The Year of the Sunshine-Maker

I love fresh starts.  2012 for us was beastly and amazing.  There were too many hospital trips and expensive repairs, but Li Ya's birth changed everything into wonderful.  She is such a great and perfect addition to our family.

On the first Monday of 2013, we sat down for Family Home Evening and discussed three family goals for the year.  Mei Li came up with "no arguing."  We've since renamed the goal "be peacemakers."  Stephen came up with "keep the house clean everyday."  I have given up the dream of a clean house everyday.  I am happy if the house is clean at least once a week.  We renamed his goal "be happy helpers."  The third goal is to read the scriptures as a family daily.  We actually did a fairly good job of this in 2012, but there is always room for improvement.

In the late winter and early spring of 2012, I listened to the unabridged Little Women with my children while driving in the car.  Since I didn't drive very much, it took a while for us to finish it.  I loved all of it.  Marmee is my hero.  Everything she said was golden.  My favorite thing she said was to Meg when Meg was a busy young mother of twins.  "Go out more; keep cheerful as well as busy, --for you are the sunshine-maker of the family, and if you get dismal there is no fair weather."  I felt so comforted that I wasn't the only young mother to struggle with gloominess, even if that other mother is fictional.  So much of our family's success in achieving our goals depends on me.  My kids will have a hard time being peacemakers if I'm not peaceful.  They won't be happy helpers if I don't happily help them.

So far in 2013, I think we've done a good job of being more peaceful and helpful. I've tried to incorporate chore-time into our routine so they know what to expect and do it without complaint.  I've also done a better job of getting out of the house to have fun instead of just doing errands

Steve's tax season is upon us now.  Dinner and bed time without Steve is a circus.  At one point tonight, I was upstairs reading Mi Na her book, Li Ya was screaming in her bed, and Stephen was asking me to wipe his bum downstairs.   I'm sure every mother can relate in some way.  I can't meet everybody's needs at the same time, so I feel like I'm constantly asking for their patience.  I hope they don't resent that.  I eventually did put Mi Na to bed, wipe Stephen's bum, and feed Li Ya.  It's nice that Mei Li is pretty independent.

Throughout the day, I make sure to express gratitude for the small tender mercies from the Lord that lighten my load.  For example,  I love it when Li Ya burps soon after feeding, especially when I'm in a hurry to get somewhere.  I'm grateful when the milk carton isn't too full so Mei Li can pour it herself.  I'm grateful for breaks in the cold weather so I can go on walks and play at the park.

At the end of my life, I'm pretty positive that I will regard this stage as one of the sweetest.  All of our kids are here under one roof.  We are a complete family everyday.  We are so very blessed.  2013 is going to be a good year, I can feel it.