cough syrup and buckets by beds.

What a beautiful week. My school work is piled high and behind schedule. Matthew's desk is probably piled as high at work. The first and second grade homework and assignments will come pouring in when they go back to school, and we'll go through a struggle to get everyone into the old routine. The Burden of Disease in our household is high.
But we've never been closer. We finished reading The Book of Mormon together, and also had time to read the second book in a new favorite series as a family. Anyone whose love language is quality time is feeling very content. Those who crave acts of service have been sufficiently filled. The babies who desire physical touch have been snuggled to capacity and the resulting kind words and moments to share gratitude have toped off the words-of-affirmation tanks. Grandparents have swooped in to bring meals and valentines prizes, filling the need for gifts as an expression of love. We might be short on energy, but there's no lack of love in this house.

We look to be on the mend. I hope that we can resist the distractions that would keep us from consistently showing love in all the ways that we can.

"And now, because ye are compelled to be humble blessed are ye; for a man sometimes, if he is compelled to be humble, seeketh repentance; and now surely, whosoever repenteth shall find mercy; and he that findeth mercy and endureth to the end the same shall be saved. [Also] blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble." (Alma 32:13, 16)