A Little Reader

Today so many blessings seem to come to mind, but I think I'll write about one that might seem quite small and easily overlooked. As I was tidying up this evening after Lauren was in bed, Abigail was playing quietly by herself and asked if we could read some books. I wasn't quite done with what I needed to get done so I suggested that she go ahead and read a few without me and then I'd come and read some to her.

And she did.

I think that is a blessing. She, ever so patiently picked a few books and 'read' them out loud to herself as I finished up and then we cuddled and read more until it was time for bed. The transition from being a newborn and so ever dependent upon me to a sweet little girl who can be so independent has rushed by me; I loved my Abigail from the moment I knew about her, but it is such a blessing to me now to see how much she has grown. This is just a small little moment, a small little blessing, that brought these years of memories and blessings to my mind, and I am so grateful for them and for her. I love her so much; and if it's possible, even more everyday.

Little Visiting Teachers

Today my friend, Jessica, and I did our visiting teaching and visited several women in our area. We always carpool and take our girls with us (which can get a little crazy at times), but I think that it is such a great blessing for us and for the girls that we can all go together. I used to never want to take my kids with me, because of the inevitable distractions, but now as good behavior is being taught and understood I think it is so great that they can be a part of this service.

I love that we drive together. Abbie loves having her friends ride with us in the car, plus it saves on gas, but most importantly it is so great to be together and united in our compassion and concern for the sisters we visit. Because it's a twenty minute drive each way, Jessica and I get some time to actually talk to each about our lives and our struggles, but also of those sweet women we love and how we can serve them better. The biggest blessing I think though, that was really made clear to me today, was the example that we are setting for our little girls and for the experiences they're having by coming with their moms on the Lord's errand. Every time they join us in saying a prayer before we leave, they help carry in goodies for others, they listen to the lesson, they listen to a prayer for others and I hope they will understand the purpose for being "willing to mourn with those that mourn... and comfort those that stand in need of comfort".

Today as I watched our little girls, I think they are beginning to, and I believe that that is a blessing.

Grandpa

My Dad has to be one of the coolest grandpas of all time. Today we were able to meet my Dad for lunch and then go to a park while we were in Tumwater running errands. Abigail was so excited when I told her we were meeting Papa for lunch and just extra thrilled when she asked him if he could go to the park with us and he said he could. It is so fun watching Abbie be able to express herself so well now- it has it's downfalls when she's feeling particularly grouchy, but it more than makes up for it when she is so happy. She just repeated to me "Mom, Papa can go to the park with us!!" and then gave my Dad a huge hug and ate her lunch in record time so we could get to the park.

The highlight of my blessings today, though, was at the park when my Dad taught the girls how to roll down a hill. It was too hilarious- and truly a moment of joy that I'll remember with a smile. My Dad first explained, and then demonstrated- in his work suit no less- and rolled down the steep hill as fast as he could. After seeing Papa do this, Abigail was determined and tried and tried until she got the hang of it, having tons of fun along the way. I feel very blessed that my Dad can be so close with the girls, close enough for us to stop by at the last minute for lunch, and close enough to share his fun and bright personality with his grandkids. What a blessing he is to me and to them.

A Long PlayDate

Wow, what a long, but fun day. Today I got a little taste of what a mom with four kids' life is like. Let me tell you, it's tiring! I think two is tiring enough, but four- you guessed it- is double! This morning I watched our good little friends, Mac and Aaron until 3pm when they got picked up by their grandma, at which time I switched and watched my friend, Jessica's two kids through the evening. There are several blessings that I have really felt today through these great kids that get to come play at our home.

The first is that each parent (or grandparent) has related to me how their kids are so excited to come to "Abbie's house" and that when they're asked who they want to watch them and where, they always want to come here. What a huge blessing and honor! I feel very blessed by this, because I want our home to be a place where people really feel welcome and want to come; especially for my kids' friends. And I hope this is due to me being such a super-fun mom, but mostly from the spirit that they hopefully feel when they are here.

I really think having these little playdates are a big blessing for my girls. Days like today are definitely long for them and they miss their usual one on one time with Mom and Dad, but it's also so great for them to have such good friends, and to build those relationships and learn social skills like sharing and taking turns and showing forgiveness in a safe and familiar environment. This is also the beginning of learning how to deal with peer pressure and influences from friends. Now, this may seem crazy since they're just toddlers and preschoolers, but I think watching good and bad examples from little friends and deciding whether it's okay or not to do, or following the rules even when someone else is breaking them is really a great life skill to learn young.

Probably the biggest blessing- that I think is close to a miracle- is naptime. Naptime with four kids doesn't seem very doable, especially when there's not enough beds or spaces for separate sleeping areas, but week after week these kids just keep amazing me. Last week they were so worn out from playing that I had all four of them napping for over two hours until it was time for them to go! Modern day miracle?- I think so! Today all but Lauren napped together as she took a long nap earlier while the big kids did crafts. This unsuspected blessing of good naptimes give me the time necessary to re-energize and be patient and fun all day.

I just really feel blessed for the opportunity I have to serve others by having their kids spend time with mine in our home. I'm not saying I'm ready for four kids of my own, but I sure love being able to play with four, and I feel very blessed that they love coming and playing here too.

Swim Time

Mondays are our go-go-go days as the girls and I usually go grocery shopping, go to the library, then they have lunch at my moms while I go swim laps at the pool and then we sometimes meet Drew for ice-cream during his lunch break and then head home for naps. Today was similar, and I was feeling kind of lazy and wondering if I should even go swim. Finding time... let me rephrase.... making time to go workout is a big struggle for me, and I have to be really on the ball ( ie- not lazy!) to fit that time into my days. That's why I appreciate my mom having lunch ready for my girls and watching them for an hour while I go swim every Monday. That is really such a huge blessing for me- otherwise I would probably never get to swim, because, unless I want to brave the still cold lake, it isn't something that I can do from home. As soon as I get in that pool and start swimming I am always so grateful for the opportunity that my mom gives me to workout, have a little time with my thoughts, and hopefully get in shape. I hope to be less lazy on Mondays and look forward to my swims that truly are a blessing to me.

Stake Conference

Last night Drew and I attended the adult session of stake conference, and honestly, we had decided that we weren't going to attend the general session for families this morning for several reasons, the main being that we wouldn't get anything out of it anyways with our rascally girls. Well, this morning while I was making french toast for breakfast I just suddenly felt very impressed that we needed to go, and not so much even for my benefit, but that the girls needed to go. So, I told Drew and in record time we had eaten breakfast, gotten ready, and were on our way to be there an hour early so we could get good seats.

Our stake conference is located almost an hour away, so it really is amazing that we were able to decide so late and still make it there so early- probably because our girls seem to want to wake up every morning at the crack of dawn. And, aside from Abigail throwing up her french toast on the way there and switching outfits, we made it there plenty early and got good seats.

I believe we were blessed to be there- the girls did amazingly well for having to sit still for two hours, but the main blessing that I want to mention is my time with Abigail before the conference even began. We arrived almost an hour early, and, not wanting to have her sit for much longer than the allotted two hour meeting already, I took her on a little walk inside the building. It was so fun to look at all of the different paintings of Christ and for her to practice her reverence, even in the midst of mild commotion. We were looking at a painting of Christ, when He was beckoning His apostles who were fishing to come and follow Him, and in just those few minutes talking about following Christ and how the apostles "straightway left their nets" to follow Jesus I think the whole trip to go to stake conference was worth it. We returned to that painting once more before entering the chapel and Abigail knew just what it was about. This time, she told me how Jesus was beckoning for His apostles on the boat to come, follow Him and how they went right away and left their nets and fish and how He's calling us to follow Him too. It was so precious; what a blessing it is to watch her learn, and I hope her testimony of Christ increased a little this morning as mine did.