December 6, 2017

Baby, it's gotten cold outside!  When I drove Miles to school this morning, he was very interested in the temperature.  We watched it dropping quickly on my car gauge.  It got down to thirty by the time I made it to his school.  His little wheels started spinning.  He wondered out loud how long it would take a cup of water to freeze, or how quickly a single drop of water would solidify.  I did my best to think it through with him, talking about how long it would take to lower the water temperature, and pointing out the small skiffs of ice on the sidewalk where someone's sprinklers had hit it.  But I was smiling inside.  Miles is one smart cookie.  And the way his brain works is a joy to me.  The last thing he said before hopping out of the car was, "I'm just so fascinated by thermal dynamics."

I told him I loved him and drove off.  When the temperature read 28 degrees by the time I pulled into the driveway, I wished so badly that I was still with Miles.  He would have been really amazed!

I have learned a lot of cool things because of Miles.  He will ask me a question--something I've never even thought of--and then I'll help him look up the answer.  Like, he asked me why dogsledders say, "Mush," to get the dogs to go.  I told him I didn't know.  And he wondered if maybe it was because it was a word in a different language.  So.  I looked it up.  Sure enough, one theory is that it is from the French word, Marche, for Go.  Another time, Miles asked me all about the periodic table.  He had so many questions that I finally printed off a table for us to study.  He started thinking really hard and said, "It seems like you should be able to make water.  But I've always been told about the water cycle, and how the same water is used on the earth, over and over."

Well.  I had no idea if you could make water.  So I looked it up.  Sure enough, with the right chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, and a really loud BOOM, you can make water.  Miles was blown away.  He studied that table a lot longer, asking me all sorts of questions (that all needed to be looked up) and then he hung the periodic table up in his room.

One time a few years ago, I found him sitting on the stairs (he was supposed to be getting ready for school).  I tried to move him along, but he said, "Mom, I've just been thinking and thinking and I can't quite figure out how a padlock works."  He had one in his hand.  So.  I looked it up.  It was awesome to see how it all worked.  I'm thirty-eight years old.  I've used countless locks in my life. Why have I never stopped to figure out how one works?  Why have I never even wondered too long about how one works?  I don't know!  But Miles will tell me things all the time that are way beyond my knowledge base.  I love him.  I think Miles is super interesting.  And he's not just smart, he nice.  On the way to school, he commented again about how happy he was about our neighbor's Christmas lights.  When I mentioned that I needed to help put up their Christmas tree inside their house, Miles said, "Mom, if there is any way I can help, just let me know."  My heart swelled with love.

I had my Presidency meeting today.  We were done in one hour and thirty-five minutes.  That's progress.  And then I spent a good amount of time on the phone doing Relief Society work.  It was good.

Julia with the ball, beating the little boys!

Julia had a basketball game right after school today.  I even had to check her out a few minutes early. Miles stayed home to tend Lance for me.  Julia's team killed the younger boys, and Julia had quite a few points.  It was fun.  After the game, I took a bunch of the girls back to the school for their Thunder team basketball practice.  I stopped at Wendy's and got them some nuggets and a frosty.  One of the girls said, "You are my favorite mom!"  It was cute.  I rushed home to get Austin to scouts.  Then, I got the beef and broccoli with rice on the table for dinner (another freezer dinner!).  We all quickly ate and then rushed to Miles's band concert.  He was so cute and did a great job.  He has started to bring his trumpet home a lot.  He loves playing it.  And he's gotten really LOUD.  He figured out that if he really blasts, he can hit all the notes.  Out of the hundreds of kids in the band, sometimes I felt like I could hear Miles.  :)

As we walked out of the concert, with my arm around Miles, he said, "I think I'm about the best trumpet player in the band now."  It was so funny.  He didn't say it in a prideful way, almost like a simple observation.  So, it's probably true!  Miles is very honest.  He told me that he knows how to read music and notes better than anyone.  And then he commented on how he's learned to play loudly.  We had a good laugh about that one.

Miles is way over there, behind the elf hat.

The best part was that Greg made it to the concert just in time.  And he brought three donuts left over from work.  I had all of the boys with me, but Lance doesn't like donuts.  Miles, Austin, and Owen happily ate their donuts on the way home.  Miles was so surprised and pleased that Greg had shown up.  And thrilled about the donuts!  It was a fantastic night.

I love my boys!
Miles, Austin, Greg, Owen, and Lance

I wish my night ended there.  I was tired.  But I had another phone call to answer.  And then after trying desperately to get Lance to sleep, but failing, I left him in Greg's hands to go visit a woman in our ward.  Her husband had asked me to help her.  He told me it was a crisis.  I was nervous, wondering how to help.  But after a good hour talking to her, or rather, listening to her, I felt like it had been a good thing.  I hugged her as I walked out.  I told her how much I loved her.  And I will now watch out for her the best I can.

I walked out into the cold, dark night toward my faithful Escalade.  I climbed in, thankful for the way I've been so blessed.  I commented to Greg that two amazing things are happening in my life.  Number one- I'm seeing my time expanded and increased SO much.  I cannot believe how much I can fit into my schedule now.  Number two- I'm incredibly calm when things aren't perfectly put together at home.  I just get to it when I get to it.  And it all works out.  Those are REAL blessings.  I'm so thankful to recognize and see the Lord's hand in my life.  I am thankful that He is blessing me and helping me.  I could never do any of this alone.