Glimpses

Here we have Callie's sketch for her Halloween costume from four years ago.  I had to preserve this to remember how meticulous she was about the details of her costumes.  I may have created this monster when she was little, but as the number of young children we've had has grown I have gone waaaay lax with costumes.  And my policy is that when you reach junior high you are on your own!

I found this nice little bookmark that Hannah made for me.  Talk about a blast from the past!

I'm guessing this was made in a Primary class because of the lovely picture of the temple on the front.  I can just picture it:  on Mother's Day the teacher asks the children to each pick something that they can do that is nice for their mothers.  Hannah's pick?  "I will be nice one hole day."  Talk about generosity!  And it's never expired!  Yes, there were days when being nice was a problem for this girl, but she has turned out marvelously and we love having her in our home.  Now we can just look back and laugh.

Another find:  a schedule for me on a day back in the fall of 2012.  I want to find the earlier me and say SKIP THE LIBRARY.  I hope I did!  

I know that all days were not like that.  I know that even now some of my days turn out like this - I had one just last week.  The victory is that they are rare.  I am getting a little smarter about scheduling. I am learning to balance really busy days with really relaxed ones.  I am learning that "no" is a beautiful word, as long as it enables me to be available (physically and emotionally) in the afternoons to chat with the teens about their day, offer a nutritious snack to the school kids, and be able to help with the elementary homework.  For awhile I was struggling with enjoying this very busy, very full stage of life.  I am so happy to say that I love it again, and love it even more.  It's because I know more than I ever did before that what I am doing is so vitally important.  It was a lengthy process.  It took thought and prayer and faith and study and time.  Did I stress that it took faith?  I had to really hold on to that through my searching and waiting.  Life is good again - no, better, because I am better and stronger.  "No" and "know" are powerful words that are helping me to become a better mother.

"Mothers who know do less. They permit less of what will not bear good fruit eternally. They allow less media in their homes, less distraction, less activity that draws their children away from their home. Mothers who know are willing to live on less and consume less of the world’s goods in order to spend more time with their children—more time eating together, more time working together, more time reading together, more time talking, laughing, singing, and exemplifying. These mothers choose carefully and do not try to choose it all." 

Julie B. Beck