Horton Sure Knew How To Hatch An Egg

We like the book Horton Hatches the Egg- a lot.
It is a definite family favorite.
We have been reading it at night since Ruby was very small and have video of her 'reading' it when she was about 2.  (She obviously couldn't read- but she did have it memorized.)  I've said it before and I will say it again- child prodigy.
Anyway, recently we were watching some old video and there was my sweet little two year old Ruby reciting Horton in her sweet little 2 year old 'accent'.
I could not believe that she was now 4 and a half and 'reading' that same book to Myers- who could now recite all the important parts himself.  Where did the time go?
I made the comment to Justin that I feel like I didn't enjoy our time enough- that I feel like it goes too fast and I wish I could go back and do it all over again- I would be way better at it now.  (I think)
And then Justin said something that was wise beyond his years.
He said, 'You are going to say the same thing in a few years about this time that we are in right now.'
It really got me thinking.
I mean who would have thought Horton could cause such deep thinking.
Is enjoying the moment an unattainable goal?
Is it possible to really grasp the fleeting moments and savor them?
I feel like no matter how hard I try there is no possible way to actually feel like you have done your best and enjoyed every moment like it was meant to be enjoyed.  But I feel like I really WANT to enjoy every moment, yet I go to bed and I feel like the day has just gone- and there was no time to savor it.
Memories are made and forgotten.  Magical moments are swept aside because there is just too much to do, there is always the next thing to check off the to-do list.
So for the one hundred millionth time I vow to enjoy the moment.
To enjoy where my kids are now and not to wish that they were at a different stage.  Things pass by too quickly and apparently there are no do-overs and no time machines.  (who knew?)
I know I can't enjoy every single moment and that there will still be regrets, but I can do better.
Thanks Horton.  (And Dr. Seuss- that man was a genius.)

Because, I mean seriously, who wants to take any moment for granted when you have these cute little faces to enjoy....

And some random wonderful quotes- thank you Pinterest...

“Give your child a compliment and a hug; say, ‘I love you’ more; always express your thanks. Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved. Friends move away, children grow up, loved ones pass on. It’s so easy to take others for granted, until that day when they’re gone from our lives and we are left with feelings of ‘what if’ and ‘if only.’ … “Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey and share our love with friends and family. One day, each of us will run out of tomorrows. Let us not put off what is most important.  Pres. Monson

“You have nothing in this world more precious than your children. When you grow old, when your hair turns white and your body grows weary, when you are prone to sit in a rocker and meditate on the things of your life, nothing will be so important as the question of how your children have turned out ... Do not trade your birthright as a mother for some bauble of passing value ... The baby you hold in your arms will grow quickly as the sunrise and the sunset of the rushing days.”

~Gordon B. Hinckley~

found here

A Few Things On My Mind

Lately I have been thinking a lot about motherhood and the kind of mother that I want to be to Ruby and to future children that Justin and I may have.

I want to be a good one nay a great one!

I am determined to live more in the moment when it comes to my day to day- Enjoy the moments- treasure them- all of them.

I found a talk given by M. Russell Ballard who is an apostle of our church- you can find it here. I encourage every MOTHER and FATHER to read it.

The whole talk was wonderful but one thing in particular really struck me-
He says-
'I am impressed by countless mothers who have learned how important it is to focus on the things that can only be done in a particular season of life. If a child lives with parents for 18 or 19 years, that span is only one-fourth of a parent’s life. And the most formative time of all, the early years in a child’s life, represents less than one-tenth of a parent’s normal life. It is crucial to focus on our children for the short time we have them with us and to seek, with the help of the Lord, to teach them all we can before they leave our homes. This eternally important work falls to mothers and fathers as equal partners.'
This really got me thinking and re-evaluating who I am as a mother. I had never really done the math. I know that once you are a mother you are always a mother (I know I still rely on my mom) but your role changes. It may seem like the toddler years are the hardest and some days seem longer than others- but it is only one- tenth of my life?!? What?!? And then she's not a baby anymore? Does that really happen? It seems so short when I think of it that way- my perspective changes. I am now determined to do better, be better, teach more, PLAY more, love more (though it seems impossible), BE MORE. I love Ruby so much and I want to be a mother that looks back on my life and has no regrets. It seems impossible but I can try. I want to take this one-fourth of my life and really make it into something amazing. I want to cherish it and take the advise of other mothers and really enjoy it. I don't want it to pass me by...
I want to 'focus on our children for the short time we have them with us'
I guess all I can do is try-
The whole talk is amazing- He goes on to talk about things that we can do as mothers, fathers, and children. I am not going to go into detail but I encourage you to read it!
It definitely made me think-

I love being a mom and I am going to try dang hard to enjoy every moment!!!