The Power of [Simple] Change

We've been in our new place for a little over a month now, and after all the chaos of moving and other random winter illnesses in our house, I am beginning to finally feel the positive power that change in your life can bring. Change can be a scary thing, for some- even for me, depending on the situation. For me, it means taking risks for a possible outcome (good or bad).

I think maybe I'm like many others who get caught up in some sort of crazy life routine and just get comfy there. Or, sometimes I just settle for where I am, even if life could be more full, productive and/or more comfortable if we changed up some things every once in a while, at least.

In our new place, it's definitely not like we're living an the Ritz Carlton, but it's a nice, cozy apartment. It's only the next town over from where we were living, but it's funny how different life feels here. Am I crazy? I perhaps have a little bit of cabin fever from staying in the house for the most part of the past 2 weeks, to make sure my girl was over RSV, and wouldn't contribute to infect anyone else in the world. That's beside the point.

One town over, and our ward at church is extremely welcoming with (literally) open arms, hugs, calls, even given a talk in church already. I haven't given a talk in church since... while I was pregnant with Kayelee? Yeah, apparently we always fall through the cracks and are hidden among the crowds at church.

With this positive outcome of change, it inspired me to make other small changes in my life. For example, even though I don't like cold weather at ALL (my husband can attest to that), I decided to finally go outside and play in the snow with Kayelee. Even though she only lasted about 30-45 minutes before she was done, it was a BLAST! It was so nice just to get some fresh air, see her explore the snow, and even find a pine cone along the way. Not to mention I wanted to eat her up in her humongous snowsuit!

Her and the pine cone she found. She made me take her gloves off so she could hold it.

 Then, I feel like cooking more balanced dinners (we're talking including one veggie- that's a small, but big change in our family, if you know my typical "rice-and-meat, meat-and-rice 24/7" going hubby, hehe). More so, I feel like doing more small, sweet things for my husband, and even attempting to keep our apartment somewhat sane-looking part of the time, as sane as a house can look with a 15-month old living in it. (;

Also, I've been making an effort to become closer to the Savior. I have started to do personal gospel study again, just for a short 15 minutes or so at the beginning of Kayelee's nap. To be honest, I haven't been doing personal gospel study for a long, long time. I had kept a 30-day challenge from Relief Society when I was in Hawaii that I have been wanting to do ever since I received it, but never sucked it up and committed to it until now. What a blessing it has been, and I'm only on Day 13! I can feel the Lord's love for me more in my daily life. It has brought the Spirit into my heart during my daily life. I can feel that my Heavenly Father wants me and my family to be happy, and blessed. I can feel His love for me, even though oftentimes as a mom, I find myself being beating myself down. The Spirit gives me hope, and lets me feel God telling me that I am good enough as I am, by giving my best in the circumstances of each day.

The dirty air is starting to clear outside, the gloomy clouds have moved out of the valley, and the sky has been crystal blue with the sun beaming brightly. I feel as though the weather is reflecting my new thoughts and feelings. It feels and looks so refreshing. I feel refreshed. Here's to change, because this time around, even a simple changes in my life brought an out pour of blessings.