Life...and Dylan's Testimony

Sometimes my kids amaze me. They make me crazy with their fighting, I worry about their development, I want to scream when they think it's funny and jump on top of me...but sometimes they just amaze me.

Getting a good routine down has been tough. I've tweaked it several times in the last couple of weeks, but I'm getting there. It seems to be working. Preston is a tough one to read. I never know what he's thinking or how he's developing. And then he does or says something and I realize he's just fine. He learns on his own. He learns from watching and observing. He's not one to repeat or to even humor you with answering questions. But one day he will just say something and I realize he knows exactly what I was worried I needed to teach him. But he's been communicating so much better. His behavior is going in the right direction (it was rough just before and after Marissa was born) and the sweet little boy that I knew is coming back. He's still 3 - the hardest age for me - but he's there. And I'm grateful. I'm grateful for divine guidance. We're making needed progress and it makes my heart sing!

Then there's Dylan. Dylan is, well, he's Dylan. He's a smart little cookie, but he's tough in other ways. He's an emotional child by nature. He's sensitive. He gets his feelings hurt and he gets angry very easily. But we're making strides there too.

Life's been crazy. It seems like when one thing happens, a million things do. Whether it's a trial or just an insane time of many changes, I'm not sure, but it's been crazy. We are busy. We are and we aren't. I'm with my kids all day, but I have a "To Do" list that never ends. Marcos is coaching, he's super busy with work, he has lots of high council responsibilities and then tries to help with things like the lawn...and even folding laundry or doing dishes occasionally. :) Young Women's has me SUPER busy, we're part of this book club/class so I have big, hard books to read (which is so good for me, but takes some real time and brain power), I have home school to plan and prepare (and have been reading up a ton to get more ideas) and then there's the normal day-to-day cleaning, taking care of kids and thinking about going back to the gym (still just a thought, but hopefully a reality in the near future- I caught a cold so I put it off a little longer).

Anyway... today was a good day, but another insane day as far as trying to coordinate and get everything done. I was trying to get the kids ready for bed (late because my mom was here) and the baby needed to eat earlier than expected. Marcos was at a high council meeting so I was doing my best to bathe and read to the kids while attempting to nurse the baby. Because we were late getting going, I was tempted to rush, but after books Dylan was talking to me and asked if he could go get his scriptures. He opened to the scripture he'd memorized the week before for Primary and read it (he only memorized a summarized version so he really did have to read part of it). I was shocked at how eager he was to read (and at how much his reading has improved in the last couple of weeks). He went on to read the next verse. He really does love the scriptures! Then he looked at me all serious and started talking to me. Here's what I remember. "Mom, when I go on my mission I am going to have to preach my testimony. I am going to tell the people that Heavenly Father loves them and will be with them always." (That's when he got choked up and stopped to wipe his eyes with his shirt). The sweet and innocent yet powerful testimony of children never ceases to amaze me. That is why I cried every dang week as Primary chorister. Those kids believe. Dylan TRULY BELIEVES! I am amazed at God's wisdom and love and overwhelmed with the fact that he has entrusted me with three incredible spirits to raise up in such a wicked, scary world. Three very different, unbelievable spirits!