Thanks and thoughts

A highlight of our week together was a chance to house-sit for our dear friends and spend some quality time with our little family. We owe them immensely for the use of their snuggle-couches and home theater (plus we finished half of their candy bowl).

(Duke and I, in love)

(Iggy running away from me as fast as he can, ignoring my call)

"I, the Lord your God, am not displeased with your coming on this journey, notwithstanding your follies." (Doctrine and Covenants 111:1)

What a comfort unfolded itself to me through these words! I keep thinking about all the things that I'm goofing up these days, which makes me doubt the decisions that led our family here.

(Iggy on time-out; a common occurrence)

Disciplining a 17 month old stinks. I keep trying things that don't seem to be working, plus my parenting right now is so public and dysfunctional (living in my parents house with my husband gone). I chased him up and down the isles of church 8 or 9 times today, put him on my lap and let him scream out a tantrum, right there in the second row. I don't like to take him to the halls and let him goof around when he's misbehaving... but then, how many people does my parenting have to disturb? So many self-doubts come when kids are born.

(Me in a moment of total pregnant-parenting desperation)

Note: I hated the above picture when I first saw it, but now I think it's sort-of a treasure. A piece of history, of my current climb. Proof, for later, that I can do hard things.

Although we may run across wrinkles in our maps, the path we originally chose and charted is usually still suitable. Once we iron the creases we can continue.

(He is worth it)

And I am happy on this journey we've chosen.