Clean Socks

Today I fell asleep at work while typing. I have been exhausted lately and it's due to the fact that I'm burning the candle at both ends.

Don't most Mom's do this though? No matter what our lot in life, whether we stay at home or work, don't we all fill every moment with things we feel are important to us and our families?

I have to admit that initially my top priority for the night was to be in bed by 9:30. Why? 1) Because Wes is at a concert and I find it's always easier to go to bed early when he's not around tempting me to stay up with him, and 2) As stated earlier, I fell asleep while typing...not a good thing to do on company time. But alas, it's 9:45 and I sit here at the computer waiting for a load of whites to finish in the washer so that I can switch them to the dryer. Again, you may ask why? Well, let me explain.

In October 2012, Elder L. Tom Perry gave a talk that has become life altering to me, called  Becoming Goodly Parents. In his talk he reads a letter that he had written many years earlier to his mother. It is a beautiful letter, but the part that has always been so significant to me is a line that most would probably skim over and never pay much attention, it is when Elder Perry says to his Mother, "Whenever I got out of bed in the morning, I never had to worry about whether I'd find a clean shirt and clean socks."

I want to be "that" mom. My Mom was "that" mom. I'm pretty sure my Grandmothers were "that" mom. I imagine there are many women out there are "that" mom. You know what I mean, the mom who reads a bedtime story to her children, who makes a fun lunch for them to take to school, who crafts with them in their free time, who always makes sure they have clean socks in the morning. However, it's not easy being "that" mom. Frequently I'm tired at night and would rather skip the bedtime story, lunches are often thrown together last minute ruining any chance of being "fun", crafting, well that's a whole other world to me, but clean socks...I can do clean socks. It's one simple thing that I hope will stand out to my children years down the road when they think back about their Mom.

Nations may never praise my name, in the tapestry of the world, my life is but a miniscule little thread. Yet even one thread contributes to the beauty, even if it's small, and I want my thread to shine because of the little things I do for my family...like clean socks.

One of my favorite quotes is by Neal A. Maxwell, he states, "When the real history of mankind is fully disclosed, will it feature the echoes of gunfire or the shaping sound of lullabies? The great armistices made by military men or the peacemaking of women in homes and in neighborhoods? Will what happened in cradles and kitchens (or laundry rooms) prove to be more controlling than what happend in congresses?"

So here I sit, it's now 10:15pm and I have a little smile on my face as I know the washer is almost done and soon I will have clean socks for my sweet children when they wake tomorrow. They may never know that I sacrificed my sleep or how important it was for me to give them clean socks, but I hope they will be able to look back one day and know just how much their Mom loved them.

Mom

Tomorrow is Mother's Day, so I wanted to dedicate a post my Mom. She is my best friend. She is my sounding board. She is my babysitter on short notice. She is my psychiatrist. She has cooked for me, cleaned up after me, done my hair in braids. She has made clothes for me, she taught me how to cross stitch. She was a suburban bus driver to school, a nurse for my wounds, a comforter when things are hard. She has taught me, loved me and helped me draw closer to God. I love her and am grateful to call her Mom.

Christlike Attributes

This week continues to be a tough week. I don't even know what to write about because most of it would be negative, but since I have 1 week left of my health challenge and I'm still required to write in my journal, I figured I would share an uplifting video (I know I need it). When everything seems to be going wrong and life is dismal, I know I can always turn to Christ.

Christlike Attributes

Reading

A fact about me- I love to read. Currently I'm engrossed in a novel set in the 1800s of love, ghosts, murder and high society. It's excellent! I would much rather read a book than watch a movie. So if you ever have suggestions in a good book, please share? :)

Rough

One word can some up my day. Rough. Period. End of story. That's all I care to write tonight. Looking forward to tomorrow.

Gideon

Gideon bore his testimony in Sacrament meeting today. It was amazing. His sweetness emanates from him when he bears testimony. I love him and I'm so grateful for his innocent example.

Women

In this day there are many women pushing for "equality" for women among men, the LDS church is no exemption where "feminists" are concerned. Recently I have spent a lot of time contemplating on why some feel they need to have the same things men have and or do, perhaps this desire comes from feeling less honored or respected. Men are frequently seen as the "leaders" in the church and we pray frequently for our "leaders", but the honor we hold for some of the great men in the LDS church is no different than the honor and respect they have for women.



As I read last night in Daughters in My Kingdom, I found an execellent quote by Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles , he said: “We believe in and are counting on your goodness and your strength, your propensity for virtue and valor, your kindness and courage, your strength and resilience. We believe in your mission as women of God. … We believe that the Church simply will not accomplish what it must without your faith and faithfulness, your innate tendency to put the well-being of others ahead of your own, and your spiritual strength and tenacity. And we believe that God’s plan is for you to become queens and to receive the highest blessings any woman can receive in time or eternity.”
To me, as I read this, it became very clear that we are equal to men. We are sacred and beautiful in their eyes. We are just as important in carrying forth the gospel as the men, although our roles may be different. How grateful I am for the role I play and the reminder I have been given that I am important in the Church and in God's eyes.