Just Like Magic

Having children has done lots of things for me, one of which...it's opened my eyes as to how much I really don't know. For example, why does fire burn and why is it yellow/orange? However, at the same time, I've realized the power of the knowledge I do possess. I know more than millions of people on the earth today, and for that I am grateful, and I want to share that knowledge with others.

As a side note, one thing I have learned is night time is unmatchable for learning things about your children, what they are thinking of, worried about, excited about, things that happened that day to them that you might not even know....Night time is a precious and priceless time for gaining knowledge about your children. On the flip side, I've learned, (or rather relearned), that there is no better time for increasing your own personal knowledge as in the early morning hours. That is when Heavenly Father can teach you the most about yourself.

Last night, as I lay by my son in bed, he said, "Mom, will everyone sometime die, and will their bodies be buried in the earth?" See! To illustrate my point, two days ago, we drove by the cemetery, and my son asked what all the headstones were. I quickly tried to explain, and obviously, he has been thinking about that for two days. I pulled him close to me and explained that yes, everyone will die, but that we don't have to be afraid of dying because we will get to go back to Heavenly Father and Jesus. In as little as five minutes, we had talked about the beautiful plan of happiness that our Heavenly Father has set up for us, and how we can return to him if we are obedient to his commandments, and the importance of temples so that we can be eternal families after we do die, and the miraculous power of the resurrection, that our bodies and spirits will be reunited for eternity, and the gift of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Again, explaining those things took such a short time, yet my testimony was strengthened last night as I rediscovered the "magic" of it all. Think on it. We can live forever with those we love...in a perfect body...It's miraculous! Or as my son said, "Magic." My thoughts exactly.

I sometimes wonder too, am I teaching my children? Or are they helping me remember truths I've forgotten? It's magic how it works like that.

My New Hero

Today, I found my new hero, someone that I want to be just like, someone I look up to and admire; someone that makes me laugh and think about things I've never taken the time to think about before, someone who makes me grateful for all I have, especially the small things like grasshoppers, chocolate milk and hiccups. And...lucky for me, he lives in my house and sits at my table every meal.


Let's back up a bit and tell a quick history of the past year. I literally have been thinking about whether or not to put my son Nicholas into preschool for almost a year. (Ask my very loving husband.) After much thought, prayer, and going back and forth with what I was going to do, I decided Monday, (three days before preschool started) to not put my son in preschool. Main reason...I want to be the one to be with my son. He is a complete joy to be around and truly my hero.

Today I sat on our front porch watching him ride his bike up and down our hill, and I couldn't help but congratulate myself for making a good decision on keeping him home instead of going to preschool. I learn so much from him daily, and he keeps a smile on my face and a beautiful spirit in our home. Not only that, but as I watched him interact with his friends, wave to every car that passed and quickly obey my every request, I realized, "I want to be like him."


"Become as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things...."

I truly have an amazing boy living in my home. And even though he may be smaller than me, and not able to do all I can do physically, spiritually he is worlds ahead of me.

And you know the best part about it? My hero calls me "Mom", and he says he "loves me the whole earth." Yep. Life doesn't get much better than that.

Home Sweet Home

Last week, my in-laws came to visit and when they started leaving on Sunday, my two children packed their bags and said they were headed out too. Well, after mom dried her eyes and acted really brave, they were off, and Kyle and I were left at home with our youngest child, Katie.

It was very quiet around our house and very empty without my children, and I missed them very much. They had a wonderful time and I have to admit, I got alot of accomplished. I painted two rooms in our house even! Kyle's lucky that the children came home when they did, or the entire house might be red by now. ha ha

In a nutshell, I learned last week just how much love, laughter and joy my children bring into the home. You know the saying, "you don't what you've got until it's gone"? Well, that's been true for me this last week. I greatly missed my children and now know, to a greater extent, how much they mean to me, and how much they add to my life. I am eternally grateful to be a mother and for my wonderful children.