are you listening?

I'm a good listener. I really am. I pride myself in it actually. It's one of the traits I got from my mom. I feel like I can empathize with people, feel what they're feeling, validate them. Why do I struggle so much with listening to my kids then? Not listening to them in general, but rather listening to their stories. After about 30 seconds, my eyes glaze over. I think they notice. In my defense, there are 2 times in my day when they like to share their thoughts with me...when we are frantically trying to get out the door, or 10 minutes past their bedtime. Alex is beyond creative. He will write novels someday. Best selling novels. He's already working on some. He asks me all the time to read them...while I'm cooking dinner, changing a diaper, braiding hair. Is it so he can see if I will choose him? One of these days, I'm going to stop what I'm doing and read. Right then and there. He won't know what to think. He also likes to share his dreams from the night before with me. Sometimes I think they are a sliver of a dream, with lots and lots of new stuff mixed in. New stuff that he's making up, right that moment. They are LONG and DETAILED. They are cool. Honestly. But I struggle to hear and respond when I am harried and trying to tend to something else. :(

I am so grateful that they still come to me. If I don't listen intently, they'll find someone else who will. I don't want that. How do I give all of them everything they need? Alex is getting older. I may not be as important to him soon...especially if he doesn't think I'm hearing him. Help.

what makes me happy...

I really haven't had much to say lately. Not super happy, not super sad. Back to feeling like I shouldn't even bother writing if I have nothing profound to say. Silly, I know. But how I feel, just the same. Alot has been going on the past few weeks. A Schofield wedding in Idaho (picture above). Dave's father being diagnosed with Parkinson's. A visit to Washington to see my sister Laura. Her delivering a 20 week stillborn baby boy our last day there. Kay Richard Gehring. Kay - Gunnar's Dad's middle name, Richard - our Dad's middle name. He was beautiful and perfect. I love Laura and am really proud of her. I will treasure the time we were able to spend there for the rest of my life. Beyond that actually. Eternal families are what make me happy. Eternal families, MY family, the sweet peace the Lord provides when we think we can't continue on with our next breath.

yum.

Guess who found a baggie full of malt ball easter eggs?

be available...

Read this beautiful thought in an interview with Michael J. Fox the other day. I always knew I loved that guy.

{Always be available to your kids.

Because if you say, "Give me five minutes,

give me ten minutes," it'll be 15, it'll be 20.

And then when you get there,

the shine will have worn off

of whatever it is they wanted to share with you.

I've never gotten up to see something

one of my kids wanted to show me

and not been rewarded.}

I want to always be available. I felt like my parents were always available to me. I can remember many times, walking back to my Dad's study, needing him, but catching him in the middle of something. He would always put it down. That made me confident. Secure. It made me feel loved and treasured. I want that to be me. I think we always need to be willing to stop what we are doing if someone needs us. It will wait. Whatever we are in the middle of will wait.

m & e...

One of my very favorite pictures from our trip. It was very eventful. Very emotional. But this picture captures how I feel about the whole thing. I love the Gehrings so much. I feel peaceful and happy when I am with them and am counting down the days until I will be again.

thankful.

Today I am thankful for...

eternal families

prayer

a loving Father in heaven

the priesthood

the Comforter

the perfect plan of salvation.

what is it?

What is it about hotels that makes them so magical? Are they magical for your kids? I love them. Maybe it is knowing someone will be by to clean our room in the morning. Maybe the TV 2 feet from my bed. The ice machines down the hall. The heated indoor pool. The crisp, clean linens. We stayed at the Marriott in Boise last week for Uncle Tommy's wedding. Somehow we got the handicapped room which was a dream. It was HUGE. Maybe they somehow knew we were squeezing 7 people in there. Molly started unpacking all the bags as soon as we arrived. Everything went into a drawer. Diapers. Wipes. Stuffed animals. Snacks. Scriptures. Shoes all lined up in a row...and tears if they were moved. It drove me nuts, but in a "you're so cute" kind of way. :)