Before I Was A Mom

Before I was a Mom
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom -
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom
I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put him down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom -
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom -
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.

-Anonymous

Not Much to Say

I don't really have a lot to say this week, so I thought I would just throw some random pictures out there. Hope you like them.

FLASHDANCE!

SHE'S A MANIAC, MANIAC, ON THE FLOOR!

From the mouth of a preschooler

Today I was teaching my preschool dance class, and as usual, they all had a story to tell me. I thought I might share one little girl's words of wisdom: "Teacher- if you break a bone, then you have to go to the hothipal (hospital). And if you go to the hothipal, they make you eat yucky food."

Anyone Have A Shovel?

 
 
 
 

Tuesday night we were told a massive storm was coming, and that we should all prepare for the worst. Schools and businesses began posting closings, and we settled in for the night. Light snow, but a lot of wind. The next morning Marquette was closed, all of the surrounding school districts were closed, but there was still not a whole lot of snow. At 12:00 it finally started coming down, and ended around 9:00p.m. Pete dug out our cars in the evening, and then had to do it again the next morning. With the wind drifts, it looks like we got a lot more than we did, but our total was 14 inches. Most of the people in our complex have been stuck for a few days. I even got stuck behind a jack-knifed semi on the way to the gym (nothing can stop me from the gym, unless it's a bunch of sick kids!). So all of you who have no snow, marvel at the pictures.

Senior Ball

On Friday night, we all dressed up in our finest and headed to the Hilton Downtown. The girls had their hair done, the boys showered, and there were no kids! Each year, the Dental School hosts a Senior Ball, which anyone can attend, but it is free for Seniors. The food was great, the soda was free (so was the alcohol) and then there was dancing! Believe it or not, Pete did the hustle- well, he tried! There is even a rumor of a video of us dancing, but I don't think we will be sharing that. We sat at one table with three other Mormon families, and at the table next to us sat the three other Mormon families. We were the only ones not drinking, so you can imagine the crazy atmosphere we were in. We had a lot of fun, and it was great being able to dress up, since the last chance we all had to do that was probably high school! Here are a few highlights.

Our Dear Prophet

Last Sunday, around 9:00, I recieved a text message from my brother-in-law that said "did you hear about President Hinckley?" My heart dropped. He didn't have to say anything else- I knew. He lived a full and amazing life, and although he will be greatly missed, he is in a better place, joined again with his beautiful wife.

It didn't affect me much throught the week. I thought about it occasionally, and I prayed for his family. But this morning, as I was reviewing my lesson for the Young Women, I had a feeling I needed to change the lesson, and talk about the prophet. I realize that all of them will talk with their families about him after watching the funeral services, however, I still thought this Sunday was a perfect day to remember him. I am sure many of the testimonies tomorrow will be of President Hinckley and the work he set forth. So I sat down to figure out how to plan this lesson, and was immediatley stuck. Where do I even begin? Such an amazing man, with so many stories; how do I fit it into a forty minute lesson? I still am not sure how I am going to do it. I have a few of his books, and I have been reading many of the stories and quotes, and many of them stick out in my mind, I just haven't figured out how to throw them all together.

I knew that I would not be home this morning to watch the funeral live, so I recorded hours worth of broadcasts, some of which I am sure are repeats, however, I did not want to miss any of it. So I took a break from my lesson, and began watching some of the interviews and stories about the prophet. It was then that I was hit with a feeling, one that washed over me so quickly, I didn't realize what was happening. As I was watching the broadcast, I was feeding Cooper, and I realized that my beautiful children were lucky enough to be born in a time when President Hinckley was prophet, however they will never remember the power that he had, and the amazing work he set forth. Ten years from now, they will read about him and all the temples that were constructed under his presidency. They will read the Proclamation To The Family and they will know it was he who told us how important the family is. But they will not remember the impact that he had on their young lives. My testimony is, in great part, due to President Hinckley. I am 27 years old, and he was President for 13 of those years. That is a giant chunk of my life, and so many things happened under his presidency.

Later as I watched the beginning of the funeral service ( I still have not finished it. I can't focus with the kids awake.) I was hit yet again. I saw his empty chair, and I lost it. Although that chair will again have an amazing man sitting in it, it will never again have President Hinckley. What a loss we have suffered, yet what a blessing it was to know him, and learn from him. I am so excited to teach my children from his lessons, and to talk about that man who led us through some of the most amazing times. I am thankful for the work he set forth, and for his understanding and compassion for people of all nations and religions. I have been deeply touched by his love and service, and hope that I can only emulate it.