Mckenna-isms & Sunday Ramblings

Today while we were driving home from tithing settlement, Ian and I were talking about how sad we are to be leaving such a great ward with such an amazing new bishop. Emma joined in the conversation with, "Mommy I'm sad we have to move." As I was starting to ask why she was sad, Mckenna interrupted with, "Mom! I'm happy to go to our new house!!" And it was said with such pure and happy gusto that Ian and I both just loved it. Emma was sad about something and Mckenna looked for the positive in the situation. She didn't say it the way the girls sometimes talk back and forth - in a bit of a competitive way, she was just genuinely trying to make us all happy. She is definately the middle child - the peacemaker.

So continuing our conversation, Emma was sad for the same reasons we are. She is going to miss all of the amazing friends we have made in this great area and especially our ward. Ian was released as Young Men's president today and Bishop told the ward when he released him that it was because we were moving from Arizona. So, for the rest of church so many people came up to us and told us how sad they are that we are moving and how much we'll be missed. It was nice to feel wanted but it made me even more sad to leave.

When we came home, hot cocoa sounded yummy so we blasted the Christmas music and had hot cocoa and cake. Ian and I both agreed that we need to do things like that more often. It's been so long since we just hung out as a family. We try to eat dinner at the table every night, but it's always so stressful with kids who don't want to eat, or David who wants to eat and isn't getting what he wants fast enough, or spilled food, or slow eaters. It was nice to just sit at the table and talk and eat and have fun. After, Ian danced with Mckenna for a little while and I was going to video it but I think I lost my memory card.

Last ramble(I promise!): Now that we know where we're moving and pretty much know when, things are a lot less stressful. I still have a busy husband(although he skipped out on choir practice and play practice tonight - which is unheard of!), but at least I know there's an end in sight. I was so grateful to go to church today and hear my sweet primary singers bring the Spirit of Christmas back to my crazy life. This is such a beautiful time of year and with all that's been going on(and my lack of Christmas decorations) it's been easy to forget the sweetness of the holiday time. Christmas is made so much sweeter by my kids and their perspective. And this is always one of those times that I realize the impact the Gospel has had on my life and how grateful I am for the Atonement of the Savior. The experiences in my life have left me without a single doubt that He is real. He lived, He died, and He did it for me. He loves me and knows me. He knows what it feels like to hurt, and is aching to comfort us if we only turn to Him. The best way to explain it is that since losing my parents I automatically feel a connection to anyone else who has lost a loved one. I yearn to comfort them and take away their pain because I know how much it hurts. And that's how the Savior feels for us. He lived on earth, he suffered more than we can comprehend. Because of his pain, he not only can comfort us, but yearns to. All we must do is turn to him and let him embrace us, wipe away our tears and give us strength to keep going. And that is the end of my Sunday ramblings. :)