Sunday we went to the English branch in Seoul so that I could get a little something out of church (I feel the spirit at the Korean ward and love the members, but I guess I just don't have the gift of tongues quite yet!). It took us about an hour and a half both ways to get there. I thought we were awesome for traveling that far by subway, especially with a little one. Okay, more than awesome, I thought we were pretty much close to pioneer status, but just as I began wallowing in my pride, the branch president asked us how long it took us to get there. We answered "An hour and a half" and he replied "Oh good, I thought it would take longer from where you live" and then explained that half of the ward travels that far and one man travels three hours both ways (don't worry, they gave him the gospel doctrine calling so he can prepare and have something to do along the way). So never be prideful, never complain, and go to church no matter how far away it is. But this isn't the point of my post. Really the point of this post is to tell a sweet story about Lucy. (who is just waking up from a nap at 8:30 p.m....yes I know...regular sleep times are good for children, but do you know how hard it is to put Lucy to sleep at the same time every day? When she is tired she is tired and if you don't put her down she is a crank, so if it is 7:00 p.m. and you see tiredness cues you just put her down for a nap. So I'll be right back).
(Okay I'm back and Lucy is sitting beside me busily eating her peaches and rice. I thought I might be able to get her back to sleep for the night, but just as she closed her eyes and was nodding back off she surprised me with wide open eyes and a beautiful chorus of "lener lener lener," that noise where they stick there tongue in and out. Totally Cute! Oh well, now I don't have to await Dave's arrival all by my lonesome. Lucy is absolutely thrilled because I just gave her the spoon and let her go to town which only happens when we are not about to go somewhere or already out somewhere (which is surprisingly very rare). I'm all for messes, but timing is key and if you let them make a huge mess of themselves before you leave you'll never get out the door).
Well, half way through church Lucy really needed a nap, so I found a quiet room to try to rock her to sleep. Just as she nodded off, some loud people came by and woke her up, but now I am grateful she did. She saw a picture of Jesus with the children on the door and started signing "come to me" so I brought her close and explained that it was Jesus (The picture to the right is the picture we saw). She looked mesmerized. Then I told her that Jesus loved the little children in the picture and he also loved her and so she gave him a kiss. I smiled and told her good job, so she just kept wanting to kiss the picture of Jesus. Oh, it melted my heart. It was as if she could hear Christ's plea, "suffer the children to come to me." I hope she always knows she is a precious child of God and just how very very loved she is. Little children definitely enter this world with the Light of Christ and a heart full of love. Just when I start to think it's my mission in life to take care of this little girl, I realize she was really sent here to take care of me. She takes care of my spirit and my testimony and reminds me of what is really important in life. She is the light of my life. My very own little angel to dance with, and laugh with and hold and kiss and snuggle and love. So far in my life there is no experience with a higher reward than to be a Mother. And so although it cost time and money to get to church this Sunday, the experience was priceless.
(Okay I'm back and Lucy is sitting beside me busily eating her peaches and rice. I thought I might be able to get her back to sleep for the night, but just as she closed her eyes and was nodding back off she surprised me with wide open eyes and a beautiful chorus of "lener lener lener," that noise where they stick there tongue in and out. Totally Cute! Oh well, now I don't have to await Dave's arrival all by my lonesome. Lucy is absolutely thrilled because I just gave her the spoon and let her go to town which only happens when we are not about to go somewhere or already out somewhere (which is surprisingly very rare). I'm all for messes, but timing is key and if you let them make a huge mess of themselves before you leave you'll never get out the door).
Well, half way through church Lucy really needed a nap, so I found a quiet room to try to rock her to sleep. Just as she nodded off, some loud people came by and woke her up, but now I am grateful she did. She saw a picture of Jesus with the children on the door and started signing "come to me" so I brought her close and explained that it was Jesus (The picture to the right is the picture we saw). She looked mesmerized. Then I told her that Jesus loved the little children in the picture and he also loved her and so she gave him a kiss. I smiled and told her good job, so she just kept wanting to kiss the picture of Jesus. Oh, it melted my heart. It was as if she could hear Christ's plea, "suffer the children to come to me." I hope she always knows she is a precious child of God and just how very very loved she is. Little children definitely enter this world with the Light of Christ and a heart full of love. Just when I start to think it's my mission in life to take care of this little girl, I realize she was really sent here to take care of me. She takes care of my spirit and my testimony and reminds me of what is really important in life. She is the light of my life. My very own little angel to dance with, and laugh with and hold and kiss and snuggle and love. So far in my life there is no experience with a higher reward than to be a Mother. And so although it cost time and money to get to church this Sunday, the experience was priceless.
