In Awe

I don't know what else to call this post.  It sounds a little lame maybe, but I think it's appropriate. I don't know what my problem is.  I've been a little out of it.  Between busy Christmas planning, my "injury" or whatever you want to call my back/neck problem, a trip to St. George and daily life of kids and cleaning and all the mundane stuff that never goes away, I've just been overwhelmed.  Enough so that I've just let myself get behind on all the amazing things I thought I was going to do for Christmas.  They're just not going to happen and it's going to have to be okay. Making these huge "To Do" lists every day was just wearing me out and Marcos, as helpful as he is, hates extra projects and things that are not every day tasks.  He's a bit of a grinch, although I'm not sure why...needless to say, the outside Christmas lights didn't get up and will not be going up this year - and a million other things that we've had to make our peace with.  I LOVE Christmas!  I love the sights, the sounds, the smells, the brisk air, the snow, the songs, the presents, the giving, the family, the friends, and the celebration of the birth of our Lord.  I love it all, but forgetting which parts of Christmas are the MOST important can be a challenge and I think that's what was happening with me.  There was not enough time for everything after days of pain on the couch and a quick, spontaneous trip to St. George and I was feeling a bit like a failure (Not to mention some other stuff that happened that's got me questioning not only my ability to listen to promptings, but also my abilities, talents, and how others see me.  The whole ordeal is stupid and childish, but has definitely thrown me for a loop emotionally. Let's just say there have been some major tears shed here the past week or so and I'm not exactly sure how to get my mojo back).  So in an attempt to save Christmas, we are trying to focus on what matters and hope that the other stuff will work itself out.  

My sister's birthday was last Wednesday and we were still out of town.  The plan was to have a birthday dinner for her today, but my mom has caught some sort of gombu that we prefer not to be exposed to so we stayed home today.  So here's where my depressing story gets a little better.  Primary was good today - at least Jr Primary.  I don't know what was up with the Sr Primary group, but they were on one today - just another reason for me and my pity party to question myself.  The Primary President talked about Samuel today and had her husband walk in while we were singing "Samuel Prophesies of the Baby Jesus".  It was so cool.  He had a patterned Aztec-looking throw over his shoulder and a walking stick and spoke for several minutes about his story.  Holy cow, I've never seen a group of kids more reverent.  Dylan didn't move a muscle except when he heard the word Lamanite and reached for his pretend sword. And they weren't just quiet - they were truly listening.  It was awesome!  You didn't have to say anything...the Spirit testified to each of those children today.  Then we learned the second verse to the song and sang some other Christmas songs and a few fun songs since the Sr Nursery was there to get used to singing time a little bit.  After church, I fed the family (courtesy of my mom sending the food that was meant for dinner today - thanks mom!) and went visiting teaching which was really good too.  We all took naps and spent some time together as a family.  Tonight, I had Dylan tell Marcos the story of Samuel to see what he remembered from Primary.  This is where the "in awe" part starts.  It was amazing!  He's just got a style all his own, but if you can find a way to work with his strengths, he's an awesome kid.  He became Samuel.  He got a sword (since he thinks all Lamanites need swords) and told us he was Samuel.  He got on his wall (the couch) and prophesied.  Whenever he would forget little parts, we would ask a question or steer him back to the story and he knew everything.  We shot arrows at him and he told us they didn't hit him because someone (he said with a smirk and a smile) was protecting him.  I said, "Who was protecting you?"  He said, "Heavenly Father."  M: Okay, get down off the wall now that you're done prophesying.  D: Heavenly Father helped me to know what to tell the Nephites.  M: Isn't that amazing?  You'd better thank him.  D: I know.  The story is over and we figure it was a neat little memory and we move on.  A couple minutes later Marcos and I are talking on the couch and we see the curtain move.  M: Dylan, what are you doing behind the curtain?  Come out now, okay?  D: Shhh...I'm praying. 

Can I tell you how sweet that moment was?  He was back behind the curtain saying his private prayer to Heavenly Father.  Man, if only you could bottle up these little moments to help you get through all the other frustrating ones.   

But wait, it gets better (or at least stays just as good).  Dylan asked if we could have Family Night.  What are we going to do, say no?  Sure, we can have more than one a week if we want. It'll probably do us some good, especially to get some with real lessons in.  Dylan lead our song, Preston muttered something that may have been a prayer, and then I read a little thing about being like Wise Men and following Christ's light.  Preston was completely antsy so we went up to the living room by the nativity scene and I had Dylan tell us what he knew about the birth of Jesus.  He did pretty good and again we filled in parts he may have missed.  Preston was just happy to have something to hold and play with.  After that, Dylan asked if he could give a lesson on dinosaurs.  I told him he could give a lesson, but it had to be about something from the scriptures.  He thought for a minute when I saw the little lightbulb go off in his head.  He went up to the toy room and brought down his little Noah's arc and started giving us a lesson.  Man, it's amazing how he imitates us.  Here is what I remember about his lesson.  

D: (standing on the window seat) Now who can tell me what this is?

M: a boat

D: Good.  And who do  you think's boat this is (that's how he said it)?

M: Mary

D: Nope

Papi:  Nephi

D: No Papi.  Nephi's boat didn't have animals.  Sister Roff even just taught us that Nephi came to the land in a boat, but it didn't have animals on it.  

M: You're right.  Good.  Hmmm...is it Noah?

D: That's right.  Good try, Mommy.  And what was on the boat?

M: People

D: (grin) There were some people, but what else?

P: pelotas de futbol (soccer balls)

D: No, Papi

M: animals

D: Yep, that's it.  Hmm...

M: And why were they all on a boat?

D:  Well, it was raining and raining and there was a flood...

M: So were the people righteous or wicked during the time of Noah?

D: Wicked

M: And one day Noah saw a rainbow so he sent a dove out to see if there was dry land.  Do you know what a dove is? 

D: Yes, it's a beautiful bird.

M: Yes, a white bird, right?  And the first time the dove came back without anything and Noah knew that it wasn't time to get out of the boat yet.  But the next time the dove came back to the arc, he had a branch of an olive tree and Noah knew that they had reached dry land. 

D: That's right, Mommy.

Then we went upstairs forgetting that this was Family Night.  Dylan reminded us that we had forgotten to sing our closing song and "commanded us" (as in, "I command you") to go back downstairs.  We were wicked and refused, but sang "Book of Mormon Stories" while we brushed teeth and had our closing prayer be our bedtime prayer.  Quite the spiritual day I must say.  I can't believe the things Dylan learns, even through his wiggles and naughty moments (especially during Primary), he seems to be getting it and gaining a testimony of the things he is taught.  What a sweet, sweet night with the family!