Sisters in the Gospel

Sundays are fun, crazy, and sometimes out of control. Today was an out of control kind of a day. Imagine trying to keep a 13 month old, 3.5 year old and almost 5 year old happy, quiet and reverent all while trying to feel spiritually uplifted and allow others sitting near you to have a great experience. It's tricky, especially on your own. Which for some crazy reason is how I feel like it should be done, you know, perfectly. I've watched plenty of moms keep their kids all together and have a great experience during Sacrament meeting and have always felt like I could/should be able to as well. Today was different though.
Most mornings are spent hurrying the kids along so we aren't late to things. things like school, yoga. library, VT apts. All things that are ok if you are a few minutes late, or if you are still in your pjs. But not Sunday. Sunday is the one day a week that you (I) can't be late. and I can't show up in my pjs. So naturally there are going to be a few speed bump. Today seemed like one speed bump after the next. But I have learned a few things that I want to remember.
1. It is ok to be a few minutes late if it means less yelling.
2. Waking up early on the days you want to look nice is definitely a good idea.
3. kids are kids. No amount of yelling, screaming, threatening is going to change that. Kids don't understand that you are tired, emotional, exhausted, on your last thread or have had enough. So let them be kids and allow for a few melt downs that you can handle before moving on. (yours and your kids)
4. Sisters in the gospel means something

#4 that's the one I want to talk about today. Amidst all the crazy from today my sisters were there. One came and sat with my one child while I took the other one out of the meeting to have a 'chat'. More than one gave me a smile of encouragement. More than one gave a hug that meant the world. More than one said to keep going and one even brought me over a Diet Coke and kept my kids so I could have a nap. Sisters in the gospel do that for each other. They recognize that one is have a 'mommy day' and jump into action. I was so grateful for my sisters today. Grateful for the encouraging words to keep doing what I'm doing because its worth it. To keep moving forward because I'm doing good.

And I'm grateful for the words of the hymn we sang today
"Then don't stand idly looking on; The fight with sin is real. It will be long but must go on; put your should to the wheel." So I'm here to say that I am fighting the sin that is out there. I'm fighting the little voice that said this isn't worth it. I'm fighting the urge to skip the meetings. And I'm fighting the feeling inside that says to yell and be unkind with the desire to be kind and understand before I react. More than anything I'm grateful for my Heavenly Father today. I've felt like there has been a distance in my life from Him. But today I felt like He was with me. He is the only one that could put such awesome sisters in my life that would be a comfort. I know He has put special women in my life and is constantly encouraging me thru them. I know He knows my heart and that when it comes down to it, He is going to help me be what I want to be, a good mom to my kids and good wife to Rob. So tonight as I watch my kids dancing and jumping I'm breathing and committing to be kind and happy. And to be the kind of sister that I was lucky enough to have in my life today.