Gratitude

You know those kids in Primary that we all consider "difficult"?  They're the ones who can't sit in their chair for more than 3 seconds at a time.  When they're not in their seats, they can be found bothering the piano player, climbing over the top of the mini-podium, trying to distract whoever is in front of the room, or lying in the middle of the aisle with their shoes off and underpants showing.  They repeatedly find some way to escape unnoticed from the Primary room and run down the hall as fast as they can before someone catches them.  Their teachers call them "special spirits", others find their antics "endearing", and the rest of us are grateful we don't have to take them home with us after church is over.

Unless you're the parent of one.  Which I am.  Hello, my name is Gina, and I am Amy's mother. 

Every week in Primary is an exhausting struggle for me.  Amy is darling, sweet girl, but she's also a handful.  It is especially stressful  because I am in the Primary Presidency, and if I am not teaching Sharing Time or filling in for the music leader, I'm busy supervising bathroom trips, finding substitutes on the fly, and making sure every teacher has chalk and an eraser (or whatever).

I am also one of those people who feels that her children are her responsibility, and I don't want anyone else to have to keep track of my kids because I can't do it myself.  But between the responsibilities of my calling, the constant escape attempts, the inability to stay in her seat, and the loud wailing that occurs when Amy isn't allowed to do whatever she wants, I have reached a point where I don't know if I should quit Primary, or Amy should.

Well, today, we had a person substituting for another class who knows all about Amy because of a previous incident (not involving her) that occurred during Sacrament Meeting--which is totally not worth going into here because it happened several weeks ago, and I really should have gotten over it by now, but I haven't--and she pulled me aside today and said, "Would it help you at all if I came to Primary every week for the first hour and just sat with Amy?"  It's like the answer to a prayer I haven't even said yet.  I couldn't say yes fast enough.

It would have been so easy for this sister to just come in, do exactly what she was asked to do and go on her merry way, but she didn't.  She could have thought, "It's not my problem." or "I've already got my own kids to deal with.", but she didn't.  She could have considered all the other responsibilities she has as a member of the Relief Society Presidency, but she didn't.  She saw a need, and wanted to fill it.  What a great example of Christ-like service.  She offered to help, and as hard as it is for me to accept any kind of assistance, I know I need it.  And Amy needs it so that she can be still enough to feel God's love for her and hear what is being taught.  Someday, I hope to do the same for a young mother who has a wonderfully difficult child that needs some extra love and support.  I will put my arm around her and say, "I know you're having a hard time.  I've been there myself.  Let me help you."

I am filled with gratitude for this amazing, righteous, and selfless woman and for my Father in Heaven who put her in the right place at the right time today.

Ditto...What She Said

Last Thursday night, I went to the Relief Society (Women's Group) activity.  I usually don't attend these activities for a few very valid reasons, but this one was a "Chocolate Appreciation Night".  How could I resist?  I even invited my mom.

When my mom and I got there, they had tables set up in a long line, with all different kinds of chocolate running down the middle of the tables.  There were questions on strips of paper there, too.  The idea was to get to know eachother better by asking questions, and then switching conversation partners after 2 minutes.  Basically like speed dating, but for friendship instead of romance.  Sounds like fun, right?

Well, actually, it was!  But I have to share what happened on one of my "speed dates" with a new friend.  She asked me, "What is the one thing you would like to be remembered for?"  And after thinking for a few seconds I said, "Probably my cooking.  After I die, I want people to think of me and say, 'Remember Gina?  Yes...what a cook!  She always made GREAT food.'."  Then I said to her, "What about you?"  And without skipping a beat she said, "In a talk I heard once, the speaker talked about that scripture in Proverbs about being a virtuous woman.  I want to be remembered for being a virtuous woman."

Oh man, REALLY?  I say I want people to remember my awesome food, and she whips out "virtuous woman"?  How can I compete with that?  Her answer reminded me of the last time I volunteered with Habitat for Humanity.  It was my first time on a build here in Tacoma, so I was introduced to the volunteer coordinator who broke the ice by asking, "What is your biggest fear?"  To which I replied, "Drowning.  What's yours?"  And he said, "My biggest fear would be a wasted life."  Well, CRAP, people!

I must be incredibly shallow.

Either that or I really don't have to worry about whether or not I will be remembered as a virtuous woman who didn't waste her life.

I'll take Door #2.

A Week of Mini-Milestones

We are celebrating a few exciting things this week!

Miss Lucy

Today is Lucy's last day of Kindergarten!  I took a picture of her on the first day of school, and also this morning.  Look at how much she has grown!

September 2, 2009

June 15, 2010

She has had an amazing year, and I am really grateful to her teacher and all of the supporting staff than made her first year of school a nurturing, positive, and memorable experience.  For a girl who was so unsure and nervous about going to school in the first place, Lucy has learned a lot, and become much more comfortable being a student.

She is, of course, at the top of her class.  She reads extremely well, and all of her schoolwork is done very neatly and accurately.  She has also developed socially, and has many friends within and outside of her class.

I love who she is becoming and what she has accomplished this year.  She amazes me every day and I simply adore her.  Way to go, Lucy!

Amy Jo

Amy doesn't really have a milestone this week, but I just can't leave her out!  I took this picture of her at the park last Saturday evening.  Isn't it beautiful?  Currently, she is my favorite photography subject.

I love this girl.  She lives in the moment, and doesn't let anything get in her way.  (This can sometimes be a difficult thing!)  Everything about her fits who she is--from her name to her curly hair to her preference for bare feet everywhere she goes.  She's wild (in the best sense of the word), carefree, passionate, and free spirited.  It isn't hard to smile when Amy is around.

Sadie P. 

A while ago, I saw a T-shirt that said, "I'm kind of a big deal."  This is totally Sadie.  As the 3rd daughter in a sea of girls, she has no problem making sure she is never forgotten.  If one girl is doing something, she is sure to get in on the action and not be outdone.  In fact, she doesn't allow anyone to ignore her.  For example, In the morning when she wakes up, she likes to have some milk.  She has been saying, "I want milk." for awhile now, but lately, when she gets downstairs in the morning, she says, "Mom, mom, mom, mom, mom, mom..." until I answer, "Yes?" and then it switches to, "I want milk, I want milk, I want milk, I want milk, I want milk..." until I say, "Okay."

Sadie's big deal this week is that tomorrow she will be 18 MONTHS OLD.  I can't believe how much time has gone by!  Sadie is just growing by leaps and bounds, and although some people love having a baby around, I definitely love this age.  It's full of fun and frustration, but it's cute to watch them grow and learn.

This is not the best picture of Sadie...we were at the park, her nose was running, and her hair is a mess, but I think it shows how big she is, and that she doesn't have that "baby face" so much anymore!

     

Well, that's all for now.  It's time for me to pick Lucy up from school.  Let summer vacation officially begin!

Lucy's Graduation (updated with a few more pictures)

Today we attended Lucy's Kindergarten graduation.  While David and I quoted that line from "The Incredibles" ("They keep inventing new ways to celebrate mediocrity!"), I know it meant a lot to both of us to go and participate in this small rite of passage.  Many thanks to all of our family who came too.  We took up most of one row.  I know Lucy was glad to see all of us there.

Enjoy some pictures!

Congratulations, Lucy!