Choosing the Right brings peace

Today has been a special Sunday.  I really wanted to feel the spirit of the Sabbath, and I realized that, to do this, I needed to make different choices than what I have made in the past.  I love to start my Saturdays (and usually Sundays) watching Disney Junior with my girls.  It's our time together.  However, today, instead of doing that,  I turned on church music when they woke up.  I immediately felt this incredibly peaceful spirit come into our home that I have not felt for a while.  I even found time to read a couple of conference talks before the girls woke up this morning, where I am usually just so lazy on Sunday, I actually don't get to scripture study at all on Sundays, of all days!  Because of these simple choices, our whole day has felt different and special.  I felt more engaged in the talks and lessons today.  I even received an answer to a concern I had voiced to my Heavenly Father just this morning.  From these experiences today, I have learned a few important lessons.
1. Often times, when we are feeling stressed or anxious about something, we probably are not doing something right!  Why do I feel this way?  Well, our Sunday mornings are usually very chaotic, and I can't get Brook to do anything because she would rather sit and watch her show.  So we get into fights trying to get her going.  This morning, when I chose to leave the TV off and invite the spirit in, there was no stress, and there was no fighting.
2. When we give time to the Lord, He gives time back to us.  I took the time to study the words of the apostles this morning, and as a result, we were not rushing out the door.  We had plenty of time to get to church, even though I did something I usually don't take the time to do on Sunday mornings.
3. Preparing ourselves for the Sabbath day, and for church, enhances our experience and opens our hearts to the spirit.  Since I actually came to church with some questions today, and was not distracted by the chaos of life, but calm and open to the spirit, I received an almost immediate answer to my question.  I felt like everything taught could be applied to my life somehow, instead of brushing if off, thinking it was not for me.
4. Small and simple things bring forth great blessings.  In making these choices today, I was again reminded of a promise the Lord made to me a few months ago.  I always have Jeff give me a blessing at the beginning of each school year.  The blessing this year was different.  It started out: "This is going to be your hardest year yet."  I'm not going to lie, I immediately panicked.  This is not what I wanted to hear.  Yet, the Lord was preparing me.  He also followed it with counsel: "As long as you are reading your scriptures daily and saying your prayers, you will be able to do what you need to do, and you will get through it."  He asked such a simple thing of me, and in return, promised I would be able to get through this year.  This has been true today and everyday.
5. Another precious thing that occurred was that, when I was open to the spirit, instead of distracted by worldly things, not only did I feel the spirit of the Lord, but I also felt Zach's spirit.  Some of the songs on my church playlist are sweet songs that remind me of him.  When they came on, I was reminded of him and how much I love him.  I think, in a way, he was with me for those few minutes.
I feel so blessed and so grateful to my Heavenly Father for prompting me to do the things I need to do for myself, an for my family.  I also feel grateful that He is aware of me, and that He finds ways everyday to remind me of His presence in my life.  Isn't it interesting that doing what the Lord has asked us to do opens more doors and gives us more opportunities than choosing the opposite?  Isn't it interesting that inviting the spirit helps us to bear, and sometimes, rid ourselves of our anxieties?  Heavenly Father loves us so much, and He will show us everyday if we simply do the small and simple things He has asked of us.  I am so grateful for this knowledge!