We started our day off by hiking with the kids up to Ensign Peak. It's a peak that overlooks the Salt Lake Valley. Brigham Young, who led the Mormon Pioneers to the Valley, stood there and surveyed the valley. A monument stands there now, it's a short hike with a terrific view. It has sentimental meaning to me and Mike. It was on a hike to that peak together, that our courtship truly began. We stood at the peak and talked, really talked to each other for the first time. I decided on that hike that I would continue to get to know this large, strong, quiet man.
For our hike with the kids, we headed out early, right after breakfast. The kids stayed in good spirits and loved looking out over the valley. We pointed out LDS hospital where the boys were born, the University of Utah Medical Center where Daddy works, the LDS temple, the state capital and so on.
I just love this next picture because if you look close, you see Mike's bulging short pockets--they are holding both the girls' water bottles. They were too tired to carry them, they said, Daddy, won't you please carry them for us? Of course. What are Daddy's for? Daddy will always be their strength, steadying force in life.
Soon, Jake had enough of the beautiful view, and said, "Okay, so when do we get the ice cream?" We had found this wonderful ice cream place on our last date and had told the kids we would go there after the hike. Jake, always has his priorities straight. We got to the ice cream shop and it was still closed so we sauntered over to the Church Office Building right across the street and got to the top. But again, Jake as well as the other kids saw the view, sighed and said, "So can we get our ice cream now?"
We filled them full of hot dogs, chips and then ice cream. The scoops were ginormous! Which only Caleb could finish.
We took a tour of the Conference Center after that. I have always loved the Conference Center, but I learned it is the largest auditorium in the world. Amazing. Our tour guide was the sweetest older gentelman--talked to the kids, asked them all sorts of questions. I might have liked him because he told us our kids were some of the best behaved kids.
Tonight, I finished reading Harry Potter, book #1, with the kids and I tried to hide my quivering voice when I read: If there is one thing Voldemort cannot understand, it is love. He didn't realize that love as powerful as your mother's for you leaves its own mark....to have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us some protection forever. It is in your very skin.
I am a tough cranky mom a lot to my kids. But whenever they get afraid that I will die before they get to be adults, I have grabbed their heads in my hands and told them, "You will NEVER be alone. I will never leave you. I will be by your side, even in death. You must always remember that. I will never stop being your mother."
I love days like today. I want to remember them always. I loved being together. It's so nice to slow down and just be together. I LOVE OUR LITTLE FAMILY and the man that made it with me.
My boys still hold my hand on their own.
