These Moments....

We've had some sweet moments around here lately, the kind that make you slow down and remember what's most important, and the kind that make you feel good all over inside. Tonight as I wait for cycles of laundry to finish, :) I think I'll write about them before the memory fades.

Sweet Moment 1) We have a family ritual that we do every morning and night after family prayer. Let's see if I can find the words to describe it. We each put our hands on top of one anothers and we do a simple cheer. Joseph and I started a version of it when we were first married and when Brynn was beginning to first talk, we chose 3 principles we wanted as a family focus and used simple words she could say to form our family cheer. We actually tried to add some more phrases this last year thinking the children could handle a little more than the simple cheer we do, but they refused! They have proved many times to be creatures of habit! After the ending of the cheer we shout, "Sure love ya!" as we throw our arms in the air, and then everyone gives a hug to each person in the family. For as long as Brynn could talk, immediately after the cheer, she has always said, "Hugs!" and a couple of year's ago, Abby came up with the phrase, "Hugs all around! Hugs all around!" Which she faithfully repeats every night.....

As silly as this ritual is, it has been such a sweet experience to watch our children as they come to the realization of and choose to be part of "the family cheer." For the first few months of life, they are simply held in the arms of mom or dad while we do the cheer and then are squeezed relentlessly by siblings.... then when they are able to walk, they usually wander away distracted by some toy or other object, and cry when overbearingly hugged by the older sibling.....but then something happens...there has always come a point when each child has decided to take part, never formally taught, just all by themselves. It has happened in a different way for everyone, but it has happened nonetheless.

Not too long ago Aaron decided he was ready to take part and it has been so sweet to watch. I love that moment of awareness in a child. A couple of months ago he started to fold his arms, furrow his brow, and bow his head during prayer....and then after prayer he ends with an exhuberant "A-en!" Then without missing a beat he puts his hand on top of mine or Joseph's ready to do the family cheer. He can't say the words, but with a huge grin, he mutters along with the rest of us....dipping his hands down for the "Sure love ya!" and throwing them in the air at the end. Immediately after, even before Abby can shout, "Hugs all around! Hugs all around!" He stretches his arms out wide and as far back as they will go and takes off running to into the chest of the nearest family member to give them a great big hug...and then holds it for a few seconds before moving to the next person. This boy LOVES to hug! He makes the rounds to each person before he gives anyone a second helping of his love. I love his new awareness of what's happening around him!

Sweet Moment 2) Aaron has been going to nursery now for 2 months and he LOVES it! We have a routine now....after sacrament meeting I carry him to the nursery room and he runs right in turns around and waves and goes straight for the toys. When the 3 hour block is over, I go to get him and EVERY week he does the cutest little thing. I walk in and he looks at me with a HUGE grin and then as if he's a quarterback trying to fake me out, he switches his weight from the right to the left to the right, sort of swaying back and forth, and then turns around and in a dead sprint runs into the other room with his arms flailing behind him. He then buries his head into the wall with his hands near his eyes and after a few seconds peeks around at me with a giggle. I then pick him up, he waves to the nursery leaders and then we are off! I love his personality.

Sweet Moment 3) Tonight while I was picking up around the house, Joe and Abby were already asleep (he's not feeling totally great right now), Brynn was finishing up some home work and Aaron was wandering around like he does when he's tired. I heard Brynn talking to him for a few minutes in a very sweet, motherly voice...he was asking for milk, which we ran out of tonight, and I heard her say to him ever so gently, "Would you like some water? I'll get you some water okay! You stay right here, and I'll get you some water in your sippy cup!" I heard her climb on the counter, open the cupboard, fill up the cup and then a few minutes later I noticed the lights were dimmed and I heard an unfamiliar melody she was singing. I walked into the family room to see that she had made Aaron a little bed with an extra crib sheet from his bedroom. He was surrounded by pillows and blankets all tucked in. She was singing lullabies to him. When I went to put her in bed...she likes to be carried to bed by Joseph or myself EVERY night...onto the top bunk....I don't know how long we'll be able to keep it up...but she says it makes her feel loved, so we'll do until it's an impossible feat....anyway, I asked her what she was singing to Aaron...she told me that she was singing lullabies that she had made up about him. I asked her how she did that and she then proceeded to give me the following lullaby lesson. "First you come up with a hum...then you use nighttime words like lullaby, goodnight, close your eyes, go to sleep. you are loved, and then you say his name....Aaron." She sung an impromptu lullaby for me before she went to bed. I love these moments when they are getting along and being so loving. These moments make me want to freeze time.....just to stop and enjoy.....but, things keep moving and in a few hours they'll be up and eating at each other's throats again. That's the cycle of things isn't it?