There's at least one family tradition from my youth that I'm glad to keep alive in my own family today. Every conference Sunday my mom would wake up and make us waffles with strawberries and whipped cream (yummy!) to eat while we watched. I love traditions and I'm so excited to start some of my own. Picking out pumpkins at a pumpkin patch and then carving them, craft projects and special breakfasts and dinners for all of the Holidays...so fun!
I absolutley loved President Monson's talk during the first session of conference. He told a story about how when he was a boy his dad had promised to take him and his brother to the circus. When the day finally came his dad recieved a phone call where he was told that there was some urgent business matter that needed to be attended to and he was asked if he could go into the office. His dad told them that he couldn't and then returned to the breakfast table where his family had been intently listening to the phone conversation. His mom looked at his dad and said "You could have gone in. The circus will come around again." His dad quickly replied "Yes. But childhood does not."
He said that we need to treasure the little moments and enjoy the journey of life. I absolutely love this. I look at my daughter and I see how fast she's growing up and it makes me want to make sure that I take the time to truly enjoy each phase she's in. If you ever get the chance to see my bedroom, you'll probably wonder why the mirror on my bedroom dresser isn't very clean. If you look closely, however, you'll notice that there's only a small section that hasn't been windexed...not because it's dirty, but because there are tiny hand and fingerprints smudged all over it. Every time I clean that mirror...I can't seem to bring myself to wash that spot. It will probably still be there long after I'm gone.
Another thing that comes to mind when I think about cherishing the small things is when Mikayla was about a year old. One day Joel and I decided that it was time we stopped rocking her to sleep with a bottle. So, that night while I sat in my rocking chair holding my precious baby girl that looked so much like a sleeping angel, I couldn't help but start to bawl. Tears were streaming down my face as I struggled to get up, give her a kiss on the forehead and lay her down in her crib after rocking her to sleep in my arms for the last time. Needless to say, I couldn't give it up cold turkey- she was fine, but I needed a couple more nights. I remember being told that it I should
not rock her to sleep, and that it would just cause more problems in the long run. I am so glad I didn't listen and that I now have those beautiful memories of that special time I shared with my sweet baby.
Going to the park, chasing her around, hearing her laugh, watching the Backyardigans in the middle of the night while her head rests on my chest and her little arm hugs my big pregnant belly...these are all things that I cherish more than anything in this World and I'm so glad that I've been able to recieve such a wonderful blessing. She may not remember anything about these times we share now and if anything happens to me, she may not remember me at all...but I hope she will always feel and remember the love I have for her.
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