Blossoming even as we gaze

For years getting the kids ready for church on Sunday morning has been a big trial. We had to drag them out of bed, feed them, dress them, change their diapers, etc... It's still hard to get up early, but today all three of the older kids got themselves ready with no complaints. It made me think how much the kids are growing up. Lisette told us months ago that she was "too old for tucking in."

I'll try not to wax too sentimental, but I'm afraid these sweet children of mine are growing up way to fast. I guess that's a big incentive to 'live in the moment' and enjoy them right here and right now.

I remember once when I went hometeaching with my dad and for part of his lesson he talked about the song "Sunrise, Sunset" from "Fiddler On The Roof." I think his point was that your children grow up while you're not looking, so enjoy them and teach them while you still can.

(Tevye)
Is this the little girl I carried?
Is this the little boy at play?

(Golde)
I don't remember growing older
When did they?

(Tevye)
When did she get to be a beauty?
When did he get to be so tall?

(Golde)
Wasn't it yesterday
When they were small?

Speaking of Fiddler On The Roof, I remember seeing it several times growing up. My dad had the soundtrack on vinyl and I remember my dad really liking it. Which brings me to a funny story they tell about me when I was very young.

I was with my parents at the Weber State library and we were all listening to something different on headphones. I just happened to be listening to the soundtrack of what? You named it: Fiddler on the Roof. So we're all just listening to our own thing when my parents start to nice that a lot of other people in the library are looking over at us with big grins on their faces. Then they take off their headphones to hear me belting out, "If I were a rich man, yabba dabba, dabba doobie, dabba doo!"

Looking on back on 2007

Two thousand and seven is almost over, so it's time for one last post this year. Here a few photo reminders of the first few minutes of this year.




Lisette is rapidly becoming a young woman with her own interests and views. Miles has become a good skateboarder and a very good skier (even though I can't see his ears anymore.) Ian is growing up so much, but is still very sweet and he will loyally do things with me even if they're boring. Saffron is turning out to have a very strong personality, but a very loving one. My children have grown so much this year. They are such a joy to me; I can't imagine ever not having them.

So here are my goals in respect to my children for the new year:

1. Be more patient
2. Read more with them
3. Play more with them
   
4. Remember what it was like to be their age
   

Here are my goals to become a better person for them:

1. Read the scriptures more often
2. Find more purpose in prayer
3. Take better care of myself (sleep, exercise, healthy diet)

Happy New Years everyone.

Saturday is a special day

Lisette's book club just finished reading Pippi Longstocking, so they had party last night where they made cookies and watched the movie at one of her friend's house. Miles made a quiz show game and played it with Ian and me. He had Harry Potter, famous places, famous landmarks and Star Wars trivia questions. Then after the kids were in bed, Melinda and I stayed up late reading.

Melinda got up early today to take Miles to his skateboarding lesson, but the rest of us slept in until 10:00. We were going to clean up the house, but no one felt like it so we all decided to have a school day instead. It was quite successful, too. Miles finished his novel, Tom Swift: Young Inventor - Into the Abyss, Ian read 12 easy reader books, and Lisette read 5 easy reader books in Spanish and did a lot of math. We really enjoy the flexibility of homeschooling; it works really well for us.

Saffron was very sweet this morning. She sat in my lap and kept bringing me new picture books to read as the other children did their homework. She looks so cherubic with her curly blond hair and her innocent, loving smile wearing only her diaper. Spending time with her and the other children this morning brings to mind what "joy and rejoicing in your posterity" means.