Monday #4-Priesthood Changes

Monday's-
Moments I cherish...and...Moments that helped me grow (As I believe all challenges and trials in life help us to grow...even if we would rather not have faced them.)


So let's start this off with the moment I cherish, hopefully I am not repeating myself...and on this one I know I am not.  L.J. turned 12 this past week, and was ordained with the Aaronic Priesthood this past Sunday.  However, this wasn't an easy path for him and us...more on that later on.  But my cherished moment came the Sunday before as first he was given the go ahead from the Bishop to receive the priesthood, and then a moment so incredibly rare it is priceless came at the end of sacrament meeting.  We were singing "I Know that My Redeemer Lives" for the closing song and on the last verse L.J. joined in with me singing it.  Now you have to know that he has never sung a song in sacrament meeting that I have ever heard, and is "too old" to join in the singing in Primary anymore really.  That made this was a priceless treasure, especially given that he did it with conviction that told me he did indeed have a pure and cherished testimony of our Savior, even if he wasn't fully aware of it yet.  Naturally I started crying and commented to him how much I treasured it, which means he will probably won't ever do it again.  But I can live with that if I have to, I had that one priceless and cherished moment in time when he did, meaningfully.


It has been 3 years pretty much since I made consistent posts on here and so much has happened in that time, so incredibly much I can't fully catch you up on all of it here.  Both of my boys, L.J. and Neil, were diagnosed a little over 2 years ago with Asperger's Syndrome.  This is a neurological disorder that is part of the Autism Spectrum of disorders.  I have in the past year felt a great loss for the person I was able to be before this diagnosis, the person I read still in the previous Power of 52 posts.  This is largely due to the person I have to be in order to meet their needs as best I can.  It has been 3 years of growing up into a more confident, vocal, and knowledgeable advocate for my children.  Growth that I needed, I know, in order to become the person my Heavenly Father would have me be.  But it has been anything but easy growth, and continues to be quite a large challenge in my life, continually begging me to grow more and take on things outside my comfort zone.  I sense even larger change in the works as today we are having Courtney evaluated for Aspergers as well.  I know already that I will revisit the mourning period I had when the boys were diagnosed, I just hope that it will be made easier having gone through it before.  On top of this enormous change, we were surprised with a 5th child since I last consistently posted.  Marlana is such a blessing in our home and hearts and the Lord knew what he did in sending her here to help us in our journey.  I am very relieved to say that I know neither her or Analise have Aspergers or seemingly anything else and this brings me comfort for their futures...which will still have their share of challenges, but thank goodness they won't have this one.  It is amazing to me the number of transitions that we go through in life now that I know they are as big challenge  as they are for my children.  But just as with anything else we take them one step at a time and one moment at a time and so far we are making it.  I may be a more battle weary person that I used to be, but I am better for having fought the battles and persevered.

The house is ALMOST empty. BACK TO SCHOOL!

Well, the kids are back in school and already the adventures have begun!

L.J. felt so grown up that he waved goodbye and walked to his class like I wasn't even standing there. I know the hugs are only for me, not for him anymore, but does he really think that I can let him go to school for a whole day without one??

Neil did pretty well also, but did give me my hug without me following him. I peaked in on him after I dropped Analise off and he was sitting at his desk looking around all WIDE-EYED, not sure which to take in first.

Analise, was VERY antsy after we dropped off both of the boys and made it to her classroom before me. But she was thrilled that I stayed for a few minutes. She gave me lots of hugs and kisses...and then told me it was time for me to go. That was okay, I knew that it wouldn't be long until kindergarten was done for the day. And I really did have some cleaning to catch up on!

Courtney wasn't sure what to make of everyone but her having a classroom, so we stopped at the school playground for half a minute and let her play. Then it turned out that the library was open enough we could sit and read a book, so we did that, then headed home. Goodness it was so much fun cleaning our kitchen floor with her turning me into a pumpkin and back into a Mom every few seconds. We truly rolled on the floor with laughter...I was glad I had cleaned it. Then after playing while we worked, it was already time to get Analise.

So, off we went. Analise was happy to see us so she could give her teacher "5" and say goodbye. We made sure to get a picture of her with her teacher, Mrs. Montes. On the way walking home to the house, we spotted a little kitten by the brick wall that lines the street. The scared little kitten gave us a bit of a run, but we caught it and went to see if the house by where we found it knew the owner, or was the owner. They had no idea where it could have come from, as both of their neighbors only owned dogs, and they didn't own any animals.

So, we figured with coyotes running the streets at nights from time to time, the only chance this little guy had was for us to take it home and call a rescue place, or some friends that own cats and might know what to do.

Well, the contractor was back to texture and paint the patch left from removing the beehive. So, I told him the story and asked him and the 2 guys that he brought with him to do the work, if any of them wanted a little kitten, or knew someone who did.

It turns out that the contractor had been thinking of getting one, since their cat was getting old. Also, his mother runs a cat rescue shelter, so he knew just what to do to take care of the little guy. And he had a dream last night about a little kitten, and could he see the kitten?

So, I pulled the kitten out of our stroller and showed him...turns out it looks just like the kitten from his dream. He said that it must have been meant to be...I agreed and when he left he took the kitten with him. All I can say is I love that things worked out so well, and I find this more proof to me in my life that Heavenly Father watches out for even the littlest of his creations.

The girls hated to see it go, but since they already knew I was allergic then it wasn't too hard to get them to understand that it really was better for the kitten to go with "the guy that fixed our house". And they are now having fun playing "kitty-cat". Well, off to see what adventures my boys had at school today. Then I will come back and add in some of the pictures we took.

Funny things kids say...sometimes make sense.

Just yesterday, my little Courtney...who is the one who is in this fun stage of life...got so frustrated with being told that something would take just one minute. Well, she starts throwing herself on the ground, pouting and yelling, "I get up! I get up!". I knew what she meant but just couldn't help myself and said, "Well, go right ahead." Little Courtney looked at me with a furrowed brow, and sheer determination and said very slowly...so that I could get it right this time, "I GIVE up, Mommy!"

But this got me to thinking, how often to we think we are saying that we are giving up...when it seems to everyone else that we are "getting" up. And when we feel like giving up, what we really need to be able to do is just get up and keep moving.

This moment reminded me of a few months back when I was at the park with the kids for a picnic. We had just finished eating and they were headed to play when Courtney walks right up to a man by the playground and says boldly, "My Mom says your dangerous!" And waited wide-eyed for his response. I turned red-faced and about killed over, not knowing whether to laugh, be proud of her, or hide myself in embarrassment.

He looked over at me and I quickly said, "I really didn't, but I have told her not to talk to strangers because they can be dangerous." He being a father himself was soon joking with me and his wife about this, calling himself "Mr. Dangerous". And Courtney went off to play. But it truly clued me in to how well our Stranger Danger lessons were going. Apparently she knows they are "dangerous" but isn't worried about going right up and telling them they are!

And then there was a few weeks ago, when I was generous and let each of the kids pick on of the candies next to the check out. She quickly picked a pack of Skittles, then promptly asked me if she could have another one for potty treats. I told her no...she knows how to do that without them, but I might let her have them for treats if she gets her poop in the potty. Well, she got the funniest look on her face and said, "No Mom, they don't match!" and started looking at the candy again. I thought, "WHAT???!" But then she stood up and flashed me her enormous smile, and says, "Mommy, these ones match!!" And is holding up a package of the new chocolate Skittles. I had a hard time not cracking up right there in the store, but to my little girl this made sense.

I sure do love that smile of hers! And she gives it so freely! The other day we were making our monthly grocery trip to Costco. We always stop and eat dinner there when we do. Well, we hadn't been sitting down long when I turned to look at Courtney just in time to see her go head first onto the concrete floor. Oh, she was NOT happy, and we were swarmed with Costco people trying to make sure she was okay, and find out if we needed an ambulance. (It is too bad that people are so sue happy now days!)

Well, she wasn't sure what to make out of so much attention, so she being the naturally happy person she is started smiling and hiding her face from them when they would catch her. I was simply amazed. But the second they left, she looks up at me with that same big smile and says, "Mommy, my head hurts, I want to cry!" I told her to go right ahead and let all the tears out and I would just keep hugging her. This got the biggest smile yet, followed by the flood that was truly needed. Bless her brave little heart.