A Sweet Reminder

Lincoln's new primary teacher approached me after a stake Relief Society activity this evening.  She looked straight into my eyes, touched my arm and told me how much she loves Lincoln.  She loves him because he is so honest and speaks so freely, without guile.  He is sweet and tender.  She said she can tell he has been taught well.  My heart sang, and I wept. 

I thanked her for telling me.  Most of the time, day-to-day life is busy and crazy.  I know Lincoln is a good boy.  He is tender.  He is sweet.  He already has a marvelous testimony.  But I think sometimes those things get lost in the daily craze.  And an outside reminder of the goodness of one, or all, of my children renews me.

This is not a call for praise of my children.  It is just a sweet reminder to me, to be recorded in our little family's record, that my children are good.  They are kind.  They are special.

Another Year Bites the Dust

When we asked the littles if they wanted to try and stay up until midnight to ring in the New Year, they were ecstatic.  They put on their macho faces: "We can totally do it.  We don't sleep anyway; we're always faking."  Well, that was a lot of lip service if I ever heard it. 

At 8:55 p.m., Lincoln and Porter had checked out and Greg wasn't far behind. Ethan fought a good fight and made it until nearly 11:00, then asked how the New Year Elf would visit if he was still awake.  I told him to give in and go to sleep; 2 minutes later, he was gone.

I crawled in bed at 11:20, after all my boys were asleep.  I'm a strong believer that the best way to bring in the New Year is in your own bed, sleeping peacefully amidst those you love.

This was a great year for us. We expected to be apart a lot, and weren't at all. Greg is back in school and we're surrounded by family and friends. We're happy where we are, but admittedly, we've learned to be happy anywhere we are together.

Happy New Year, all.

Scripture Stories

Sometimes I cry when I read the scriptures with my children. But mostly, they're tears of hilarity. In the early books of the Book of Mormon, I remember reading one night about the Whore of the Earth and damnation and being cast down to hell.  Oh my.  Without hearing it yourself, it's not as amusing, but Porter's little voice repeated innocently every phrase I offered him, without qualm or hesitation.  I know we're supposed to read the scriptures with our families, but his little voice often makes me ponder, and chuckle.

But wait.  It gets better.

Last night, we were reading the story of Abinadi and wicked King Noah.  We each read a few verses of Abinadi's sermon, and then it was Porter's turn.  As soon as I started reading, I saw it coming, but by then, there was no turning back.

Mosiah 12:5

Me:  "Yea, and I will cause ..."

PJ:  "yeaandIwillcause..."

Me:  "...that they shall have burdens..."

PJ: "thattheyshallhaveburdens..."

Me:  "...lashed upon their backs;"

PJ:  "lashedupontheirbacks..."

Me:  "and they shall be driven before..."

PJ:  "andtheyshallbedrivenbefore..."

Me:  "like a dumb ass." [Greg and I are attempting to stifle our laughter, Greg less successful than I]

PJ:  "like...a...dumb...ass?  Um, Mom, what's a dumbass?

Hilarity ensues.

Rusty Bucket Does It Again

My yearly tributes to Michelle continue.  This photo shoot took 5 minutes - maybe; it could have been less.  Honestly, I could spend all day trying to get my kids to smile and take a mediocre picture, but Michelle, well, she has the magic touch.  And I love her.

Happy Birthday, Linky-Doodle

Lincoln is 5.  It's weird to me that he's older now than Ethan was when our house burned.  Life moves quickly onward. 

Lincoln is busy and creative.  He would rather play with toys or draw/color than watch TV.  He sits quietly in primary and charms all the adults in his immediate vicinity.  And can I tell you about his eyes? Or his cheeks? Or how he steals hearts like it's nobody's business?

Happy birthday, Lincoln Dale.  What a blessing it is to have you in our home.

5-year-old favorites:

Food: Apples

Treat: Every treat (it's true folks, he's definitely my kid)
Book/Author: Mo Willems
TV Shows: Go Diego, Go
Place to go: Disneyland (to which place he has never been...yet, but we all dream, don't we?)
Person to visit: Samantha in Pinedale
Halloween candy: All of it (smart kid)
Song:  Down in the River
Color:  Rainbow colors

A Funk and a Promise

I've always thought daily scripture reading with my children would be a nice idea. In theory.  Only recently have I felt a strong desire to pursue it actively.  I had been in a little bit of a funk and after giving a Visiting Teaching lesson about bettering your family by first bettering yourself, I thought that reading my scriptures alone every day might not be enough.  So a few months ago, I formulated a plan and we put it into action.  And I waited for my in-house struggles to disappear.  Or not.

True story:  For nearly the first 2 weeks of reading scriptures each night as a family, my funk worsened. My patience was tested, my temper seemed short; I was overwhelmed. 

Then, I was running with Michelle early one morning, during which time we seem to have a lot of epiphanies.  And I had one.  I was telling her how I was striving to read each day with Greg and the kids, but didn't feel like it was paying off.  And then it hit me.  Of course I wasn't.  In this life, when we up our game and try to be more righteous and obedient, Satan ups his too.  It was suddenly very clear to me that this was the reason I was still struggling.  If scripture reading is too inconvenient, too rowdy, too frustrating, why not just quit and try again when they're older? Because it will be hard then, too; harder, maybe.  Also, in that scenario, Satan gains a small victory over my home.  BUT, if we will perservere and be diligent, we will be blessed.  And we were.

It was as if, immediately after my realization came, the change began to happen.  My temper wasn't so fragile, patience came a little easier.  The battle for peace in my home was more personal.  It's been a couple months now; I think we've only missed 2 nights of reading.  And one of the perks of incorporating something new into my family's schedule is that my children are like elephants - they never forget.  Even when it's late or we're cranky, somebody always remembers. 

When we started this new ritual, Ethan was just beginning to take off as an independent reader.  And when we began to read the Book of Mormon together, he soared; now, he is essentially fluent with scriptural language.  The little boys are more wiggly, but even they like to have their turn to read. 

The lesson:  In retrospect, it was hard to start.  Even though we are committed to doing something righteous and productive in our home, we cannot expect Satan to stand idly by while we slip farther from his grasp.  We have been told that the most important work we will do will be within the walls of our own home, and we have been promsied that if we will be obedient, we will be blessed.  We're working hard to have the Spirit in our home, to do the things our Heavenly Father has asked.  And we have been blessed - in more ways than I ever anticipated. 

Satan hates to lose. But today, in my house, he will.  And tomorrow. And the next day.

Veteran's Day and a Mother's Tribute

To all the veterans in my life and those unkonwn to me: Your service and perserverance in preserving this country's extraordinary freedoms will never be forgotten. Thank you for giving my children the opportunity to grow up knowing freedom. We live the way we live because of your service.

"I also wanted to pay tribute to my father, my mother, my Shirl (my other father) and to my son, Greg....all veterans. Greg joined the army right after 9/11. The first 9/11. He wasn't pressured by a draft....he did it because he loves his country. He served in Iraq during the very scary times. Greg, I am humbled to be your mother. Thank you for your service to this country. I wish I would have told Boyd Bronson, Gladys Bronson, and Shirl Kemp more often how grateful I was for their patriotism and service. God bless all veterans."  ~Elaine.

"Thanks mom....we come from good stock."  ~Greg

I'm so grateful to have this kind of patriotism in my family...and that my boys can learn gratitude for and the price of liberty from their father.  What a special gift.