Good Times

Today I went with Harris' class on a field trip to the Museum of Natural Science. And yes, those ridiculous shots are the best pictures I got from the entire day (don't get me started on his little friend who insisted I take a picture of EVERY SINGLE GEM in the Gem Vault!) Harris loved all of the exhibits, especially the dinosaur fossils. As part of the field trip, we went to see an Imax (super 3-D) movie called Whales and Dolphins. Harris was terrified the entire time and intermittently cried and covered his eyes with MY hand on which he had a death grip for the entire hour. As soon as it ended and the lights went on he sighed loudly and said, "Oh man! That was SO good!" What a punk.






Tonight we also watched Faith's volleyball game. Her team didn't win but she was playing really aggressively and I was so proud of how hard she worked. Her last game is Saturday and then she will start practicing and working toward making the school team next year in 7th grade. Go Faith!

Ordinary Miracle

Tonight was an ordinary night. Dinner without Jared who was working late, chores with grumbles, Family Night with eye rolls, showers with wet floors, prayers with bums in the air (I hate that!) and one other thing. Harris read a book to me. But instead of the usual fussing, followed by a lot of, "I can't read!"s, followed by a lot of stopping for help and subsequent frustration, Harris read, with little help and a huge smile on his face, a book that was pretty hard if I do say so myself! He did SUCH a good job and read just like an old pro. Just like he walks and talks like an old pro. It brought tears to my eyes and made me think of how at three years old, when I sent him to Preschool For Children With Disabilities, I wondered if he would ever walk or talk. He would crawl and sign and point to little pictures in a book but I truly worried and wondered if that would ever change. And boy has it! That guy runs like the wind at recess while he plays tag with his friends. And we all know he can construct a sentence that includes the wit and sarcasm of a grown man. It is miraculous to watch him meet and conquer life's challenges and he reminds me, in his own happy way, to keep chipping away at my own obstacles that lie between me and my divine destination. I will get there, just like he keeps doing.

Happy Birthday to Me

32 things I'm grateful for on my 32nd birthday. Okay. That's excessive. Let's do 10.
1) Good friends....the kind you laugh with, and cry with, and laugh til' you cry with.
2) Patient kids. I mess up alot, and they forgive me.
3) The temple. I went there with my mom today. Man, I love that place.
4) My mom. She gave me life, and continues to teach me about it. Same goes for the greatest dad ever.
5) My sisters. They are as good as they get.
6) My brothers. None of them wished me a Happy Birthday, but Jon wished me a Happy Earth Day. I wouldn't change one thing about any of them.
7) A really funny husband who isn't nuts, but doesn't mind that I am.
8) The gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the greatest blessing I have, and without it I'd be lost.
9) A body that functions properly, water butt and all. My brain might trip me up, but my body is strong and able. I'll take what I get and be grateful.
10) Change. I'm glad I'm not who I was a year ago. I hope on my 33rd birthday I can say the same thing. I have a long way to go, but thanks to blessings one through nine, I'm getting there.

Happy Birthday Harry B!

Words fail to describe all the joy you bring into my life. I feel so lucky to be the lady who gets to be your mother. Thank you for making me smile and laugh every single day. You fight hard to do things that come easy to most of us and you don't complain about it. You remind me that progress isn't measured by how fast you get there, but that you get where you're meant to go. You were sent here to accomplish great things and in nine years you've already transformed my life and the lives of all who are blessed to know you. I have no doubt I would never become who I'm meant to become without you. I love you. Happy birthday.
Mom