Can't fight this feeling anymore....

I have been thinking, ever since this post about how true my Dad's words were. I keep seeing my little family grow up right before my eyes. It's haunting to me. And yet, joyful at the same time. I am so afraid I will look back at this precious time in my life- the time where we all eat dinner together every night, where the children are all tucked in their warm beds, safe and sound at 8pm, the time where everyone still wants to be cuddled and read to- wishing I had really treasured this time in my life, and lives of my children. They are a riot. Almost every conversation is actually hilarious. They love me. A lot. They need me. Sometimes too much. But I know, one day, I'll wish they needed me more.

The days of looking down my own bench at church and assessing all need in one quick swoop will soon be a fleeting memory. One that I don't want associated with regret.

A few lines I really love from the conference talk given by Julie Beck a few years back:

"Mothers who know build children into future leaders and are the primary examples of what leaders look like. They do not abandon their plan by succumbing to social pressure and worldly models of parenting. These wise mothers who know are selective about their own activities and involvement to conserve their limited strength in order to maximize their influence where it matters most."

"Mothers who know do less. They permit less of what will not bear good fruit eternally. They allow less media in their homes, less distraction, less activity that draws their children away from their home. Mothers who know are willing to live on less and consume less of he world's goods in order to spend more time with their children-more time eating together, working, reading, talking, laughing, singing and exemplifying. These mothers choose carefully and do not try to choose it all. Their goal is prepare a rising generation...who will take the gospel to all the world...who will be builders of the Lord's kingdom for the next 50 years. That is influence; that is power."

That, mothers, IS power. And a very real privilege. I must remind myself always that I am helping my Heavenly Father to raise his children. Children that in the pre earth life were my same age (I'm assuming), children that could have easily been my parents instead of me theirs. Strong, brave, delicate, loving, kind, forgiving, adoring, spirits that I get to look at every day.

I am blessed.

I never could have imagined the difficulty and reward of raising a family.
And to think only 2 years ago....