This past Monday morning, as I was running errands with my baby girl, I realized that lately, I tend to only blog "major events" or "major breakthroughs." That's actually not a bad thing. I don't have as much time to write as I used to....so I choose to write about the things I am so compelled to write about, that they simply refuse to be ignored!! :-) However, as I was driving in the car on Monday, playing "I Spy," "The Alphabet Game" and singing just about every single song we knew....I suddenly realized what a shame it was that I hadn't blogged about my "EVERY DAY" in a while. Because the thing is....our "EVERY DAYS" are AMAZING...and so absolutely blog-worthy. And so, half-way through the morning, I decided to document our "EVERY DAY" this past Monday.
Monday is my favorite day of the week (aside from the weekend days when I have my kids)..truth be told. I especially love them when my kids are off-track. You may ask why, since most people tend to DISLIKE Mondays. The reason I love Mondays so much, is because it is the one day during the work week that I DON'T work. It is my day to get things done, to volunteer at school, for ME to be the one who picks up my babies from school, etc. etc. etc. Truthfully, Mondays represent the life that I long for. Just...being...Mama. It is the day that I feel most at peace and the most in step with my Divine calling as a mother.
Seneca is such a good sport to do errands with me almost every Monday. We are such fabulous, seriously snuggly, little companions. I love that. This past Monday, we ended up running to the store to buy a few things for a very special dinner before Family Home Evening and also made a trip to Deseret Industries....all done in our jammies..just because!! I would have taken pictures, but these few errands actually occurred BEFORE I decided to blog about our "EVERY DAY." However, I am PROUD to say that I was able to find 3 pairs of DESIGNER JEANS (1 for Kaden and 2 for Baby) and an amazingly thick and beautiful long sweater for me...ALL for only $14. Why in the world did I EVER shop ANYWHERE other than D.I.?! I am amazed. Shopping at D.I. has become almost a hobby for me. I love it. Such a fun "challenge" to try and find the very BEST deals. I am almost giddy when I walk out of D.I. with perfect "almost brand new" clothes from Abercrombie, GAP, Old Navy, Aeropostale, Justice, etc. for POCKET CHANGE!!! I have even run into little ones that have the same clothes as mine and smile to myself thinking, "I so love that shirt they bought at Justice for $35. I have the same one and bought it for $2." :-) Although we didn't take pictures at the store, I had Seneca model her brand new jeans for me before school on Monday. They are THE cutest jeans EVER...and she fell in love with them right away. Would you look at my baby girl?! Is she not HEAVEN in a little girl?! *sigh* Oh how I love my babies!!!!
After our trip to D.I., and since Mama has been so ridiculously amazing to stay away from one of her guilty pleasures (flavored hot chocolate at Beans & Brews) for over 3 months now, Baby and I decided to treat ourselves to cocoa and a bagel. It was the cutest thing, to see Seneca snuggled up in a comfy leather chair in Beans & Brews, eating her bagel, sipping her cocoa and saying things like "Let's talk about us." Oh my heart. It was seriously the most amazingly beautiful GIRL TIME. She is growing up so fast. I happened to notice glances from other patrons, smiling as they saw this Mama and daughter relaxing together at such a "grown up" place, having "grown up" conversations about what we like about each other, etc. Oh my heart. So much love I could BURST!!After our cocoa time, I dropped Seneca off at school and ran a couple of errands on my own and threw on some jeans before hustling back to make it in time to volunteer in Seneca's classroom. I was in charge of the rotation where we made a "rhymes match game" called "A Pocket Full Of Rhymes." The kids loved it...and it made my heart happy when Seneca happily said, "HEY! We can play this for Family Home Leavling tonight!" ("Leavling" is meant to spelled that way....LOL..since that's how she
says it.) Volunteering in my kids' classrooms is one of my all-time favorite things to do. Seeing their eyes LIGHT UP when I walk in the classroom and how PROUD they are to have their mom as the "Mom Helper," is....beyond words. I have been asked a number of times to be on the PTA and (since I currently just can't do BOTH) have politely said that I would rather be heavily involved in my kids' classrooms. I want my kids to know that I am there for them and to be WITH them. And until the day comes (if it does) that they don't WANT me there any more...I will keep coming to their classrooms. At that point, I absolutely will be on the PTA to continue helping the schools where my babies attend. But until then....I want to be around them and involved with them DIRECTLY...as long as I can.
After school, I picked up my babies. That is such a simple statement, but even writing it makes me a little teary. Driving my kids to and from school has ALWAYS been something I have loved to do. If ever I was asked to join a carpool, I ALWAYS offered to drive EVERY DAY. I never thought there would be a day that I WOULDN'T be able to do it. I have the hardest time not being the one who greets them after school every day when I am at work the rest of them week. It makes my heart ache just thinking about it...so I can't think about it. Anyway...right after school, we headed over to Great Clips to get Kaden a haircut. Seneca usually has dance on Mondays, but her asthma was acting up quite a bit, so we decided to take a little break and headed for home after Kaden's haircut. After working through homework and cleaning up the house, the kids relaxed while I threw in a few loads of laundry (Monday is also laundry day) and prepared a very special dinner for us. It wasn't until I was preparing our dinner, that I realized that this particular dinner definitely doesn't fit into the theme of our "EVERY DAY." LOL! It is the only thing that makes this day "SORTA" our "EVERY DAY." Ha ha! Kaden has been asking for a couple weeks to try crab legs. As you know, crab legs are most definitely not cheap. I saved up a little bit and decided that Monday was finally going to be our special CRAB LEG DINNER.
I picked up 2 LBS of crab legs, 1.5 LBS of shrimp, made my Dad's DELICIOUS homemade cocktail sauce, fried up some yellow squash and made mashed potatoes. It was most definitely a FEAST. However, though this WAS a little more OUT THERE than our usual "EVERY DAY," Mondays ARE usually a more formal dinner day, simply because I am home to prepare it. While I cooked, Seneca set the table for us....one of her FAVORITE "jobs." :-)
Jeff joined us for dinner and Family Home Evening. Jeff is most definitely becoming a favorite part of our "EVERY DAY." Kaden & Seneca both always thank Heavenly Father in their prayers that Jeff could be with us...every time he joins us. That makes my heart SO happy that they love being around him.
All four of us were in HEAVEN at dinner. Jeff mentioned that he hadn't had a meal like that in a very long time. Serving Jeff and my babies already fills my heart with SO much joy. And yet, all three of them are always so grateful, that it brings that joy to an entirely different level. :-) Kaden was SO excited to try crab for the first time and BOTH of my babies absolutely LOVED IT. Seneca very likely ate more shrimp than anyone at the table. :-)
Before we all ate, Jeff gave a little "tutorial" on how to eat crab. :-) Then, we enjoyed the delicious spread, talked about our days, went around the table sharing our "HIGHS AND LOWS," and had such a fun meal together. It was most definitely a meal that I will always remember.
After dinner, we cleaned up and headed to the family room for Family Home Evening. Kaden conducted (as is always the case), Seneca led the song, I prayed and Jeff had prepared the lesson. I can't express to you enough what that 20 minutes meant to me. My heart swelled as I felt a unity of purpose that I have craved my entire adult life. Jeff has joined us a number of times for FHE, but there was something really powerful about this one. Sitting there holding Jeff's hand, as he shared a BEAUTIFUL lesson from the scriptures about developing and sharing our talents (SUCH a perfect theme for us) and involving my babies throughout the entire thing, I felt so overwhelmed in that perfect moment. Being taught by a miracle-of-a-man who LOVES GOD and loves me, surrounded by my babies who are my world....spending time together in this beautiful home, learning about Christ....it was everything I have ever dreamed of.
After Jeff's lesson, we all got down on the floor and played a few rounds of "A POCKET FULL OF RHYMES." Seneca is so cute, I could die. She had (for no real purpose...other than just because) written all of our names (including Jeff's) on the backside of each of the match cards. So cute.
After "A POCKET FULL OF RHYMES," we played a few games of CHUTES & LADDERS. After games, the kiddies got ready for bed and we went through our wonderful bedtime rituals (prayers, lullaby and daily affirmations [recited by my babies nightly for almost 2 1/2 years now]..."I have peace in my heart. I am kind to everyone. I choose to be happy. I love who I am.") and I snuggled my little ones up for bed. We have done the same routine for as long as I can remember. And just like clockwork, they were sound asleep about 4 minutes after tucking them in. Amazing.
When I finished putting the kids to bed, Jeff was laying on the couch. I snuggled right up next to him and we had some priceless "US" time. The entire evening was like a dream. Simply because I am not even sure how to share with you what this night meant to me, I will just say that it was a Family Home Evening that I will never forget.....and nothing short of a piece of Heaven. I hate to admit this, but I think I might have somehow convinced myself years ago, that I just might never have everything I wished for. I think it made it easier for me to deal with the fact that I hadn't ever HAD the true desires of my heart. But in those few moments at the end of the day, held so tight in Jeff's arms and after the most wonderful "EVERY DAY," my heart pounded and I felt the most overwhelmingly beautiful confirmation that every righteous desire of my heart WOULD be mine. How long and how much I have ached for this. Yet through it all, God has been right there....as always. What a miracle to have a taste of what I KNOW He has in store for me (and always DID have in store for me..."in HIS own time")....after waiting so very long.
God is so very good. Not EVERY "EVERY DAY" is as full and exciting as this one was. But for our precious little family, EVERY SINGLE ONE of our "EVERY DAYS," no matter what, is a BLESSING and is filled with more than just a little bit of Divinity.
No one deserves happiness more than you, my dear friend. God keeps every promise. Love you!
Posted by: Jana | January 27, 2012 at 03:16 PM
Were your kids well-behaved and reverent during that FHE??? I'm patiently waiting for that day.... So glad that you are being so blessed. Nobody deserves it more than you!
Posted by: Kandace Wittwer | January 27, 2012 at 03:35 PM