I started babysitting when I was ten. I watched my two little cousins (salt and pepper). They loved playing outside and we would go for walks, enjoy the back yard, the animals, ride bikes, and watch 'The Man From Snowy River".
My sis babysat for another family and when she moved on to nanny for the summer and go to college, I got to go watch em. I started when they only had O, K, C, and H. They were a family full of joy, fun, and a love for being outside too. Their favorite movie was 'Godzilla'.... the old ones :) I even got to help babysit on Christmas when Q was born. He was a good snuggler. I got to go to Disney Land, for the first and only time, with them to help with all the littles. I still treasure the pictures that their momma put into a scrapbook for me.
I remember watching the kids while their mom and dad went with youth to The Temple. I remember with fondness the super beautiful way their momma dressed in her long broom skirt and beautiful western clothes. I wanted to have a horse ranch one day and marry me a Texas rancher.. well, life didn't go that way and I'm grateful for that. This family had horses and I love to watch em run. This family loved 'The Man from Snowy River" too and were super great friends with my little cousins. They families were there for each other through the thick and thin of babies, kids, life events, missions, dating, proms, broken down vehicles, gospel discussions, work, and ..well, life.
Then, their world got rocked. I'd already graduated and moved away when B was born. I don't know when things began to be rocky, but I know they were a family I thought would last forever... and with God's grace still can. Their momma and daddy got a divorce. It shook the kids trust in God and they stopped doing those things that they'd been taught as little kids.
As I put the kids to bed, I used to sing, I'm trying to be like Jesus, I love to see the temple, A Child's Prayer, and many other beautiful songs that bring peace to my soul and remind me of God's truths. I remember coming back home one weekend and got to sit with K in a women's class (The Relief Society) on Sunday. She had a notebook that she'd write in during the lesson. She was a beautiful example to so many people. She's kind, beautiful inside and out, and just made me smile! She'd grown into a beautiful young woman!
A few years later, I was at our pioneer day celebration and two long haired men looked sooo familiar :) My little boys had grown up. They still give the greatest hugs and I loved getting to chat with them. They're moved away and living their own lives trying to find their way in the world... but doing it without the gospel of Jesus Christ that strengthens me and helps me improve. I don't know how people face the hard stuff without leaning on Christ. Sure love those little guys... who aren't so little anymore!
I yearn with all my heart to see this family filled with the Spirit of Christ again. They are some of God's precious children and I pray they find the desire and courage to go to church again.... for themselves, not because its become tradition, just part of what we do, but because they remember the joy it brought, the peace they felt, and because it will help their life feel complete.
Growning up in a small town, going to church is kinda different. It seems like you're judged more and expected to do certain things... people can be narrow minded and forget that they NEED church just as much as the people who are not there. I didn't know as a kid, that I could/should invite friends to church, it was just what we did. I remember going home each week between classes as a teen and waking up my brother and waiting for him to get ready to come and join us for worship services, in our church called 'Sacrament Meeting'.
I'm glad I got to get away from our little town and see more of the world where most people do not belong to the 'Mormon' church which is a nickname for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I loved seeing people of different walks of life who were often more Christlike than me and were amazing examples to me of the path I needed to try more stay on. We all have to find the path that feels right to us. Mine is definitely the Savior's path.
Cool things about church is... it's a place where we are TRYING to follow the Saviors path, yet we're all messing up. We're all trying to do a bit better and get through our week with the struggles we each face. It wasn't until I was an adult that I...understood... that repentance wasn't a punishment, but a gift.. it's a TRY AGAIN card. It's a OOPS, What can I learn from this ... opportunity. The gospel of Christ isn't about showing up in the same building with the same people and acting like I'm good, I've repented and haven't messed up.... The gospel is messing up and still trying. It's realizing that someone else is trying too and I get to be there, to be with them, in this journey of finding joy in Christ.
I pray my little friends are able to find their own peace in Christ and joy as a family, even though their family dynamic looks different than when they were little. They are amazing, fun, beautiful, and bring joy to my heart!
Here's hugs to all those little kids.... and if I was there with em all, we'd make different colored pancakes, jump on the trampoline, watch a movie, then read books all snuggled up together on the couch! May God watch over them and bring them back to his peace!
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