mommy moments....

So many times it is easy to get caught up in the hustle and stress of everyday life that I forget to take time to record the small moments that make me so happy to be a mom. The past couple weeks have been full of them as I have spent some time reflecting. These are a few things that I want to remember.

Hugging Ryan in the temple as he went through for the first time.

Witnessing the huge smile on Cassie's face when she told me how Josh took the medal she received in an Irish Dance competition and held it up to his friend and told him that she was Olympic materiel and she made forty girls cry when she received it. (It's always a shock to a parent when a child tattles about good things a sibling did!!)

Mark getting 100 percent on his spelling test! If you knew how much blood, sweat and chocolate went into getting him through his homework each week, you'd know what a huge thing this is!! (One week he refused to learn his words because they had the silent letters in them, like knife, comb and so on...he said if you can't hear the letter than he didn't have to spell it! I really want to have the authors of the English Language spend time helping this kid with his spelling!)

Setting six places at the dinner table for a few days when Ryan was home for Fall Break.

Watching Josh and Kelly give Josh's old car a tune up together and the triumph on both their faces when the car started after their efforts.

Seeing all four of my kids laughing and chasing each other around and actually appreciating the noise and chaos of the moment.

Being a mother is the hardest, most challenging thing I have ever done. It has brought the most worry, stress and anxiety, but most importantly, it has brought me tremendous joy and fulfillment. When I was knee deep in diapers, temper tantrums and toddlers for so many years, I couldn’t foresee ever wanting time to stand still. But as life is changing at such a rapid pace, I wish I took more time to write down the mommy moments that happen quietly in the midst of the hustle and bustle and appreciated them a bit more.

losing my mind, the sequel...

Typically, there is a bit of time between sequel’s in books and movies; unfortunately, that doesn’t hold true in my life as anyone who knows me, can attest. Many of you who read this blog regularly (thank goodness it’s not many) might think one person cannot possibly have so many brain lapses; unfortunately, my life continues to prove otherwise.

The following experience happened the day after I posted the “losing my mind” entry a couple weeks ago; however, I felt I needed a little time to elapse before I confessed it. A sense of humor is very necessary in this sometimes gloomy world we live in, so I have learned to find it wherever I can. I am just fortunate that my own life affords me so many opportunities to smile.

I was so excited about coming out of the grocery store one morning and spotting the van right away. Usually, some hunting is required. I must be having a good day, I think. I promptly loaded my groceries in the back of the van, put the cart away, and walked around and sat down in the driver’s seat, only to notice some feather thing dangling from the rearview mirror. Assuming a car decorator hadn’t visited while I was shopping, I looked around the van and upon careful inspection, I realized that yet again, I had lost my mind. I was in the wrong van!

I have to clarify that this van was identical to my van-- apparently half of Utah County shares my taste in vehicles-- but sadly, my van was three parking spaces to the north. What are the chances of two identical vans parked in close proximity to one another, and both drivers not locking their doors? The odds are pretty darn good, if one of the drivers is me.

Frantically I grabbed a cart, reloaded the groceries, all the while looking for witnesses to my debacle and praying that the real owners of the van wouldn’t at any minute appear with the police in tow. Thankfully, I successfully made the transfer with no one the wiser unless someone took video evidence they are planning on putting on YouTube. Just think I could be the next viral phenomenon. Good grief! What am I going to do next? Stay tuned because as certain as the sun rises each day, sooner than later, I will post yet another sequel in this series.

(Laurel, I have another entry for the dumbest thing you ever did contest, should you ever decided to hold it again on your blog!)

parable of the jalapeno plant...

There was once a young boy who brought home a plant from a primary lesson at church. Although his family was known throughout the land, for their absence of green thumbs, he decided he would be different and with no doubt of his abilities, set off to plant this puny seedling. He went out and found a spot of land that was easily accessible and planted his little treasure. He immediately watered it and watched it for a time.

A week or so later, to his great sorrow, he saw that his petite plant had been cruelly abused and trodden upon, leaving it's fragile stem broken. Shedding a tear or two, he examined the damage, found a large plastic cup, cut a hole in the top and placed it delicately over his injured plant. He then gathered small rocks and formed a protective circle around the cup. His parents, certain of the demise of this little seedling, instructed their son that they would purchase a new plant for him and he could start again. Having more faith in his endeavors than his parents, he said no, and increased his watchful eye on his plant. Day after day, week after week, he never gave up hope that he would be successful and one day harvest little jalapeno’s .

To the great awe of his family, this once little broken sprout, had grown up through the cup and was flourishing. Having a slow start, it was already late in the growing season and the boy was told not to expect much of anything before the first frost, but was praised for his efforts and determination. As time went on, the family forgot about this little plant, but not the boy. He weeded around it, he pulled bugs off it and one day announced that there were little peppers on his plant. The family all went out and sure enough, this once small puny green leafed thing had grown and had several peppers hanging from its stems.

This past week, the family picked and enjoyed the first jalapenos of the season.

I am so proud of Mark, who has shown me this past summer that perseverance and dedication can reap rewards, even under the most difficult of circumstances. He has taught me that despite my age and wisdom, I can always learn great things from the faith of a child.