Mom Moments

Inside the storage container

That's us.  Go team!  We rock.
Even Lyle on the end picking his nose.
He's so cute.

     Today Lyle, Annie and I went to my mom's house.  She's starting a remodel Today was the big day to move all of the furniture and everything else out of one floor of the house so we can start the destruction.  My bros were there today too along with Josh and Nate, two of Reed's kids.  We moved mattresses and boxes (some filled with books and some filled with light stuff like baby blankets...yes, I carried those ones).  We moved the refrigerator and couches and bookcases and more.  Tons o' fun.  And Lyle was deliriously happy having so many people to tease and harass.
     I'm glad to be able to help my mom when she needs it.  She's been a terrific mother and I've learned a lot from her.  I've always wanted to be a mother like her.
     Lyle and I visited Taylor tonight.  It's good to see him doing well.  We brought him donuts and played a game with him.  Then we came home and something was waiting for us.  While we were gone, Annie had made this for us:

I love the little Superman and Wonder Woman on the bottom.

Looks exactly like Lyle!

     I cried.  Many times I don't feel like much of a mom to Annie and Taylor.  I
mean, they already have a mom who they live with and who they adore.  And sometimes I'm not sure just how much of an impact I really have in their life.  This was a mom moment for me.
    A few years ago I was in the bishop's office crying to him about my infertility challenge and we had a great conversation.  He told me I needed to look for mothering moments in my life: times when interaction with children led to a feeling of being a mother, even if I was not that child's mom.  He said that the Lord would give them to me to help me through the experience I was then having.  I have tried to look for them.  I haven't seen many of them, but maybe I haven't looked hard enough.  Every now and then one pops out at me and fills my heart.  Sometimes those moments have come with the stepkids.  Sometimes those moments have come at Primary.  And the bishop was right.  They help.  They remind me of what someday I may be able to truly feel for more than just one moment.  And they give me hope.

     On the way home I saw a rainbow.  I love rainbows.  Not only are they pretty, but they have meaning too.  In the Bible, a rainbow appeared in the sky as a sign from God.  After Heavenly Father had flooded the earth because of the wickedness of the unrepentant people and the land had dried again, He put a rainbow up in the sky and told Noah that it was a promise that He would never again flood the earth.  And so the rainbow became the symbol of hope.  Our hope of Heavenly Father's love and the knowledge that He is in control.
     I believe my life is no surprise to Him.  I'm exactly where He knew I always would be.  His plan for my life is daily unfolding.
     I'm so thankful for that reminder in the sky tonight and for the 'mom moments' I have experienced which fill me with hope and remind me that Heavenly Father is in control of my life also.

Now enjoy one of my favorite rainbow songs:

Don't you love stupid entertaining videos about guys who are high freaking out over a double rainbow...and the songs that are made with the intent to make fun of that guy?  Psst...this is a video appreciated by those who love stupid humor.