Sunday, January 12, 2014

          A new year has begun and we have a few resolutions.  We want to finish our basement and sell our Longview house.  We feel incredibly blessed to be healthy and together as a family.  I just got back from church and feel renewed.  I got to give the lesson in Relief Society on our Heavenly Father.  I have learned that his abilities are so beyond my comprehension and yet he is so loving and remains to be a glorified person who supports my well-being.  It makes me so happy to know that I do matter to him.  Being a parent does give me some insight to some God like characteristics…..I am able to create children and love them just like hour Heavenly Father and mother.  My emotions are tried at all extremes.  I rejoice with my children and I cry for my children.  It is simply quite amazing.  I am grateful for this mortal test.
        I have four children who are all so different.  My son McCabe loves to have one on one time at the end of the day.  I will lie next to him in his bed and he unloads his troubles on me.  Just the other night he told me that he was scared for his spelling test because he did not feel prepared.  I reassured him that we practiced all week and he was ready.  He also mentioned that I always yell at him or boss him around and it makes him feel like I don’t love him.  Being a concerned parent I asked him when I yelled and he said, “when you ask me to put on my pajamas.”  Sure enough I did raise my voice the third time I asked him to put on his jammies.  We had to discuss the importance of doing things the first time of being asked.  I think he understood why I raised my voice.  Now the part of I love is when he says I boss him around because I am always asking him to do chores and then he proceeds to tell me, “mom, you don’t do anything.”  My reaction was pure laughter.  It was obvious that he did not understand or appreciate all that I do for the family and the household and that was ok because he is only 6.  I hope he learns soon enough everything that I do.  Until then, we will keep having our little talks.
         Jacinda is a craft making machine.  She is currently into making snowman out of socks filled with rice.  I am currently going around and vacuuming all the rice that spills after the snowman is made.  Jacinda does a good job of trying to clean up the mess but it is ultimately left up to me.  I do love all her creativity and her willingness to teach us and others how to make them.
         Xadia loves to make tents/forts and Teagan loves to wreck them.  I cannot keep up with them.  I will carefully stand couch cushions on the floor only to have Teagan knock them over.  Xadia says, “that’s ok Bubba,” as he knocks over her fort.  She is very good with Teagan and realizing the he is just a little guy.  In fact, she will ask for an extra treat from pre-school so she can share with Teagan.  This makes me so happy that the kids think of each other.  I could not ask for better children.