*FREEZING!!!

wish I had my good camera to capture the snow drifts

love these beautiful snow capped mountains I get to look at

Litterally it is freezing! Colder than freezing even! I think the high today is suppose to be 22 degrees. Last night I went to feed my chickens and in the 5 minutes that I was out there my hands were burning from the cold. So grateful that Brice built them such a great home! Wish it could be even warmer, but at least they were in from the wind and had heat lamps to warm them.

This morning as I was driving to work and looking at the sun come over the mountains I could see the snow blowing off the tops of the mountains. I then had this thought....

Life is like the weather outside today. It is beautiful to look at, but to go outside and experience the beauty it is cold, harsh, and can be painful if exposed for to long. However, would I give up the beauty to avoid the pain?

I was reflecting on all that we have been through, all of our past, recent and current problems or trials. They are hard, tiring, and I have shed many a tear over them. But we have not been left alone. We have been blessed in so many other ways and we have learned some valuable lessons that we wouldn't learn otherwise!

I am truely grateful for my Heavenly Father. He knows the vaule in the trials. He knows the lessons that are learned. He knows the strenght it gives to me even though at times I feel I may break under the pressure. Most importantly I am grateful for my eternal companion! I am grateful that Brice is willing to stand by me and fight these trials with me. Sometimes I would just like to through my hands up and say.. "I give up!", but I wont give up! This life is worth the prize at the end! I love you Brice! Thanks for struggling with me to make our lives so much better. You mean the world, and all eternity, to me!

*Pay it forward

Pay it forward, do unto others, God's helping hand.....

Whatever you call it, I try to do this when I can. Yesterday while on errand during my lunch break I saw a woman coming out of Subway caring a baby carrier, sandwiches, and a drink carrier with 3 large drinks. Just as she got outside the bottom of the drink carrier dropped out along with her three drinks.

The thought came to my mind "Poor woman, that sucks!" and then I went to go on my way. It was then that I thought "why don't you help her?" I said to her "Can I go refill your drinks and you could take your stuff to your car?" She said "Oh thank you" and then looked up at me. She was surprised to see me and said "Oh, I thought you were a Subway worker." I attempted to take the cups and said "Please let me help."

I'm not writing this for a pat on the back or even to tute my own horn. I just would like to pass onto my posterity that I think this is a valuable thing. We never know what someone is going through or just how hard or easy their lives are. I know that God has sent us here to help each other! We need to be the one to lighten someones load some days.

It didn't take me long to help this woman and I was quickly back on my way, but as I thought of the small act that I had done to help this lady the Spirit confirmed to me my previous thoughts! I was there to help her. I was there to lighten her load like so many people in my life do for me. I am so glad that I took the time to help her. I don't think that there is enough of this in the world today and so I hope to teach my family this principal!