I love you Mudder...

I have been wanting to make a "journal" entry for a while. The thing that originally attracted me to blogging is the idea that it is a way for me to keep track of our daily life, and my thoughts and feelings. So, I have been thinking a lot lately about my role in life, and what my priorities are. My words for the year....cherish, and childhood. My girls have been in such sweet little stages lately. Liv has been so sweet to me and her little sister, and Gwen is just so sweet, cute, content and happy all the time. I just look at them and my heart melts. To start, I want to document some of the things Liv has said and done lately.

• A few weeks ago: "Mommy, do you remember when Daddy said he is happy Heavenly Father sent me to our family?... Mommy, I'm glad Heavenly Father sent me to our family too."
• Last night as we were coming home from the gym: Gwen was fussing because she wanted Liv's teddy bear "Brownie", which just happens to be Liv's favorite toy ever, and she brought him especially for the car ride. I told Gwen she would just have to be patient until we got home (soon), and then turned around to face the front of the car..... I hear Gwen giggle, and calm down... I look back, and Gwen is holding Brownie. Liv said, "Gwen was sad because she wanted Brownie, so I gave him to her." My heart just melted and Brad and I told Liv how sweet that was, and Liv got a really dreamy pleased expression on her face.
• This morning: We were getting ready for church and I had ZERO patience. Liv was being a 3 year old, trying to be obedient, but getting a bit distracted, and I was wishing she had listened to what I asked....before I asked it =0). I was a kind of short with her, and then in the car, I said, "Liv, I'm sorry I was cranky with you this morning." and she replied, "Yeah......I'm so sad that you were feeling cranky." So sweet that she was sad about me not feeling happy =0). (I did hear a report from her primary teacher that Liv informed her I was Cranky this morning =0)..)
  
• Tonight as I was cuddling her before she fell asleep: "I love you Mudder," and then she gave me a little kiss on my fore head =0).

These thoughts lead me to something I heard yesterday. I went to a Church Leadership Broadcast in the morning. The topic was: "Raising up a righteous generation." It was lead by a couple of the Apostles: Elder Holland, and Elder Oaks. At some point, they discussed what the role of Homemaker meant to them. If someone asks me what I do for a living, I say, "I am a mom." I don't think I would have thought to tell someone I am a HOMEMAKER. What does it mean to be a homemaker? This discussion Yesterday made me PROUD to be a homemaker. A homemaker is not a cleaning lady, or a cook. It is my role to make our house a HOME. Yes, I think a HOME is ideally clean, and yes we have to eat.....but what is a HOME made of? I want our home to be a physical, spiritual, and emotional HAVEN from the world. It is a house of learning. A place my children will learn about life, the world, and GOD, and a place Brad and I will learn and study together. I really want it to be THE place our children want to be. I want it to be a place Brad comes home to and thinks...."AHHHHH, it's so nice to be home." A HOME is a place you feel love, and where you create MEMORIES. Silly memories that we will relive as our family unites for years to come. I think the word homemaker is one I have obviously heard, and probably never would have used, but with this new contemplation it makes me feel inspired. I makes me consciously think, "What should we do to make our house a HOME today??"