First, Em is very very excited to travel to California in exactly fourteen days to see some of Mike's family. Today, she drew a map to help her Daddy know how to get there:
Yesterday, we found out that Jake impressed the Premier Surf team's coach with his goalkeeping skills at last week's soccer tournament. He asked Jake if he would play for him at the next tournament. It's quite an opportunity for Jake and he gets to play with his best friend, Austin, who is on the Premier team. Watching them play together every single day just brings joy to my heart. I am filled with gratitude that Jake has found such a sweet, kind, fun-loving, easy-going friend.
After our busy afternoon, Michaela crawled into my lap and wrapped her arms around me and snuggled into my neck, "Momma, I miss you. When can we spend time together?"
Then, Emily, bounced over and said, "Mommy, Mommy! Mommy!!!! Look! I already packed for California. I wanted to be all ready to go in 15 days!" Her backpack is full of toys:
Then I threw together dinner, quickly whisked the dishes into the dishwasher and gathered the kids around for scripture study. We played a little search and find game. Michaela whined when she wasn't as fast as her brothers. But I pulled her next to me and simplified the game and she became a little more involved. Emily jumped on the couches until I wrangled her to the floor and gently placed some books in her lap to keep her from distracting her siblings. And then a neighbor called just to tell me, "Your son Caleb is such good kid! Thank you for raising such a kind boy!" Without giving too many details, last week, Caleb and another boy noticed their friend being teased by someone and it had gotten out of hand. Caleb and the first boy quickly rushed to their friend's aid and got the teasing to stop. When I pulled Caleb aside tonight, to fervently praise him for being such a good example, his cute freckly face lit up. I had to tousle his towheaded locks. Wow, Mike and I are just so blessed to have such a sensitive soul in our family who senses people's needs and has such a desire to always do the right thing!
Got the boys off to scouts once we wrapped up scripture study. Went to the Carter's next door to finish a wood making project with Michaela. The Carter's are Michaela's church primary teachers. They purchased all the wood and cut it out and have shown every one in her class how to make this cute treasure box. Tonight we got to finish it by painting it. So grateful for good people in our lives!
When I finally got all the kids to bed, I quietly went to the office to send out emails and answer texts and set up carpools for tomorrow's soccer practices for the boys. And in walked Jake. Why is it that kids' fears manifest when they climb into bed? Right when you are exhausted and feel like you have nothing left in your tank??? But then, how is it, that sometimes you find a hidden fuel tank reserve you didn't know you had? I sat on the floor with him and discussed his fears. I turned to see the door slowly creep open and Michaela stood there with her blankie held up to her face, "Momma, I hear all these noises. I think a cat is trying to come into my room." We all laid on the floor with my arms around them and talked about their fears. Jake finally felt like he could go back to bed. I got Michaela in bed and just decided to hold her until she fell asleep. "Momma, thank you so much for being so nice to me!" In two minutes, she was snoring softly. As I laid next to her, I began to feel all the chaos of the day seep out of my body as I reflected on what had transpired. It was a VERY busy day. But, I saw how in spite of the busyness, it's possible to enjoy little moments here and there and that my life is rich and full. It's interesting how when I lose myself in service, especially to the little people that have been placed in Mike's and my care, I find myself--my true joy, my true peace.
P.S. I used to be afraid about the kind of world my children would inherit. And I'm not talking about global warming and glacier melting. I'm talking about an amoral world. However, I have found the more I arm my children with rightesouness through consistent moral teaching and example, I don't fear anymore because I feel confident that these four little people that have been placed in Mike's and my care are going to change the world--for the better. I face the future full of hope and gratitude because I have been given a strong moral compass through our religion. And Mike and I are passing that moral compass on to our children.
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