Someday My Prince Will Come...Upstairs

Lately Brandon and Katelyn have decided to exercise their free agency and have not been too compliant with "our" plan to get up early. Katelyn has always loved her bed, even when she was a little baby in her crib. Rarely would she cry for me to come and get her. Nothing has really changed. Even in her planner she schedules time to read in bed every morning. Brandon, however, learned how to jump out of his crib at 18 months old and has been an early riser ever since. Until now. He must be growing, or staying up too late reading, or something. I am sooo tired of nagging the kids, so I've decided to sing instead. I know, that's even worse than nagging, but I'm trying to be creative about it.

This morning I sang "Someday my prince will come...upstairs" from Snow White. I've also tried "And in the east, the dawn is breaking, and the world is waking, come and eat your breakfast" from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. There's also, "Who will eat my wonderful breakfast?" to the tune of "Who will buy my sweet red roses?" from Oliver. My favorite is the BYU fight song, "Rise and Shout the Cougars Are Out!" When I get to "rah, rah, rah rah rah" I'm right over their heads while they pull the covers up.

It's so much fun that I once broke out into "It's a Hard Knock Life For Us" from Annie when they complained about chores. Katelyn didn't appreciate "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile" when she scowled at me.

The truth is, we each have a choice to make the minute we wake up. Who will we serve? When I sing, I am making the choice. I will not give in to discouragement. I will not succomb to the temptation to feel sorry for myself. I will not be the source of the contention. For many days in a row, days that were particularly tough for me, I sang "Oh How Lovely Was the Morning." Each time, there came into our home a feeling of loveliness, an added source of power we so desperately needed.

We sing hymns every morning now, without fail. I have witnessed amazing things as we have sung them together. Yesterday we sang "For the Beauty of the Earth" at our morning devotional. I watched Brandon's countenance completely change when we sang the words "For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child." He went from anger at me, to complete meekness and asked for forgiveness. For our family, music makes all the difference. It is the literal harmony that we are seeking. Music is a powerful tool. It is my secret weapon. Of course, Brandon is using it against me--payback for my early morning singing. I had his violin songs (the Disney Spectacular) in my head all day and all night. I dream the music. Nothing like "Chim chimeree, chim chimeree, chim chim cheroo" at 3 am. Oh, well, I guess it's only fair. No wonder I wake up with Snow White in my mind!!

Happy Mothers' Day

It was such a busy day yesterday that I didn't get a chance to wish all of the mothers in my life a "Happy Mothers' Day." I have been thinking of all of you and how you are the angels that watch over and inspire me. I am speaking of my dear friends, sisters, sisters-in-law, mother-in-law, and, of course, you, Mom. Thank you all for teaching me how to love and nurture, how to be patient, how to keep trying, and how to laugh when you really feel like crying.

I've had a special place in my heart this month as it has been one year already since my "Russian mother", Alla, passed away. I miss her and pray for the family she left behind. She was very close to my heart, even though she lived so far away.

Thank you, Mom, for always being there. For loving and supporting me through all my hard moments and celebrating with me in the small victories. Thank you for loving my children so much. You help me see them in the right perspective. From you I've learned not to be so worried, to have more faith in them, and to just enjoy them and love them. Thank you for listening and helping to ease my burden. I don't know what I would do without you. I love you!