Prayer for my girls

I found this poem on the Segullah website and loved it. I hope for exactly this for my girls (and my boy, although his pressures will be different.) The body given us is such a wonderful gift, such a complex, beautiful symphony of miracles. Any study of anatomy, biology, chemistry only increases the wonder. How grateful I am for this amazing gift. I hope I can teach my children how blessed they are and what a great responsibility we have to care for our mortal temples. Finally, at 40, I am beginning to give the time and energy and attention I ought to what may well be my greatest gift from my Heavenly Father.

Body Image

by Melissa Young

Almost naked,

she stands before the full-length mirror,

loving her reflection.

Three years old, still baby soft.

“Look, Mom,” she says,

bending backward,

her round belly protruding.

“I’m so big!”

Yes, you are, I say,

and ache,

knowing the day will come

when her view of what is

beautiful

will change,

and she will no longer see it

in herself.

How I wish I could capture

the adoration I see now—

pour it over her head

when the mirror seems to only speak

her flaws,

let it run warm over her senses,

infuse her with

the joy of living,

an awe of mortal flesh,

the miracle of touch and breath,

heat and thorns,

That she could always be

as a little child,

and never wish for

wasting over health,

flatness over curves,

bones over flesh,

That she might be as she is now

with her belly out, smiling,

delighting in fatness.

Joy #3 - Goodly parents

Mom and Dad were here last weekend (with their new trailer - how fun!!) and we had a very pleasant time visiting and sightseeing with them. As I looked back on the weekend I could see so many incidents that just showed me how much of a positive influence my parents still are on my life. We walked on Friday morning after dropping off the children at school and had a great conversation about civil and religious freedoms, the rule of law, and the proper role (if any) war has in any society. The conversation was interesting and challenging, but best of all, it was spiritually uplifting. Examples from the Book of Mormon and other scriptures came into play, and I was just so impressed that my parents and I can have such great discussions. Dad shared some ideas he had heard in church talks, and we ended up at home with my mind a bit more enlightened and my thinking elevated. I was also impressed that we sat down to watch conference together, and they got up and studied scriptures with us on the days we got up (at 5:30am.) What a great example to my children this was, to see that Grandma and Grandpa value the things that we value. I am so grateful that they have been this type of example to me my whole life. I didn't realize until I was an adult what a challenging background my dad had to overcome. He came from an abusive, alcoholic, poverty-stricken home and although I know his parents loved him very much, family circumstances made growing up quite a challenge. Many people don't come out of an upbringing like this very well. His siblings all still exhibit varying degrees of serious lifestyle issues. And yet my dad married my mom in the temple, raised us 6 kids and has remained active in the church, currently serving as bishop. He has been a great dad and I love him so much. I'm sure the strong positive influence of my mother has been the single greatest factor in keeping him close to the straight and narrow. She is a strong-willed, intelligent, educated woman. Her example has helped me become the kind of woman I am today, and I like who I am. Both of my parents had parents who divorced, and yet they have managed to create a strong, enduring marriage that I aspire to emulate in my life. Were my parents perfect? No, of course not. But likewise, I am not perfect, and yet I strive to do better each day because that's what I saw them do. And if I can have an end result (of course things are far from over) like they seem to have, i.e. happy children with healthy families of their own, active in the gospel and contributing to society in a positive way, interacting as friends and supporters of each other, then I will be satisfied that I have followed their example and benefited from their struggles and accumulated wisdom.

Quote

"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself."
--- Leo Tolstoy

Joy #2 - Marriage

I guess I may have trouble keeping up on this blog just as much as I have trouble journaling. But I'll just try to keep picking up even after I leave off for way too long.
This week is my 13th wedding anniversary. I am so glad not just for Russell (who is another joy altogether) but for the whole blessing of marriage. What a great opportunity. I love being married. I really enjoyed being single, and there were many things I could do then that I cannot do now. There is some serious weight to having to "check," if you will, my decisions and actions with someone else. But, what a great freedom a marriage relationship can give you. That seems counter-intuitive, but it is true. Although I now have to consider another (actually 6 others, if you include the kids) in everything I do, I can do so many more things. I have someone to share the burdens of life. I have a partner to share the responsibility. I have a friend who has covenanted not to leave me. I can be myself without fear of being alone, or of offending. I can have the family I always wanted. Can you imagine trying to raise my brood by myself? There would be much more drudgery and much less joy. I can be the homemaker the Lord wants me to be. Having a marriage partner not only gives me security (financial, physical, and emotional), it also encourages me to stretch my wings, to be a better person. I am challenged by having a partner. A good analogy is having an exercise partner. When we exercise with a partner we are more likely to show up, fulfill our commitment (2 full miles or whatever), and to push harder than we do when we are alone. We are less likely to quit when we get tired. We are not only striving for ourselves, but to please/impress/not let down another person. Marriage is like that, only on a much greater scale. Life is our challenge, and having a partner helps me get up in the morning, fulfill my commitment (live the gospel, raise righteous children, or whatever), try a little harder to be better each day. It's esier to not quit when things are tough because we can spell each other. We can each work from our strengths and learn from each others' strengths. And there is positive pressure to please/impress/not let down our partner. Eternally speaking, partnership is inspired. How much better to share the journey and the reward with another, with a best friend. I know marriage is not always this way. It's so important to pick the right person, someone with whom you can have this great relationship. Don't settle, or marriage turns from this great uplifting partnership to a dragging weight keeping you away from the gates of heaven. I am truly blessed. I have great joy in marriage.

We Love to Visit Family!!

We had a great time in northern Utah last month when we went to see Grandma Joan and Uncle Norm and Aunt Laura. The trip was an early Christmas present from Grandma and Grandpa Tomany. We were able to spend time at Blacksmith Fork canyon swimming in the river and swinging on the rope swing. The little girls' call it "the grand canyon" because they think it's so grand!! Abby and Cade swung and swam with us, and a great time was had by all.

We stayed at Mick and Kathryn's, which was different for us, usually we are at Mom and Dad's, but they were full already. The kids really enjoyed being at the cousin's, and they were the most gracious hosts. We never felt out of place. Sarah especially seemed to love being at Breelyn's house. She loves her cousins. Sarah and Amber and Breelyn are like the three musketeers when they are together. They play well, and Sarah still calls them her best friends, even if we see them only a few times a year.



Our last day there we went to the Eccles Dinosaur Park and the kids enjoyed the exhibits and the walk through the "prehistoric forest."


On the way home, we drove fairly close to the Mill Flat fire (I think) near Scipio. The amount of smoke was tremendous, and a couple of times we could actually see the flames. We snapped some photos, but they don't really do justice to the awe of seeing all that smoke and fire.


We arrived home safe and enjoyed our weekend trip. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!! What a great Christmas present!

Quote

"Let no man turn aside, ever so slightly, from the broad path of honour, on the plausible pretence that he is justified by the goodness of his end. All good ends can be worked out by good means." --English novelist Charles Dickens (italics added.)

Quote

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Martin Luther King