Our Small Miracle

Something happened a couple of weeks ago that I can't stop thinking about.  It was towards the end of a busy Saturday and I still needed to go grocery shopping for a few things.  Jared was not home, so I needed to take all 4 children with me.  Past experience has taught me that there is no easy, quick way to shop with 4 children.  I braced myself and prepared to say multiple times, "Please don't touch that . . put that back . . . no- we're not buying that . . . please leave that alone . . .stay by me. . . etc."  When we arrived in the parking lot I took a deep breath and gave the speech about how we just needed to get a few things and I wanted to get in and out as quickly as possible.

Now for the miracle part.  We all got out of the car and the children held hands and walked into the store with me.  We grabbed a cart and started to make the rounds for the few things on my list.  The children stayed close to the cart and helped me find what I was looking for.  There was no crying or fighting.  Nobody asked me to buy something that wasn't on my list.  As I checked off the last thing on my list I realized everyone was calm and smiling.  I started to wonder what was going on.  I was expecting to be battling for sanity at that point.  Cheered by the quick shopping trip I grabbed a box of brownie bites from the bakery day-old rack for a special treat.  The children were excited about the treat and even agreed to WAIT until we got home to eat them so we wouldn't fill the car with crumbs.  By this time I realized that my children must have been abducted by aliens and that these calm reasonable beings with me couldn't possibly be the same children I usually have following me at the grocery store.  Still, I was glad they were along for the ride. Now if I could just figure out how to get these same children to come with me next time I go shopping.  I can honestly say it was one of the most pleasant shopping trips I've experienced.

Pulling Teeth

The other day one of my 6-year-old daughters had a very loose tooth. It was bleeding and was ready to be pulled. For most people, this probably wouldn't be a big deal, but it filled me with a feeling of dread. For some reason, the thought of pulling a tooth makes me cringe. It makes me think of tearing flesh and other icky things.

Usually when a child has a loose tooth, I tell him or her to just keep wiggling the tooth until it comes out on it's own, or I turn it over to my husband to handle. But my Jared was gone and my daughter was crying and had a blood-filled mouth. I told her to pull the tooth out herself, but she just cried and begged me to pull it out for her. There was no one else to take care of this but me. This is when "mommy mode" switched on. I pretended like it was no big deal, took a deep breath, reached in her mouth, and yanked the tooth out. Luckily, it came out quickly and easily.

I'm thankful for the "mommy mode" that clicks on when my child is in distress and allows me to do things that I never would do otherwise.  It's useful in icky situations such as smashing black widows on the front porch (ewww!) and cleaning up vomit (I'll spare you the gritty details on that).  I suppose it's also what gives me the strength to get out of bed in the middle of the night and calm a child who has had a nightmare or whose leg hurts.  As I reflect on the strength that comes with "mommy mode" I think of the promise made in the scriptures that as we are humble and try to do our best, our weaknesses can be made strong (see Ether 12:27).  As a mother I know I have many weaknesses, but I am thankful for strength beyond my own to help in times of need.

Love is in the Air

My 6-year-old twin daughters have been busy writing.

My older daughter wrote a book on President's Day when she was out of school. She made a "draft" complete with pictures, chapters, and page numbers and asked me to help her "edit" and "publish" it. (Hooray for first grade teachers who correctly teach the writing process). I helped her make sure all the words were spelled correctly. Then she typed it on the computer, and I helped her format it and print it. Finally, she drew the illustrations on the final copy. Here is her book. It's entitled "Love is Just What Comes with Everything."

My younger twin daughter wrote about love at school. This is the short essay she brought home on Valentine's Day.

"Love is having fun.  When someone loves me, they tell me.  Someone told me they loved me and it was my mom.  Also my Aunt Katie and Jen.  Because sometimes I love them too.  I love the people that love me.  I know that when people say to me that they love me, other people love me too.  Love makes me fell happy."

Silly Girls

After church last week I asked my six-year-old twin daughters to help me gather up the crayons and papers that were under the bench where we had been sitting. As we were leaving I asked if there was anything else on the floor. My daughter said, "Wait, mom, there's something else on the floor." I replied "Well pick it up and let's go." She looked at me with all seriousness and said, "Mom I can't." "Why not?" I asked. "It's the carpet mom!"

Silly girls. Made me stop and smile.

Pillows, Firemen, and Music

Last night when I was tucking my six-year-old daughter into bed I listened to her nightly prayers as I usually do. I was touched when she listed these three things at the end of her prayer: “I'm thankful for pillows, I'm thankful for firemen, and I'm thankful for music.” My first thought was how cute this somewhat random list was and i smiled at this precious moment. I repeated the three things in my mind over and over again so I could remember them and write them down later. Then, as I was writing them down in my journal it occurred to me how beautiful and insightful this little list really is.

I am also thankful for pillows. Pillows represent all the comfortable things that I enjoy in my life. Thinking of pillows I also think of beds, blankets, and fresh, clean sheets. I am thankful for quiet, peaceful nights in which to sleep. I am thankful for the other comforts of life like good food, a warm house, sturdy shoes, nice clothing, and indoor plumbing. The list could go on and on.

When I think about firemen, I think about security and protection. It's nice to know that someone is there ready to help in an emergency. We can also add policemen, military, and all those in security jobs to this list. This idea of security people can also extend to all who are available at a moment's notice to give needed assistance such as parents, neighbors, and other family members.

Finally, it is good to be thankful for music. Music represents all the beautiful and uplifting things in life. It embodies culture, refinement, and the attention to details that make ordinary things in life meaningful and inspiring. This category includes all of the fine arts as well as all mediums of artistic expression.

Yes, my dear daughter, I too am thankful for pillows, firemen, and music. Thanks for reminding me of how truly blessed we are.