Reminiscing

How time flies! Was it yesterday that I held my firstborn in my arms? Nurtured her? Read to her? Taught her? Was it really 30 years ago? It seems just like yesterday. Now her youngest will turn one. Little Kailey! Can it really be that this much time has really passed? Next thing I know she is 10 and a big sister to 5 siblings. What a wonderful big sister! She helped teach her sister to pray together at night before they went to sleep. Then she is 16 and she works hard to help rear her younger siblings. She is in school full-time, works part-time, enjoys drill team and still gets up every morning for seminary. Then she is 18 and off to college so far away from home and anyone she knows. Will she stay strong? Will she falter? Will she expand herself spiritually and intellectually? Am I afraid..of course I am! My "baby" is so far away and I can't be there to help her. Oh, she blossoms into a beautiful and strong woman. Then she is 20 and married to a good man who loves her so much he takes her to the temple for an eternal marriage. Could my joy be any more full? Of course...within ten years they bring 4 adorable children into this world to enjoy, to teach, to love, to help them grow. Could my joy ever be more full? Multiply this three times with Laura, and Patrick. Soon Sean will join the ranks of those sealed eternally to a wonderful companion as his sisters and his brother. More on this later.

Here we have Shannon at 15 months and Kailey at 10 months.

As you get older

As life begins to move toward the later years you begin to see things different than when you were older. You certainly do learn to appreciate things in life with a greater and more respected way. You begin to realize what are the really most important aspects of life and our journey here on earth. Life itself is a wonderful journey mingled with happy, sad, terrified, exciting, spiritual and trying obstacles. How we chose to face each of these helps modify who we will become and who we chose to be. Do we blame others for our lot in life or do we take what comes in life and plant flowers to replace the thorns? It is easy to blame others but more rewarding to rise above the negative aspects of others and not allow them the control of who we chose to be. Life is meant to be a time of joy even through all the struggles and trials we are here to be joyful and spread that joy to others. I think of small children who exhibit this joy of life. They are the first to forgive and to embrace you with love. They say and really mean the things that they say.

Patrick came home the other day after being gone for 7 of the past 9 days. We were all sitting in the "offiice", "playroom" and in the mist of playing with the toys he looks up at his dad and says," I am so excited to have you home, daddy." What magical words to come from a 3 1/2 year olds mouth. Will he still stand in owe and feel of this love for his father in ten, fifteen years? Hopefully he will remember the joy his father brings to him and his dad will remember the same joy. Family, awe family!

The Best Times of Your Life

Christ is always the center of my life. Then comes family. I love to care for the little grandchildren while parents go to the House of God "Temple", nothing fulfills my life more than being with my children and grandchildren. Though yesterday was Laura's 26 birthday and I really missed being with her and her sweet boys I had to wonderful opportunity of spending fun time with the other six grandchildren. When mom is not around Kailey loves her Grami over everyone else. Kassidy loved showing off when she saw I brought my camera. Quincy too. Q is so wonderful with the little ones and keeps them entertained. Payten explores everything. He tried riding Kassi's bike but he kept breaking, then he tried roller skating. Then was off trying something else. Lilly loved the flowers and had to smell each set along her walk. Once she found the sandbox she was lost in imagination until time to come in. Reilly was bored..all her friends were gone. But then she called Laura and she was happy again. She really misses Laura after their visit last weekend. Once we came in she bathed, had deseret then played games on the computer until bedtime. They are so much fun to be with, it helps me remember my times as a parent of young children and in many ways miss those times. While in the Temple yesterday i was thinking of the birth of my fourth little one, Laura. Such a sweet, lovely daughter without a name until the next day. Now she is a mother herself. How times change, how we grow, how life revolves, how much we miss or forget. Life and family is such a gift from our Father in Heaven.