The Little Things are the Big Things

I am feeling extra sentimental today as I remember an experience that happened just a few weeks ago. My sweetheart came home and had lunch with us. Then while I finished up some tasks, he read to Tate and Maylie. He so rarely gets to do story time with them. I love these three so much.

In a talk by President James E. Faust, he quoted Charles Henry Parkhurst:

“The completed beauty of Christ’s life is only the added beauty of little inconspicuous acts of beauty—talking with the woman at the well; showing the young ruler the stealthy ambition laid away in his heart that kept him out of the Kingdom of Heaven; … teaching a little knot of followers how to pray; kindling a fire and broiling fish that his disciples might have a breakfast waiting for them when they came ashore from a night of fishing, cold, tired, and discouraged. All of these things, you see, let us in so easily into the real quality and tone of [Christ’s] interests, so specific, so narrowed down, so enlisted in what is small, so engrossed with what is minute.” (“Kindness and Love,” in Leaves of Gold, Honesdale, Pa.: Coslet Publishing Co., 1938, p. 177.)

Then sweet Elder Faust sums it up so perfectly:

"And so it is with being parents. The little things are the big things sewn into the family tapestry by a thousand threads of love, faith, discipline, sacrifice, patience, and work."

50.

It was a surprise party for my dear, sweet Dad on his 50th landmark birthday.  We all met him at Rodizio for lunch and I'll never forget the look on his face when he looked up and saw all of us girls (and our husbands) there at the table waiting for him.

Afterwards, we sat together in the Salt Lake temple, and truly, this was the highlight of the day.

Later that evening, the boys and Maylie joined us at the condo for pie & ice cream.

And since it was my birthday too {the next day}, we celebrated our birthdays together.

It's always been like this--and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I am truly honored to share my birthday (almost) with one of my very best friends in the entire world.

And then, Papa let Easton blow out his candle...

Or at least he tried...

And tried.

And tried.

He just couldn't quite get his lips to work.
We had to practice.

And yes, the candle was finally blown out after about 10 attempts.

I love you Dad.  I admire you, respect you, and am so proud to be known as your daughter.  I wish I could express better the wellings in my heart when I think of you and all that you are.

You are amazing.  Never ever forget that you have a little daughter who loves you more than a thousand sunsets, seven hundred trips to Portugal, and all the stars in the sky....

All my love,
Mie

Matching Goggles

I was cleaning up the kitchen one Saturday when I turned and found this spectacle.  And I knew I just had to capture it on camera.

Sunday Afternoon.

This is the scene I viewed as time floated serenely along.

With Daddy...

Life ebbs and flows and we struggle to complete and accomplish without giving in to the constant temptation of busyness.

When school rolls around again, I always know Patrick will be so much busier and that "our time with Daddy" will be put on hold.  But as Patrick expressed one night, life will always be busy.  Even when school is over for him, he will have a job and callings and always much to do.  Busyness should not be a catch-all excuse for the time missed with growing-up children.

And he determined to do something about it.

He worked and prayed to find a solution, and now a miracle has occurred.

From my eyes I see a man who gets up long before the sun rises.  He gets ready, spends time with the Lord in scripture study and prayer, and then whisks himself off to school at 7:30 very morning--even when he doesn't have class until 1:00.  Then he studies and learns and writes all day, striving to complete as much "schoolwork" as possible on campus.  

 

He comes home around 4:00 every afternoon and devotes the rest of his day to his sons and then his evening to his wife.  He plays with his boys--bikes, 4-wheelers, Mario Kart, Candyland, iPod or computer games, hide-and-seek, the list goes on and on.  After dinner he bathes the boys and we work to put them to bed in order to have an evening just for us.

He doesn't receive a reward for any of these things...except maybe extra hugs from me...and a growing adoration from the boys.  When I asked Easton the person he loved so very much that he would want to perform an act of kindness for, he promptly replied, "Daddy."

Maybe in the world's eyes it isn't much, but in my eyes, my sweetheart is truly my hero.

Life is still ebbing and flowing...so much smoother now and I marvel to see us move along, peacefully growing harmony in our home.