Eternal Families, Joy

I wasn't around my kids for 9 whole days!! That's the longest I've ever been away from them. After I picked them up from the airport and dropped my mom off later that same day, it was amazing to me to see how Ally and Daniel reacted to being home again. They have always been sooooo good about playing with each other or entertaining themselves. They play in the front room or in their bedroom. Well, Friday evening, they both would follow me around the house and set up "imagination play zone" right at my feet, no matter where I was. The kitchen, the foot of the couch, the table, my bedroom. They just wanted to be with me at every step. It made me think about how special it is to have a family in this life and that having a loving home brings great joy. And then it made me think about how happy Heavenly Father must be when we try to be close to him like Ally and Daniel were with me. Or even happier when we are faithful and return to him at the close of mortality. As a mother, having Ally and Daniel have taught me a lot about the feelings that Heavenly Father has for me and each of us.

Sisters and Comfort

Viana has been sick. She has spent the last 24 hours on the couch. Brooke and Ram have been playing together and leaving Viana to mend. This afternoon Viana says to me, "I want to say hi to Brooke." I went back to the bedroom where Brooke and Ram were playing and said, "Brooke, Viana wants to say hi." Brooke immediately stopped what she was doing and walked to the living room. She walked over to the couch and said, "Hi Viana." Viana said, "Hi Brooke." And that was it. Viana turned over content and Brooke went back to playing. It was so precious. Brooke was so anxious to help her sister, and Viana felt her love.
Mosiah 18:9
9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort,

Temples

Tonight Ally and I were looking at pictures after Daniel had gone to sleep. We came across a picture of a temple and Ally, without hesitation, said, "A temple where you got married!" I'm glad that she knows LaDon and I were married in the temple. Because we were sealed there, we're forever! I hope she gets married there, too.

P.S. I know that's really similar to a few posts ago, but some Church topics in our house are WAY more popular than others.

Children

I think that we need to be like little children in the desire and magnetism they feel toward their parents. Sometimes it can feel burdensome to have no personal space and to always have your little ones needing you and following your every move. But shouldn't we feel this same desire to be as close to our Heavenly Father, the parent of our eternal spirits? Children have the simple recognition that as their parents we can provide them with all that they need, safety, joy, comfort, love, etc. We can find these same things when we are seeking to follow the will of God and to are worthy of the companionship of the Spirit.

Eternal Families and Forgiveness

Almost every day Ally goes around labeling each other's friends. For example, Ally is mama's friend and Daniel is Daddy's friend. Mama and Daddy can't be friends, nor can mama and Daniel, or Daddy and Ally. In Ally's mind, matching gender means friends. Well, tonight Ally was really excited to play with Daniel and Daniel was really excited to go to sleep. While she was pulling at him to play he was swiping at her to go away. After a near-hit Ally stopped and said, "Daniel, be nice. We are best friends!"

My first reaction, of course, was happiness that her friend tree branched out past me!

My second thought centered on the eternal nature of our families! It's true, we are eternal and even more so because LaDon and I were sealed in the temple for all time and eternity. If we are sealed together eternally, we might as well be best friends even if that means if one of us isn't in the mood to be friends at the moment.

The next thought was how forgiving Ally was in response to Daniel's almost-smack to the face. Rather than being upset that she was almost hit, she replied kindly and optimistically! As Christ hung on the cross, he implored the Father to "forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). Ally forgave so quickly and loves her brother all the same.

I'm grateful for children who love each other and are happy to be with one another.