My Son is Eight

Caleb turns eight tomorrow. My son is growing up. Tonight he met with Bishop Haug for his baptismal interview. He looked so handsome in his white shirt and tie. As we approached the church doors, I reached over to hold his hand. He pulled his hand from my reach and with a smirk told me, "I'm too old for that Mom." I nearly cried. Where have the days gone? Or maybe it's the years that are slipping away.

For years women who have grown children have told me, "Enjoy these days, they will be over before you know it." And with a smile I have replied, "I know." But really, I don't know. As Caleb begins to pull away from me a bit--not too much now, but I can see a few changes, I begin thinking of the times, the days, that I have not cherished life with him. I think with each child I have been able to absorb the sweetest more deeply. Maybe it's because I know that I'm one closer to leaving that precious place of having a sweet baby.

I'm trying each day to cherish motherhood. This past summer, while in Utah, my eyes were open to the possibilities of losing one of mine--one of my children. I saw a sweet friend of mine from Austin who had just lost her precious three-year-old daughter, Sarah, to cancer. A few weeks later, as me and the boys were having dinner at my mom's house, just one street up from where we were, a sweet family lost there 4 year old, Cooper, to a tragic accident in the driveway. They are in my parent's ward. This beautiful family experienced a terribly tragic event that took one of their precious ones home to our Savior. My sweet friend had a few months to prepare to leave her little Sarah. My parent's neighbor didn't have any notice. I want to live each day with my children, having them know in every moment how much they are loved. What a goal! (Especially when you know what a stinker my little Jameson can be. :-)

It's funny how unimportant the daily grind really becomes juxtaposed to the thought of losing a child.

I'm so grateful. Grateful to be a mother. Grateful for the lessons I'm learning, and especially grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It is real. I know these women who have lost little ones, have been recipients of the great healing power of the Atonement. How blessed I am to have the gospel.

The Haka

What a day to be a cougar fan! This game absolutely thrilling, as was being in the fantastic new cowboys stadium--a truly unforgetable night. Caleb loved the stadium facts that we learned from a friend: one being that the mega screen cost more than the total cost of the old stadium. :-)

Some friends of ours, Ronnie and Jodee, stayed with us and also attended the game. And even though we missed the Haka at the end, the boys insisted on war paint and reenacting the Haka themselves on Sunday. We couldn't get them to calm down, or to stop when it was time, and eventually they had marker from head to toe and had to be scrubbed down in the shower that night. (I should have taken a picture of the head-to-toe rainbow of colors that Will and Jameson had done to themselves. These pictures were taken before things got out of hand!)

Mama and Baby Bird

Jameson and I ate lunch with little Will at his new school this past week. As we arrived Will was being reprimanded for some rowdy behavior and consequently was the very last child in the lunch line. Boy was he happy to see us! After we got our trays and sat down, Will took Jameson under his wing and gave him the lunchroom lowdown--everything from using the utensil that is shaped like a spoon but has prongs on top (the spork) for both fork things and spoon things and then how it's dangerous to hide under the tables because you can really hurt yourself (Jameson loved climbing under the table!). What a precious sight. Will loves Jameson to death. He often turns on his "sweetie" voice and plays the role of the Mama bird helping baby bird. I loved just soaking it all in. What a sweet moment for a mom.