I love it!

My kids' smiles make me so happy! For Family Home Evening, we went on a walk to explore our neighborhood. We found the neighborhood school, and the kids had a blast playing at the playground. For almost the whole time we were there, we had the place to ourselves. I watched the kids help and torture each other (usually not at the same time). I never heard so many giggles! Lauren was hilarious--she loved being chased down the slide by Hadland. What a blessing to have this little slice of joy!

Sarah ate TWO bowls of rice cereal today. We are hoping for some serious snoozing tonight! We will let you know how it goes...

By the way, today felt like SPRING!! I love warm weather, and today was a treat. I even dressed Sarah in a little dress (short sleeves, bare legs)! It feels like California today--hooray!

A day of feasting!

Spiritually, that is! Larry and I gave talks in Sacrament Meeting today, and we actually feel pretty good about it. Except for the fact that our kids had an absolute FIELD DAY!! So, what do you do when, as you begin your talk, your two-year-old suddenly decides to come join you at the pulpit? Only to run through the choir seats when her embarrassed daddy comes up to retrieve her. Topped only by her brothers following daddy up to the stand?! YIKES!! And I was nervously beginning my talk so that I didn't even notice until out of the corner of my eye, I saw four people walking conga-style down the stairs of the stand. Yep, you guessed it! The amazing Johnson family strikes again. Needless to say, Darla jumped in to help corral our little ones, leaving Scott to take care of her three kids (quite well, I might add). Whew, I am getting tired just thinking about all the commotion. I think our pew was definitely the most lively today!

We spoke on a talk given by Elder Bednar in October General Conference entitled, "And Nothing Shall Offend Them." You can find it at this address: http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-646-32,00.html

Talk about a powerhouse talk. If you haven't read it in a while, I urge you to do so. Elder Bednar invites us to choose not to be offended if someone hurts our feelings. Boy, I need this everyday. When we are offended, usually the only one hurting is ourselves. We need to be like Pahoran when he responded to Moroni's scathing letter (see Alma 60-61), "In your epistle you have censured me, but it mattereth not; I am not angry, but do rejoice in the greatness of your heart." Elder Bednar also reminds us of how Brigham Young responded to Joseph Smith's humiliating censure -- humbly asking what he could do to improve--NOT retaliating or getting defensive and offended. What amazing examples!

I am not sleeping very much at night, but I am doing a lot better. But, I am also looking forward to hitting the sack. See ya!

I'm better, thanks!

Thank you for all your kindness. It is good to be surrounded by wonderful family and friends. I am grateful for all of your long-distance hugs and good wishes.

Things are a little better--if someone could just convince Sarah to sleep longer than 1 1/2 hours at a time at night. Larita, I don't know how you have survived this long. You are amazing.

Enough of the gloomy stuff. I am so grateful to be a wife and mother. I have a loving husband and four beautiful children. They are a bunch of whippersnappers, but I love them just the same. Most of all, I am grateful to my Savior, Jesus Christ, for His love, patience, and mercy. He makes it all better. Really. I can go through anything because I know He understands and will help me make it through. He helps me believe that I am not a loser after all!

bummed--

Do you ever feel like you are the only loser in the whole world?

Well, that's where I am right now.

Let's hope it doesn't last long...