Day 234

     Katie slept through the night last night, which was wonderful!  The night before, Katie tossed, turned, and moaned all night.  So, I am glad she was able to get some sound and peaceful sleep last night.  Yesterday was a really good day!  Katie was feeling better and the stars seemed to line up (so to speak) and I think Katie is potty trained.  We have tried before and it just hasn't worked, but yesterday when she woke up I asked her if she wanted to use the potty chair and she did - and she continued to do so all day.  I thought since she was older, it would be harder to train her (and so far every attempt has failed) but she told me she is a big girl now and doesn't need her diapers any more.  Could it really be this easy!?  I hope so! 
     To celebrate (and as an incentive) we took Katie out (just doing that is rare and fun) - we went to Jamba Juice and then to Walmart to buy a prize.  While at Walmart, we met a new friend.  As we were walking down the aisle, a woman said, "Is that Katie?"  We had never met before, but she recognized Katie from the blog.  (I didn't think to ask her how she knew about the blog).  As we talked I found out her dad is suffering from Alzhemiers, and as I lay in bed last night, I couldn't help but think how many people are suffering in so many different ways.  And as I have said before, hard is hard - but there are varying degress of hard.  As I was thinking on this, I was again reminded there are people dealing with things far more difficult than us - like having your child kidnapped or having a child die, etc...  There is so much pain and heartache some people have to endure, but there is also hope and joy available too. 
     As I was pondering this, the quote below about the pebble came to my mind, so I looked it up this morning.  It is a good reminder about keeping things in perspective.  (This is not just a doctrinal discourse; rather a personal witness by Elder Scott, a man who at one time lost a baby girl and nearly his wife, and then six weeks later they lost a son) (As stated in "To help a Loved One in Need" May 1988 - which is a good talk about helping a wayward family member).
     "Your joy in life depends upon your trust in Heavenly Father and His holy Son, your conviction that their plan of happiness truly can bring you joy. Pondering their doctrine will let you enjoy the beauties of this earth and enrich your relationships with others. It will lead you to the comforting, strengthening experiences that flow from prayer to Father in Heaven and the answers He gives in return.

     "A pebble held close to the eye appears to be a gigantic obstacle. Cast on the ground, it is seen in perspective. Likewise, problems or trials in our lives need to be viewed in the perspective of scriptural doctrine. Otherwise they can easily overtake our vision, absorb our energy, and deprive us of the joy and beauty the Lord intends us to receive here on earth. Some people are like rocks thrown into a sea of problems. They are drowned by them. Be a cork. When submerged in a problem, fight to be free to bob up to serve again with happiness.

     "You are here on earth for a divine purpose. It is not to be endlessly entertained or to be constantly in full pursuit of pleasure. You are here to be tried, to prove yourself so that you can receive the additional blessings God has for you.  The tempering effect of patience is required.  Some blessings will be delivered here in this life; others will come beyond the veil. The Lord is intent on your personal growth and development. That progress is accelerated when you willingly allow Him to lead you through every growth experience you encounter, whether initially it be to your individual liking or not. When you trust in the Lord, when you are willing to let your heart and your mind be centered in His will, when you ask to be led by the Spirit to do His will, you are assured of the greatest happiness along the way and the most fulfilling attainment from this mortal experience. If you question everything you are asked to do, or dig in your heels at every unpleasant challenge, you make it harder for the Lord to bless you.

     "Your agency, the right to make choices, is not given so that you can get what you want. This divine gift is provided so that you will choose what your Father in Heaven wants for you. That way He can lead you to become all that He intends you to be.  That path leads to glorious joy and happiness. (Elder Richard G. Scott, "Finding Joy in Life," May 1966)