Recalculating

Yesterday in R.S. meeting, a sister made a comment about her Tom Tom (GPS Navigation System) Her point was that she appreciated that when she missed her turn or exit, instead of yelling at her, "Why didn't you turn? Are you stupid. You might as well go back home if you can't figure it out!" (or something like that.) Instead, it thinks for a minute and then recalculates and moves on. And she compared that to parenting. How she wishes that many times throughout raising her kids, she wished that she could have paused to think, made adjustments, let things go and just move on. Unconditionally forgiving, like our Father in Heaven. Not badger her kids, bring them down, or get too upset too quickly. But instead, strive to be encouraging and bolstering to pick up the pieces, etc and just move on. So to speak.

I've thought about that A LOT since then. What a wonderful insight. My new agenda...to be thoughtful, kind, slow to rebuke and forgiving...just like Geof, my GPS. ***inside joke. when we were expecting June and not knowing whether she was pink or blue, we needed two names. So my brother Dale suggested for a boy, Geof Patrick so his initials would be GPS. Well, that didn't work out so I named the GPS Geof instead***
Of course this only works if you turn off the u-turn feature.
Otherwise it will be the kind of parent I'm trying to avoid. "Make a U-Turn. As soon as possible, make a U-Turn! Why can't you figure this out!!" Etc.
Not Pretty

Another GPS story for your reading pleasure but mostly so that I'll remember it:

Late last week I decided to venture to downtown Portland. Not something I usually do on my own (without my other GPS, the Husband) But when I do go solo, I am extremely grateful for that fine navigation system. I get so nervous downtown. With all the one-ways, and light rails, pedestrians and crazy traffic. Even though my GPS tries his hardest to tell me where and when to turn, somehow I still mess it up...BAD! As I did this trip. With all the excuses in the world, I COULD NOT figure out how to get back on the freeway after I somehow got off of it - with out trying to. *don't judge, its pretty hard to concentrate when I've got back, back seat drivers and screaming, singing, laughing, crying from 4 silly toddlers all at once*** After awhile, I told the boys that they were just going to have to say a prayer to Heavenly Father that I would be able to figure out how to get us back on the freeway so we could get home. They both asked what they should say. So I made some suggestions and I turned around to see both of them with their arms folded, eyes scrunched and praying that mom could get them home. Instantly, I was able to make the turn I needed and get on the freeway. So of course I yelled, "It worked! You boys prayed to Heavenly Father for me and it worked! He heard your prayers and answered them soooo fast. He must really love you crazy kids!" They were ecstatic over it. And couldn't wait to get home and tell dad all about it. So inspiring. These little rotten are so incredibly close the the Spirit. How I long for that, too. They get so excited about the simplist gosple principles and are eager to put them in action.

While we're at it...another story:

Lane is such a good helper to me. He plays the role of oldest quite well, a little too well at times but that's not for now.
Back to the positive attributes of being the oldest.
He always takes Nora's hand when we are walking to and from the car without even being asked. I've always made my kids hold hands so that's nothing new, I just appreciate that he does it without be asked.
Anyway, yesterday as we were walking out of church, Lane held Nora's hand to the car. When we got inside he said, "When we touch Nora, she feels our love! Just like when Jesus touches us, we feel his love!' And Kyle pipes in with, "And when we touch Jesus, he feels our love!"
I LOVE, love, love sweet little toddler spirits. Don't you?