Supernal Joys of Life

Lately I have been looking into trying to "network" my blog. I don't know why. I'm not a great writer, I don't have an interesting or profound or inspirational life, and I don't feel the need to complain about everything my husband and child do. I do find joy in motherhood, I find joy in serving those around me and trying to find and lift up those who need it, and I do have the absolute cutest kid in the world though. Many may think that they do, but my James really is the cutest.

Anyway, I've read many blogs, and the common thread in most is the complaining about anything and everything, finding annoying things with motherhood, their little ones and husbands, being over busy, and wishing they still worked full time instead of enjoying the privilege of staying with their little ones full time.

Well, General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was held this first weekend in April. It is the chance for the prophet and apostles to address the members of the church at the same time. This excerpt is from the talk by Elder Richard G. Scott, a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles:

Once I learned an important lesson from my wife. I traveled extensively in my profession. I had been gone almost two weeks and returned home one Saturday morning. I had four hours before I needed to attend another meeting. I noticed that our little washing machine had broken down and my wife was washing the clothes by hand. I began to fix the machine.

Jeanene came by and said, “Rich, what are you doing?”

I said, “I’m repairing the washing machine so you don’t have to do this by hand.”

She said, “No. Go play with the children.”

I said, “I can play with the children anytime. I want to help you.”

Then she said, “Richard, please go play with the children.”

When she spoke to me that authoritatively, I obeyed.

I had a marvelous time with our children. We chased each other around and rolled in the fall leaves. Later I went to my meeting. I probably would have forgotten that experience were it not for the lesson that she wanted me to learn.

The next morning about 4:00 a.m., I was awakened as I felt two little arms around my neck, a kiss on the cheek, and these words whispered in my ear, which I will never forget: “Dad, I love you. You are my best friend.”

If you are having that kind of experience in your family, you are having one of the supernal joys of life.

That was last Sunday. James got sick on the following Wednesday night this last week. He was throwing up all night, and couldn't keep anything, not even an ounce of water, down. Of the five times he did throw up, it was all over me four of those five, including once at Walmart when I went to get pedialyte to rehydrate him. However, James has not been that snuggly since he was a little baby...and I loved it. He is a daddy's boy, and loves men more in general, but when he was sick, he wanted mommy, and wanted to be held and snuggled. I loved it, and him. It was a supernal joy. He was better by morning, not completely back to his wiggly self, and wanted to be snuggled more so that was fun for me.

James, I thought this was cute, he was watching a movie, he had already thrown up once. I sat back down with him, and he did it all over me...again

I also give kudos to myself for surviving his stomach flu without a) thinking it was really sick to be thrown up on and b) not getting sick myself.

So, my conclusion to all of these experiences is that I do not feel the need or want to complain about being a mommy. It is the best calling in the world.

Mommy and James

What were some of your favorite talks from conference?