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02/15/2006: "a familiar refrain"
I read some of my journal entries from the past two years this week. It's fun to spot the patterns in child development, heartwarming to recall the precious moments, and humbling to see myself alternately struggling and succeeding.
Emma is where Cheanna was a couple of years ago, wanting so very much to read by herself, feeling left out of family scripture reading and constantly asking "what does that this say?". Cheanna reads whatever she can get her hands on, so I have every confidence Emma will find herself inside the circle soon enough.
Back in 2004 I wrote about how Duncan enjoyed helping wash the dishes with me, and really, that hasn't changed. He would rather wash dishes by hand than load/unload the dishwasher--so we can 'jack sprat' the dish tasks. I often have very eager volunteers for mopping, vacuuming...
The missionaries serving in our ward came over for dinner Sunday night. Elder Richardson played the "name that tune" on the piano with the children, and they had a blast. I cannot describe how amazing it is to sing along with my children, witnessing their pure joy in self-expression. Purchasing them each individual hymn books was initially intended to stop the fights over the ones in the pews at church--now it has yielded greater personal interest and participation in singing the hymns. We're following suit with the pocket-size spiral-bound children's songbook. Now they can carry both with their scriptures.
Monday ended up a sick day here. Emma and Cheanna vomiting in the night/early morning, thankfully Richard was here to take care of it so my gag reflex was only stimulated by the sounds of retching, and not the sights and smells. I think I'm caught up a bit on the missed sleep, and the girls are running around at full strength.
The children have recently discovered the world of Carmen Sandiego, and I wowed them with my rendition of Rockapella's "where in the world is Carmen Sandiego" =) The geography I learned at their ages is somewhat different than it is now--mostly name and boundary changes in other parts of the world. I suppose that's the way it is after every sort of war, even the cold ones.
Elena's delight in her baby brother continues--Ephraim is her first stop when she gets out of bed in the morning. Elena's full of quirks at this point, it will be interesting to see whether they remain as part of her personality as-is, if they change with her circumstances and age, or simply fade away as she passes through various stages.
The phrase repeats throughout, as well it should, because it's hard to remember it when I'm hacking a way through the jungle... A great blessing has come into my life, being a mother, a co-creator with my Heavenly Father. What a tremendous opportunity, to rear them in truth and light, to watch over and tutor them as they grow into adults.
