Monday Moms!

"If you are still in the process of raising children beware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly-cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear - all too soon. And that you will, to your surprise, miss them - profoundly." -President Thomas S. Monson

On Saturday night I was sewing some shoes for Paisley's Halloween costume. Frustrated that it was taking five times as long as it should because of two little "helping" hands, Blake overheard me tell Paisley "If I didn't have you I could have had these done an hour ago." Blake looked at me and said "If you didn't have her, what would be the point of making them." At this point, I just had to laugh... Blake was so right.

On Sunday morning I thought about this again as I listened to President Monson's conference address about "Finding Joy in the Journey Now." I reflected that the things I complain about the most (a dirty house, a clingy daughter, a busy husband, not enough of "me-time", etc) are what make my life have meaning. It is in these things that I have an opportunity to serve, to grow, and to love. My journey of being a wife and mother brings me the most frustration but also brings me my greatest joy. Nothing will replace the everyday moments I share with Blake and Paisley and before I know it they will only be memories - and I will miss them... profoundly!

P.S. To hear the entire conference address - click here... it's worth hearing once more.

P.P.S. These are pictures of Paisley's first ponytails - I know... what a pathetic amount of hair at 18 months. But maybe they will stop calling her a boy!