Sometimes I need reinforcements to get things through to my kids.
I love that sometimes other people can reach with ease the innermost parts of their hearts I've been hitting my head against the wall trying to do. I think it's that way with most children. Sure, as parents we are the ones who's influence can have the most heavy impact on our children. I hear myself echoing through my house embodied in my children's voices for better or for worse!
But oh I love how those around me can say or do a little something, maybe it's even exactly how I do or say it, and it's like they saw it or heard it for the first time.
Take something from one of Max's letters a couple months ago for instance. He spilled out some beautiful thoughts about a quote my sister Saydi had sent him:
Happiness? It is an illusion to think that more comfort brings more happiness.
Happiness comes of the capacity
to feel deeply,
to enjoy simply,
to think freely,
to risk life,
to be needed.
--Storm Jameson
It's one we memorized growing up, and we all know it by heart.
I have had my kids memorize it too.
But somehow when my sister sent it to Max it actually came to life, which helped me "feel deeply" myself :)
Another example happened when our kids were learning to ski all those years ago. Dave had worked his guts out to teach them a thing or two and couldn't for the life of him get them going down that bunny hill. Finally on a ski trip with his siblings he turned our kids over to them (and they turned their kids over to Dave), and it was like magic because within an hour those kids could ski.
Well, I brought in some reinforcements for my kids this last week. It was to help them get stars in their eyes about the possibility of studying in Jerusalem at some point in their lives.
After my freshman year at Boston University I was lucky enough to do a semester abroad in Jerusalem.
Little did I know how much more than just a "transition help" I would get.
BYU has a pretty amazing study center over there that I had set my sights on. I was transferring to BYU and figured that would be a great transition.
Little did I know how much more than just a "transition help" I would get.
Man alive, did that place ever take over a huge chunk of my heart!
We studied the Old and New Testament and explored that city until we knew it like the back of our hands.
We took endless long bus rides to every "Tel" you can imagine which led to great bonding with all the other kids on those adventures.
Eventually the people I met there, and ended up rooming with, led me to their friends back at BYU. And through all those associations I met a tall, handsome guy with irresistible dimples and a dry wit who I ended up marrying:)
Yes, that Holy Land will always be pretty big part of who I am. It's where a little seed of desire to serve a mission started, and where my faith in Jesus Christ grew exponentially.
So naturally I want my children to have a similar experience. Oh how they would love it over there!
I've told them all kinds of things about Jerusalem. We've poured over pictures and each religious holiday brings me to tell stories of things we did and learned there. I've told them how amazing study abroad over there would be and encouraged them to plan that into their future somehow.
So when some family friends' daughters got back recently from studying over there I figured we better get her over here for some "Jerusalem study abroad reinforcement."
One of the daughters had to get back to college pretty quickly after her return, but the other one was waiting to head out on her mission and was more than happy to come share her Jerusalem experiences for Family Home Evening last week.
I pulled out the pictures my brother gave me for Christmas years ago after his own study abroad, and my Jerusalem pottery to make it slightly festive...
...and we gathered while Olivia told us all kinds of things about her amazing experience over there.
Our neighbors came over too along with Olivia's family and boy, it was amazing how she kept all those kids mesmerized for almost an hour with stories.
By the time everyone left the mission was accomplished: they all had stars in their eyes about Jerusalem. We FaceTimed the whole thing with Elle so she's pretty excited about it too.
Who knows if this study abroad dealio will really happen... I mean, I know the requirements are totally different from when I went and I don't know that all my kids will go to BYU in the first place, but I'm so glad they know it's an option out there...along with a million other wonderful things they can do with their lives.
I'm so grateful for the little reinforcements that help parenting in so many ways.
Now on to figure out someone who can inspire them about how fun practicing the piano can be.
Ha!
Yes, that Holy Land will always be pretty big part of who I am. It's where a little seed of desire to serve a mission started, and where my faith in Jesus Christ grew exponentially.
So naturally I want my children to have a similar experience. Oh how they would love it over there!
I've told them all kinds of things about Jerusalem. We've poured over pictures and each religious holiday brings me to tell stories of things we did and learned there. I've told them how amazing study abroad over there would be and encouraged them to plan that into their future somehow.
So when some family friends' daughters got back recently from studying over there I figured we better get her over here for some "Jerusalem study abroad reinforcement."
One of the daughters had to get back to college pretty quickly after her return, but the other one was waiting to head out on her mission and was more than happy to come share her Jerusalem experiences for Family Home Evening last week.
I pulled out the pictures my brother gave me for Christmas years ago after his own study abroad, and my Jerusalem pottery to make it slightly festive...
By the time everyone left the mission was accomplished: they all had stars in their eyes about Jerusalem. We FaceTimed the whole thing with Elle so she's pretty excited about it too.
Who knows if this study abroad dealio will really happen... I mean, I know the requirements are totally different from when I went and I don't know that all my kids will go to BYU in the first place, but I'm so glad they know it's an option out there...along with a million other wonderful things they can do with their lives.
I'm so grateful for the little reinforcements that help parenting in so many ways.
Now on to figure out someone who can inspire them about how fun practicing the piano can be.
Ha!