Before Spencer came home Josh and I spent an hour or so together playing in my bedroom with the sunlight shining in so nicely. It was nice to have that time together with him before he is no longer the baby of the house--he has no idea what is about to happen around here. I am feeling a little sad for him as I think about the adjustment it will be for him to lose that spot. Of course he is still a baby and we will make as much time for him as we can but it will still be hard I am sure.
I enjoyed watching Spencer enthusiastically share with me the most important parts of his day with excited words tumbling out almost faster than he could say them. "Mom due to inclement weather we had a shortened lunch and I only got to eat part of my food. I decided I wanted a dessert lunch and focused on my cookies and only ate half of my sandwich." Is that the cutest thing you have ever heard. He said all this as he opened up his lunchbox to polish off the rest. His dad packs a much more flavorful lunch than I do. He had a ham and cheese sandwich on soft white bread some chocolate pudding and some cookies. They sure do love to eat the lunches he makes for them.
Josh excitedly watched and said "bite" from time to time. Together they enjoyed the rest of Spencer's yummy lunch leftovers. So cute. Next Spencer told me about his friend Sequoa's mom giving him a quarter after school so he could get an otter pop from the PTA otter pop stand. What a fun surprise for him. I am glad Sequoia's mom did that for him. :) It sure made his day. Then Josh and Spencer played "ball for a good 20 minutes. Each one enthusiastically bouncing there balls as high as possible for me to see. I love that they both want to impress me and want to spend time with me. I love that they enjoy playing together and playing the same things. Josh lives for any time together with his family he loves it when his brothers get home from school each day. He loves there excited energy and the noise. He loves to watch them do homework, and practice piano. He thinks it's so cool to carry around a back pack and a lunch bag. He thinks they live to best life ever and he wants to be just like them. Right with them doing all the same things. It makes me so happy to watch. (Or at least today I was blessed to see what a great thing it is--I am usually so busy and frazzled that I miss how great all these things are.)
The new Friend came in last night. We are excited to read it.
Sister Pesci our bishops wife has Grant. He had choir at her house from 3 till 4 and is going to stay and do homework and hang out with her daughter Serena till I get there at 5. He loves to chat with her about books and friends and life. They are kindred spirits and really enjoy having some time to talk with one another. It makes me happy too. Grant said to me once that she was the female version of him and that it was freaky...in a good way. :)
I have a little over an hour to think and write down a few thoughts. I have been thinking a lot today about my family and how blessed I am to have them. I have been tempted so many times to look at the unfinished sheets and bed skirts I have waiting in the baby's room to be made. The dishes in the sink and the clutter that has collected in Josh's room again. To notice all the ways I am not prepared or ready for the baby to come and just as soon as the thoughts enter my mind sweet thoughts of my wonderful family take there place. I am reminded of what really matters. I have a family. I have beautiful happy, intelligent, healthy, children whom I love very much and we love each other. We are happy. We are making progress together as a little family one step at a time. We are breaking bad habits together and forming new good ones. We are progressing toward Eternal life and that is the greatest blessing I could ask for.
I feel so blessed to play a part in creating life. So thankful that I have been able to help bring spirits into this world and provide them with a body, a mother, and a home with the help of my husband and Heavenly Father. Nothing is more important to me than that.
There has been a lot of talk lately about gender roles and women having or not having the priesthood and as I have pondered this topic a few strong thoughts have come to the forefront of my mind. 1.) I believe in God the Eternal father and in his son Jesus Christ and in the Holy ghost. I know that God has a plan for me and I know when I keep the commandments and pray to understand His will for me I am happy. I feel satisfied and loved, equal and important.
2.) I recognize the vast difference between men and women and how vital it is to protect and preserve those differences. Not to battle with them but to compliment one another with them. Tyler and I have certainly not figured this out. We are trying though. I am convinced that trying to be the same is not part of God's plan. Erasing gender lines and rolls is wrong and it will remove blessings intended not only for families and individuals but for all mankind. Woman are supposed to view life differently and contribute in a way unique to the talents and gifts God purposely gave them. To bless the lives of others and to bring joy into their life as they fulfill their purpose. Likewise, I believe men are supposed to see what they see and contribute in the way they were designed. We help one another as equal partners become our best selves. We compliment inspire and strengthen each other and help each other but we don't become the same. We don't ask each other to abandon our identities for the purpose of unity--that is not unity at all. We accept unique gifts and receive them into our home and life. We appreciate each others talents and find ways to weave them into our life and be blessed by them. I hope I can learn to better do this. I hope I can support Tyler in his desire to teach our children to be hard workers, and orderly. I hope I can help him as he finds ways to relax and enjoy life. I hope that his desires will never be a burden to me because they are different than my own and require that I sacrifice some of what I want in order to support him...and I hope he will do the same for me.
This is what I believe the gospel teaches and this is what I want to do--no matter how much the world tries to persuade me otherwise.
1 comment:
Beautiful thoughts and so articulately stated. I couldn't agree more and feel blessed to be staying at home with my kids while be supported and strengthened by my wonderful husband. Thanks for sharing and I can't wait to see pictures of your newest addition!
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