So much to be thankful for! This afternoon I received a phone call from a homeschooling friend to let me know that an amazing Mom, and fellow home schooler past away last night. She said that L.F. had been preparing her family, that they were handling it quite well, and that they knew that this was coming, to which I replied, "I can hardly prepare for tomorrow, and get through today, how would you prepare your kids for eternity ahead alone?" Hard. I am so grateful for time with them. :) That even after I put them all to bed last night at 7:30 p.m.. Yep, I did. It was stake conference yesterday, and after being shut in the house all day with them, they were jumping off the walls. I should have given in and sent them out to jump on the trampoline, but we have a family tradition that we stay in Sunday afternoon clothes on Sunday (which means a collared shirt and nice pants) and that means they aren't to be outside. Especially J was really ready to wiggle! So at 7:30 I just turned off all the lights, and went to my room. Sr team and B had just recently returned from being gone for a few hours at Mission Prep class, so they didn't understand why I was so done. It didn't take long for them to see J bouncing off the walls. I was grateful to retire to my bed with the recent issue of the Ensign containing all the General Conference talks, and to read and consider several of them! About 9 I asked B how many he thought were still away, he bet me that only L would be awake still. The boys were up in their room. They have been staying up late every night lately, thinking they can start a movie or stay up and talk until well past 11 every night. I on the other hand am 5 months along, and I exhausted from the days activities!
Tonight for family home evening, we watched a recent CES fireside by Elder Packer on Justice and Mercy. By the end, several were asleep, but I woke them up and engaged everyone in making a chain of things we are thankful for. We spent about an hour, and the tonight the chain is draped across two windows and the door in the kitchen. I am thankful to have kids who are grateful! Little J said night prayers tonight, and he only said thank yous to our Father in Heaven. He is so darling! We have a joke about him, that it's hard to tell him "no" because his dimples are so cute. I tease and say he has to hide his dimples. He and C exclaim, "We can't!." They both have such darling dimples! I am so thankful for each one of my little ones! I am not sure what I would do without them!
Yesterday at stake conference, it was televised from SLC. We were of course on the hard chairs, so many in our area are senior, if we take the soft chairs... it's just not worth the glares! So we were in the cultural hall stacked tightly on the hard chairs. Little S was so wiggly, and ready for her nap. I finally took her to the hallway, and quickly realized that there was no one in the primary room, where the lights were off, the speaker could carry the voice of the speakers, and I could sit on the padded bench and listen while she wiggled to her hearts content! I sat down, only to have her embrace me tight, and just want to hug! It was only a few moments and she was asleep in my arms there in the dark as we listened to the words of leaders from Salt Lake. President Packer talked about the heart, and how each part of the body is important as I held her beautiful little hand in mine! She is beautiful and I am so grateful to be her Mom! Today I watched lovingly as she and S were playing in the backyard. He is so kind and gentle with her. I am so grateful for the love a baby brings!
My Elder J is doing great in Taiwan! I love Sunday afternoons when we get to hear from him. I told him early in his mission that I wanted pictures of him! I am grateful that nearly every week he sends me pictures to see that he is smiling, and looks good!
Tonight I am grateful! My D spoke on gratitude yesterday in his ward, and told of little J signing Thank you, he didn't know what it meant, but learned that he was saying thank you! I am grateful for the example of children and of my parents!
Tonight for family home evening, we watched a recent CES fireside by Elder Packer on Justice and Mercy. By the end, several were asleep, but I woke them up and engaged everyone in making a chain of things we are thankful for. We spent about an hour, and the tonight the chain is draped across two windows and the door in the kitchen. I am thankful to have kids who are grateful! Little J said night prayers tonight, and he only said thank yous to our Father in Heaven. He is so darling! We have a joke about him, that it's hard to tell him "no" because his dimples are so cute. I tease and say he has to hide his dimples. He and C exclaim, "We can't!." They both have such darling dimples! I am so thankful for each one of my little ones! I am not sure what I would do without them!
Yesterday at stake conference, it was televised from SLC. We were of course on the hard chairs, so many in our area are senior, if we take the soft chairs... it's just not worth the glares! So we were in the cultural hall stacked tightly on the hard chairs. Little S was so wiggly, and ready for her nap. I finally took her to the hallway, and quickly realized that there was no one in the primary room, where the lights were off, the speaker could carry the voice of the speakers, and I could sit on the padded bench and listen while she wiggled to her hearts content! I sat down, only to have her embrace me tight, and just want to hug! It was only a few moments and she was asleep in my arms there in the dark as we listened to the words of leaders from Salt Lake. President Packer talked about the heart, and how each part of the body is important as I held her beautiful little hand in mine! She is beautiful and I am so grateful to be her Mom! Today I watched lovingly as she and S were playing in the backyard. He is so kind and gentle with her. I am so grateful for the love a baby brings!
My Elder J is doing great in Taiwan! I love Sunday afternoons when we get to hear from him. I told him early in his mission that I wanted pictures of him! I am grateful that nearly every week he sends me pictures to see that he is smiling, and looks good!
Tonight I am grateful! My D spoke on gratitude yesterday in his ward, and told of little J signing Thank you, he didn't know what it meant, but learned that he was saying thank you! I am grateful for the example of children and of my parents!