Prayer

It started with the earthquake in Haiti.  The kids saw images on the news that troubled them.  Not knowing how else to address such a deep concern, we simply began praying more fervently.  It caught on. 

Lately my kiddos pray about everything.  While I was trying to get Lizzy to taste something new, she quickly mumbled first, "Heavenly Father please help me be able to eat this."  I happened to pass by while Andrew was in the bathroom and heard him say, "Heavenly Father.... Thank you there's no spiders in here." 

My first instinct was to tell the kids not to be silly.... that they simply don't need to pray over EVERYTHING.  And then I realized that I was being dumb and they really had it right.

"Cry unto him when ye are in your fields, yea, over all your flocks. Cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening. Yea, cry unto him against the power of your enemies.  Yea, cry unto him against the devil, who is an enemy to all righteousness. Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them.  Cry over the flocks of your fields, that they may increase.  But this is not all; ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness.  Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you. "  Alma 34:20-27

Praying is certainly a learned thing.  Practice does improve one's prayers and I hope that I've learned a few things about how to pray in my life.  And yet... there is also something so natural and instinctive about it as well.  It is that instinct to pray.... to communicate with Our Creator... that I want to encourage in my children... or maybe what they are encouraging in me. 

Kid at Heart

Aaron is a super grown-up, very mature husband, father and doctor.  That is... until we brought home these boxes of Aaron's stuff that Aaron's parents have stored for 20+ years.     He-Man stuff, Lego's, even a very old Nintendo.  (Which we're hoping to sell on Ebay for $13,000 like one did last week.)  And I am reminded that every man is really just a kid in a bigger body. 

Perspective

"How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives." -- Annie Dillard

I love this quote.  Although I will admit that my first thought was "Great... my life is cleaning toilets."  Because sometimes I feel like that is how I spend my days.  That got me thinking about what it is that I really DO. 

I cook, I clean, I take kids places and then I pick them up.  I talk on the phone, change a diaper and break up an argument.  I make a snack, clean up a spill, pay the bills and play with my kids.  I make a shopping list, bake some bread, read some stories, help with homework and tuck into bed.  That's not too bad.  But it's not how I want to spend my life. 

Instead I want to:

Create a home that is full of love.  Help the little ones in my life to feel special, peaceful and safe.  Create beautiful memories.  Help my kids to become the wonderful people that God intends them to become.   Create an environment where beauty is enjoyed and laughter is plentiful.  Make someone happy.

Perspective is everything.  I'm thinking if my days are really spent doing the things in that second list... then in the end I'll be pretty happy with how I spent my life.  And I guess if that means I have to clean a few toilets along the way..... so be it.

I've Been Told

I've been told that it goes fast.  I've been told that I need to soak up everyday I have with my little ones because before I know it.... they'll be all grown up.  Here's to doing a little more soaking "it" up - because somehow he already snuck in 4 whole years.   Happy Birthday Andrew. 

A Good Reason to Have Another Kid

After school today Lizzy went to a friends house.  Since Andrew didn't have preschool and we had nowhere to go... it was just Andrew and I (and Sam) at home for about 4 hours.  During that time Andrew asked me to:
Play dinosaurs with him (you be the mamma Anklysaurus)
Find his squishy cars
Turn on PBS kids for him on the computer
Watch him play PBS Kids on the computer (But I don't want you to shower I want you to watch me.)
Get him some breakfast
Make some more breakfast bars
Make bran muffins
Make him some lunch
Put new batteries in his dump truck
Find his boots
Play hide and go seek with him
Help him find his alligator
Play a guessing game
Listen to his joke again!!

While I was trying to make breakfast bars, comfort a crying baby and find Andrew's squishy cars I told Andrew that I simply didn't have long enough arms to reach over and change the batteries in his dump truck as well.  He assured me that if I'd pray and ask Heavenly Father... He would give me long enough arms to reach the oven and dump truck at the same time. 

Finally Lizzy is home....  they are playing together downstairs.  I am upstairs.  Alone.  By myself.  And thanking God that they have each other.

This is My World

Different trends come and go at our home.  For awhile it was dress-ups and super hero's.  Then it was princesses.  For awhile the wheeled toys (scooter and wiggle car) were going non-stop and my wittle toe got rolled over one too many times.  But right now we have a new trend... and it is everywhere.

There is no warming up my left-overs until I reckon with Velociraptor.  The fridge is gaurded fiercely by Mr. Allosaurus, Stegosaurus and poor Mr. T-Rex (whom I afraid has misplaced the top of his head.) 

It's taken over our lives. 

And you know what????  

I love it. 

Great Entertainment

Good news!!! Have you been looking for the perfect toy for your little one? Something that will provide hours of entertainment? Something that they seem to never grow weary of? Then I have the product for you. It's called Baby Brother. Many many many times during the day the kids will ask. "Can I play with Sam?" "Will you put Sam right here so I can play with him?" And sometimes a fight emerges. ("Hey it's my turn to play with Sam.") I will admit this toy is fairly high maintenance, but that's a post for another day.