These Short Years Ahead

I've been touched so many ways this past week in hearing the things I need to hear at the exact moment I needed to hear them. I know that God answers my prayers constantly, and He has spent this entire week proving to me how much he loves me and is mindful of everything I do. He is real, my friends. I know this with all.my.heart.  Life can get really overwhelming at times and It's easy for me to get caught up in whatever I'm thinking, and unfortunately my thoughts are not always pure and beautiful like I wish they would always be. Yes, I am a weak human being. But God loves me anyways, and is patiently waiting to help me and bless me, especially when I humbly ask.

One day this past week, as I was riding in the car with my Visiting Teaching companion, she said exactly  the words I needed to hear in the moment. She was telling me about her life growing up in Hong Kong, and how while all the other moms were busy working and sending their kids to daycare, her mom chose to stay home. As a young, Chinese mother living in the city, her mother got a lot of negative slack from her friends and family for doing this. It just wasn't the cool thing to do, and people often looked down on her. But, as my friend explained, her mother looks back on being with her children with so much happiness, and so much joy. She explained,"My mother was able to teach us everything she wanted us to know. Now we are all moved away, and she is happy." She then said in her sweet Chinese accent,"I think that what you are doing for your children is the right thing to do, and that you should be happy in what you are doing, too."
After I dropped her off I cried my eyes out. Nothing I could think of prompted her to say those things, but I needed to hear them, and her simple story touched me so much. 

My first baby turned seven today, and it has been very heavy on my heart how fast this time is flying by in raising him. Some days are really tough-going, homeschooling and being with my kids 24/7, yet I am so happy I get to spend this time with them, teaching them all I want them to know. Just like Ming said,  they will be gone before too long.  

The next morning I gathered my little ones around me and prayed with them. I then shared my testimony of God and his love for them, and of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I told them that obedience to the commandments of God will bring them happiness and closeness to their family. I told them that Micah and Mama love each other very much and will be married forever and ever. I told them that I love them so much and am so lucky to be their Mama. These are the things I wanted them to know at that moment. I have lots more to say, and lots more to share with them. It's going to be a wonderful long journey together, these short years ahead.

Zadok playing in a Yu-Gi-Oh tournament on his birthday today.
My what a big, grown-up boy he is becoming!