The Holidays

(Barrett Family Picture, October 2015...Roni wasn't feelin' it haha)

"A thankful heart is a content heart.  It is a peaceful heart.  It makes us calm...the opposite of anxious.  A thankful heart displaces unrealistic expectations.  It brings faith and optimism.  When we gratefully focus on what we have and are, we don't become distracted or discouraged with all that we don't have.  I invite you to develop a thankful heart.  As you do, I promise you that you will feel a deeper sense of joy and satisfaction, and your love and testimony of your Heavenly Father will grow."

Today I really needed to be reminded of this.  My brother sent this quote from his mission president (he is serving a mission for LDS church in Mesa, Arizona) yesterday, and I just got to read his email this morning, and that quote was too perfect.  A perfect quote as the holiday season is upon us.  I hope I can remember this message throughout the holidays this season.  

I've been seeking more simplicity in my life lately.  It's been a slow but steady process of refining what's important vs. what's not and what's necessary and what's not.  It's the battle of good, better, and best.  I'm learning that I get more satisfaction out of spending meaningful time with my kids, with Todd, and with good friends than I would get checking things off my to-do list.  Not to say that there aren't days when I get frustrated because my list of things to do somehow continues to get longer and longer and pushed further and further on the back burner.  But I'm learning more and more how to be okay with it.

I'm learning to let go of my OCD tendencies and that everything can't always turn out the way I want it to be.  Life is about being flexible.  I'm learning to get back to the basics.  I really want to focus on the simple beauties of the holidays this year.  I want to spend time with the people I love.  I want to build relationships and strengthen friendships.  

I want to get down on the ground with Reese and Riggs, playing with them, interacting with them, and soaking in their little personalities.

I want to fill my life with light this holiday season, and try to always remember the reason for the season.  My Savior.  

In efforts to have a more thankful heart, I'll try to get on here more this month and talk about things I'm grateful for.  Truly grateful for.

Some things to start off that I've been thinking about lately:

1. A husband who insists on watching the kids while I go workout in the evening because he knows how much I enjoy it.
2. A mother who's always willing to chat and just listen.  Even if it's about nothing much at all, it always means the world to me.  
3. Good friends to laugh with.
4. All the people who love my babies, Reese and Riggs.  There is nothing more comforting than knowing my babies are loved.
5. A wonderful ward family that I love so much.
6. Sisters.  Each one of you.
7. A car that gets us from point A to point B.
8. A mother-in-law that has always been nothing but sweet, loving, and understanding.
9. In-laws.  All the in-laws.  They're the funnest group of people ever, and I'm lucky to call them my family.
10. Christmas music.  It is the most peaceful, happiest, heart-warming stuff ever.  And the Christmas tree.  I'll be putting it up tonight because I just can't help myself.  I put it up early because for me the lights on the tree remind me of Christ.  One month is too short a time to have that green, happy beauty up in the house. 

That's what came to mind today.  I'll try to post some more specific things throughout the month.

Hope y'all have a great Tuesday.  I was seriously having a rough start to my Tuesday but writing out this list made me feel a lot better.  Cheers to trying to have a more thankful, peaceful heart!

♥, Ash