Mixed Bag

I am very much aware of the fact that our household consists of small accomplishments, little discoveries, and quiet triumphs, as compared with the world at large.  But to me, they are worth documenting.  I rejoice in my stay-at-home mom opportunity, and feel so grateful for such tiny moments.

Ezra, for example, is potty-training!  Our first two days were a complete disaster, and I was on the verge of giving up, but then on day three, it clicked.  He has a near perfect track record (about ten days in), and most of the time initiates the visits to the bathroom.  It feels so wonderful to change just one set of diapers!

Ezra has also started to love saying prayers.  For at least six months, he has absolutely refused to say a prayer, or be reverent for prayer time, but in the last week as finally had a breakthrough.  Now at prayer time, he often jumps right in to offer the prayer if no one else is quick enough, he usually folds his arms, bows his head, and expresses a number of thoughtful "thank yous".  Yesterday we were headed to his cousin's house for a birthday party.  Ezra volunteered to say the prayer and began it in this way: "Dear Heavenly Father, We thank thee for Gabriel and the toys at his house." 

Daily life as a mommy is a grand experiment in connecting with my children, but I do often feel quiet promptings to change or adjust as needed.  Recently, I felt prompted to emphasize the importance of loving one another.  A wise prophet-king in the Book of Mormon offered this simple, timeless counsel to parents: "teach them to love one another, and to serve one another" (Mosiah 4:15).  With that scripture in mind, I have started singing the hymn "Love One Another", based on the Savior's own words from the book of John.  The result has truly humbled me; listen to those little promptings!  I sing this song every day, and without fail, every day the Spirit touches us, and we all choose to be a little more kind.  Literally every time I sing the song, Ezra will hug his sister, or pass her a toy he took, or tell her he loves her.  I feel more calm, and my patience is rekindled.  Maren seems less clingy on me and less edgy around Ezra.  Little miracles!

Our vegetable garden has been tremendously productive.  We have more fresh garden tomatoes than we know how to use.  Last week I packed up bags of tomatoes for four of our neighbors, and we still had a 14-cup bowl filled to the brim left over.  Our favorite has been the yellow pear tomato, which might as well be candy to me.  The lovely lemon yellow 3" fruit is hardy and prolific.  One plant has given us at least 30 tomatoes every week for the last month.  The kale in our garden is quite a marvel: no pest problems, no bolting from summer heat, no leaf spots, no fungus, just stanch, hardy neat-and-tidy rows that have grown without wavering since May.  I cut it back to use in my cooking, and two days later, you can't even tell it was cut.

My personal gospel study has been focused for many weeks on a simple one-liner from the most recent General Conference.  I have read, and re-read the message from Elder Donald Hallstrom, and find so much encouragement and hope in his counsel.  His talk was actually addressed to the men in the priesthood session, but his words are universal.  Here is one of my favorite parts: "...Who we are is not who we can become. We meet here tonight in the name of Jesus Christ. We meet with the confidence that His Atonement gives every one of us—no matter our weaknesses, our frailties, our addictions—the ability to change. We meet with the hope that our future, no matter our history, can be better." 

I think about that last statement a lot.  I can change!  I can do better!  The future is bright!  Motivated by that idea, I have tried to help Ezra consider a more positive spin to his words.  As he grows and learns more, he will often come to me in frustration, and burst out, "Mommy, I can't."  I have been trying to encourage him (and counsel myself at the same time) to say instead, "I can, with some help."  And, then he does--with a little help.  I know this idea was a prompting from the Spirit too, because it feels like the relationship we have with our Father in Heaven.  He wants us to be agents, to act independently, to feel confident in our abilities, but He also is so willing and able to help.

A few pictures from August:

The elusive family picture...pretty good for a tripod/timer/no photographer attempt!

We found this field of sunflowers by our house--beautiful.

An example of our abundant tomato crop, and an anxious tomato consumer

Happy girl!