Collecting Moments

while we work really hard to create great sundays, they don't always happen. in fact, awesome sundays are rare. not for any reason than that it is difficult to get seven people on the same page and feeling the Spirit simultaneously. and so it is that when an awesome sunday happens, i feel impressed to note it and express gratitude for it. 

yesterday was one of the best days i have had since having five children. it was a great day for everyone. we all felt content, calm. we all felt confident about who we are. we all felt kind. we all felt the desire to be in each other's company. we all felt the desire to sacrifice a bit and help each other out. in short, WE ALL FELT THE SPIRIT!!!

i loved every minute of it: sitting on the pew with everyone, doing singing time in primary with devan (super fun! he was awesome!), making peanut butter cups with avery, playing clue with chas, cole, avery, and isaac (inasmuch as he was helping chas cheat! but it was funny.), sitting in the front room by the fire playing legos with june and ike, putting a blanket on dad during his snooze in the green chair, fantastic hometeachers with prepared lessons, easy dinner that devan helped me get together, isaac setting the table all by himself, chas and avery sharing the kindle, sharing things we were grateful for at dinner, laughing and feeling light-hearted together, chas' brilliant smile (no one ever looked so handsome with braces on), cole's warm hugs (they rejuvinate me!), avery's creativity (she gets me to try new things all the time!), isaac's energy (he's just so happy to be alive), and june's hilarious antics (saying, "shaking my booty" at the dinner table!), and most importantly to my heart -- devan at my side helping me do. top it off with a great FHE planning session btw me and dev, and a great FHE lesson on Plan of Salvation and the nature of God and why and how we return to Him...

and it was such a perfect day.

so i'm counting all those moments and swimming in them until my fingers get all pruney (name that movie!).

oh, if that isn't the hand of God than what is??? praise be the name of the Most High. we might make it through this yet.