Simple Monday

Today was a good day. Preston and I walked Dylan to school and then went to the grocery store. I blogged while Preston watched his favorite show and then we waited for Dylan to come home from school. We had some lunch and ran to Home Depot and then I put Preston down for a nap. His favorite book is called "You've Still Got Me" and he absolutely LOVES it. I had to read it to him 3 or 4 times before I put him down and then he went down without a fuss (an unusual occurrence for us lately). Dylan and I changed into our grubby clothes, I scooted our super heavy new shoe rack built by my brother-in-law out to the driveway and we put a coat of primer on it. Dylan was really helpful and excited that I actually let him help me. I figured it's not a project that needs to look perfect and it's just the primer so as long as I check on him to make sure there aren't big runs or globs of paint, it doesn't matter. He even decided to finger paint on one of the shelves and I just let him. He commented to me how much fun he was having and how he loved to spend time with me. Oh, to have such peaceful days more often! After we painted, we did some reading and then I let him watch a show while I laid by him on the couch. I love that snuggle time so I decided against being productive with my office piles and just hung out with my son. Preston woke up and the kids rode bikes until Marcos got home. We had a gift card to Subway so we went and got Subway for dinner and then went to the park to feed the ducks and kick the ball around for family night. We had tons of fun feeding the ducks and playing a bit and then brought the kids back for bedtime. I read to the kids while they were in the tub so we could speed up the bedtime routine a bit and Dylan told me one of the books was the best story he'd ever heard (it was about a penguin family). Dylan "read" his memorized book to Preston and then I read scriptures to the kids. We read part of Alma 14, which talks about the people Zeezrom had taught false doctrines too who ended up burning scriptures and people who believed in their doctrine while Alma and Amulek watched. We got to the part where Alma was constrained by the Spirit from stopping the burning. Okay, I'm not very good at telling scripture stories. Here are the last few verses we read.

11 But Alma said unto him: The Spirit constraineth me that I must not stretch forth mine hand; for behold the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in ^aglory; and he doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the ^bjudgments which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the ^cblood of the ^dinnocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against them at the last day.

12 Now Amulek said unto Alma: Behold, perhaps they will burn us also.

13 And Alma said: Be it according to the will of the Lord. But, behold, our work is not finished; therefore they burn us not.

Dylan had quite a few questions about it so I did my best to answer them. D: Why did those people burn them? M: They were bad people and they made a bad choice. Remember how we make choices and we try to choose the right. They made a bad choose and were following Satan instead of Heavenly Father and Jesus. D: What about the judging? M: Well, Heavenly Father will judge all of us after we die and decide if we have lived a good life or not. And when we make a mistake we need to change and say we're sorry. That is called repenting, remember? D: Yes. So you mean like a judge. Like with a table (making a gavel-like motion with his hand). M: Yes Dylan, kind of like that. He'll judge us.

I went in the other room to get a book for Preston and when I came back in, Dylan said to me softly, "Mom, kneel down by my bed." Of course I said okay and knelt down. We had already said our family prayer and Marcos had gone downstairs already (Marcos usually says goodnight and then I do the official tucking in). I thought Dylan was going to ask me to say another prayer with him. Instead I had one of those sweet parental moments. D: Mom, while you were gone, Jesus spoke to me. M: (with excitement and shock in my eyes but a calm voice) He did? What did he tell you? D: He said, "My son, I don't know why." I asked him what he meant and he said, "About the people getting burned mom." M: Oh, did you ask Heavenly Father about that? D: Yes. M: In your heart and mind or in a prayer? D: No, it was a prayer. M: You prayed to Heavenly Father and He told you that? D: Yes, I asked him why the bad people burned the other people and he told me, "My son, I don't know why." He always hears us when we pray, Mom. M: I know He does bud, and he answered your prayer didn't He? D: Yep.

I tell you those little children are so close to heaven. At times I feel that with every sensory organ I possess. It amazes me really! There are so many "barely surviving motherhood" moments I experience on a regular basis. But once in awhile I am blessed with moments that remind me why it is all worth it. Today I got a glimpse of the spirit with whom I have been entrusted. Now I sit here in solitude...in silence...in awe...reflecting on the magnitude of my calling as a mother. What incredible spirits I must guide through this life and what a huge responsibility that is. I pray with all my heart that I don't fall short.