Day 40

© 2009 Carrie Morris

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

May your lives be filled with something as sweet as these two girls...

Which are the best sweets I have.

Day 39

© 2009 Carrie Morris

I LOVE BRAD

I'm so eternally grateful for the blessing he is in my life.

I am grateful to have him as my best friend.

He's a wonderful husband and father,

supporter and provider.

I LOVE HIM.

Day 38

© 2009 Carrie Morris

Sharing.

I love this photo. I took it last month at our weekly play group. Olivia and her friend, Meg, were so cute together. We had packed a lunch to take with us. Olivia and Meg were playing together. As I watched this happen, I was so glad I had my camera to record the whole scene. This is only one picture of many. She ended up breaking her sandwich in two and sharing that also. She told me "this was one of the funnest days ever Mom!"

Sharing does just as much for us who share as it does for those we share with. It gives us those "warm fuzzies" inside. We feel better and happier when we can give any service to others. I'm grateful when I can step outside of myself and help someone else. I'm grateful to see my daughter learning how sharing with others can make her feel great also.

Day 37

© 2009 Carrie Morris

This is one of the faces I get to wake up to each morning.

In making my decision to NOT go back to work right away,

this is one of the major factors. How can I miss out on even

a second of watching her grow and learn and just be?

Choosing to stay home has been a hard decision...

But, I have faith that in doing so, my family will be blessed.

This is the ultimate work I've been called to do.

I need to fulfill this calling to the best of my abilities.

If I do my best, I have a promise from my loving

Heavenly Father that He will be by my side assisting

me in raising my amazing daughters.

And THAT makes it all worth it.

Day 36

© 2009 Carrie Morris

We have a mingling of the seasons today.

Winter has decided to make her first strong appearance, but I hope fall will try to stay a little longer. It is beautiful when they decided to meet for a day and share their individual beauty with us.

Day 35

© 2009 Carrie Morris

Do you ever feel like you're barely hanging onto the ledge of life? That you're out there all alone? That no one really knows what you're feeling inside and if they did know, they would sit down and cry with you? I think we've all been there at some point in our life.

It's in these moments that my testimony of the Atonement our Savior performed for us really increases and grows. The Savior didn't just feel the weight of our sins during the atonement. He also felt our sadness, aloneness, aching, and every hurt. He knows true empathy. It's reassuring and comforting to me to know that I can turn to Him. That there is One out there who will and does know what I'm feeling. I'm grateful He's there for me and that I'm never truly alone.

Day 34

© 2009 Carrie Morris

We've had a sick baby for the past little while. Poor Tagen has had a cold-cough-fever-teething-icky-I-don't-feel-good body for about a month. I'm so grateful that she's finally over the worst of it. It's such a blessing to see this truly happy baby be happy again. I've missed her frequent smiles and laughter. I'm grateful to have prayers answered and for the blessing of good health.

Day 33

© 2009 Carrie Morris

We took a drive together as a family today.

We enjoyed the time together and enjoyed

the scenery we were able to take in.

Look at this view! It's almost majestic.

What a grand world we are blessed with.

The beauty can't be beat.

Day 32

©2009 Carrie Morris

Have I mentioned that I love fall? I love walking through fall leaves. I love kicking them up and hearing the crinkle of them under my feet. It was fun to watch Olivia fall in love with the same thing the other day during our walk.

I love that even when the fall leaves fall to the earth, they are still providing beauty and enjoyment for us. It all continues to reminds me that there is an order to the earth and that this all didn't just happen by chance. The Master is in charge.

Day 31

© 2009 Carrie Morris

"Alone time" is good for one's soul.

I like to take time to be alone. It is therapeutic and calming.

It is a good time to pray, meditate or think about life.

It's a perfect time to listen for long sought

answers from my Heavenly Father.

I need to try to get my "alone time" more often.

Day 30

© 2009 Carrie Morris

As a parent I want to protect my children from all the evils of the world. I want to put up protective fences all around them, around their hearts, and around their minds and keep them as innocent and carefree as they are right now. I see this world getting more and more evil and scary and I'm afraid to send my children out into the mess. I know I can't really build fences all around them, but how do I protect them?

"Our rising generation is worthy of our best efforts to support and strengthen them in their journey to adulthood. ... In every action we take, in every place we go, with every Latter-day Saint young person we meet, we need to have an increased awareness of the need for strengthening, nurturing, and being an influence for good in their lives." ~Elder Ronald A. Rasband,

"Our Rising Generation, Ensign, May 2006, 47.

My plan is to teach my children how to be faithful, strong and compassionate individuals. I'm going to help them continue to be as innocent and as carefree as possible. I want them to be willing to help fight the evil around us. I want them to be the best person they can be. The only way I know to do that is to make sure their testimonies are strong, to make sure they know they are of a divine heritage, and to plead for help from a loving Heavenly Father. He will protect their heart, mind and body better than any fence I build ever would.

Day 29

© 2009 Carrie Morris

And a Child shall lead them...

While on a walk with my girls yesterday, I enjoyed watching Olivia play with these "flowers." When I was little, we used to blow on these old dandelions and call it "Blowing our wishes in the wind."

She would get completely absorbed in making sure each petal was detached and sent blowing off into the wind.

Then, last night as I was tucking her into bed, she asked me where her little brother was. I told her he was in Heaven still and that he hadn't been born yet. She asked, "Can we call him and tell him to come play?" I told her, "no, they don't have phones in heaven, but you can say a prayer and Heavenly Father and Jesus will tell him what you want him to know." She looked at me, smiled, and said, "Otay. Will you help me?" She then said the sweetest prayer with the most conviction. She asked... "Jesus, will you find my brother and ask him to come live with us in our home soon? Thanks!"

I was humbled. Earlier in the day I had been thinking how easy it would be if we could send all our wishes into the wind and have them come true. My daughter reminded me last night that there is a better way to get answers... We just need to ASK our loving Heavenly Father with the faithfulness and innocence of a child and He will bless us.

Day 28

© 2009 Carrie Morris

I'm grateful to have a body that works well,

that functions normally and that is aging.

I want to enjoy each and every moment I have

on this earth and in this body.

I want to experience life through all different ages.

I want to grow old.

I think wrinkles are life's experiences etched on a person.

I want to have a long life that will give me lots of wisdom, character,

and experiences. I want to see my posterity grow up.

I want to sit on my front porch in my rocking chair with Brad

at my side and watch the world go by.

I want to have the opportunity to grow old.

Day 27

© 2009 Carrie Morris

Do you know what path you're on?

Yesterday we took a drive up the mountains above Bountiful. I saw this trail head sign and had to get a picture. I found it ironic. The sign that is supposed to tell me where I am is missing. It made me think that I should be doing frequent checks in life to make sure I'm on the right path. I can't wait for a "sign" that may never appear... I am in charge of making sure I am where I'm supposed to be in life. I have a perfect trail guide in Christ and the scriptures are great maps. I just need to remember to check my compass frequently and make sure I'm headed in the right direction.

Day 26

© 2009 Carrie Morris

Do you ever feel like you have your life's destination in sight... but it is a LONG way off and there are many twists, turns and obstacles in the way? There may be diversions along the way? Maybe just off the sides of the path? Sometimes right IN the path?

That's what this picture reminds me of. Life. There are twists, turns, obstacles and diversions in life. But, if you know where you want to end up, and if you keep your eye on the end goal, you can almost see that the diversions, twists and turns point you in a straight path to that destination.

I know where my destination is. The path I'm on is not 100% how I pictured life to be, but I'm grateful for the direction I'm headed. I'm just going to keep my eye on the end goal, and ask Heavenly Father for help through all the obstacles that come my way.

Day 25

© 2009 Carrie Morris

Making memories....

I took the girls up to Clearfield yesterday to have lunch with Brad. We packed up our food, picked him up, and went to a nearby church parking lot to enjoy some time together. It's something we've tried to do a lot since Brad started school and his schedule got crazy. Olivia is always asking when our next picnic with daddy is going to be. I often hear her "going on picnics to the temple with daddy" during her pretend play. We had a great time and I really enjoy being able to spend time together as a family.

I think I enjoy it more when we MAKE time to be together.

Day 24

© 2009 Carrie Morris

Heritage

This water mill reminds me of the pioneers.

I'm grateful for their sacrifices, hard work,

faith, diligence and perseverance.

The strength of character they displayed is a

legacy and a lesson to each of us.

I'm going to strive to be more like them.

Day 23

© 2009 Carrie Morris

Light.

"As the sun gives life and light to the earth, a spiritual light gives nourishment to our spirits." ~Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin

"When light is present, darkness is vanquished and must depart. More important, darkness cannot conquer light unless the light is diminished or departs."~Elder Robert D. Hales, General Conference April 2002

I'm grateful for the light in my life.

Day 22

© 2009 Carrie Morris

I love the uniqueness of each leaf in this picture.

They are all beautiful in their own way.

Just like each of us... unique, different, beautiful.

Day 21

© 2009 Carrie Morris

"Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home..."

I love coming home. I love the feeling in my home.

I'm grateful to have a wonderful place to live and to raise my family.

Day 20

© 2009 Carrie Morris

Last night we went to a pumpkin patch. They had a hay maze for the kids to play in. Olivia loved it. She was willing to try it on her own to begin with, but soon came back and asked her dad to help her through the maze. He helped her through it once, then she was off and willing to do it on her own again. But, as I watched Brad take her hand and guide her through the turns and paths in the maze I was touched by the analogy playing out right before my eyes.

We come down to earth anxious to try out new things. Sometimes we jump right in and think we can do it on our own, only to quickly realize we need a guiding hand and some reassurance from our Father to make it through life's mazes. He's there and willing, we just need to ask... and then LISTEN. He will guide us to where we need to be.

Day 19

© 2009 Carrie Morris

This little leaf is a symbol of faith and strength to me.

Look at him just tightly hanging on... Not letting go.

Absorbing all the light and warmth from the sun.

Shining in and reflecting the sun's beauty.

This little leaf reminded me today to be strong.

To have faith. To hang on tight and to endure.

To absorb all the light and warmth from the Son I can.

To shine and to reflect all the Son's beauty I can.

To have His image in my countenance.

Day 18

© 2009 Carrie Morris

This picture makes me think of eternal families and

how we're all linked together eternally through the Gospel.

I'm grateful to have a knowledge and a testimony of eternal families.

We are truly blessed by a loving Heavenly Father.

Day 17

© 2009 Carrie Morris

"You must choose, but choose wisely."

I am grateful for CHOICES.

I love having the freedom to make good or bad choices,

and to learn from the consequences.

I'm grateful we were given our agency to

choose for ourselves and to use it wisely.

Day 16

© 2009 Carrie Morris

© 2009 Carrie Morris

Fall is here!!!

Enjoy nature at it's most colorful time of year.

We've been given this beautiful earth to enjoy.

Take joy in the colors this season.

Day 15

© 2009 Carrie Morris

I'm grateful for a weekend to be able to listen to a Prophet's voice.

To hear Strong and personal testament of The Book of Mormon.

To feel of God's love for each of us.

To have my testimony strengthened.

To be renewed again in my commitment to the Lord,

the Gospel and ALL that He would have me do...

Day 14

© 2009 Carrie Morris

Isn't this a beautiful sight to wake up to?

This was the view outside my front door this morning.

Our Heavenly Father IS a master artist.

Enjoy the views all around you today.

Day 13

© 2009 Carrie Morris

I love a bountiful harvest.

I'm grateful that others have the talents, time and means to grow

beautiful produce and then be willing to share it with the rest of us.

Day 12

© 2009 Carrie Morris

Life has many paths.

Some are hard and trying while others are a stroll through the park...

I'm grateful for the different paths that I've been down in my life and for the lessons I've learned while taking them.

AND, I'm looking forward to the paths to come...

Day 11

© 2009 Carrie Morris

I'm grateful for HER.

For her 'happy-go-lucky-taking-the-world-in-stride' attitude.

For her talent to be able to laugh and smile anytime...

even through pain.

I'm grateful we've been blessed with HER.

I'm grateful for HER.

For a "mini-me" who is funny, headstrong, smart, compassionate, tender-hearted, loving, stubborn and independent.

I'm grateful we've been blessed with HER.

Day 10

© 2009 Carrie Morris

I LOVE Autumn!!

A crisp fall day will bring a smile to my face.

I'm grateful the Lord made seasons...

in nature and in life.

Learn to appreciate each season.