Losing a Friend

I just finished reading Julia Child's autobiography, "My Life in France" and I actually feel like I miss her! I feel like my friend that I have spent three days with just moved away. She was such a rich character and of course reading about her passion for food and anything French was a delight for me. One of the things I liked about her was her total lack of materialism. Here is how her grand-nephew and co-author of her autobiography described her:

"The day Julia gave up La Pitchoune (her home in the south of France where she and her husband spent part of every year for 20 years), she simply handed the keys over to Simca’s (her friend who had died who owned the property on which they built the house) relatives and walked away. Or so she said.

But what really happened was that Julia let her niece Phila Cousins deal with handing-over the keys. On the last day there, Phila cried at giving up the beloved Pitchoune. Julia, meanwhile, cooked a Daube and then blithely went off to play golf.

When I heard this second version of the story, I didn’t know what to make of it: did Julia really not care about La Pitchoune, one of her favorite places on earth? Or, was giving up the house, in fact, too emotional, too much for her to face, so that she avoided that moment of truth?

When I asked her about this directly, Julia said that once Paul and Simca were no longer with her, La Pitchoune had lost its raison d’etre.

And then I understood: while Julia loved certain things, like her pans and knives, or places, like her wonderful houses, what she cared most about was the people around her. Julia taught us is to take the time to appreciate the people we are with, and to really communicate with them — no matter which kitchen we happen to be in."

Influenza

We have been sick, sick, sick! This week has been a week of laying around, fevers, aches and pains, chills, runny noses, sore throats, coughs, throwing up, lethargy and sleepless nights. Today I overheard Sam and Lizzie trying to express how sick they are:

Sam: I'm so sick that if I just relax everything my eyes CROSS!

Lizzie: If I just relax everything my eyes CLOSE!

See? Aren't we sick?!

Service

Lizzie is sick. She is laying in the parent bed because everyone knows that is the best place to be when you are sick! She is achy, feverish, and has a huge headache. I left her in there with the blinds down and the fan blowing on her in a cooling, comforting way. While I was getting her a piece of toast, a drink and a book to read Sam slipped in and started to read aloud to her from a book he enjoyed and just finished. They both looked so content, Lizzie in her comfort, Sam in the joy of service.

Fathers and the Little Joys

Yesterday while I was at an all day Feis (I'll save THAT for another post) with Lizzie,  Grant and the boys built an igloo and then decided to sleep in it! I love my husband who is willing to spend his free time recreating with the children. I also love that he is willing to give up a comfortable night's sleep to give them such an amazing experience. Just look at those faces! They are so happy! Just before going out Grant said, "I feel like Grizzly Adams! I haven't even shaved today! " I laughed and decided I really needed to take a picture of him in the pink hat he had found to wear to bed since his was wet from the day's igloo building. Grant and Sam lasted until morning when Sam came in a little cold. William came in sometime in the night saying that he was cold. I was really relieved since I had sleepy-mind worries about him falling to sleep and never waking up from hypothermia as he is so little.

How can our children not believe in a loving, caring, concerned Heavenly Father when their earthly father is all of those things? Tonight Grant showed us this video that made me cry. I feel so full of gratitude for my husband who is such an amazing father, for an earthly father who loves me so much and for a Heavenly Father who is in the details of my life and whose tender mercies fill me with joy. I also loved the video because it helps me celebrates the little joys of parenthood. What a blessed time in the life of our children. I need take advantage of every little thing, the snuggles, the accidents, the fits, the conversations, the practicing, the deep thoughts and developing testimonies.

William asked me last Sunday during the sacrament if I believed in Jesus. I emphatically answered, "YES!"  He then asked, "How can I believe in Jesus?" (meaning what does he need to do to have the same belief that I shared with him.) I need to never forget Anna cheerily responding, "I'd be happy to!" with our every request since Grant told her that is what princesses say, and her sweet "I love you Mother" every five minutes, William's quiet observant nature and priceless snuggles, Sam's never ending quest for truth and knowledge, Lizzie's ability to make true friends and allies in everyone she knows most especially her little sister and the pleasure I feel in hearing their happy voices when they play imaginative games together in their room.