ornament memories IV

Dallin's 2nd grade teacher used to play music when they were doing their work, and one song that was on her disc was "'Tis a Gift to be Simple."  Dallin clung to this tune and sings it often.  He proclaimed it his favorite song and when we heard the Tabernacle Choir singing it one Sunday morning on TV, Dal was ecstatic.  "They are singing it just for me!" he declared.  (At least one member of the choir definitely WAS singing it for Dal...it is nice to have a Grammy in there, just for those occasions).

I think it is appropriate that my sort of simple boy loves this simple song about enjoying life's simplest gifts.  He isn't the top student or the best player on his sports teams or the fastest runner or, really, the best at anything that is measurable in that way.  But, his simple ways are definitely a gift.  He simply enjoys each day for what it is.  He has a hard time pinpointing favorite foods or books or activities or friends, because he loves whatever he is doing, and who he is doing it with, at the moment it is happening.  His best times are while doing simple things: making paper airplanes with Kate, chasing Davis around the house, reading a book to Lea.

Dal's life is a gift.  He has a wonderful, simple way of loving his siblings, obeying, waking us all up for scripture study in the morning, laughing a big, hearty laugh at something funny on TV;  He is simply a good kid, trying to do what his Father would have him do.

Chad and I picked up this ornament on our 5th anniversary.  We spent the day in a historic town called Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill.  We enjoyed the simplicity of the beautiful summer day, watched as our cute one-year-old Dallin reached through the fences to pet the horses and sheep, learned more about the simple life of the Shakers, and felt the blessings of the past 5 years.

Our life now seems so much LESS simple than it did back then, but the gifts really are found in the simple, special every day moments.  And I'm glad I've got my Dallin (and his favorite song) to remind me of the gift simplicity is.