Sabrina and Annie Sept. 2007
Last night I was headed to bed after finishing my Midnight Sun reading. I heard a noise as I reached the top of the stairs and went to investigate. I found Sabrina up going to the bathroom. As I turned to leave her she spoke. "No, Mama, Don't go," she said. "Come sleep with me."
Sabrina is the only baby I have ever had that would sleep more soundly with me than in her own bed. She is seven now and seems so mature sometimes. I figured there may not be too many more years that she would want me to snuggle her to sleep so I indulged us both and went in to lay with her till she was soundly back to sleep. Then I stayed a little longer.
Laying there next to her, I felt all my love for her wash over me. I was so glad we have had so much good alone time together. I love the sweet loving girl she is and the helpful sensitive young lady she is becoming. I was also astounded once again at her incredible beauty. The soft tender skin of her neck and clavicle were just a breath away and got several kisses from her mama while she slept with one arm wrapped under my neck.
"Some day she is going to get married," I thought to myself. "Someday some man is going to look at that neck and admire it with such different feelings than mine." I began to think, "Whoever she dates or marries better treat her with all the respect and pure love she deserves. He better adore her. He better live to take care of and protect her."
I thought of all the ways men can and often do inflict injury on their wives. Finding a good husband is not always easy. Even good men can make stupid mistakes that cause their wives major pain. I feel so blessed that the Lord turned Jon's heart to me. But what of my daughters?
I have no guarantee for them. Well, except Camille. I do have a pretty sure guarantee for her. Whoever she chooses will already have overcome the trials of this world as well. There are so many trials on this world she will never have to suffer.
Sabrina, Annie, and Lauren I will still have to worry about. I will watch them grow in beauty and stature. I will teach them and train them. I will admire and love them. I will hope for them and pray for them.
And for now, I will lay with them when they want me to because I know one day they won't ask any more. One day, they will be too big to snuggle in my lap. One day they won't want me in their rooms. So for now, I will snuggle with them all I can.
Sabrina June 8, 2008
29 comments:
Such a good reminder!
I love moments like that. Where it's quiet and you can just admire them and remember why you do everything you do each and every day. She is a very beautiful girl and you are blessed to have one another.
Stephanie,
I don't know you but am truly inspired by your blog. You have touched me and so many more. I found a beautiful website that pays tribute to the "little angels born into heaven." Take a look when you have a moment for little Camille.
www.namesinthesand.blogspot.com
What a sweet moment. Seeing these pictures makes me miss your little girls! They are blessed to have you as their mother. Much love - Shanan
I definitely can relate to this post. My son has bene my only child that consistently wanted to sleep with us. It was my fault because when he was 18 months he had RSV and I nearly lost him. He was in teh hospital for 5 days and he would cry in his crib under the oxygen tent so I would crawl in the bed with him. (I couldn't walk straight for days after but that was what I did)
After we brought him home he still wanted to sleep with me and I was so afraid to leave him so he slept with me.
Even now he creeps in to lay with me just a bit. He gives incredible hugs and I know those days are numbered. I enjoy each one even though my husband protests and hates for him to be there.
Thank you for that post. I have the same feelings of hope for my four girls. I have not had the best marriage, and I can only hope that my girls will find the loves of their lives and that their husband will love and cherish them for who they are and never change them. I hope my girls can also do that for their husbands.
Thank you and you have gorgeous girls....all of them!
What beautiful daughters you have. I look at my sons and hope I can teach them to treat women right. My boys are 9 and 3. I still snuggle with the 3 yr old when he lets me. :)
I loved that post so much! So tender and sweet, and I too love those quiet night moments(my mom always called them her "cup runeth over moments". Your girls are beautiful and are so lucky to have you for their mom!!!
Dear Steph,
Again, you so eloquently remind us to cherish our children. It is a reminder I can't hear enough. While you are in the daily grind, it can be hard to step back and look at all that your child is, when suddenly it will hit you. You will look at your child and see how far you have come and see the future. With school starting this week, I am again reminded of the passage of time. I feel so blessed to have been given my children and to be be a part of their journey. I love the last picture of Sabrina- so grown up!
Night time snuggles are the best.
Circumstances in my life made me very aware that I had to treasure and value each moment I had with my children. They are grown now and even though I enjoy them as adults there are times when I long to hold their sweet soft little bodies and cuddle them close. I used to tell them at night when I would tuck them into bed, "don't grow tonight, I love you just the way you are."
Yesterday, in the morning, I was in the NICU and as I looked at all the babies I felt a little envious of the young mothers just starting out. Then, in the afternoon I worked with elderly people. I felt I was in the middle looking at my past and at my future. It felt a little surreal and I became acutely aware at how fast time passes. It made me remember the country song that says, "don't blink" - you might miss it.
Stephanie - I am infringing on your blog but I need some help. I would like to remain anonymous but I need some advice from anyone out there who might be willing to help me. I am a very active member of the church with a strong testimony but I have never used the principle of fasting in my life. I have had a very difficult week with news that requires some real help from the Lord. I have attended the temple this week but I think I need to fast. I don't believe fasting is just abstaining from food - there has got to be more to it. Why is it so important to fast? I am in a place in my life where I have noone to talk to so please any help will be greatly appreciated. Please, anyone who would like to respond can use my email address, it is
akabirdy@gmail.com
Thank you.
Your daughter is incredibly beautiful. Thank you for the sweet reminder to enjoy those moments that can seem so annoying, but don't last near long enough.
Stephanie is an awesome person to ask about fasting! Her incredible testimony and way with words makes any topic understandable. Teach us Steph...
We "married off" our second beautiful daughter in the SLC temple just today. What a wonderful experience. (Darleen did her earrings) I just want to tell you that I couldn't have said it better... love and admire. Teach them their infinite worth.
Our children grow up so fast and there is nothing more gratifying for parents of newly married daughters (sons too) than that of new in laws who love your child as much as we, as parents, do!
We have been blessed and sweet Sabrina will too. As all your daughters will/have.
Great post.
Thank you so much for reminding me of the special spirits I live with. Sometimes in all the rushing of my life, I forget how important they are. Through your trials, five little kids in the middle of Montana are getting a bigger and better part of me. Thanks for having the courage to put yourslef out here for me. May God bless you.
She is indeed such a special child. I hold a special place in my heart for her and the memories of being her teacher. Thank you for your thoughts, as always I am touched and shed a lil tear.
That was beautiful. Little girls are so special. I loved your thoughts on Sabrina and your other daughters as they will grow. Makes me think of mine. They are such treasures.
I know I have said this before, but I adore the amzing photos you have. You have an amazing talent!
What a beautiful tribute to your oldest daughter. She is very beautiful and I especially love the 2nd photo of her with her eyes closed. Thank you for reminding me to hold my own sweet daughter who just turned 6 a little more, because like you said, the time will come when she doesn't want to snuggle and doesn't want me around so much. I hope it is a long time before that comes for both you and me.
A dear friend of mine taught me to pray for my children's future spouses as well as my children. So that those they can and will meet will be of high standards, tempered spirits and deep motivation for good, righteousness and tender loving care of those in their charge. I had never thought of praying for their future spouse - but it comforts me in my soul to know that I can pray for something so important and I hope my children's future spouses parents are praying for my boys too.
Keep taking time for the moments - so they don't all slip away without making memories in them.
Ahhhhh! This post had me up last night stressing about the men my daughters would marry! I'm crazy! I wish there could be a pause button for moments in life!!! I'm sure you do too. I guess all I can do is my best at teaching my girls and then the rest is up to them. Luckily they have a good daddo to look up to, just like your girls! I remember Sabby when she was just little little wobbling around. I LOVED her curly locks!
What a beautiful post. Thank you for reminding me to cherish these days, and my children. Your daugter's are all absolutely beautiful.
Stephanie,
I admire you sharing your thoughts about Sabrina's future (and the man who get to share it). I've done the same thing-snuggling with my children--but with a twist. You see, I have 4 boys. Often, as I spend time next to them, I wonder what I can do to help them become the most deserving young men, to help them be worthy of the kind of wonderful young ladies you are raising. Are they going to make it unscathed? I sure hope so. I pray every day for that! And I also pray that their wives may be spared some of the heartache I've shared with the Savior.
Yeah, there will be a deserving young man out there for your girls...because there are mothers like you, and like me, teaching their children by example and with the Lord's help.
Char
As I was reading this post I was listening to the song by Trace Atkins, "You're gonna miss this". I often think about my children growing and leaving the house. I do not look forward to that. (Well, sometimes I do) :) I too hope that my children choose worthy spouses and that they will love them the way Heavenly Father would have them be loved. Thank you for the reminder to cherish these precious moments.
I have cherished every moment I've had laying next to my sleeping children. It's amazing how much easier it is to appreciate then when they're sleeping sweetly. And I've had the same thoughts about my daughter's future as you have. I've been extraordinarily lucky in my choice of a husband, but I so easily could have made a much worse choice. I made that choice based on a feeling, and what I HOPED were answers to prayers, not just my own emotions, but it has taken the experience of years for me to see all the reasons he was the right choice. I understood so little about what would make a good husband and father, and I'm just very fortunate that he turned out to be amazing at both. I hope and pray that having such a great dad will help my girls when they make their choice, but now I understand why my dad used to always threaten to arrange our marriages!
Rachel Merrill
beautiful girls!
thanks for reminding me that they do grow too fast and to enjoy every moment I can xoxo
I miss those moments with my children, but occasionaly get to have that sweetness with grandchildren now. I have been blessed with the greatest husband anyone could ask for. I, too, have prayed for my children and their future spouses.
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