I Proclaim

When I first started dating my husband, while we were both still in college, I  learned some of the things he was expecting from his future wife.  It wasn't anything weird or satanic.  He thought that his wife would work.  Shocking I know.  He just assumed that's what all women wanted to do and that's the way it would be.  He had dated girls previously that said they wanted to work and weren't overly supportive of him going on to professional school.  I however always knew I wanted to be at home wanted to be a "homemaker" and be at home with my little preciousnesses.  And as far his schooling was concerned, I was young and dumb and falling hard and yes, of course, go to school for 1 million years and yes, I am content to live on student loans and love.  And that's what we did.

We were married for 13 years before he was done with his education.  We had 3 kids when he started medical school, 4 kids when he finished and, we had 1 while he was in his residency.  We boasted the highest amount of student loans of any of his classmates.  Go us. Then to top off our squad, we had a surprise bundle of joy after we settled into our first job.  Our path was not easy and not for the faint of heart.

We had decided early on that we wanted a big family, mostly because I loved babies, and forgot that they turned into teenagers and money sucking adults.  But that's another story.  I have loved, nurtured, cuddled, scolded and hugged the heck out of my kids.  With a hard working husband in  a demanding job, I have often done the parenting thing alone.  We have solved many a problem through texting, emails and urgent phone calls. I have often cried myself to sleep, wondering how I would do it all again tomorrow.

I did do it.  And still do it. But I am not alone.   I  knew and still do,  it is what my Heavenly Father wants me to do and is in this with me.  In Sept. of 1995, Pres. Gordon B. Hinkley read "The Family: A Proclamation to the World."  ,  to a congregation of women.  I was a young mom with a 2 yr old and a new born baby.  I was too tired to understand the significance of this document at the time.  But as I have grown in wisdom and motherly maturity, I can see how these words, if taken as truth by world, would create eternal families that love God.

 "Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. "

And that's why I do it.  That's why I clean, cook (sometimes), punish, love, cry, console, worry and pray.  These souls were given to me to nourish and give the evil eye to when needed.  I have at times resented this "calling" of mine to multiply and replenish.  I have not loved every second of it and kicked against it. But in those moments, when a kid makes a righteous  decision, I feel my chest will explode and thank my Heavenly Father for the difficult and delightful opportunity to be a mom. 

My minions about 10 yrs ago when they were still manageable.