Dose of perspective...

I've felt especially ungrateful lately. We really are blessed and I should live in a constant state of thanksgiving for all that I have in my life. But I'm in a rut where I feel bogged down by the burdens that do exist in my life. While I do give credit to those things and their existence, I have been trying to make a concerted effort to move on and then focus outward. The more we think about ourselves the more miserable we can become. The more we serve others and live to lighten another's burdens, the lighter our own burdens feel.

Our car was broken into in front of our apartment complex early Tuesday morning. Pete's window was broken and his briefcase containing his work laptop was stolen. While that shouldn't have been left in the car, how many of us have done that same thing? More than the stuff that was taken and the inconvenience and expense of fixing the window, I just felt sad that someone (potentially someone in our complex) would violate our space like that.

But shortly after finding the car like that, and then working to find someone to come replace the window, I logged onto a blog of a dear friend who's baby has been struggling through a terminal illness. With tears in my eyes, I read how he had passed away that very morning. Though his passing was peaceful, it doesn't ease the pain of such a loss for the amazing parents and his two older brothers. We've known this family since our Provo days, and since baby Mathis was diagnosed two months ago with SMA, his mom has been diligently blogging their life to capture all the precious moments their family was able to experience. They created a Hopelist, so that while Mathis was still with them, they'd be able to make as many memories doing the small and simple things in life that they could. It has been such an inspiration. But the main takeaway for me was that we don't have to be on the brink of death in order to live. We don't have to wait to make important memories with our children and to be intentional about the things we do with them. We are promised trials in our life, but we are also blessed with a magnificent hope that all things work together for good, if we trust in the Savior to lift us. And when the tears fill our eyes, He promises to wipe them away. If you want to be inspired, here's a link to their blog. I am hoping to attend his burial in LA on Monday.

I have two healthy boys. They are loving, capable, and energetic. That's all I need.