Calm Before the Storm

I have been feeling so incredibly blessed and joyful lately.  I love my dear sweet babies - the all-boy one who just learned how to crawl and growl like a bear and the talkative princess who keeps me in stitches.  I love my kind husband who does things like create playlists for me to listen to when I run.  I love my calling at church to work with the children.  I love that summer is here and we can spend every day at the pool if we wanted to.  I love that I have figured out how to stay on top of my laundry.  I love the stage of life I am in with little ones at home.

I think a lot of this calmness and joy comes from the fact that we have been diligently reading the Book of Mormon every day with our family after receiving a challenge from our Bishop of our ward (congregation) to do so.  The spirit in our home is undeniable.  And honestly, I recognize we have been blessed beyond measure in our lives.  God is good.

However, there is a part of me that wonders what trials are waiting for us in the wings.  I mean after all we have gone through in the nine years we have been married, (death of parent, illness, infertility, loss of babies, stressful school situations, being far away from family) it seems only logical that we will have to face more hard things and that this bliss is only temporarily.

Like a calm before the storm.  

I'll take it, for however it lasts.  Praying that my memory of this time will be a sweet reminder to sustain me in whatever comes our way in the future.

Terrific Threes

copyright Beatta Bosworth

The other day Elisabeth bounded into the kitchen, donned in her Tinkerbell costume with a matching green elastic in her ponytail on top of her head (that she insisted I put in so she could look just like Tinkerbell), wearing her glass slippers and said "Mama?  We need to go to the store and buy some pixie dust.  I need it to fly."

That is our 3 year old.  Imaginative, energetic, and girl, inside and out.

Here are some interesting facts about our Elibear who turned three in May:

• Princess Conesiour - Disney had her in mind when they decided on their marketing plan.  She knows all of the princesses, their attire and can sing each of their signature songs on cue.  Funny thing is she has only ever watched Tangled, Princess and the Frog & Cinderella.  All of the other princess movies scare her (including Tangled AND Princess and the Frog)
• Tiara - she never leaves home without it.  Because a real princess can't go into public without her crown, right?
• Safety First - She is very concerned with our safety.  She gets upset if we turn on the car and we don't have our seat belts on.  I can't count the number of times I have heard "Mama!  Put on your seat belt!"
• Sense of Humor - Whether purposely or not, she is quite hilarious.
• Make New Friends - She makes friends wherever we go.  In fact, whenever we go to the park and there are kids there she will exclaim "Mama!  My friends are here!"  
• Fearless. . .at least about some things. - On Memorial Day, she decided she wanted to jump off the diving board even though she can't swim.  And she has been begging her Dad to take her on the roller coaster.
• Stubborn as all get out.  No other explanation needed on that one.
• Loves to sing, read and dance.  Anywhere, anytime.  

As difficult as it has been to raise this emotional, intense little girl, her kisses, hugs, excitement for life, and love she shows to her "Sofi Dog" and "Baby Prince" (a.k.a. her baby brother) make it all worth it.  Besides, she reminds me a lot of myself.  

Love our little girl!

copyright Beatta Bosworth

For your video viewing pleasure:

Daddy's Girl

Elisabeth gave a new meaning to the phrase "Daddy's Girl" tonight.  Our bedtime conversation went something like this:

EB:  Mama, I want to call Papa and ask him someting.
Me:  Ok.
(We call Lance who is still working.)
Me:  Papa, Elisabeth has something she wants to ask you.
EB:  Papa, I want you to come marry me?
L:  What did she just say?
Me:  She just proposed.
(Both adults laugh.)
L:  Honey, that is sweet but you can't marry me.  I already married your Mama.
EB:  Nooooo!
Me:  Papa, tell her who your princess is.
L:  Mama is my princess.
EB:  Hysterical crying, sobbing, jumping up and down for at least 20 minutes.


When Lance got home two hours after her bed time, she called for him to come to her as soon as she heard the front door open.  After he tucked her in she said with much force and confidence:

"Papa, Mama isn't your princess.  I am your princess."

 I am thrilled our little girl looks up to her father and loves him this much. (Even if it means she scolds me anytime she senses I am not so happy with him.)  I hope this strong bond will still be there (though changed from wanting to marry him to just loving him as her father) when she is a teenager, a young adult and even when she is grown, married to her own prince and has children of her own.