It's the little things.

Lately, I have been trying to be more cognizant of the little things that happen in my life and the lives of those around me. It is easy to become distracted in such a busy world with all of the things we think we HAVE to do. So here are a few of the things I have noticed lately, using Elder Bednars' words the "tender mercies" granted our way.
When I was young I never had the opportunity to have a child. I just thought that was my lot and didn't worry too much about. I don't really remember being around someone who was pregnant to go through it with them. I lived with my sister when she was pregnant, but I don't remember being very involved at the time. But being around Marissa while she is going thru the pregnancy with these twins is a bright spot to me. Maybe is is just because we have waited so long, or all of the problems she has had just getting pregnant that makes is so precious, I don't really know, but it has been such a joy to be around her. It is not easy for her, she is sick much, and grouchy, and can't eat sometimes, and has had all kinds of complications. But still it is exciting to me. I love being around her through thick and thin or rather thin to thick. She has lost weight and is getting very round, she is so cute. To her it is miserable, she put up all of her clothes as she was getting frustrated going to the closet and nothing fit. She only has one pair of pants that fit her, I told her to get another pair, but she is particular, for comfort. (Another frustration for her-comfort)
Mason has been so wonderful to her and so concerned, he is good. I am pleased with the way they interact and do things together, it is refreshing. Anyway, my joy is full with these new babies.
Another thing that happened was some years back when I was teaching seminary, I learned about chiasmas (chiasmas is the figure of speech in which two clauses are related to each other through a reversal of structures in order to make a larger point; that is, the two clauses display inverted parallelism.) It was discovered in 1967,in the Book of Mormon, and I taught some time later but never knew who it was that discovered it's existence in that sacred scripture. The story of the discovery in itself is amazing, but for some reason, I never knew who and always wondered. Last Thursday, I wasn't very busy and discovered an article in a magazine that related the story 40 years later. I was thrilled now I knew. ( Jack Welch) What was even more exciting was I knew him. For the past 8 months, I have been traveling to Provo to attend his Book of Mormon class-introduced to me by my missionary friends the Andersons-and loving it. How honored I felt to be taught by him. A great discovery for me. A really exceptional individual.
Here is a little saying by President Hinckley that sums it up for me.
"Life is just like an old time rail journey ... delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride."