Sometimes I have to tell myself...

that it's okay to let Kiely help and get a little messy! Often when I'm cooking (or busy with just about anything) Kiely wants to help, or wants me to hold her or whatever.. She holds onto my legs and cries to get my attention (not that I didn't know beforehand, I just would have to ignore her sometimes so that I could get something done in a decent amount of time...) So the other day, I was making tortillas, and decided to sit her up on the counter, and let her help me stir... I'm pretty sure she loved it! I decided that it's not worth it to get upset over the dough that she got on her, or that she wanted to touch it... I just let her help! (Eventually I had to take the spoon away so that I could actually mix it, but I did take the time to let her "help.") Kiely loves to help with things, and I'm pretty sure she's thrilled when we ask her to help us with something. She likes to put the utensils in the dishwasher (and take them out, and put them in,and take them out, and put them in...) and helps me unload when it's clean, too! She is such a smart girl! :)

Concentrating on stirring!

"Hmmm... I kinda like this squishy, sticky stuff!"

Well, I don't look that great, but I thought it was cute how she's looking at the camera, and she looks proud of herself for helping mom stir!

Good thing I was helping her so she didn't have to pay attention to what she was doing!

She just NEEDED to stir by herself again! (Look at the concerned look on her face! haha)

I'm so glad that we have this sweet little angel! She is growing up TOO fast!!

Laundromat

Today, I am grateful for the laundromat. I won't say that I really like it, but am grateful for it. We haven't gotten a washer and dryer yet, so I've been going there once a week for the past little while. I really actually HATE going there. It's kind of filthy and disgusting (they don't seem to vacuum often enough) and the people that go there AND work there, are sort of freaky sometimes. BUT I was thinking today, "I'm glad I don't have to wash all of our clothes by hand, or drive to my mom's or something to do my laundry every week." (Not that I don't like going to my mom's... it's just a pain to go and do laundry at someone else's house.) I am grateful for that weird-smelling, gross, full-of-strange-people place, that allows me to get my laundry done in a couple of hours! (When we do get a washer and dryer, I'm going to have to spread the laundry out through the week, so that it's not JUST laundry day when I do laundry, I think.) Saturday is the day, hopefully-- that we will come home with a set, and then I will be grateful for that! :)

Gratitude

Yesterday during the morning session of conference, President Monson gave a wonderful talk on gratitude. I loved it. Sometimes I get stuck looking to the future, and forget the blessings I have in the here and now. It's not that I don't feel blessed and grateful to our Heavenly Father for so many things that I have in my life, I just don't stop and ponder-- count my blessings-- often enough. This got me thinking about how it feels like the only time we really are thinking a lot about the blessings we have is around Thanksgiving time. SO... My goal for now is to recognize, and try to write down (maybe blog occasionally) about at least one thing that I am grateful to our Heavenly Father for each day. (My goal is to make it to general conference in April at least.)

"Regardless of our circumstances, each of us has much for which to be grateful, if we will but pause, and contemplate our blessings." -Pres. Monson

So, with that said, today I am grateful SO MUCH for the power of the Priesthood, and that I have a worthy husband who is able to use this power in our home, and is Patriarch over us. I am glad that I feel comfortable going to James asking for a blessing for me or Kiely when I feel like we need it. It's an amazing thing, and through our faith, it can help us in our lives in so many ways. I love the power of the Priesthood, and my sweet James.