A lesson learned

I've learned this lesson over and over again, but today it especially stood out in my mind. When someone is mean to Ash at school, I remind her that you just never know if that person had some really hard things they were going through that you might not know about. I try to teach her that it's best to be as nice as you can, even when they aren't being nice. I realize that it's easier to teach this principle than to live it.

The older I get, it seems that I know more of those "hard things" that people are going through.

If Dave ever complains of a driver driving too slow, I suggest that maybe the driver's wife just had a c-section. I know how it feels, and slow-as-a-snail is how I wanted my husband to drive after a c-section.

Today I watched a leader at church lead with a smile - even though last night her teenage son ran away. I was amazed she was there, doing her best, and even with a smile. Most people didn't know about her situation - and I just hoped that everyone around her would be extra warm, extra patient and extra understanding.

Dave has had some things from work weighing heavily on his mind. One day after hearing about everything from Dave, a neighbor stopped by and we chatted for a while. She had no clue of the stress going on inside my head while we talked.

There have been several other situations that have really made me think. And wonder how many times I have interacted with someone. Maybe they were short with me or moody or impatient. Maybe (probably) I had no clue of something they were going through.

And so my resolution today and for this new year is to treat everyone with love, and to remember that most of the time, I may have no clue of the hurt, sadness, suffering, frustration, or WHATEVER, that those I interact with may be going through.



We're back from a fabulous trip to California. It was such a treat to have Mom's cooking and not having to clean or cook or grocery shop! It wasn't the most relaxing trip we've ever had -as we had so much to fit in, and still many people we didn't get to see! But we had a fun time and I have no pictures to prove it. With the airlines being so strict with baggage, I tried to pack as light as possible - and that meant that my big camera didn't stand a chance of making it into the bag. So I'm counting on my family to send pictures soon so I can have some documentation of our trip!

Nate copies everything we do. Lately, when we lay on the floor he gets in right next to us - in the exact position. Today at church we were sustaining new callings. Right when it would be the time to oppose - Nate raised both hands in the air. While I'm talking about church - have I mentioned that during the sacrament, Nate says either "roll" or "wa-wa" the whole time. He calls bread "roll". He always wants more. Funny kid.

Dave was vacuuming yesterday. Nate found it to be quite the fun ride.