Practical Wishes

I overheard my older kids talking.

Emily announces to her big brother, "I wish that I could wake up and find 10 million dollars on my bedside table."

Jordan responds with authority,  "Emily, first of all, if you ever have a wish, you have to wish that you will have like 20, 000 more wishes, then you have to start wishing for real things like never having to go to the dentist again."

A Little Lesson:

   After hearing the quote on getting drapes and blinds for my windows,  I think I'll vote for Emily's wish.

On Her Own

On Sunday night Emily was asked to speak at her friend Naomi's baptism. It was her first official talk, outside of talks assigned in primary. When it was time to write it, she sat down, without any hesitation created the entire thing. I was nearby to offer assistance but, she politely declined. She wanted to do it on her own.

Baptism

I got baptized two months ago. At first I was nervous and didn't want to do it. So I told my mom how I felt. She told me not to worry. We said a prayer that I would feel all right. Then the time came to when everybody crowded around to watch me get baptized. For some reason I felt that I was ready to be baptized. Then I realized that Heavenly Father had heard our prayer and helped me feel like I could do it. So I went into the girl's washroom and then started walking towards the baptism font. I saw my dad waiting there. I stepped into the water. He held my hand and started praying. When he was finished the prayer he dunked me into the water. When I came back up I felt clean and happy. This was a very special day for me. I hope Naomi will feel that way too. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

A Little Lesson:

Communicating how we experience life and it's sacred moments to our friends and ward members is a big part of being a member of the church. Emily took the first step of a long and rewarding journey. I am grateful I zipped my lips and let her walk...on her own.

She Noticed

Benjamin was squealing because he wanted the broom.  Clara had the broom leaning up against the couch and was walking down it like a tight rope and singing at the top of her lungs.  In the same room, Jordan was boisterously plunking out O Canada on the piano and telling everyone in the room at the top of his lungs to move somewhere else so he could have some quiet to concentrate.  Watching the whole thing from the couch, Emily turns to me and says "Mom, this is why I am only going to have one child...so I don't have to deal with all of this!" as she fans her arm across the room.

A Little Lesson:

     Sometimes I forget our children are not just living their lives but carefully watching ours.  

Green Spray Paint

Yesterday Emily and I decided to spray paint the lines of our badminton court in the backyard. We spent so much time the other night, while playing as a family, trying to defend what was in and what was out, I thought this was a perfect solution. New grass always grows back.

You know the ol' adage measure twice cut once. That applies to spray painting badminton courts in backyards. Trying to avoid grape vines and plum trees and make the courts evenly spaced was trickier than it looked. After several minutes of painting the grass, we came to realize we had done one of the lines wrong. I explained to Emily that we would hardly notice once we got used to the new line. She was determined to fix it. She insisted I find some green spray paint to cover the newly painted white line. I could see her determination to do this thing right and relented. Off I went to find some green spray paint to fix my mistake. Can you see it? After finishing the line, Emily announces "We should paint the rest of the yard green it would sure look a lot better."

A Little Lesson:

Be grateful for mistakes that only take a can of green spray paint to fix.

The Sun Was Shining

My talented sister-in-law Erin sent off Emily's baptism pictures to me today. What a treat to relive this very special day! Last month, the day after Emily's eighth birthday, she was baptized by her daddy as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It was a glorious day for all of us. The sun was shining and Emily couldn't stop smiling. After coming out of the water and as she was getting dressed she said "this feels way better then coming out of a bath!" It's amazing how little eight year olds in so many ways can really understand what it means to follow our Savior. When Emily was very young she really understood she had a loving Heavenly Father. When she was three years old I wrote in my journal: Today Emily said to me "Mom, does Heavenly Father put his hands on his hips when he is disappointed in us like you do?" I have spent most of Emily's eight short years marvelling at what goes on inside that amazing mind of hers and falling in love with my little sweetheart over and over again.


A few days before her baptism I wrote a special song just for her that I quickly recorded using my very unprofessional voice and sent it off as an mp3 via email to her primary buddies who sang it on her special day.

Today is the Day

Today is the day it feels like the sun is shinning

A little brighter in your heart.

Today is the day, you take our Savior's name upon you

It will be a brand new start.

We can follow our Savior's example

He will lead the way

We can live as forever families

and live with Him someday

Today is the day, you receive a gift from heaven

It will comfort you each day.

Today is the day, you can share your light with others

As you travel on your way.

A Little Lesson:

Sometimes I think we go through frustrating, crummy and all around rainy days, so that when a really great one comes along we will savor every little second.