November 20, 2013

"Like a Broken Vessel"

I haven't been writing much lately for a number of reasons.  One major reason....a new baby.  Yep.  Our very first baby girl (after four boys) FINALLY joined our family November 3, 2013.  She is a beautiful, sweet, red-headed (like her mama) little lady and we all LOVE her immensely.

Lately, while corresponding with others, I have found myself often referring to this video.  It's so relevant to me and you, my readers, and I highly recommend watching it. 

It's a "talk" (aka speech, address) given at the October 2013 General Conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  It is SPECTACULAR and particularly addressed to those of us with mental/emotional struggles.  Please watch it, no matter what faith you are.  You will feel God's love and a measure of HOPE.  I promise.




 forMMM P.S. I love to hear from you! Leave a comment or e-mail me at melaniesmethodicalmusings at gmail dot com i

August 1, 2013

Reasons....

I have missed you, my MMUW friends.  I have missed our interactions.  I miss the time in my life when writing this blog and connecting with you dear people was my #1 priority (after my family, of course....most of the time).

Besides just dealing with the every day life of a mother of 4 (BOYS, to add more emphasis), I have been busy plugging away at a new church calling (position) with the female youth (ages 12-18) of our ward (congregation).  I have weekly activities to plan/attend, weekly lessons to plan/attend, meetings with the girls who are in leadership positions, meeting with my fellow leaders, and a constant prayer and vigil for each girls life and well being.   It's a lot of hard work.....whew.....but I LOVE IT!

On top of all that, there is THIS:

P.S.

and while I am so SO very happy and excited and giddy with the idea of PINK, I AM EXHAUSTED, and SORE, and BREATHLESS and CROSS (aka yelling) with my kids a LOT more than I would like to be.  They are just so darn obnoxious and messy lately.  I'm definitely ready for summer to be over!!!!

Enough about me.  How are YOU?  What have YOU been up to this last.....forever?



forMMM
 P.S. I love to hear from you!
Leave a comment or e-mail me at melaniesmethodicalmusings at gmail dot com Top Mommy Blogs - Mom Blog Directory

June 3, 2013

Lifting Burdens

We can have peace.  We can have HOPE.  Our burdens can be lifted and carried for us.  I testify these words are true.

Have FAITH and BELIEVE.


 forMMM
 P.S. I love to hear from you!
Leave a comment or e-mail me at melaniesmethodicalmusings at gmail dot com Top Mommy Blogs - Mom Blog Directory

May 12, 2013

On this day of celebration....

Feeling very contemplative this Mother's Day. 

My day has truly been a blessed reflection of my most important eternal responsibilities.  My husband and kids have made it truly enjoyable. 

I still can't help thinking about years past.  Like the year that I was so deep in depression that the last thing I wanted to be was a mother.  I was doing a terrible job of it at the time, and I knew it.  Or perhaps last year, waking up to cramping and bleeding, knowing that I was losing, yet, ANOTHER pregnancy.

My heart is heavy for all the babies I have never held.  It hurts for all my friends and family who have lost dear children, in whatever walk of pregnancy or life it may have been.  And it especially hurts for those of you, my dear friend and family, who have never had the opportunity to become a mother.  I know this day is not the most joyful for you.

I am so grateful for my testimony in the Plan of Salvation and for the Atonement of my Savior, Jesus Christ. 

How blessed I feel to KNOW that my babies are not far away and that I will have the opportunity to raise them one day (perhaps 5 girls) and that the pain of these losses can and are swallowed up by the Atonement.  I have felt it's healing balm time and time again. 

How grateful I am to have a knowledge that such wonderful women (and men) in my life will be given EVERY OPPORTUNITY to experience "family" and motherhood in the next life if they have not had the opportunity to do so here on earth. 

I'm so grateful I am to be a member of Christ's church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) and to have been raised with this sure knowledge, that ALL things will be made right in the end.  

Truly Blessed!
 forMMM
 P.S. I love to hear from you!
Leave a comment or e-mail me at melaniesmethodicalmusings at gmail dot com Top Mommy Blogs - Mom Blog Directory

February 8, 2013

Importance of Scripture Study

I saw this on Facebook today and couldn't help sharing.

"As I think about your schedules and the pressures you face...in your lives, I can understand why scripture study can so easily be neglected. You have many demands pulling at you....But I plead with you to make time for immersing yourselves in the scriptures. Couple scripture study with your prayers...Privately studying, pondering, and communicating with your Heavenly Father can make an amazing difference in your lives. It will give increased success in your daily activities. It will bring increased alertness to your minds. It will give you comfort and rock-steady assurance when the storms of life descend upon you."
-Elder M. Russel Ballard

I know that prayer and scripture study alone can do nothing to change the fact that I have a chemical imbalance in my brain that causes me to be depressed and highly anxious sometimes.  But, as I have found time and time again, doing these things on a regular basis can HELP make things just a bit more bearable when I am "off kilter".  I need all the help I can get (love this picture of the protective angels).

So why do I find it so unbearable to do sometimes?  It's not because I don't want to be in communication with my Heavenly Father and not because I don't want to be uplifted by immersing myself in His word, but just because I don't want to do anything that takes effort (including bathing and brushing my teeth....my poor husband). 

But it's not just that.  It's also that I can't FEEL anything in those times (at least nothing but anger) and because I can't FEEL the spirit, or FEEL the Lords love for me, or FEEL the difference it is making in my life, then why make the effort, right? 

Wrong.

I go through this EVERY TIME I hit a low spot.  EVERY TIME.  You'd think I'd have learned by now.  Silly me.

The truth is that, no matter what we are/are not feeling, the spirit is ALWAYS there when we are making the effort to communicate with the Lord and get to know Him better (through his word).  The Lord loves us more than we can even fathom, even if we can't FEEL it on a constant basis (ask Him to confirm it for you...He undoubtedly will).  And, doing these things DOES make a difference.  It really DOES!

So don't loose HOPE. 

 Make an effort to try to follow Elder Ballard's wise counsel (I'm working on it too).  Don't give up.  Have faith that even though you may not be "feelin' it", that it IS, indeed, helping.  And just keep at it. 


forMMM
 P.S. I love to hear from you!
Leave a comment or e-mail me at melaniesmethodicalmusings at gmail dot com Top Mommy Blogs - Mom Blog Directory

January 15, 2013

The Unraveled Mom

If you hadn't noticed already, I've been on a sort of part time hiatus lately. Well, for about a year really.

Not that I've been counting.

I actually had some really deep thoughts today....about a box....no kidding...but before I could really work through it in my head and get it down on virtual paper, I was interrupted by....life and haven't had time to think on it since.  Perhaps later.

But in the meantime I did do something pretty worthwhile today (besides spending hours on FB and Pinterest). 

I spent some time browsing a new blog I discovered.  It's called "The Unraveled Mom". 

Now why in the world would I be interested in a blog with a name like THAT? (dripping with sarcasm)

Could it be because THAT COULD BE THE TITLE OF MY VERY EXISTENCE?!?  (note, no sarcasm here).

The writer, The Unraveled Mom herself, is a mama of 4 (who does that sound like?  hello...ME), who wades (sometimes deeply) through the ups and downs of parenting (ME!), deals with heavy doses of anxiety sometimes (Um....ME!), and tries to make sense of it all, in and through God (yep, my hand is raised...ME! ME! ME!).

So yeah....I was very interested and found some amazingly inspirational stuff on over there.

I highly recommend taking a look

One of my favorites was a post written just a few days ago entitled The Ghost With No Arms.  A true life tale of nightmares, anxiety, and a truly faithful God.  Seriously, you should read it.  It was very good.  

While you are there, check out her book series called The Truth of Motherhood.  This series focuses on some of the frustrating moments as a mother, of a baby or toddler, that make you want to laugh and/or cry, or maybe even scream and pull your hair out (my words, not hers) and yet feel so thoroughly blessed by God to have these little bundles of joy all at the same time.

Nope...it's not just you.  It happens to all of us.

I think these books would make great gifts for anyone who is overwhelmed by their roles as a mother and feeling alone in it, or a good "head up" gift for those who have yet to experience the "joys" of motherhood---think baby shower (wink).  Or even us experienced joe schmoes who just need a light hearted laugh and to feel a bit of camaraderie with our fellow (wo)man.  

Anyhow...just thought I'd share.  I HOPE you enjoy it as much as I did.

forMMM
P.S. I love to hear from you!
Leave a comment or e-mail me at melaniesmethodicalmusings at gmail dot com Top Mommy Blogs - Mom Blog Directory
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