Reunited

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We arrived at my parents’ house on the evening of the 19th. Ava’s eyes lit up as we pulled up to their house, wasting no time running up to them with big hugs. She ran from room to room and up and down the stairs piecing together her memory of the place she dearly loved.

Sunday morning we ate eggs and cinnamon rolls and drove through the drifting snow to attend church with Jake’s parents. We walked into his home ward 20 minutes early and sat on a bench toward the front. When Ava saw her grandpa come and sit down in the pew a few rows over, completely unaware of us, she ran over and sat down right next to him.

With a quiet gasp of surprise and his smile beaming, he wrapped his arm around her and kissed her forehead. He looked back at me with that same smile, and I could feel the love he had for this little girl. She smiled and closed her eyes for a moment, seemingly so content and perfectly satisfied that she was once again reunited with all her grandparents. She has missed them so. #mamanotes

Early this morning…

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There were two in the bed and the little one said, “WAAAA…” (the little one in the other room that is…)

Then there were three in the bed and the one in the other room said, “I want to come in too…”

So there were four in the bed and the mama said, “We’ve got take her out, she’s going to wake him up…”

So there were two in this bed, and two in that bed, and sometimes that’s just how the early morning hours go. (Someday we’ll get a king-sized bed.)

Check out this little kid’s teeth! Jake and I adore his little (big) gap.

These two

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These two. They give me so many messes and slobbery kisses and earfuls of requests. They give me energy, exhaustion, and a new kind of fun. They give me hugs. And when they wrap their little arms around my neck, they give me love in bushels. They give me motherhood, something that I have hoped for since I was big enough to carry a doll. Between their tears and their giggles, they are refining me to be more patient, kind, and selfless. They are showing me how to be more playful and creative. They are reminding me to simplify, to give, and to be humble. They are teaching me how to be their mother, and in the process I am learning how to follow the Savior a little better. I think God meant it to be that way. So, these two… they bring me a whole lot of joy. What brings you joy? Share with the hashtag #thatwemighthavejoy ☀️

Snow!

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All day the snow fell. The flakes got bigger and softer as the day went on, and soon Ava was out the door with her tongue out and her arms waving. She made her first snow angel, and I loved watching her take it all in. From our big window, Hyrum and I watched as Ava ran and stomped all over the new white landscape in our yard. I think we had almost as much fun just watching her. That’s how I feel a lot of the time as a parent.

(Hyrum was out with her for all of 5 minutes. And he cried most of the time. I’ll give him another year or two and I’m sure he’ll be a snow lover just like his dad–and his sister.)

Grumpy Gills.

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I think a good test of character is how grumpy we are when our night’s sleep is unexpectedly interrupted many times. The past few nights I don’t think I did too well with that.

I think it’s one of those days where I’m just struggling a bit. When I should be doing some things, and I don’t. And I should be more patient, and I’m not.

Getting Ava out the door for preschool today was all rush rush rush and I seemed to get on her case about everything. Hyrum’s crying seemed to drown out my patience while I searched for my keys. And when Ava said she may have been playing with them earlier, unfortunately she was my scapegoat.

Fortunately I have some really forgiving people in my life. When we were finally all buckled up and on our way, I reached my hand back and put it on Ava’s lap. “I”m sorry for being so unkind and impatient today, Ava. I’m having a rough day and I’m taking it out on you. Will you forgive me?” If she could have hugged me with those big blue eyes, she certainly did. She smiled and nodded and squeezed my hand. And the whole drive to the school I didn’t let go of her little hand because I just wanted to give her as much love as I could in that moment. I was so grateful for her goodness, so grateful that there is such a thing as forgiveness. And when I parked the car back in front of our house, I bowed my head and thanked the one who is the author of forgiveness. I asked for mercy, for a fresh start, for a better way to go about my day. And because of the atonement of Jesus Christ, He so freely gives it. And I am so, so grateful for that.

So here’s to being kinder, more mindful, and more in tune with the Spirit and the needs of those around me.