Parenting

SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 2010

Parenting

I'm sitting in a quiet home. I just finished watching the conference.  I am thinking about Haleigh today. She is in Guatemala with Habitat for Humanity, building homes. During the past 6 months, she has been through so much watching me struggle with the VILLAIN, so I am glad that she can get away. On Thursday, she spoke at Seminary General Conference. She was asked by Brother Chatwin last week to speak about overcoming adversity. Eric and I went to listen to her speak, she did an incredible job, and I was very touched by her spirit and maturity as she spoke. It is hard to believe she is my baby and that she is graduating this year from High School. It seems the years have flown by. All of my children are growing up so quickly that sometimes I wish I could slow things down.
When I look back on the years of raising my children, I know there were mistakes we made, but I am grateful for those times, for we were taught important lessons by the Lord in those times. Many mothers and fathers wish to do a few things differently. If we didn't make a few mistakes, how could we grow and learn what the Lord wants us to? Those years of growing and learning help us to be better grandparents. We never stop learning, and I am so grateful for that.
When Kayla got married, I was so grateful that she and Jeremy would live close by and looked forward to her and Jeremy's visits; now, I look forward to seeing Kayla, Jeremy, and Recker. They are such great parents and now will raise their children in the Gospel and teach them to follow the Prophet and listen to their leaders; they will teach them to pray and fast, give primary talks, bear testimony, and serve missions.
When Blake left on his mission, it was bitter-sweet for me and still is. Leaving him at the MTC in Provo was so hard. I watched him walk away with the other Elders knowing I would not see him for 2 years. When I got home from Utah, I entered Blakes's bedroom, sat on his bed, and cried. Each letter and email that comes from him reassures me that he is where he should be. One of his recent letters to me said, "mom, when President Bednar visited us, his wife spoke, and this is what she said... If every Elder is the missionary that they think their mom wants them to be, they will be successful" then he said "don't worry about me mom, I am trying to be the missionary you want me to be" Oh how I miss him, the Lord is watching over him and helping him, I know when he returns home he will be the man that he knows he can be.
Kaitlyn lives in Utah with her husband, Brian. The day she left our home, we were so sad. She and Blake have always brought humor into our home, and I miss her laughter. Now that Haleigh is the only child at home (and she is rarely home), it is quiet. I have learned that each of my children has survived haha...we, Eric and I, have survived, haha... I don't think parenting ever ends. Motherhood is the best thing I have ever done in my life, and I am proud of each one of them; not that Eric and I have been the best parents in the world, but because they have each learned to listen with their hearts.

LABELS: CANCER, JOURNALING