December 11, 2017

Today was a short day for all of my school kids.  They started coming home before I even finished the cleaning.  When I went to pick up Miles, Lance exclaimed, "Miles likes me!  He likes me so much!" I thought that was super sweet.  We didn't just bring home Miles, we brought home his friend, Stu.  His mom works, so short days are kind of tough.  We love having Stu over to our house, so it was a happy thing.  Lance and I rushed to the grocery story after dropping the boys off at home.  Then it was a race to put the groceries away, and a race to pick up the elementary school kids.  I always bring home Austin, Owen, and our neighbor, Will.  I love seeing those boys bounding down the sidewalk toward me.  It's so cute.

Austin and I had to rush to his appointment with the asthma doctor.  Austin is doing really well with his daily inhaler, and everything seems to be moving in the right direction.  While Austin and I were waiting for the doctor, Austin just chatted up a storm to me.  I listened attentively, but for a moment, I was able to see outside of myself.  I wanted to record this moment in my memory and never, ever forget it.  He is the most adorable little boy.  I want to always remember his enthusiasm, and the way he was telling me all about what he wants for Christmas.  I want to remember the way he smiled with  twinkle in his eye, and how he talked and looked at me so lovingly.  He wanted my arm around him as we walked out to car.  Austin needs me.  A boy needs a mother.  I am so very sure of that.

Well, life was in full swing at home.  We had Emma's piano lessons going, and boys running around the backyard.  I drove Julia to basketball practice and started in on some dinner.  The weather has been nice, and the Christmas cards have been coming in, and life just seems about right.

I finally got everyone back home, and we sat down for a dinner of pasta and french bread.  We had family night and scripture reading and showers and bedtime stories.  With the lights down low, I told the little boys a bedtime story from the Book of Mormon.  I told of the night of Jesus's birth, and how all of the Nephite believers were to be put to death if the sign didn't come that very night.  They all refused to stop believing, and when Nephi prayed all that day, a very heartfelt prayer for his life no doubt, he heard the voice of the Lord speak these words,

13 Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.

That's from 3 Nephi, chapter 1.  As I repeated this story to my boys, tears filled my eyes.  What a glorious relief those words must have been!  And not just because Nephi knew his life would be spared, but because he knew that all that they had believed was true.  

The Savior really did come into the world, and He fulfilled all that the prophets said He would.  He saved us all.  When I think of the faith it took for Nephi and his people to believe, I am filled with gratitude.  This story touches my heart.  How grateful I am that "on the morrow [He] came into the world.." and the world has never been the same.  Like Nephi, I believe.