Seeds of Such Potential

This past weekend was General Conference for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and all others that want to hear, where we a global church get to hear the world from the mouth of prophets in our day! This is broadcasted in many different ways and languages so anyone that wishes can be a part.  I spent one of the days with my brother’s family, my three little nephews. Most of the time the boys played while the adults listen, which is to be expected at such a young age they don’t have the attention span for four hours of messages.

For a little while my oldest nephew came and snuggled up next to me on the couch and after seeing me take down some notes asked me what I was doing. I explained to him that when I heard words that touched my heart I wrote them down. This satisfied him and he settled back down next to me for the next few moments. I then wrote something down and he wanted to know what I wrote so I read it to him. He followed my response by asking what that meant. I explained the principle the best I could so he might understand. Then once again settled in next to me. A moment or two later he said something to the effect of, “ He said love; write it down.” So I did, for his four year old mind there are so many words he has no idea what they are so for him to pick out a word he understood is so amazing. He continued listening and picked out a couple more words like repentance, this time wanting to know what it meant, along with a few others. I turned to him and each time explained the best way I could that he might find some understanding, at some level. I did not get too much out of the message that was intended at the time but simply what was being taught to me by  my nephew, his willingness to learn and record what he was learning.

Children are always surprising in their ability to pick up on things and really just their desire to learn what they can. They are so full of potential to grow into something amazing if we guide them on their way, like that of a small seed that will grown in to a great plant. If we open our hearts we can learn from their learning as well.

Golden Egg

Last year for Easter I was with my nephews for their Easter Egg Hunt, along with my parents and siblings. They started a new tradition in their family that my sister-in-law grew up with so I was unaware of it. We were simply told that if we found ‘The Golden Egg’ we were to stop the hunt and gather together for a moment. The hunt began and after sometime the hunt was paused as we all gathered together around the golden egg. My sister-in-law then sat in front of her three boys and had the oldest open it up and show what was inside. There was nothing inside and this worried him. His mother went on to explain that this egg is like that of the tomb that Jesus Christ was buried in and on the third day He was no longer there. That he had risen and because of that we all can live with our Father in Heaven, Jesus Christ and our families again. Because it was Empty!

It was a very short little lesson but after that my oldest nephew reverently closed the egg back up and respectfully gave it back to the finder of the egg, another aunt, with one more glance the moment was gone and it was back the the fun of the hunt.

This child perhaps did not grasp the whole meaning of what his mother said or maybe he did regardless he felt the spirit and understood something -if only children could tell us- and through his example my own testimony of Easter was strengthened. That Jesus Christ my (and your) Savior died for us and then on the third day rose again and reaches out to me (and you) we simply need reach out to Him.

They Say…

Children say things that are simply so cute that they must be shared, here are a few for your enjoyment. They do not contain a lesson or even a profound thought attached to them, these stories simply bring a smile to the face and lighten the heart.

Polka Dots

Sitting around our Learning Mat in one of my dance classes. I had a tap on my arm I look over at her and she said, “Miss Camilla I like your polka dots.” I thanked her out of reflects but then looked around me; I was not wearing anything with polka dots or did I bring anything with polka dots. I was about to ask her what she meant, when she touched my arm and point out my freckled covered arm, “These ones”! In my whole like I never thought of my freckles as polka dots.

Excuse Me

As a teacher assistant  it is my job to dance and demonstrate the moves correctly so the children can learn through example and the teacher can focus on how the class is progressing. Doing this I must be very aware so as not to crash into any of them. The children are still learning their own spacial awareness so naturally there are little bumps. With a quick sorry class does not miss a beat. This one time I had a near miss with a little girl and she declared in great surprise, “oh excuse me”.  She was so grown up and proper about it I had to chuckle and she repeated herself any time she got in another dancers way. Afterward she just kept dancing as though there was nothing out of the ordinary about a little 3 year old girl excusing herself when she was in another's way.

Smarty Pants

This final one took place when I was teaching in the BYU-Idaho’s preschool labs. (I have wanted to share this but couldn’t figure out how it was a Mommy Moment.) We were sitting down for circle time where mini lessons are taught. Another teacher was giving the lesson of the day and she told these children that she was going to ask them something hard so their better have their ‘Smarty Pants’ on. This little boy cried out in pure delight as he patten his own pants, “Smarty Pants!” He then proceeded to laugh his head off, like it was the funniest thing he had ever heard. For me and the other teacher it was something we would joke about the rest of the year.

12 Daddies’ Princesses

The weekend before Valentine's I was asked to teach a few basic social dance steps at a Father Daughters Dance. I have taught a workshop for ballroom dance in college, once upon a time. I figured I could remember enough to teach them, so I agreed. I am so grateful that I did! The girls were all between the ages of 8 and 11 years. Once they arrived and I assessed the situation I concluded that this was going to be unlike any other teaching experience I have had up to this point and I was right.

I had them get into closed dancing positions and right off I had to make adjustments, these girls were not going to be able to reach their dad’s shoulders. I thought I had prepared but here already I was thrown - they put there hands on their dad’s elbows. I then went on to teach the very basics of waltz. I was inspired to describe the waltz as the princess dance that most Disney princesses do with their prince, at the end of the movies. Their eyes lit up. We also went over a few steps of Cha Cha. Sure they were far from perfect but what I saw that night touched my soul. These girls came in with their dads and there before my eye transformed into the princesses they were dancing like.

This took place as their dad with gentle love directed their girls through the steps I taught them to the best of their abilities. It also brought back memories of dancing with my own Dad, and how I felt like I too  transformed into a princess while dancing with him. This night I learned or relearned that dads have the power to change their daughters into real princesses, not just through dance but by the way they treat their daughters. I am sure that moms get to take pride in many of  these tender moments as I did this night.

Single Awareness Day... No Longer

Being single has it’s challenges like any other phase of life. I know of the feelings of loneliness and temptation to go into yourself, and shutting out others. To feel some how turning a blind eye to the fact that there is love all around, because we have not yet found the love we want to find. We must look and see it, accepting the quest of changing “Single Awareness Day” to valentine's day in the month of Feb  and everyday. By opening our eyes and hearts to  seeing that we do indeed have love around us waiting to be felt.  

Over the last 5 years of teaching children I have learned much, from them about Valentine's Day. Children get excited about buying that box of Valentines, or they cut out hearts and give them to each other and anyone else that are in their lives. I have been blessed by many of these cute cards hand crafted or otherwise. We talk together about love and how we know when someone loves us and followed by how we show another we love them. Through my many conversations, with these precious children I began to better see those in my life, show me they love me and I them. The more my eyes were open to these things the less lonely I felt. I now celebrate this day of love and how grand it feels to know that I am being loved by those around me.

This is not to say I don’t ever feel lonely anymore. It’s simply less often and I have a tool for finding happiness in the love I do have now.

Knock on the Door

Over the summer I was doing a little Nannying for a family in need. This family lived in a fun little neighborhood. I in fact knew many of the children I would see in the yards playing. I had taught them or one of their siblings at some point. I was sure to stop and talk to them or at least say hi when ever I saw them. Well, one day while Nannying there was a knock on the door this was not uncommon I figured it was a child or two  that was wanting to play with the children I was watching. With the baby in my arms I went to the door and answered it. To my surprise it was one of my students from my boy’s class over the last year. I assume he saw my car in his neighbor's driveway and came by and wanted to talk to me. The children I was watch went outside to play so we shared a few moments together talking. I don’t remember our conversation we had. I am sure it was one of simple loving friendship. This boy of 8 years brought me such joy by his actions of leaving what ever it was he was playing to come and say hi to me. I also realized in this moment that my efforts and love I put into teaching has it’s benefits like in this moment it is all worth it.

A Step to Initiation

This past fall my sister-in-law and I decided to go to my parents for a visit with her three boys. It was a fun trip and our time there was wonderful, we grew closer together as sisters. Part of our journey to and from my parents house there is a road the over the years has gain a reputation, we call it the Winedy Twisty road. Car sickness is not uncommon for most people, I myself have troubles with it from time to time. Well, has we set off to travel back to Utah a 12 hour drive I sat between the two older boys 4 and 2 years of age. We started down this road and both these boys stomachs rebelled. Up came their once yummy breakfast. The nature of this road is that the driver can not stop it is too narrow  and dangerous so I got to hold bags to prevent further mess and then comfort and clean up after these two boys. While remaining well my self. I was able to step into the right attitude and help these boys beyond my normal ability.   

I feel therefore that I have completed a step in my initiation of my mommy moments. I had the great honor of cleaning up not one but after two car sick boys. Once out of this area we stopped at a gas station and finished helping these boys. Thinking back on it a smile comes to my face if not a little crooked. I was able to help these boys when they needed someone and I was able to rise to the occasion.