Simple Joy

Today I am going to write about something that we don't write about near enough, and that is joy.
School has started back up for me and I am attending Washington State University. I am learning so much but I feel that my most important lesson so far came today, from my philosophy teacher.
We were asked 3 questions. To dig really, really, deep and really self reflect and think about the questions and your answers.
The first question was "what is the most important thing to you?" I instantly thought of my kids, as any parent should. But, I realized something more than that. Joy is the most important thing to me, simply being happy. For me my children provide me with the most joy I could ever ask for. But I also receive joy from music and our savior.
Today was a bad day for me, as I let a lot of days be, but I got really bad news today but after my philosophy lesson I plugged in my headphones to spiritual music, went and picked up the kids, and put a big smile on my face.
Sometimes we have to smile even though times are tough, we have to keep on going even though things seem maneuverable.
Life gets tough and it's the bumpy things that make you who are.
People are like stones rolling down a rocky hill. With each bump we hit and each toss we get thrown a little chip is knocked off, sometimes we become scratched up in the process, but by the end we will always be smoothed & polished if you just keep on rollin'.
While this wasn't exactly a spiritual post why don't we all just take the time to think deep inside ourselves at the three questions I was asked, and see how you feel afterwards.
1) what is the most important thing to you?
2) Why?
3) What if you lost this "thing"?
Best of luck to you all with your self reflections and remember, keep on rollin'.

Let Their Iron Swim

A common theme that seems to be coming up in my life a lot lately is "helping others." I keep finding myself bending backwards to help others even when it means causing additional stressors in my already hectic life.
Something I am really excited about is working at the Kiwanis camp! It's a camp for disabled children and adults where they can have a week of fishing, horseback riding, arts and crafts, and friends. You can find more information about it here!
Because of all the "helping" that's going on in my life I know I am creating miracles. Whether or not these miracles affect me directly or not I know that when I go to camp these kids will experience something that they don't always get to. As small as it may be I want that week to be a miracle for them. My outlook on this brings me to today's reading.
In the reading a man drops a borrowed ax into the water. Elisha, a man of god, allows the iron to float to the man when he expresses his concern because the ax wasn't his.
By expressing his concern for OTHERS a miracle was preformed for him. Don't you think you could focus on others every single day to be making miracles no matter the size?
Reading:
2 Kings 6:1-7
Reflections:
-Are you currently trying to make a difference for OTHERS?
-What can you do to make a difference in others day to day life?
Goal:
Make it a goal this week to "make someone's iron swim." let yourself focus more on others needs and wants then your own.