Whenever I'm home on vacation (i.e. not employed) I take on the role of Mom's shadow/personal assistant. I tag along everywhere, and we both love it. I love taking mental notes as I watch her fill the roles of mother, Relief Society President, loving daughter, and friend. Her capacity to love and serve is amazing to me. The more I watch her, the more I see how completely her days are driven by service. I feel so grateful to be able to be motivated by her energy and talents.Though Dad was working during the week, I got to spend time with him and have some good conversations. I love hearing his advice. It's always good. Like him.
Being home also reaffirmed my love and admiration for my younger siblings. John is toughing out the challenges of high school right now. As I watch him dedicate himself to seminary, church, and the Priesthood amidst so many adverse influences, I am so proud of him. He's wonderful. He's also a great musician. I love being home where I can hear his guitar and piano practicing on a regular basis. (Though I do not enjoy his absent-minded strummings while we're watching a movie or tv show.)
Sarah freaks me out when I go home now. Aside from being almost as tall as I am, she starting to wear makeup and put serious thought into her style choices. I also love seeing her embrace the youth program at church and start to grow into herself. I love that our friendship is developing.
I also love the reactions she gives to my not infrequent puns and stupid faces. Apparently even 6th-graders are too cool for me. She'll learn.I don't even remember what I said/did to warrant the reaction documented below:
On Thanksgiving, we had friends the Trumans and the Jibsons over for dinner. Linda Jibson is a beautiful woman and a wonderful friend to Mom, me, and our whole family. She is another woman who has dedicated her life to service. We have been the beneficiaries of her love for a while now, and I feel so blessed to be her friend. Mom and Linda's friendship is so selfless and loving. They see each others needs and fill them; it's a good thing to be around.
My family is full of superheroes to me. My friends are amazing. I love being home.
3 comments:
Okay Emily, this post made me cry right from the start because of "its lack of Charlottes". But then you continued with your beautiful writing and sweet examples of your mother's service and talents. You are very wise to make yourself her shadow and personal assistant...we should all be so lucky!
Seriously. The paragraph about being your mom's shadow/personal assistant hurts my heart. Her capacity to love and serve is amazing to me as well, and her energy and talents are boundless!
So glad you were able to spend quality time with family and friends. But the lack of Charlottes is so sad.
Wow. That's just about all I can say, except that I'm the lucky one to have you following me around, and YOU are the supreme example of service to me.
I LOVE that picture of Linda and I, as well as your fitting tribute to her. I concur.
I just can't wait until you're home for Christmas and we can start following each other around again!
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