Ramblings

We made it through Sacrament Meeting with less drama today.  Notice I didn't say no drama.  We were just more discreet.  It seems that I am very popular among the masses when it's time to claim a spot on the bench.  And even though I feel like I am eight-sided, I still only have two sides if lots of people want to sit by me.  Sometimes I can come up with a 3rd side, but you have to be under 35 lbs or my legs will go to sleep.

So even though it was not the most relaxing hour and 15 minutes, and I started to consider moving to a less stressful bench, we had a few comments that things were quieter for us during the meeting.  Ah, we are so good at faking!

We had FHE on pioneers tonight.  We generally love FHE, but sometimes I want to sit on the kids to keep them still.  If it isn't then, it's surely during scriptures.  I am fully expecting these kids to thank us for not killing them once they experience these moments with their own children.

Chad spent the week with the deacons at scout camp last week.  Daniel was with him and things were quieter, though we missed both of them.  It was a hot week, ending with rain. We had to call in a neighbor to help put down a cow.  I drove everyone down (minus Leah  - who wanted to stay behind with her daddy) to Utah on Saturday to visit my dad and make a stop at my sister's house.  The rain helped keep things cool.  Is it bad to be wishing for winter already?  I don't like to be hot!

I am definitely rambling here because I think I'm supposed to say something and be entertaining, but I have no focus tonight.  I'll end the random thoughts with some pictures I took of Sarah and Joseph a couple of months ago after they spent considerable time in the dirt.  I'm certain they will thank me for these later.  ;)

Children's voices...oh how sweet.

Sacrament Meeting last Sunday was fun.  Joseph had thrown a couple of high-energy tantrums before we left for church and was warmed up for just about anything to set him off again.

Halfway through the first adult speaker, he got into an argument over a small activity pad and ended up ripping it in half in a tug-of-war he started.  I saw the signs of a nuclear meltdown forming rapidly...a twisted facial expression, darkened eyes, sitting back on the floor, and his arms rising.

I let him know that it was his fault the book ripped (because I'm a firm believer in acknowledging fault...like any other award-winning parent) and then reached down to scoop him up to take him out before the tantrum was fully formed.

Sadly, I was wrestling a writhing 4-year-old while trying to squeeze past Daniel and my extra large church bag sitting on the floor.  I nearly made a quick get away, but my long skirt got longer and grabbed my foot, almost taking both of us down.  As I finally approached the chapel doors (shh...be still) with Joseph in a football hold, he started kicking and screaming and raised his arms straight up in an effort to slide out of my grasp.  So my free hand went over his mouth and his heels made repeated contact with my left shin.

We hobbled past a few surprised and amused folks sitting on a couch in the foyer to an empty classroom. There I dumped him a little less than lovingly in the middle of the room and walked out, closing the door behind me.  I sat on another couch and made as if nothing were amiss.  I don't think I was convincing because the screams of rage coming through the very thick door just over my shoulder were pretty loud.

Eventually, he screamed himself out.  He and I returned to the chapel doors (shh...be still) and waited for the intermediate hymn to begin before calmly returning to the rest of the family. 

And what song do you think they were singing?  Yes...In Our Lovely Deseret (Hymns, #307).  "Hark!  'Tis children's music.  Children's voices, oh, how sweet.  When in innocence and love, like the angels up above, they with happy hearts and cheerful faces meet."  Verse three nearly had me laughing out loud...

They should be instructed young
How to watch and guard the tongue,
And their tempers train and evil passions bind;
They should always be polite,
And treat ev’rybody right,
And in ev’ry place be affable and kind.

Find the entire song here.

Most people at church can't believe Joseph has a temper because he's just so darned cute and quiet in his classes.  There are few more believers now!

I imagine all the great grandmas and grandpas in heaven were smiling down.  Heaven would have been a much better place to experience it from!