Only What You Can Handle

A few weeks ago, a couple of my friends were over for a play date. As the kiddos were running wild, we got to talking about our children and their varying personalities. One of my friends was feeling particularly exasperated with her toddler--a feeling I'm sure every parent experiences many, many times during the course of their child's life, even when they are should be "all grown up." As I comiserated with her, I found myself reciting the (probably overused) adage "Heavenly Father only gives us the children or the trials (which are oftentimes synonymous) we can handle." To be honest with you, I used to hate this phrase. I feel like people always tell you that like it's supposed to make the trials easier, like you should be dealing with the problem with a cheery disposition because you must be so strong to have to be dealing with it. My friend responded, "But I can't handle it!" And then, like a ton of bricks, it hit me. Nobody says, "Heavenly Father only gives us the trials we can handle easily." No! Because if they were easy they wouldn't be trials. This realization has helped me to find comfort in adversity. Does this mean I face my problems with a cheery dispostition? Not usually. But even when I'm crying or gritting my teeth or pulling my hair out and even when I think I'm at the end of my rope, I realize that I'm not. Because even if it's only in a very small way, I'm handling it. And before I know it, the trial has passed and the truthfulness of that phrase rings clear. I made it, I handled it and I'm better because of it.

So, to my dear friend, and to anyone reading this, I remind you--Heavenly Father only gives you the trials you can handle. You may have to lock your toddler (or yourself) in a room. You will probably feel like you are at the end of your rope but you're not. Things will get better, they always do.

Picky Play

Abby has a basket of play food that she plays with often, usually several times a day. Sometimes she goes and grabs an apple or some broccoli for her baby to enjoy while the rest of us are eating a meal. Sometimes she stands at her kitchen brewing up culinary delights. Most often, she takes the whole basket with her into her room for a party or a picnic. Well, not the whole basket. Before she takes it into her room, she always removes the husk from the corn and leaves the lemon and the onion on the floor because she doesn't like those things. It cracks me up every time I go behind the couch and see the poor, neglected lemon and onion lying on the floor. Oh how I love the fun quirks of a toddler.

Emotional

I don't know what has been going on with me today but I have felt particularly emotional all day.

It might just be because I'm tired. The last week of staying up late with Philip and Merrick has started to take it's toll. I feel like I've been functioning at about 10 percent most of the day. Plus, I was feeling lonely all day without house guests.

Maybe it's because Sundays are always so busy so I didn't really get the chance, until this morning, to reflect on the horrific events that took place in our nation ten years ago. Several blog posts and facebook statuses (stati?) elicited tears this morning. After ten years, the pain, confusion and anger are still so raw.

Perhaps it is because my birthday is tomorrow. Turning a quarter of a century can sure make a girl feel old. Spare me any--well, wait until your 30--comments. I know I'm still quite young. But it's (almost) my party and I can cry if I want to. Birthdays are so strange once you're an adult. I love to celebrate, especially with my sweet family but I still can't help but miss how awesome birthdays are when you're a kid.

It's likely a combination of all of these things in addition to a temperamental toddler, a not-increasing milk supply, never leaving the house today and a natural tendency to be overly emotional anyway.

Maybe a small  medium bowl of ice cream will help me feel better. Hey, it is my birthday (tomorrow) after all.

Family Pictures

My dear sister-in-law Merrick took some family pictures for us this weekend. (Wait, doesn't Merrick live in Utah, you ask? Why yes, she does. We have visitors!) She did a lovely job. These are some of my favorites.

Had to throw this one in there. True love at its finest.