Recently I've been thinking about the simple things in life. As we barely get over the mad rush of the holidays and the decorations etc. and start to pack up all our belongings, I've had moments of quiet which have let me appreciate some of the simple things that I can enjoy if I pay attention and let myself. Here are just some of the things that I am glad I can enjoy on a more simple level at times.
Emma:I sometimes think I could sit and watch her play for hours. I love seeing her set up her train track and line up all the cars and pull them around. I love listening to her play with her pirate ship making pirates swab the deck, fire the cannon at the unsuspecting turtle and octopus, and having pirates walk the plank and splash into the water (with all the necessary sound effects). She has such a vivid imagination - it's fun seeing it develop. She'll sit and pretend to be on the phone or start counting everything she sees or naming all the colors around her. Lately she likes to spell words she sees around the house (she's usually nowhere close to an accurate spelling - but she loves saying the letters). She rides her horse or just sits and reads. Of course, all of this is done with a constant request for me to do it with her or to watch or to listen, but in between requests and times that I am actually engaged in doing something with her, I love watching her. I also love that she has a favorite movie - and I'm not even sick of it yet. She'll sit on the couch under her Nemo blanket with nemo under one arm and dory under the other and smile and laugh while watching...you guessed it: Finding Nemo, which according to her is called nemo dory shark bruce dude (the title keeps getting longer). I also love it when she gives me a hug and kiss for no apparent reason. Just earlier today I was sitting and playing pirate with her and she kept coming over and giving me hugs and kisses. I was definately not complaining. I love my little girl.
Eric:As I've mentioned in previous posts, Eric and I don't always get a lot of time together. But when he is home, I love seeing how happy Emma is to see him. He misses her so much. He is such a good father. He always tries to include her in whatever he is doing. She just clings to him. I love just sitting on the couch with Eric and holding hands. It may seem boring to some, but just having a quiet moment with Eric when we can talk or just sit in peace brings me all the joy in the world.
Church:I've served in the Primary in some capacity for quite some time now. Right now I am serving in the presidency in my ward, and I love it. I love being in with the kids and talking about the Gospel in such simple terms and reiterating the importance of the basics. We tell the kids over and over the power of prayer, and how blessed we will be if we do something as simple as read the scriptures, and how much the Lord does indeed love us. You can get much deeper in discussions on these and other Gospel matters of course, but I have loved the gentle reminder that a testimony need not be based on these deeper aspects, but must in fact be based on the simple truths, the simple facts that are taught in Primary. My own testimony has been strengthened by my experiences in Primary, and it makes me excited for the time when Emma will be old enough to be there too.
