Missing my Helpers...

Sometimes (well lots of times) I get lonely and really miss my kids.

I remember as they were growing up, wondering what it would be like to have the house all to myself, no messes caused by other people, quiet, breathing space, maybe even time to read and not feel guilty. Actually that really didn't happen all that often because I mostly enjoyed being the mother.....watching how they grew and changed. I was blessed to have such fun creative and challenging children.

I miss their conversation and hearing their changing view of life. They helped me see myself more clearly and analyze more fully what my understanding was on diverse subjects. I even had occasion to see that I was wrong! It's also always been so fun to sit around and retell the family stories, drawing us closer and keeping the family's oral history alive and clarified or exaggerated as the case may be. Every family needs a few legends.

I know that this happens to Dad, too. He will often say before a General Priesthood meeting that it just doesn't seem right to attend without his sons.

This spring more than ever I'm missing the garden help I always got. When offered the chance to work outside or in, my kids, usually chose outside. All our gardens didn't seem too much when we all worked together or when each took responsibility for some small part. Just at the most critical gardening time I'm having back problems. Dad is teaching seminary so he always has a lesson to prepare, and there are no helpers. You can see why I'm waxing a little philosphical.

Life is like that: Always a challenge no matter what the time or circumstances. I remember Grandma Ricks saying to me, "I'll bet you see my schedule and think it would be easy, but it's all I can do and more. " I now truly understand what she meant. I've tried to live my life not looking forward to the future to fix things, but being in the here and now and enjoying as much as I can of the situation as it is. Sometimes I've done it really well--other times....?

Now there are just more people to miss, our grandchildren for instance. They are such interesting and fun people. We would really like to spend a lot more time with them. But time and places interfere, so we'll just have to be happy with the chances we get, and know that in the eternities the love and relationships we are forming here will be enhanced and broadened. Heaven, to me, seems like it ought to be a place where families can be part of each others lives, and all our good friends become part of our family!

Dad said this sounds a bit melancoly. It really isn't meant that way. I actually think it ends quite upbeat.

I have some fun things to do today and it's Dad's Friday off. That makes it a date day, acutally better and longer than a date night, since we can't have a date night with Grandma unless she's part of it.






.