Thoughts on Trials and Tribulations

I have so much to be grateful for in my life and I am even grateful for the trials that I have been given.  Even though my gratefulness for the trials might not be immediate.  I am able to, during my trial, look back and realize the growth and knowledge I have gained.  I also become humbled and am brought to my knees, giving me a reminder of what I should be doing and where I may have gone off track.

I often think about how, myself included, people say "Why me?" when they are faced with a trial.  In a talk given by Elder Neal A. Maxwell entitled "Swallowed Up in the Will of the Father" , he explains "why".

Along this pathway leading to consecration, stern and unsought challenges sometimes hasten this jettisoning, which is needed to achieve increased consecration (see Hel. 12:3). If we have grown soft, hard times may be necessary. If we are too contented, a dose of divine discontent may come. A relevant insight may be contained in reproof. A new calling beckons us away from comfortable routines wherein the needed competencies have already been developed. One may be stripped of accustomed luxury so that the malignant mole of materialism may be removed. One may be scorched by humiliation so pride can be melted away. Whatever we lack will get attention, one way or another.

Why are we here?  What is the purpose of life?  We are here so we can return and live with our Father in Heaven.  He wasn't going to send us here to a perfect life and then bring us back up after a little while.  The reason we all chose to come down to earth is so we can gain experience and have trials.  How else can we become like the Savior and learn to help those around us then if we go through trials that can help us grow.  If we never had trials we would end up being ungrateful until those comforts are taken away.

Life is a test and I am going to pass this test so I can return to my home above.

Random thoughts

Life has been fairly busy for us lately. I am still babysitting, and have been looking forward to my last day of work. Being 31 weeks pregnant and chasing around 3 kids and tending to the needs of a VERY stubborn dog have worn me out. I have been really tired during the day and seeing as how I am watching 3 kids and a dog there is never time to even think about taking a nap *sigh*. I will be through babysitting the end of August, "Yesssss". On another note, my wonderful husband finished painting Erik's new room and we will be introducing Erik to his toddler bed, we'll see how that goes. Next week I have my 32 week ultrasound and I am very excited about it. Something about "seeing" and not just "feeling" the life that's growing in side of you is very exciting for me. I am now starting to go to the doctor's every 2 weeks starting next week. I hope things progress a little more quickly this time around. For anyone that didn't know I had to be induced with Erik and it was no picnic. I have so many things I want to get done around our house before the new baby comes, and I'm pretty sure it's because I have hit the nesting stage of pregnancy. I am very excited, and a little nervous for the birth of this new little bundle of boy. Anticipation and waiting is the game I am in now for the next 9 weeks. Hopefully it will come and go quickly, but not too quickly.