The Mental CHRISTmas Card

A few years ago I was blessed with an experience that is still ingrained in my mind's eye.  It was CHRISTmas time and I was at my mom's house trying to capture some of the spirit of the season by baking and wrapping gifts.  Hewitt was only a couple of months old and got tired of laying by himself on the floor.  My mom needed to get off her feet so she went over, picked him up and sat down with him in a chair next to her CHRISTmas tree in front of the window.  She did exactly what grandmothers do with babies...spoiled him with love and smiles.  As I stood looking on from the kitchen the moment was truly picturesque; my mom in her apron, the beautifully decorated CHRISTmas tree her backdrop, giant snowflakes gently swirlingin the window behind her, face to face with my baby, both of them grinning from ear to ear.  It was a beautiful moment that I cherish and the Christmas card from my Heavenly Father that I will never forget.

Three Years Old!

I remember holding Hewitt as a baby while the other kids ran wild through the house.  Hewitt was such a good, sweet baby and I recall looking down at his beautiful face being grateful that I had at least one child that would sit still.  I looked at Hewitt and said, "I love you so much, Hewitt...but I know you're going to turn into one of them."  The last part didn't even enter my head it just came out of my mouth.  Wherever it came from it was so true.  Little did I know that he wouldn't just be one of them, he would become their leader!

Today is Hewitt's 3rd birthday.  I'm still a little surprised sometimes that he's a part of our family.  I have a very vivid memory of waking early one morning with a prompting to take a pregnancy test and the humble, happy tears that followed the positive reading.  I was at a point in my life where I didn't know if another child was going to be possible for us.  I spent an entire pregnancy worrying about what could go wrong because of my previous delivery experiences.  It was such a blessing and relief to deliver a healthy, hefty (for us) 6 pound 1 ounce baby with no complications or surprises. (My goal was to have at least a six pound baby so that 1 ounce may as well have been a ton I was so grateful!)

These are memories from which I often have to call on for perspective.  That sweet baby who snorted when he was hungry in the night now has a voice.  A voice coupled with an opinion.  An opinion often spoken as mandate.  Mandates which he fully intends to enforce.  In short, Hewitt is a spit-fire Jekyll and Hyde.  He loves to laugh and make silly faces, pretend he's Batman or a Power Ranger, run, jump, and especially ride his bike.  He wants to eat cereal for every meal and has to eat first thing in the morning or else, trust me, you don't want to be around him.  There really are only 3 sides to Hewitt:  good, bad and sleeping.  I like the first and last Hewitts best.

This kid has a temper like I've never seen.  He often gets so mad he just clenches his fists and yells.  If anyone does anything to upset him he attacks from the back with punch after punch.  He's not a fan of being locked in his room, but hasn't yet decided that poor behavior isn't worth said punishment.  Pinching and spanking don't do a whole for him either.  Yet when he calms down he's often quick to say sorry and, "I want to be nice."

We all want you to be nice, Hewitt.  And have a nice birthday, too!

Imagination

Hewitt: Mom, you be mermaid.  You be Areel.  I be Prince Eric.  I be Batman Price Eric.  You be Batman Areel.  We go fight bad guy Urswah.  C'mon!

Don't Blink or They'll Grow

After years of indecision Kenley decided that she was truly ready to brave getting her ears pierced.  It may have helped that Nana gave her the green light by putting up the green to have it done. I love the excitement and anticipation evidenced in this snapshot.

I got my ears pierced when I was four and I know I didn't cry.  But I was worried about Kenley because she has an intense fear of needles, even when they're being used on someone else.  I became especially nervous when there was already a girl on the chair getting hers done while we waited for Kenley's turn.  (I may have selfishly said a silent prayer that that girl wouldn't cry just so that we wouldn't have ventured into the mall with all the kids in tow for nothing.)  Luckily the girl didn't even flinch and I think that cinched up Kenley's courage and determination to get it done. 

She instantly looked older and more mature. She grew up right before my eyes.

And to prove that she was happy with the results she took several pictures of herself.

Oh Yes He Would

As parents we are trying to teach our children right from wrong and help them realize that while they are in charge of their own choices, they can't necessarily choose their consequences.  We've also tried to emphasize that Jesus Christ has been our best example of choosing the right and that we should try to be like him.

Jack seems to get into a lot of trouble.  I don't think he's a bad kid. 

Mischievous?  Yes. 

Bad?  No. 

He just acts without thinking.  After continually hearing us teach him about pleasing Heavenly Father by trying to be like Jesus he started calling us to task as well.  Anytime he'd receive a punishment he felt was unfair - so, you know, every punishment - he'd counter, "You're not being like Jesus."  I'll admit that it kind of stung the first few times because I really wasn't handling situations in the manner of our Savior.  So I began to agree and stated that we could both use some improvement.

One afternoon I had had enough of Jack and his misguided deeds.  He hadn't done anything terrible enough to warrant any serious punishment but I just needed a break.  My idea was to have him spend some time alone so that he could have a break as well.  I sat down with him and explained that he needed to go to his room until I had reinforcements Jeremiah got home.  "What time will Dad get home?" Jack asked.  When I answered that it would be about three hours after the current time Jack said, "Jesus doesn't put people in their room for 3 hours."  By this time the guilt of my parenting tactics being compared to Jesus had worn thin and then I remembered something.  Something wonderful. 

You want to know what I had in my back pocket that stunned my little stinker? 

"Let me tell you about a prophet named JONAH!"

Not Sure How To Take This

Last night during Isaac's snuggle time:
"Mom, I hope that you don't die before I do because I don't want to deal with the going-craziness of not having a mom.  I'd rather you deal with the going-craziness of not having me.  Unless we both die at the same time.  You from age, me from illness, that's the only way that could happen."

Sometimes even I can't find the words to respond.

Over-inflated Sense of Accomplishment? Perhaps...

Last night I had a dream about my upcoming 10K mud run.  In my dream I never actually ran.  I more or less traveled through a fun house of mind games and puzzles set in a Harry Potter-like castle.  Just before I awoke I was trying to fix a hole I'd poked in a bouncy house with my uncle as my mentor.

I've been hoping that adrenaline and the promise of fun will fuel me for the duration of the run.  However, after dreaming that it would include bravely walking before live, cast-iron pigs that may or may not have been waiting to see if I could tell which two were identical (seriously, my dreams could be a book on their own), I've decided I might need to do some actual training.

I am not a runner.  Sprinting is okay, but I've never done it competitively, unless you count the back-yard races I sometimes arrange with young children just so that I can win.  (I need that boost sometimes, don't judge.)  So instead of jarring my brain with the impact of running first thing in the morning I chose to go for a bike ride.  Yes, I know it's totally different but since I don't exercise much now I just wanted to get started doing something physical. I also wanted something that would help me build endurance.

My goal as I set out was to go for about a 5 mile ride.  But as I left the neighborhood I thought that was kind of a lazy goal.  Deciding to keep that distance, I told myself I had to pedal the entire ride...without switching gears.  (It's kind of sad how specific I have to be with myself because if I leave myself a loophole, I'll find it.)

I can't really tell you how I felt while I rode.  For the first mile or so I was mostly concerned about traffic, but once I got out into the country I kind of just checked out.  Fortunately my legs pedaled on without my being aware of it.  I don't really remember feeling fatigue at any point.  I did however realize that it isn't exercise I dislike, it's the impact, which explains my aversion to running.  Seems the Law of Inertia is a better workout partner for me than the Law of Gravity.

I had to laugh when I finally pedaled into my driveway and dismounted my bike because it was as if my legs had forgotten how to walk.  I had to take a short walk around my cul-de-sac before going inside just so my thighs could remember the motion.  Hats off to you triathaloners.

I know that for many others my workout today would be considered a drop in the bucket.   But for me it was about setting a goal for my personal growth.  And Ta-Da!  I did it!

Once Upon a Time We Had a Reunion

It was a while ago and it was fun.
The End

Theological Discussion

In the car last night the kids reminded us that we hadn't yet read scriptures for the day and that it had, in fact, been a while since we'd read as a family. Because we were in the car and it was late Jeremiah asked Isaac to share what he learned in Primary yesterday.

Isaac: I learned that there are steps to repentance. First you have to recognize that what you did was wrong. Then you have to do what you can to make it better. You have to pray to Heavenly Father for forgiveness.

Mom: And then?

Isaac: Then you never do it again.

Jeremiah: There's one more thing. What makes it possible for you to repent?

Isaac: You have to sin first.

Kenley: Stop being funny on Sunday!!!