"...and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God" (Alma 37:37)

Today, I sit pondering about water. What a gift and blessing water is for us. And it comes right to our house and we can drink it! This is taken for granted, forgetting the process and how many people made it possible for me to have this water run to our home. Just a little perspective on a few of those people. There are the people who originally found the source of the water, and the people who piped the water, and the people who filtered the water, and the people who made the filter. And the people who piped the water to my house (that's a lot of pipe!), and the people who built my house who put in the pipe. And the people who made the faucet and the people who put in the faucet. And to not leave out the people who made all that pipe or even the people who originally invented pipe and therefore made it possible for us to have running water, that I can drink straight from the tap.

There are two quick points from this thought. The first quick point is water and all that it goes through so that we might be able to drink, right from the tap. It's like we are drinking it from the original source. Spiritually speaking, Christ is the original source. When I am really thirsty, I can just go turn on the tap and the water comes out. And Christ is the same way! He said, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink" (John 7:37). Let any man, woman or child, come and drink! He has laid the "pipe", He has made the faucet for us to receive the "living water" (see John 4:10). Christ is real. He has the power to do all things, and strengthen us. But first, we must turn on the faucet and drink the water.

The second point: gratitude. As I have pondered all that I have been given, and all that goes into making it possible for me to receive it, I am humbled by all that I have been given! It makes so much sense why we are given this counsel: "...and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God" (Alma 37:37). And another way of saying it: "...always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive" (Alma 7: 23).  Just receiving water alone is a miracle. But I think the miracle is complete when we receive it with a grateful heart.

Drinking clean water, even the Living Water, strengthens me, and blesses my life in ways I have taken for granted. I am coming to find that gratitude is really a way of living. It is a way of being aware of what I have and giving thanks for all things, even being able to drink straight from the tap. When I live in gratitude and give thanks in all things, I am changed, I am happier and I have greater peace. This I testify.

(This short video put things into perspective for me - enjoy! And remember, you are LOVED!)

"...let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you" Alma 34:27

At this time I have two children serving missions. My daughter is serving in England and my son is serving in Argentina (you can read their emails here and here). I get to hear from them through email once a week while they are on their missions. I can't tell you how excited I get to hear from them, hear how they are doing and all the good and hard things they experience each week. It is such a great feeling to read their letters and see how happy they are while serving Jesus Christ and teaching others of Him.

The other day, as I was praying, I wondered if this is what Heavenly Father feels like when we pray, or communicate with Him. He wants to hear from us, daily- always! We are taught over and over: "Pray always" (for example: Luke 21:36; D&C 19:38; D&C 88:126; 2 Nephi 32:9; 3 Nephi 18:15). When we pray always we draw closer to God, we open ourselves up to His protection and direction. He wants to hear from us!

Heavenly Father wants to hear how we are doing and what we are doing. I think that Amulek said it best about what we should be talking with God over, for, and about. He taught:

"Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in prayer unto him. Cry unto him when ye are in your fields...over all your flocks. Cry unto him in your houses, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening. ...Cry unto him against the power of your enemies. ...Cry unto him against the devil, who in an enemy to all righteousness. Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them. Cry over the flocks of your fields, that they may increase. But this is not all; ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness. ...and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you" (Alma 34:19-27)

As a parent who gets to hear from my children once a week while they are on their missions and the joy that I have in hearing from them, I can only imagine the joy that Heavenly Father has as He hears from us, for we are physically apart from Him, just as I am separated physically from my children.

When my children email me, they will ask for items, support, prayers, and encouragement. They ask for things that are temporal and spiritual. Heavenly Father wants us to ask him for those same temporal and spiritual things that we need in our lives that will help us and lift us. A prophet taught that we should be "asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive" (Alma 7:23). Our Father in Heaven cares about us more than we can imagine. He wants to help us, and it is made possible when we ask.

As a parent I find great joy in hearing from my children. I know that our Father in Heaven wants to hear from us too. "Pray, He is there; Speak, He is listening. You are his child; His love now surrounds you. He hears your prayer; He loves the children. Of such is the kingdom... of heaven" (A Child's Prayer). He's waiting to hear from you daily. I know that praying not only brings great joy to our Father in Heaven, but also to us as we feel his love surround us as our prayers are answered. This I testify.

My daughter- serving in the England Birmingham mission

My son- serving in the Argentina Buenos Aires South mission

"...Encircled about...in the arms of His love" (2 Nephi 1:15)

Sometimes I have felt a little distanced in Relief Society, like, feeling lonely in a room full of people. I blame no one for these feelings of insecurity, and I realized that if I wanted to love Relief Society and the sisters who are in my ward, I needed to be responsible for the change. I wanted to have a stronger testimony that this is God's work and He is aware of me therefore I began to ask for such (see Alma 7:23). It has come to me that this is God's organization for woman to aid, serve, lift, and to truly help relieve suffering. I now understand and know that we are not only figuratively, but also, "literally encircled in the arms of His love" (Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley; 2 Nephi 1:15). Here are a couple of experiences that have helped strengthen my testimony of Relief Society and the power of sisterhood that is within this organization.

I have been able to enjoy quilting with four sisters in my ward on a regular basis at the Humanitarian Center (read about the Humanitarian Center here). We are able to tie quilts that are sent all over the world to those in need and visit together. These women are so positive, devoted, caring, and faithful. I have come to truly love these women who love the Lord and serve Him in so many ways. I have enjoyed spending time with them and learning about their lives, their faith, their hopes, and difficult times. Their faith has strengthened my faith and resolve to "endure in faith to the end" (D&C 20:25) even when things don't always go as expected or planned.

Recently, without going into great detail, my mother has had some very serious health issues. A lot of her care and welfare has been my responsibility. My sister and sister-in-law have been an incredible source of support and help. This has been, at times, moments, hours, and days, an overwhelming experience to watch my mother suffer and endure great pain. I have spent countless hours caring for her at home and at the hospital. One day, after having been at the hospital, I came home to make dinner for my family- it was late and I was exhausted. It also happened that my husband was also working late that particular night. I started to pull some things out of the fridge when I turned and noticed a rotisserie chicken on our counter and a loaf of bread. I was confused about where it had come from. I asked my son, "Where did this chicken come from?" My son told me that one of the sisters in the quilt group had dropped it off saying, "Eat this now or when you need it." Tears rolled down my cheeks as I made cauliflower and a small salad to go with it. I was filled with peace and comfort from this small act of kindness. I was literally "encircled about...in the arms of His love" (2 Nephi 1:15). Because of this thoughtful act of service, I felt some relief from my suffering. My burden had been made lighter (see Mosiah 18:8).

The following day, another sister from this quilting group called me to see how my mother and I were doing. It was a simple phone call, but oh, how it nourished my soul, and again, made my burden lighter to bear. It confirmed the words of a prophet: "It is the natural instinct of women to reach out in love to those in distress" (Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley). I was in distress, yet, I felt loved and supported as this dear sister reached out through a simple phone call.

My suffering was again alleviated when my visiting teacher called and asked if she could stop by. I had just returned home after having spent many hours helping my mother. It had been an especially long and emotional day. At the time I was watching my brothers three youngest children so he and his wife could go and visit with our mother. When my visiting teacher showed up to visit, she had in her hands a small plant and a belated birthday card. As we began to visit she said, "I haven't read the message but the first line jumped out at me and it says, 'I will not leave you comfortless" (John 14:18). It couldn't have been more perfectly timed or said. She then bore the most tender and heartfelt testimony of God's love for us, and said, "Even when there is a new mountain to climb, He will guide us and help us in our darkest times". Indeed He does!

God "encircles [us] about...in the arms of His love through the Relief Society whose members are daughters of God who love Him. It is a society of sisters, all connected by service, covenant keeping, charity, faith, and hope. What a beautiful and godly blessing to be surrounded by these precious women, my sisters in the gospel, even my sisters in Relief Society- who act as God's hands in offering relief to those who suffer and encircling us in the arms of His love.