parents kind and dear

my parents called from Chile last night. I was reading the last chapters of Robin Hood to the kids and they called and interrupted. It was such a fun surprise. They asked the boys about the pinewood derby and wanted to know all about our camping trip. Each of the boys told them a made-up joke and I could hear my mom laughing hard... all the way from Chile. After I hung up with them, I cried. Over the past couple of weeks there have been countless times when I wanted to pick up the phone and call them, ask them about a recipe or just complain about how crappy I feel. I love that I can still talk to them, but they are not at my fingertips anymore and I miss that. I also cried because I am grateful to have them for my parents. They such amazing people. I know they will make the best missionaries.

Tomorrow I am teaching a blogging class for Enrichment in another ward. I haven't prepared anything-- I am not really sure what to prepare. ?? But I keep thinking about my mom and what a great journal writer she was. She had so many responsibilities-- so much to do-- but she always made the time to write in her journal & record all of the funny things we said... that isn't easy to do with so many kids! I scanned in a couple of old pictures. I think I will show them during my presentation tomorrow as an intro and talk about what a example my mom was-- she didn't do everything right, but at least she has most of it recorded. (if ONLY it was in blog format and I could browse through all the archives!!)


This is my parents and their six kids. My mom had just had a miscarriage after me. (I was so cute, she just had to have more!) I am so glad I didn't stay the baby...


This photo may look like everything was hunky-dory with nine kids in the house, but my mom has journal entries to prove otherwise.

So grateful for my families-- the one I was raised in, the one that I joined when I married my husband, and the one I am living with now. Life can seem overwhelming at times.. Sometimes I wonder why I am still throwing up everyday at 20 weeks pregnant.. but I am truly grateful for the experiences I've been given and for the means I have to document these experiences so I won't forget them!