What I Want To Remember

Dear Kids,

Today. What do I want to remember about today?

I want to remember your dad looking at me and saying, "Want me to take the kids swimming to give you a couple hours by yourself?" 
I want to remember having a wonderful conversation with my mom... and oh how I love my mom!
I want to remember reading the Book of Mormon today and cried a bit about how prophetic it is for the day I live in.
I want to remember first thing this morning when Talia said, "Mom! Can I go ride my bike?", bouncing with joy because she can do it by herself since yesterday.
I want to remember Elijah running back and forth to me from the front door, over and over again to give me hugs.
I want to remember telling Gabe a memory I had about him and how he threw his head back and laughed and laughed.
I want to remember the sunshine and the beauty.

Don't get me wrong... there are a lot of things about today that I don't want to remember. It wasn't all roses and sweetness. Like the dishes piled up, not feeling like doing the laundry (again), Gabe getting mad at me this morning, taking Elijah back and forth and back and forth and back and forth to time out until he stopped throwing things at me, the newly found marker on the wall, the unmade bed, the defiance of Talia and holding my temper for a time (then not being successful and handling it wrong with her), feeling exhausted and not keeping my eyes open...

I feel like lately it has been so easy to get done with my day and be frustrated by everything I haven't done. Reminding myself of everything that was accomplished. Tonight, I am choosing to focus on the first, what was done, the smiles that were given, the hugs that did happen, the love that was shown.

What I focus on expands. Focus on my frustration, it expands. Focus on my kids joy, it expands. Focus on my husbands love, it expands. Focus on my sons temper, it expands. Focus on my discouragement, it expands. Focus on my talents, they expand. Focus on having the spirit in my life, it expands.

That is a life long lesson kids.

I love you,

Your Mom