Muddlin'

I am not one of those mothers who just handles things. At least every week or so, life becomes more than I can bear and I have a pity party, saying things like "I can't do this! This is too hard! I am not cut out for this kind of life. What was I thinking to have so many children!? Help!" After many years of directing these rants to my husband, my sister or a close friend, I eventually learned that the real source of lasting peace and help comes for turning to my Father in Heaven, who knows exactly what I need to hear to keep going. Since these melt-downs happen frequently, I find myself going to Him regularly for peace, comfort, and encouragement. Elder Neal A. Maxwell called this life the "muddle in the mortal middle." I believe that we receive inspiration to live according to grand ideas and principles, but then the reality of daily life comes along, or the muddle in the mortal middle, making us wonder how we can possibly finish what we have started. At these times, when we turn to the source of our original inspiration, He who knows all things can comfort our hearts and give us encouragement to keep going in ways that no mortal, no matter how dear, can do. This blog is an attempt to record the weekly and often daily guidance from heaven that comes as a result of my muddling in mortality. My first purpose is to record these things for my children and their children. However, if these ideas are also helpful to you, than we all will have benefited! Let's muddle together!