Sweet Moments

New haircut, wearing mommy's shoes

Christmas Sunday the children sang at church. Our ward (congregation) is VERY LARGE. So our Primary (children's group ages 3-12) is also VERY LARGE. The Primary leaders had a nice idea for how to position the children so that the little ones wouldn't be hidden from view, but it didn't work out as well in reality.

Adaline with Grandpa at the boys' Christmas concert

As we sat in the back and watched, Chuck & I tried to spot our kids. We found Hayden & Stewart standing in the back row and could see their faces clearly. But it was hard to find Adaline. Finally I saw her- behind a few other kids and we could just barely see her face occasionally if one of the other children leaned the right way for a second or 2. Well, Chuck couldn't spot her, so since we were in the back, he stood up. She obviously saw him, even when we couldn't see her, and suddenly we saw a hand shoot up in the air, arm fully extended with the hand flapping at the top. I pulled him back down into his seat. But a few seconds later he stood again to try to see her and up went the flapping hand again. It was adorable! Well, he finally stopped standing himself, but would wave to her every few seconds, and even though we couldn't see her, she apparently could see us because each time, up would shoot the flapping hand. It was THE. CUTEST. THING. EVER.! I just want to relive those moments over and over. Please, won't someone just make time stand still? I love this golden age of childhood!

All decked out for dance class. We were late that day because she insisted on accessorizing herself, even though it was 70 degrees out!

A Child's Prayer

I should have written this sooner because it happened last week and is a little fuzzy in my mind now, except the 2 main details.

One night (well early morning really) last week Adaline came into our room to sleep on our floor since she was scared. This has been a regular occurrence as of late-- one of those childhood stages. Well, that morning Chuck was up with her trying to soothe her fears and encouraged her to say a prayer to ask for comfort. I was in and out of sleep, so I didn't hear all the conversation that transpired, but I did hear her say, "He doesn't hear me right now. He's listening to someone else's prayer!" Was this my 4-year-old talking? I remember wondering those kind of things around age 10, but at 4?? It surprised me. But my heart felt relief a few moments later after the prayer was said when I heard her say with complete assurance, "I changed my mind, Daddy. He was listening to my prayer." And went sweetly back to sleep.
Not sure what my sweetheart said to reassure her, but whatever he did, he helped restore the wavering faith of a 4-year-old. Good job, honey!

PS- Lest you be misled, I am actually the one up with my kids in the middle of the night 98% of the time, but I'm so grateful for a husband who will fill in occasionally when I've already been interrupted many times in one night or when he happens to be sleeping lightly once in a while!

PPS- Happy Birthday, Hayden! 9 years old today!