soul medicine

Insanely beautiful weather

in January

going without socks

on an outing to the zoo

with a giraffe-crazy two-year-old

a sweeter-than-candy baby

and a Daddy who holds your hand

and enjoys the hippos

just as much as you.

Perfect!

together

I was grateful, as we held hands and made our way into the church building, that I’d pulled myself away from the cozy sofa and the dishes in the sink and the email to check to brave the chilly night air and go to our ward’s Relief Society Mother/Daughter activity.  Kate seemed excited to have a special night out, especially when I told her that fingernail painting was involved.  As we made our way to the Relief Society room, I reminded my little lady that she needed to act grown up. “Like Leslie?” (her favorite babysitter), she asked?  “Yes, just like Leslie.” 

Thankfully, the infamous Leslie was there, too.  Kate was thrilled.

After a short introduction and explanation, I let Kate lead the way to the break-out classes she was most interested in.  Not surprisingly, we stopped off at the fingernail painting table first.  A few minutes (and 10 hot-pink nails) later, my girl was all smiles and admiring her hands.  Next we took in the 'make-up dos and don’ts' class (and finished with a dolled-up 6-year-old).  With Kate looking more grown-up than ever, we finished the night at the exercise class (“Because I like it when we do yoga together, Mom.”) 

Spending time, one-on-one, with Kate is priceless.  I didn’t realize how little of it we have together.  Usually we are surrounded by babies, and because she is the world’s greatest baby helper, I use her company as ‘help’ more often than not.  But, every now and again it is a blessing to realize that my Kate is more than just a mini-mommy.  She is a growing girl with lots of ideas to share and questions to ask; feelings to work through and learning to do.  

She is amazing.  And, I’m honored that she’s mine.

new eats

I've been on a 'trying new recipes' kick.  Dinner was in need of some shakin' up!  Some recipes have resulted in lots of smiles.  Others have been tossed (recipe AND leftovers) for the dumpster rats to enjoy.  The experiment tonight yielded 12 thumbs up.  Well, Lea didn't exactly get to taste it 1st hand to give her opinion, but I'm sure she'll love it when solids become a part of her repertoire.  Anyway...I stole it from my fab friend, Shaina, so I'll just link you to it here.  Enjoy!

sunshine

scenes from our holiday

worth the read

Just had to share the best post I've read in a long time. Enjoy!

the giver

My grandma was a good giver of gifts. Christmas was her favorite, and she knew how to do it well. She made her famous hand-dipped chocolates, supervisesd Grandpa as he hung the rainbow colored lights on the house, and filled her cookie jar to overflowing.

And, Grandma hosted the annual {marathon of a} family party. It always included good food, a ‘talent show’ by the grandkids, and a re-enactment of the Nativity. The culmination of the evening, the part she joyed in the most, was watching everyone open up presents. She’d sit in her chair, directing traffic. I was the oldest grandchild and the official present-hander-outer. She pointed and told me who got what, and in what order. Sometimes, if she bought people the same thing, she had them open their gifts at the same time. That bit of frenzy always made her laugh.

Grandma didn’t have good health, so she couldn’t trudge through the mall. She was a catalog shopper. This was, of course, before the days of cyber-Monday and Amazon, so she had a huge basket full of catalogs from practically every retailer in the country. She scoured the pages, circling items and dog-ear-marking pages. I discovered that I could get a pretty good ‘sneak peek’ at what the Christmas party held in store if I stealthily perused her catalog stash. When she couldn’t find something by mail order, she’d send Grandpa to ZCMI, ad in hand, with specific instructions on what to pick up. She left nothing to chance (or to Grandpa!). I’m sure her Christmas shopping took the better part of 4 months, but this was the day she lived the rest of the year to witness.

Grandma’s gifts were always just right. She had a keen memory for any casual comments made throughout the year about something you needed or were wishing for. And, often, she found something you didn’t even KNOW you wanted, but was just the perfect thing. Grandma could create magic with her gift-giving.

Nine years ago, Grandma and Grandpa had just returned home from our annual family party. She had joyed, once again, in the giving of just the right gifts. Her heart, I’m sure, was full.

And, then, it stopped. She passed away on Christmas Eve.

I miss Grandma. Especially at this time of year. I’m not sure ‘good gift giving’ is a talent I inherited from her. I’m always stumped and wish she were around to lend advice to my own Christmas list. But, thinking of her and her gift giving ways always reminds me of these words from our Savior:

“Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent. If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” ---Matthew 7:9-11

I’ll always be grateful for the ‘good gift’ my Grandma was to me, given by a loving Father. He is the ultimate giver of good gifts, for He gave His Son for whom we celebrate and because of whom we can ‘joy in the giving’ at this Christmas season.

This is me, with a 'thank you, Grandma!' on my lips. Again, the perfect gift!