comforter

For my Sharing Time lesson on the Holy Ghost today I collected several props from home. I thought about taking Lauren's blanket as an example of how the Holy Ghost can be a comforter. I asked for her permission, and she excitedly agreed.

During Junior Primary Sharing Time, I held up her blanket and talked about all of the comfort it has given. Everyone laughed. (Later, the Senior Primary was equally amused, guessing that it was a scarf, a torn up towel, and finally, yarn.) I kept my attention focused on teaching the group, but found out later that Lauren's eyes had filled with tears amidst the laughter. I felt terrible, and asked her about it afterward. She frowned, but didn't have anything to say. As we pulled into the driveway, she said, "At least Annie didn't laugh, because she's my friend."

"I'm really sorry your feelings were hurt today, Lauren," I told her.

"Mom," Ella said, "Maybe you should have taken a different blanket. Then Lauren wouldn't have been embarrassed."

Lauren agreed. "Yeah, and then Blankie wouldn't have been embarrassed either."

Ella replied instantly, "Lauren! Blankie doesn't have a mind."

"Oh, yeah? This is her mind," Lauren said, pointing to a giant knot. "And this is her other mind," she said pointing to another. "One thinks about unicorns . . . and the other one thinks about embarrassing things."

quiet, please

Audrey is always learning new tricks, but I especially love her newest one. She puts one pudgy finger to her lips and says, "Shhhhhhh!"

She does it when the girls are being too loud in the car, or at the dinner table, or when they're fighting. I could just kiss her. And sometimes I do.

Tonight, I was snuggling her and humming "I Am a Child of God," just getting ready to tuck her in bed, when the girls came into their room from brushing their teeth, talking and laughing. Audrey raised her tired head from my shoulder and shot them a look. She shifted her furry blanket from one hand to the other, then raised her finger to her binky. "Shhhhh!"

Of course, Ella and Lauren found her hilarious, so it didn't help much. But I have to say, I really think Audrey and her new trick are creating a little more peace and quiet around here.

We love our little librarian.

Ella M.

Lauren and Audrey and I went had lunch with Ella at school today. As soon as we sat down, she politely introduced us to her friends at the table: Isabella, Olivia C., Madeline, Lily, and Olivia D. It was fun to watch her in her element, chattering away and making her friends laugh. I watched her among all of those darling girls and thought to myself, She is so amazing, this little girl of mine, my Ella M.

mother's day

I read once that the best way to appreciate the simplest of moments with your children is to travel in a time machine. You imagine yourself traveling forward twenty years, and then imagine that you're given the chance to travel back to the moment you are in.

Tonight Lauren fell asleep on the couch. I meant to just scoop her up and carry her to bed, but she snuggled right into me so perfectly that I sat down where she had been instead. I wrapped my arms around her, and pulled a blanket around us both. I held her head, still damp from the bath, against my cheek. She smelled perfect. I listened to her breath, so steady and peaceful. The day's list of things to do faded from my mind.

I traveled in the time machine, and back.

And without any warning whatsoever, I burst into tears. I was overcome by the thought of that sweet reunion, and then, the realization of how I will long for it, but will have no time machine to get me there -- right here, where I am now.

The words of Marjorie Hinckley came to my mind: "Don't wish away your years of caring for young children. This is your great day."

Indeed.

xoxo

I finished writing my mother's day card for Mom, then looked at Lauren. She'd been waiting for me in the passenger seat quite patiently, I realized, for something to do. "Wanna put some extra love on this card for Grandma?"

"Yes!"

"Here," I said. "Add your best x's and o's on the back."

"Oh!" she said, thrilled. "Okay! I will!" She scrawled one row, and then another, until the entire back of the card was covered. "See how much I love Grandma?" she asked.

"Yes," I said. "She's going to love all those hugs and kisses from you." She smiled.

"Mom, I love Grandma and Grandpa as much as I love you and Daddy!"

lioness

As we drove home, Ella announced, "Mom, there's lice at my school again. There's a paper for you to read about it in my backpack and, I'm sorry to tell you this: You're going to have to check my HUGE MANE!"