My Favorite Things

Early this morning I was nursing Brooklyn. Everyone else was still asleep and I was alone with my thoughts. I glanced at Brady sleeping and then at baby Brooklyn. I was overcome with gratitude. My heart is so happy to have Brady in my life. I began thinking of how the little things in life bring you joy and how all the little things really are significant and bring meaning and happiness. I'd like to share some of my favorite things in my life right now.

I love hugs! I love receiving a hug and kiss when Brady comes home from work every day. I love hugging my children every night before bed. After a long day and I'm exhausted, I love cuddling and laughing in Brady's arms before falling asleep. I love talking with Brady about the events of the day and spending time with him in the kitchen or in the yard. I love it when he surprises me with a rose or when he tickles the kids to make them giggle.

I love being there for my kids when they get out of school. I love to hear all about their day and look for teaching moments with them. I love dinner time when everyone is present and we get to listen to how everyone is doing. I love to watch my children progress and develop their talents. I love to watch them develop Christlike qualities and care for one another.

I love my dog Joey, who follows me everywhere around the house. I am never alone and thanks to him I know when anyone is walking outside our home. The children love Joey. Lex feeds, bathes and helps take him on walks. When we come home, Joey is there to jump up and down over and over again. He is so excited to see us again.

I love our rose bushes. We have white, yellow, red, pink and some mixtures of colors in the front yard. Alexis and Sophia love to pick them and bring them inside for us to enjoy. When we moved in, I had no idea how to care for rose bushes. Our neighbors, Ann and Don also had rose bushes and Ann came over to teach me how to care for them in the early spring. She brought over her long gloves she uses for pruning, her pruning shears and some epsom salt. She had me put on the gloves and told me to not be afraid to cut them to only two feet tall. She instructed me to put some epsom salt at the base of the bush every six weeks. This would make the leaves shiny. Ann had been struggling with cancer for the last five years. When news came to us that she wasn't doing well, we picked our most beautiful roses and took them over to Ann to enjoy. Ann passed away last week and Brady and I went to her funeral. It was inspiring and we miss her.

I love dove dark chocolate. Yes, I know, surprise, right?  It has just the perfect amount of sugar and bitterness to satisfy. The world is a better place with dark chocolate in it. My children do not share my love of dark chocolate. So, when I make cookies, I make sure to make a separate batch for them with milk chocolate chips in it. :)

Most importantly, I love the gospel. It is my compass. Because I know who I am and feel of Heavenly Father's love for me, I want to be the best person I can be. He has blessed me greatly. President Packer taught that true doctrine, understood, changes lives. I believe that with all my heart. As we make a constant effort to learn and understand the doctrine, we cannot help but want to become more like our Savior.

These are some of the daily things in my life that make it more meaningful. There is joy all around us, we just need to be looking for it.