Happy Day

Posted by Justine | May 16, 2009 | 15 Comments

flower Today I’m feeling the love of the Lord. A broad smile greeted me this morning as I woke to the sound of my toddler running down the hall toward my bedroom for a morning hug. I know he Lord has promised, “He who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious” (D&C 78:19), and I’m feeling glorious this morning.

When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings; name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done. …
So amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged; God is over all.
Count your many blessings; angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

I don’t want to sit here and type, I want to be outside, sifting the dirt of my garden through my fingers. I want to feel the warmth of sunshine on my back as I carefully tend to my emerging seedlings. I want to smile at the mountains and trees and take in the miracle of springtime.

The Lord is a master artist, creating beauty everywhere I turn. I want to create. And today I’m going to create in the garden, where the miracle of seeds turning into plants unfolds every year.

What are you grateful for today? And what will you create today?

Category: Daily Special

Comments

15 Responses to “Happy Day”

jendoop
May 16th, 2009 @ 11:27 am

This time of year I feel overwhelmed with blessings. The earth is so full of God’s love. A few days ago I went to a boulder field and laid on a warm rock in the sun. I took off my shoes and socks to feel the texture of the rock and absorb its heat. As the wind blew my hair I listened to the sound it made in the trees. I felt so full of love; that God made the world, not just providing the necessities, but full of beauty for us. Each corner and nook holds minute beauty waiting to be appreciated.

Today I pulled weeds and planted day lilies at our church building. While beautifying the grounds of the church I built relationships with fellow saints. The rest of the day I’ll dirty my hands a little more in my own yard and cultivate family relationships.
al
May 16th, 2009 @ 12:20 pm

Today I am grateful for the people in my life…my family, my neighbors, my ward, the lady at the hair salon. I am blessed to know a few of the noble and great ones on this planet.

Today I will create chocolate chip cookies for my SIL (who I haven’t seen in a year). She calls me all the time and begs me to make them for her and mail them. They wouldn’t be the same if I did that–as I tell her with every request. So, I’m showing up at the airport with a giant platter of them today. Lots of love.
FoxyJ
May 16th, 2009 @ 12:51 pm

This morning I created a clean home, since it’s been a while without any sort of good cleaning (vacuuming, mopping, etc). I wish I had a garden to create it–a house with a yard is on our wish list for our upcoming move. I also need to create a term paper this afternoon. Sigh.
ellen patton
May 16th, 2009 @ 1:46 pm

I’m grateful for a beautiful Spring day in Boston! I just got back from a 10-12 mile bike ride. I’m hopefully going to create my fundraising letter today (I’m doing a 25 mile bike ride in 15 days) and maybe a few little sewing projects.
Kay
May 16th, 2009 @ 1:49 pm

I am grateful for friends who care. With my husband out of work things are difficult here on many levels. This week a friend sent a box of chocolates through the post to me, she knows I love chocolate and am not buying any at the moment, but it was also the idea she had thought about me and cared ehough to understand what would make me smile. Another friend passed on a waterproof jacket for my 10 year old daughter who is away on a 4 day school camping trip when she heard that we didn’t have one. This morning I spent an hour on the phone to another friend just catching up on life. Friends bring me peace, joy, support, laughter, and many other things in between.

What did I create today (it is nearly 9 p.m. here). Among other things a tidy clean home, up to date laundry, a meal using leftovers from the freezer which everyone loved (a miracle!!!), and time for myself to sew and give me peace. I will also be creating good husband/wife relationships later and toning my figure at the same time. Sex is my only exercise so I multitask on that one.
Melissa M.
May 16th, 2009 @ 3:01 pm

This afternoon I sat down with my ten-year-old daughter and worked on her history project with her; she’s doing it on Martha Washington. Although I usually find these kind of projects tedious, I have enjoyed learning about our first First Lady. Today I read about how difficult it was for Martha to support George as president at first–she didn’t like public life–but she decided to do her best to be cheerful and supportive. And I felt grateful for Martha’s gracious example. I especially enjoyed reading a quote from one of her letters in which she said, “I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances.”

So today I feel grateful for my daughter’s history project–I never thought I’d say that! I’m also grateful for a lovely, sunny spring day and for tulips and daffodils.

As for what I’ve created today–not much, so far, unless you count the lunch I made for my son and his friends while they had their math final study group. I also prepared my YW lesson for tomorrow on temple marriage, and now I’m off to the grocery store so I can create more meals for my family.
Cath
May 16th, 2009 @ 4:36 pm

I too was in the garden today with all three of my little girls. There is something powerful about connecting with the earth and beautifying your own little patch of ground. I loved watching my girls get dirty, muddy, then run through the sprinklers. Makes for a grateful heart. Thanks for the reminder to count our blessings.
Strollerblader
May 16th, 2009 @ 6:17 pm

I am thankful for men and women of tremendous faith to fellowship with. I love the synergism of working with such amazing people.

I am thankful to be blessed to hear from Elder Bednar at church tomorrow.

I am thankful for beautiful, worshipful songs and hymns that can bring me instant peace and praise.
Strollerblader
May 16th, 2009 @ 6:18 pm

I am thankful for the priesthood and its power.
Strollerblader
May 16th, 2009 @ 6:27 pm

I am also very thankful for this blog where I can always find an instant pick-me-up and inspiration. Thanks, Segullah.

Creating today? Stronger bonds with fellow saints, strengthened testimony, deeper faith, trust, confidence, and friendship.

(Sorry for the multiple posts. I’m not quite with it today.)
Leslie
May 16th, 2009 @ 7:31 pm

I am thankful for my new seedlings popping up I have been tending my garden fiathfully this year and finding hope int he power of growth- remembering that something so small can grow so big and produce so much-

today I am creating a house of order so my friend catherine who is visting with her kids does not have to live in squalor!
wendy
May 16th, 2009 @ 8:38 pm

Lovely, Justine. I am grateful for my family and these beautiful spring days, time with my precious toddler and dear friends.
Michelle L.
May 18th, 2009 @ 9:12 am

it’s interesting how many of us find peace in the garden. God speaks to us through dirt and weeds and blossoms.
Justine
May 18th, 2009 @ 9:30 am

oh, and I was outside on Saturday for almost 10 hours. It was wonderful! The kids have been including our little seedlings in their prayers and it’s so cute!

And there is definitely something calming and peaceful about digging in the dirt. It makes me feel very connected to the earth and to creation and to the Lord.

Thank you everyone for sharing your blessings.
Sue
May 19th, 2009 @ 9:17 am

After a very busy two weeks, I am grateful that there is nothing at all I have to do today. What will I create? Some peace and well-being for myself.

And I can’t wait to get started. (In fact I think I already have…at Segullah!)

=)