Blessings

I got this for Christmas it's been fun to listen to middle of my January gloom. The girls like dancing around to the music too - Ella calls it the "Mommy Mia" music, which I think is really funny for some reason.

Anyway...there's one song that always makes me sad "Slipping Through My Fingers"

Slipping Through My Fingers lyrics

Schoolbag in hand, she leaves home in the early morning
Waving goodbye with an absent-minded smile
I watch her go with a surge of that well-known sadness
And I have to sit down for a while
The feeling that I'm losing her forever
And without really entering her world
I'm glad whenever I can share her laughter
That funny little girl

Slipping through my fingers all the time
I try to capture every minute
The feeling in it
Slipping through my fingers all the time
Do I really see whats in her mind
Each time I think I'm close to knowing
She keeps on growing
Slipping through my fingers all the time

Sleep in our eyes, her and me at the breakfast table
Barely awake, I let precious time go by
Then when shes gone there's that odd melancholy feeling
And a sense of guilt I cant deny
What happened to the wonderful adventures
The places I had planned for us to go
(slipping through my fingers all the time)
Well, some of that we did but most we didn't
And why I just don't know

Slipping through my fingers all the time
I try to capture every minute
The feeling in it
Slipping through my fingers all the time
Do I really see whats in her mind
Each time I think I'm close to knowing
She keeps on growing
Slipping through my fingers all the time

Sometimes I wish that I could freeze the picture
And save it from the funny tricks of time
Slipping through my fingers...

Slipping through my fingers all the time

Schoolbag in hand she leaves home in the early morning
Waving goodbye with an absent-minded smile...

Every mother knows the conundrum of time - how it can go by so fast and slow at the same time. It seems like you spend all day with a two year glued to your side, just wishing for a few moments to yourself only to turn around and find the two year old is now ten and doesn't need you around much anymore and you just wish he could spend a little more time with you. I do spend lots of time with my children and try to remember what's the best use of my time, but still I find myself often worrying about the things I didn't do, the memories I didn't make, the things I didn't teach.

A few years ago in General Conference Elder Richard H. Winkel gave this talk about eternal families and this thought still gives me comfort:

"I'm one of those parents who ofttimes wishes he could go back and do some things over.

Like you, I don't want to lose any of my children. I want to be together forever with all of my family. The temple gives all of us extra hope of continuing and improving these relationships, even after this life. Sealings bestowed in the temple promise additional blessings."

I've always understood that relationships sealed in the temple can continue beyond this life, but I had never thought about them improving. I feel a little less pressure to do everything now. If somethings don't get done now I have time to do it later and I still have eternity to continue to get to know, love and enjoy those I'm working on knowing, loving and enjoying now.

So my blessing for this week is the blessing of eternity.

Blessing #3

Alright. I think my only mistake with my blessing post goal was saying I would do it on Sunday so I am deleting that from my goal and just making it a blessing for the week. You need to be realistic right?

So this week's blessing involves Wynn. Last week I was trying to get my shopping done for the kids while Wynn had some days home from work, but was having a hard time finding anything worthwhile for some of my kids, so I just gave up. Then on Saturday Wynn went to the store to do some Christmas shopping for me and came home with a bunch of stuff for those troublesome kids. We pulled all the Christmas stuff out and realized we were done. In the middle of December! Wow! That was amazing but the real blessing came Sunday when I realized I was getting sick. Really sick. And I've stayed sick for a week now, with no real end in sight. Now, I'm not too happy about this, but my one comfort is everything I have to do for Christmas is done, in part because of Wynn's inspired shopping last Saturday.

Darkness and Light

I had another idea for my blessing post this week but right after my alarm went off this morning our power went out and all of a sudden I had new things to be thankful for.

I was thankful for a husband who found the flashlights and candles before he left for work so the boys had no problems getting ready for school. I was glad we had batteries I could put in my radio so I could listen for any information about the blackout. When I couldn't make pancakes like I was planning this morning I was glad we had plenty of other food to choose from. I was grateful for plenty of blankets to keep the girls warm as they slept and the house got colder without heat, and I was glad to have a gas fireplace to keep the rest of us from getting too cold.

And most of all, as I saw the rising sun bring light to our house, far brighter than any flashlight or candle, I was grateful for a Heavenly Father, whose creations far surpass any of the incredible things people have created, and who freely shares His creations with all His world.

Thanksgiving

Today I am thankful for Thanksgiving. We had more of a Thanksgiving weekend than a day, with lots of food, games, family and shopping. Wynn's brother Wade and his family came to spend the holiday with us and they really helped to make it a memorable weekend. Gayla made great gravy, Wade played endless games of football with the boys, and Mckay kept the boys from ever saying "I'm bored." We introduced them to some new games and enjoyed some old, visited Wynn at work, went to see "The City of Ember" and spent time just talking.

This was the first year I was in charge of Thanksgiving dinner, as Wynn was at work that day. I have to say I was pretty happy with the results. I had lots of help from everyone (even Wynn the day before) and we had an impressive meal.

One tradition I didn't think I would get to enjoy this year was my annual Friday shopping, but again Wade and Gayla helped out by staying with my kids so I could leave the house at 5:00 am. I didn't get anything too exciting, but it was fun.

All in all it was a good weekend and I am most grateful for the time to think about and be grateful for all my blessings.