Trials Can Be Blessings

Yesterday, I walked home from church: Just me and Maliya. As we walked, she told me about a story her teacher had told her. How his mother had been born in China, and had to be hidden in a wall, as a baby, so that she wouldn't be killed. How she got sick, and the fever grew so bad that her eardrums burst, leaving her deaf. She told me that it was actually a good thing that she was sick, though, because it made her sleep so much that she didn't make noise and get caught. After she told me this story, she and I talked about how, sometimes, trials are secretly blessings in disguise.
When we got home, she said that walking home was a trial, because it was hard, but it was really a blessing, because she got to talk to me.
Heart. Melting.

Little Cars

We have always owned a couple of matchbox cars. The kids would occasionally play with them, but not often and not for long periods of time. That is, until I had a boy.
I went about tidying the house, this evening, preparing for guests. I picked up two train cars from the counter, looked down and saw a little front loader vehicle at my feet and picked it up. As I walked from the counter to Hayden's room, I came across and picked up two additional toy cars. I can't fully explain why, but it made me so happy to see so many toy cars all over the house. It's so fun to have a little boy!

That's my boy!

Today, during Sacrament Meeting, I looked over and saw all of the girls coloring on papers. Hayden felt left out. Katie handed him a crayon for each hand, then encouraged him to draw on the page that sat on her lap. As Hayden proceeded to make long marks with both crayons, Katie quietly murmured, "Thaaa-aa-aat's my boy."

Question: Do you want me to die?

I fed Katie a bowl of mini wheats for breakfast at 7 am.
At 8 am she asked for toast, and I gave her some.
At 10 am, she received some apple sauce and ritz crackers for a snack.
When 10:30 rolled around and I saw the mess she and Hayden had made all over the floor. I declared that snack time was over.
Katie melted.
"I'm hungry! My stomach growled!!!"
I told her that it's good for her to be hungry sometimes. That didn't go over very well.
"Mom! Do you want me to die???"
Yes. The hour and a half wait until lunch time WILL cause your death. And yes, that is my goal. There IS no other explanation.

Primary Scripture

Maliya was asked to share a scripture in Sharing Time. There was no particular topic assigned, it was just "child's choice." I asked Maliya if there was any scripture that she liked that she might want to share. She looked at me in bewilderment, as if she were thinking "how on earth would I know a good scripture to share?" But all she said was, "Nooooo...??"
Then she thought of something. "Maybe the one about the guy in the graveyard!" Needless to say, I was a little shocked: "The guy in the graveyard?" I responded.
"Yeah," Maliya said, "You know, when that guy lived in the graveyard and was screaming and then Jesus sent the evil spirits to be in the pigs!" (Mark 5:1-15)
...Yeah...that sounds uplifting for Primary kids...???

Forgetful

Today, after school, Rachel's friend, Hannah, came over. Hannah was listing all of the things that Rachel has forgotten at school, over the last few weeks.
Hannah: You always forget things!
Rachel: Be-CAU-AUSE I'm getting older!
Me: Do old people forget things, Rachel?
Rachel: Mommy forgets things ALL THE TIME!
Hannah: Because your mom's busy with too many things!
Ahhh, kids...