Remembering

Lately I have been thinking a lot about the importance of remembering.  I feel like remembering is so vital and important to learning and growing in this life.  Sometimes I feel like it is so easy to "forget" things, especially when life is wonderful and smooth sailing.  I have had my share of ups and downs and experiences that have taught me a great deal in my 32 years, yet sometimes I feel like I am starting over in certain areas of my life...simply because I haven't remembered as well as I should have.  

I know that everything the Lord counsels us to do is for our benefit and well-being.  To me it is not a small reminder when he counsels us several times in the scriptures to remember.  So my question is...how do you get better at remembering?  Not just remembering events, but feelings and growth and lessons learned? 

I want to be able to always remember the lessons the Lord has taught me through my experiences both good and bad.  I want to remember all of His tender mercies in my life because I know that by doing so I can experience more growth.  I also want to always remember the way I felt the first time I saw Jimmy or the way I felt as we knelt across the altar in the temple to be married for eternity, or the way I felt when I held Madeline and Lucas for the first time, or when I first felt them move in my tummy. I want to always remember how sweet and innocent my children are and how much they love unconditionally.  I want to always remember how much my husband sacrifices for our family...and our country and never complains.  I want to remember how forgiving he is...and how selfless and giving he is.  I want to always remember what my children look like when they are sleeping or how it feels to have their little arms wrapped around me.  I want to always remember the amazing friends that have been placed in my path all over the world. I want to always remember the weight of my grandpa's hands on my head as he gave me numerous priesthood blessings, I want to always remember my mom and my grandma's smiles.  I want to always remember how much my mom sacrificed and continues to sacrifice for her children.  I want to always remember the sound of my children and my husband laughing together.  I want to always remember the way it feels to have a broken soul and the amazing power that the atonement has to heal it and make it whole again.  I want to always remember what it feels like to be "hugged" by the Spirit.  I want to always remember how happy I am and how wonderfully blessed I am.  And the list goes on....

looong spanking

Madeline: "Dad, after work today that means we get you home for a looong spanking?"

Translation: Dad after work today you get to be home for a long weekend.