski Slopes

Today was my ski day with all 6 kids!  At the rental counter, the young girl helping asked me,  "Do you have any advice on motherhood for someone who just found out she's pregnant?"

Surprised by the question, I must have looked at her strangely, but she quickly continued, "That person is me... I'm 13 weeks pregnant."

I congratulated her and gave her the best advice I could think of at that moment.  I really didn't know what to tell her.  

How do you sum up everything in just a quick answer?

Motherhood is my life!  I pray daily to be a better mother.

I homeschool all my children, so that means that I have a LOT of influence on how they respond to the world.  That is a very scary thought to me!!  

What if I don't teach them enough?  What if they don't get into a good college?  What if they can't ever get a good job?  What if... what if... what if...

I put a lot pressure on myself as the teacher for their math, reading, writing, spelling, geography, English, Spanish, typing, science, social studies, piano, trumpet, guitar, drums, cooking, cleaning, sewing, physical fitness, and of course for their spiritual well-being.

I want them to be the very best they can be; but there is so much to teach them and so many things of great value that there just isn't enough time to teach it all before they're on their own!!

Despite all my good intentions, God opened my eyes on the ski slopes today.

He started with my cute little Jordan, my 7 yr. old.  Jordan reached the bottom of the hill after his first ski run of the day and shouted excitedly, "Mommy!!  I prayed that I wouldn't fall, and I didn't!!"  He fell a lot later on; but on that first run, he knew God had answered his prayers.  His excitement was so great, I couldn't help but smile.

Then, a few moments later, a really sweet, older gentleman-probably in his late 70's- approached me and asked, "Would you mind if I took a picture of your ski family?"  "SURE!" I said.  The older kids were just sliding in, and we all posed for his camera.  I decided to have him take a picture with my camera too! 

A little while later, the same older gentleman approached me again and said, "I just love watching that older brother help his younger sister."  

I looked up and saw that Tyson was helping Mariah back up onto her skis after a big fall.  The moment he would help her up, her legs would split and she would collapse again.  He helped her like this several times.  I suddenly saw these children in an even brighter light; they were interacting with so much love... and lots of giggles.

Then, this same older gentleman approached me a third time and asked, "Are you a Jesus follower?"

I just about burst into tears and exclaimed, "Oh yes I am!"  

He responded so sweetly with his hands towards the sky and said, "Oh I knew it!  I could just tell.  Praise God!"

That was the last time I saw this sweet gentleman.  He will never know that he was an answer to my prayers... my miracle.  He will never know that those were the exact words I needed to hear.  I knew at that moment that Jesus had sent him to remind me that the most important part of being a mother was about teaching them to love.

What joy filled my heart that he could see the love in our family. 

Maybe I'll get a second chance to answer that young girl's question about motherhood.  This time my answer would be clear and certain...

Teach your child to love.  The message of love is the message of Jesus.

While all those other subjects I'm teaching my children are very important; if they truly know how to love, they will have the passion necessary to do great things wherever they are.

Date Night Miracle

I had so much to catch up on today, and I felt like I was getting nowhere.

I had a date planned with my sweetheart, and I was running out of time to get everything done.  I had laundry to fold, dishes to wash, posters to make, lessons to plan for church, and of course meals to prepare.

I felt panic creep in because I LOVE date night with my husband, and I didn't want to miss out on any of it!  I also wanted to get all my work done so I could fully enjoy tomorrow's sabbath.  I asked the children to help with extra chores than their own because I could see my time slipping away.  I felt stagnant in my progress.

Right then, Mariah, my 5 yr. old, came skipping around the corner and said, "Mommy!  Just say a prayer, and you'll get it all done in time!  God will help you!  See?  I'll say a prayer for you right now!"

I knew she was right; I said a prayer at that very moment- she did too.:)  I felt my panic slip away, and my efforts to finish what needed to be done became much more efficient.

... and yes!  I had a FANTASTIC date with my forever love.  Oops!  Better get back to my date right now!!!:)

God is Creating a Palace

All my life I had to defend my religious beliefs.  I knew I was different, and my friends knew I was different- mostly because I never swore, didn't date until I was 16, went to seminary daily before school, and didn't drink alcohol.

I remember going to my first class as a 6th grader- it was language arts.  I was standing by my desk, and the bell hadn't rang yet.  Above the noises, a boy yelled out, "Hey Rachel!  You're a moron- you go to the moron church!"

He was standing a few desks away.  I turned to him, shook my finger at him, and said, "I am a Mormon!  Don't you EVER make fun of my religion again!!"

He never did again-even all through my high school years.

Even though he never made fun of me again, many others did.

Almost daily, either someone asked me questions about my religion, made fun of my strict lifestyle, or divulged all kinds of crazy things they had been taught about my religion in their church.  I would then clarify the miseducation they had received.

I often wondered why members at my friends' churches would gather just to talk about the Mormons.  There were only a small handful of us in the entire high school, and we were all good kids.  

Despite all of this, I became the Student Body President running with the campaign slogan of "Rachel Likes People!"

My friends knew that when they were really going through something tough in their lives, they could trust me to pray with all my heart to God on their behalf.  Although they didn't understand my religion, never once had any of my friends questioned my belief in Jesus Christ because they could see my faith in HIM through my love for them.

This past week, some strangers doubted my belief in Jesus.  They said that I believe in a different Jesus than them.  It perplexed me that there would be such a discussion.  We're worshipping the same Jesus- the One and Only Messiah.  Their comments hurt deeply at the time, but now I see the wisdom in God's ways.  HE was strengthening me!

One of my favorite CS Lewis quotes is as follows:

“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”

I know the pain I felt is minimal to what many others continually face, but I learned something beautiful.  As I felt pain and turned to my Savior who took upon himself all pain, I felt a strengthening and a building within me that I never thought possible!  

I had been given the opportunity this week to bear simple testimony again and again that Jesus Christ is my Savior and my God.  I had been given the opportunity to state over and over that I am Christian.  

It has been one of the deepest, most penetrating spiritual experiences of my life to feel my Savior's loving arms wrap around me each time I testified of those truths.  I know that I am HIS witness, and I thank HIM for that honor.

What a miracle!  In the process of testifying of my king and Savior, Jesus Christ, I received an even stronger testimony of HIM.