Search Results for: blog be a blessing

Balancing Blogging and Mothering

I squinted to make sense of scattered letters through the glare on my screen.  Focused attempts at deciphering HTML became distracted by bursts of giggling from the other side of my window.  Rejoicing from finally making a text box that scrolled, I missed a small excited voice asking me to “look at me”.  Dripping hair and sopping wet footsteps ran inside to beckon me to join their mini water park complete with a blow up monkey pool.  Promising just five more minutes I shooed away wet fingers from my computer.  Next I looked up and the time for sprinklers, popsicles, and water slides … Continue reading →

My Blessing in Disguise

Tomorrow would have marked my 4th anniversary with my ex-husband. It’s hard to remember what life was even like back then, it seems a lifetime ago. I remember feeling in the pit of my stomach that I was making the biggest mistake of my life as I walked down the aisle. My head knew things weren’t going to work, but my heart was too stubborn to listen and convinced me to go through with it. I so desperately wanted a “happily ever after family.” I wanted my son to grow up with both of his parents living under the same … Continue reading →

‘Blessings’ Founder Faces Prison

As recent events grimly reminded us, good and evil are often intertwined and that can also be true of social consciousness. I was sad to read recently that Stan Curtis, the man who founded “Blessings in a Backpack” is facing counts of tax fraud and money laundering. “Blessing in a Backpack” is an incredible program that was started by Curtis, a stockbroker who grew up orphaned.  Each week, the program sends backpacks filled with food items such as peanut butter, tuna, crackers, and cereal home with school children who live in food insecure households.  The food is donated by local companies … Continue reading →

Be Thankful for Your Blessings

Until we became a military family, I never quite understood the sacrifice that they paid. I knew it in theory but now it has become so much more real. We are giving up the presence of our son at the Thanksgiving table this year. It is hard for everyone to accept the first of what will likely be many holidays without him. It has given me such a greater appreciation for their service to our country and the families who are without their loved ones. Suddenly thankfulness has taken on a whole new meaning. While I have always appreciated my … Continue reading →

Back To School Blessings

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It is often a tradition in many mormon homes to give back to school blessings at the beginning of each school year. Or, at least it was in mine. I don’t remember anything that was said in those blessings, but I remember feeling peace each time my Father would lay his hands on my head and reassure me that the year would go smoothly. I remember feeling safe, and warm, and knowing that not only did my earthly Father love me, but my Heavenly Father did too. Giving your children back to school blessings is a great way to calm … Continue reading →

A Baby Blessing

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In the LDS church, we believe that we should be baptized when we are old enough to know right from wrong. As little babies, we don’t sin simply because we don’t know right from wrong. We also don’t believe that by being born we are born with sin. So, in our church, we do not baptize infants. But, having a new infant is still a very special time. That little life brought into a new home is so magical. You can’t help but feel how close they are to their Heavenly Father, and you can’t help but worry about the … Continue reading →

Mixed Blessing

My son is an only child. At three years old he would much rather play with an adult than a child. With him starting kindergarten in a year and a half I was getting a little worried about the new social aspect it would bring. He hasn’t been around a lot of kids. He has a few cousins, but I usually find him playing by himself. It’s easier that way; less sharing. I wanted to be sure that he would be able to make some friends at school, but I wasn’t sure how to approach the situation. With our busy … Continue reading →

Pet Blessings and Ministries Spreading

Every year the county rescue for which I volunteer holds an Animal Fair. It’s a day in May down at the county fairgrounds where one can bring one’s pets on a leash (so mostly dogs, but you do see the rare cat or two) and partake in fun events to raise money for the rescue. There’s a parade, an owner/dog partnered pie-eating contest, demonstrations by the local K9 police force, and more. And there’s one thing that I’d never heard before: the blessing of the pets. I live in a very Catholic area; it’s the part of Maryland that was … Continue reading →

Count Your Blessings

It has been a difficult couple of weeks with so many year marks packed right together. So much has happened over the past year and while I am in a much better place than I was a year ago, it still has been an emotional time for me. It has brought many of the feelings back to the surface and I have had to find a way to cope with things all over again. Needless to say, for a moment there, I was feeling a little sorry for myself. However, I was quickly reminded of just how lucky I really … Continue reading →

Blessings in a Backpack

I devour PEOPLE magazine every week and have for more years than I care to say. This week, the magazine had an interesting article about people trying to help out those who are hungry, mainly children. Stats show that about 16 million children are in what is called “food insecure’ homes. That is, there are times when these children are hungry and there is no food. Tama Clapper made a vow that no child in Gillette, Wyoming (pop. 30,000) would go hungry. She was inspired when told by a school principal that about 50 of the 430 children in the … Continue reading →