Pi Day and a Basket full of Blessings!

Yesterday was Pi Day!  3.1415 (3/14/15)
So, we decided to celebrate by eating pies!  I kind of went pie crazy, but in a mini way.  I made mini chicken pot pies, mini shepherd pies and mini banana cream pies.

Mini Chicken Pot Pies

Mini Shepherd Pies

Mini Banana Cream Pies

Here are Daddy and Kate enjoying their shepherd pies!

I made a total of 72 pies!!!!

Blessing Basket:

I read a talk the other day by Bonnie D. Parkin, "Gratitude: A Path to Happiness". It was a great talk. I've really been trying to focus on being grateful and I really liked this story that she told. 

Let me share a sweet story with you. A family was going through a difficult time. It was hard for them not to focus on their challenges. The mother wrote: “Our world had completely crumpled, so we turned to Heavenly Father for guidance. Almost immediately we realized that we were surrounded by goodness and were being cheered on from every side. We began as a family to express our gratitude to each other as well as to the Lord daily. A close friend pointed out to me that our family’s ‘blessing basket’ was overflowing. From that conversation came a sort of game, which my children and I grew to love. Before family prayer each night we would talk about how our day had gone and then share with each other all of the many blessings that had been added to our ‘blessing basket.’ The more we expressed gratitude, the more there was to be grateful for. We felt the love of the Lord in a significant way as opportunities for growth presented themselves.”
What would a “blessing basket” add to your family?

I've pondered her question and decided that I should start a BLESSING BASKET on my blog. 

My Blessing Basket

1. As of a few weeks ago, I am the new Compassionate Service Leader in our ward.  I really don't know what I'm doing, but I am very excited for this calling.  I am excited that it will help me look outside of my little basement "bubble" that I live in and help others around me.  I have already had two opportunities to serve, or at least work on my calling.  A lady in our ward needed rides to a medical facility once a week.  I was a little nervous that we might not get enough people to sign up for this service because it meant that one person would have to get up at 5:30 AM on a Saturday and drive her to the medical facility and another would have to pick her up at 11:00 AM.  I sent around the sign up in Relief Society and kind of gritted my teeth and said a silent prayer that someone would sign up for these slots, especially the 5:30 AM one. To preface this just a little, you need to know that our Stake boundaries were realigned and a small portion, including my family, were moved from the 2nd Ward into the 1st Ward.  This happened in July and needless to say, we, the newcomers, still don't know everyone.  So, back to my story, while the lesson commenced and the sign-up sheet went around, I kept peering at the sheet to see if anyone had signed-up.  As it came to the lady two seats away from me, I heard her lean over to her neighbor and ask if it was okay if she only signed up for the drop-off in the mornings and not to pick her up at 11 AM.  Luckily, I was there and turned to her and told her that would be wonderful.  I had put two Saturdays on the sign-up sheet and this wonderful lady signed up for both of the 5:30 AM slots.  And then, this is the part that almost brings me to tears as I write it, but she turned to me and said, "Do you know what this lady looks like?  Could you point her out to me?"  The sister who was so willing to give up her Saturday mornings didn't even know the sister who was in need.  The lady sitting next to me, like myself, had come from the 2nd Ward and didn't know the lady that needed help.  I was amazed at the charity that this sister was showing to someone she had never met.  Needless to say, the other slots were also filled up.  It is such a testament to me of the mission of the Relief Society.  "The errand of angels is given to women."    I feel so blessed to have this calling!  I am excited to get to know the women in my ward and to help them in their time of need.

• My daughters are a huge blessing in my life!  They bring me so much joy!!!

1. One more blessing that I have to mention tonight is the blessings of my sisters!!!  My sister Lexia called me the other day to just check in and see how life was going.  Then, Annelise called me today to see how I was.  I love talking to my sisters!  They make me feel so important when they take the time to call and show that they care and were thinking about me.  Thank you sisters!

Annelise, Jolene (Mom), Lexia, Karissa (sister-in-law), Christina