Tender Mercies

So, yesterday wasn't a great day. We were busy running around and the kids were fighting me the whole time. I was cranky and they were cranky because Grammy and Boppie had just left. I thought a great way to help lift their modes was to get out of the house and play. It sort of worked, but there were more tears then happy faces and more fights than laughter.

We got home and was lucky enough to be invited over to a friends house for dinner! Woohoo, no cooking for me! Dinner was great, although the kids barely ate. What's new. But it was nice to connect with friends and feel their love and support. A great way to end a bad day. Thanks!

Then, it was bedtime. Not so great. More tears and fighting. But they went to bed quickly.

Not going into details but things happened last night that I'm not proud of. I feel awful today. And although I haven't gotten down on my knees to pray and repent and seek His guidance and I have had a prayer in my heart all day. Just to help me to stay calm and not be too hard on myself. Because really, I didn't do anything that really should warrant my being this hard on myself. It's that nasty guy doing his thing on me making feel worse then I really should. After talking to my husband, I feel better and knew I just needed to take an easy day. Because getting angry with the kids wasn't going to help anything and I just needed a quiet day.

So, even though I have haven't officially repented for my wrong doing yesterday, I have had a broke heart and a contrite spirit. I've felt His love for, but not through the Spirit. Well, sort of. I have felt it through our cat, Olive. She isn't a snugly, lap cat. She isn't one to come out during the day while the kids are up (she's scared of them, I would be too!), but today, she has curled up next to me, slept on my lap and even let me put my arm around her and pull her close when I was trying to take a nap on the couch when the kids were on quiet time. She's been extra purry today and just from her small spirit, I have felt the love of the Lord through her. It's like He knew I needed the extra love and to be shown it in a physical way. And since my kids are busy being angry with each other and fighting, the cat is the next best thing. 

We have noticed that during prayers and blessing, she comes around and starts purring really loud. She purrs and kneads the bed when I pray and read my scriptures. She loves family prayer and FHE. I'm very impressed that we were able to pick out a cat that would be so in tune with the Spirit and our needs for comfort and love in hard times. I guess we were just inspired or lead to get our Olive.

So, tonight, after the kids go to bed and the house is quiet, and somewhat in order, I plan to do a lot of soul searching and spending time on my knees. I'm sure that this spiritual little cat will be around nudging me and purring, letting me know that He loves me and so does she!