Many times I've sat me down,
And oft have sweet refreshment found*
In reading of those days of old
From journals written and stories told:
The memory of a child's woe,
Perhaps a challenge with a foe;
Success in learning something new
That once had seemed too hard to do.
A tender moment with a newborn child;
Perhaps a party that got too wild!
Piano concerts, spelling bees,
Lost back packs, scraped-up knees.
The first haircut, the first day of school,
The first time a perfect child breaks a rule.
The first campout, the first big date;
When you know they've found their soul mate.
The mundane moments of raising kids
In years to come will seem like bliss.
So take a clue from one who seldom did write:
You won't regret recording something tonight!
As I read from letters faithfully saved by my sweet mother-in-law, Hallie, I realized that some precious memories would have been lost to me if she hadn't saved my occasional letters to her. Since I've always been sporadic about keeping a regular jounal, the day-to-day happenings I wrote about in letters would have evaporated had she not saved them.
A few tidbits gleaned:
10 May 1983
Keven didn't mention that Joy treated us to Chinese food did he? He missed out because of meetings - the rest of us had a good time! The kids were kind of rowdy, but the management didn't kick us out, so maybe it wasn't as bad as it seemed.
Ayrel is really growing. She is getting tall and is taking on more of her own look. She's trying to scoot - not too effectively yet. When Mish walks by she'll grab hold and ends up with a fistfull of cat hair. She has a real thing for her dad. The other night I was rocking her by our bed. He fell asleep and missed all the cooing and singing she dedicated to him. It was a precious moment. This morning she sat in her high chair and sang to the sunshine. The other kids are totally infatuted with her. It's lovely.
Soren's goldfish died yesterday. He was such a sad little fellow. He made sure it was properly buried out under our new little Mexican elder tree. Sven was so sweet and offered to give Soren his own. Soren has decided to buy a new one instead.
Sonja and Brei are picnicking. They have packed a little lunch of toast, carrots, jicama and cracked nuts to eat out front. They are busy little ladies.
Thank you for the roller skates. Everyone is thrilled, and great efforts are being made to master the round, round wheels and preserve the sore, sore bottom ends. My bets have been placed on Sonja to come in 1st, although Sven is making great headway. Soren was in mourning yesterday and didn't spend as much time as the others.
6 May 1987
We hope you will enjoy these pictures - of course the children are much cuter than a picture could ever depict! They were all involved in a Primary Talent Show yesterday, fun for everyone. Soren played his fiddle; Sven was a comedian in a skit; Sonja and Brei did a folk dance; Ayrel and Tanja clapped wildly for everyone, kin or not.
3 March 1997
Ayrel and Brei traveled with the youth to Mesa for the ward temple trip. One bus was charterd to take 37 kids and 7 brave chaperons. The bus broke down on the way, and they limped into the truck stop on the Arizona border. They waited there 5+ hours for another bus to take them to Mesa; by then the temple should have been closed but they waited for our kids to come and do the work. It was a pretty special temple experience. They arrived home after 4am Sunday morning - it was interesting to me that the adults looked LOTS better at church than any of the kids!
More than once I have said that I wish I could have one day a year with my children being little again, just to savor moments like these, but these little bits and pieces of the past are almost as good.
Thank you, Mom Jensen!
*Sorry Kelly J., I couldn't resist! In another post I will do justice to your classic ode.
