Josh Turns 10

I have a memory of walking with Josh in the grocery story when he was about 2 years old. He was sitting in the front of the cart as most 2 years olds do, and a woman stopped me and she said, "I just have to tell you how cute your baby is...when I saw him I just had to come over because he is striking." I said thank you, and continued on my way, but also had the thought what an interesting word to use to describe him. 

So, the definition of striking is very attractive in a noticeable way. Other adjectives are: impressive and wonderful. You know where I am going. (Joshy, Joshy, Joshy) Yes, Josh is a handsome boy - but, I am thinking more on how he carries himself.  He attracts people to him because he is kind, he is a friend to everyone, he genuinely cares, and he loves making others happy. This is Josh, this is who he is. 

He is starting to become very in tune, and has some very tender stories that I will take the time to share here. One semi recently on a day where Rowan was already at jujitsu and Josh had his friend Pierce over, we were taking him home, and for some odd reason the sliding door kept beeping that it wasn't locking, it was closed, but not engaged fully. All the kids complained every time is beeped, but I reminded them we would worry about it when we were stopped at the house. When we dropped of Josh's friend the door had opened, but now would not close at all. It had completely frozen. I wasn't sure what to do, I thought to call the dealership, but what we would they do, and I really couldn't be late to get Rowan, but I would also be driving down busy streets with Lily's side open, which was concerning..now Josh piped in and suggested we say a prayer. ( I will credit myself just a bit here, because I have definitely stopped to pray with my kids for many different things in a bind) It had not occurred to me to do so. I told Josh to say it-he said a prayer and said thank you for many things and then added if we can fix the door and be on time to get Rowan. We finished the prayer and I was perhaps just waiting for the answer to come, but Josh got out of the car and tried the door again, and it closed. I started to drive thinking "did that just really happen that easily?" And Josh then says, " we need to say a prayer of thanksgiving." Right again! 

In the same week Josh and Kaj had been invited to go skiing for a birthday party up at hoodoo. The snow had been melting a bit and Sam had mentioned to watch out for the tree wells. This is where the snow has melted around the base of the tree but there could still but a lot of snow surrounding it and you can get stuck in them if you not careful. After a lot of night skiing, Kaj had not shown back up on a route they were taking and Josh felt that he should stop, take off his skis, he was directed where to go, and he found Kaj in a tree well, and got him out. 

Another sweet story more recently, we had the missionaries over right before Easter. And part of their Easter message was sharing the latest video. Now, when I read this many years down the road I would want to know that this is the video where Mary Magdelene is at the tomb and she sees the Savior. It then shows her rushing towards to apostles, but it jumps in and out of other clips-people rushing over to loved ones after a long time of not seeing each other, in hospitals, missionaries running up steps to share the gospel. There are embraces, and smiles, and happy and sad tears, and it is so great. After watching it with the missionaries, their challenge was to rush to someone, to comfort to care- something a long those lines. Monday night for family prayer Josh adds that we can rush to someone. Tuesday- Josh is playing football at recess the usual- he then notices his old buddy Shepherd in the field and he was crying. He had gotten hit in the face with a ball and it had knocked his glasses off and he was looking for the lens, Josh left the game to find all this out, and began to help, he then called over the rest of the boys playing football to get their help. They ended up finding the lens for Shepherd. 

This. This is why Josh is striking. He has such goodness, and he calls for others to do the same. He stands out because he is kind. He is noticeable because he nice to everyone around him. Happy Birthday to my now 10 year old, Josh. 

 

I'm the Mom

 Mother's Day is coming up this week. I am definitely not writing right now to toot my own horn. I don't have a horn to toot. I just sometimes to have to remind myself that I am the mom. I have 5 kids- why and how would I need to remind myself of this - my kids call for mom 50 times each at night after I have already said goodnight. 😂🤦🏼‍♀️ 

I really do need to remember that my kids are watching me.. it is pretty awful when you hear your kids repeating things you have said in moments when you are not acting or reacting the best. Jonah and Lily say, "I'm done" to each other when they are frustrated. 😳😂 and Yep! I say that too. 

I do hope I am doing some things right. I also kinda hope my kids will also remember who taught them those "right" things and don't just remember the things I am doing and did wrong. 

Kaj got up after our ward missionaries to bear his testimony this last week. He started by saying "Elders, it's not have you have to get up-it's you  get to How clever was that?! So very clever! I didn't even catch on that the missionary had said that when he had gotten up to share his testimony. But, the greatest thing is - that lesson was a lesson that I taught Kaj just a few weeks ago- and something that my mom had shared with me just weeks before that. 

My mom shared the story of a man who had come into her work, and as they were finishing up the test was asked if he had to go back to work afterward, and his answer, "yes, I get to go back to work." My mom noted the difference and shared her thoughts with me, which we agreed that with that slight change of thought it brought a more significant perspective with it. I shared that story with Kaj in a moment I thought he needed to hear it. But, then look! It was retained and I actually think it has made a difference to him. 

I guess that is why it is important to share things; share stories and insights, in hopes to bring positive change. 

And,  I need to stop saying that I'm done. Because, I'm not. I am sucker punched right back in because I love my kids. And, I will also never be done. And, I really don't want to be!