It won't be like this forever

Today was a wonderful day. My friend Michelle generously offered to let Ryn and Elle come play with her and Mary so I could have a day of ease at home alone with Eden. As I looked around at all the things I could spend the few precious hours on, I thought about how much I could do every day if I didn't have these little people who needed my attention and love every single second. I got to indulge in reading the Ensign, taking an unhurried shower and skipping lunch because I didn't have to make it for anyone! It was a much needed and appreciated break, but I was excited to pick up the girls by the time the afternoon came. You see, there is nothing I can "get done" without them that matters as much as what I feel and do and become when I'm with them.


When I got to Michelle's she commented on how much work it really is to have little ones who need that constant attention. There's always something they need, or they're getting into, or mess they've made, etc. I laughed and agreed and put the girls in the car to go pick up Kevin from work. I was sitting at a stop light reflecting on these things when I heard a most unwelcome sound from the back--Elle had thrown up all over herself and her car seat. I just laughed as we cleaned it up, thinking, "Yep, there's always something...." :)

And then, as we were driving home together, listening to the complete array of toddler sounds (whines, screams, laughter, singing, and adorable phrases in tiny voices), Kevin turned the radio to a country station (sorry, Joy :) ) for some distraction music everyone could dance to. The song was one I hadn't heard, but could identify with immediately, especially today. A father was singing about the hard moments of parenthood--the sleepless nights with a newborn, the crying and clinging toddler who won't let you leave them at school--and how you take hope in the knowledge that it won't be like this forever. But then the father remembers, as I did today, that "it won't be like this forever" means that every stage will be over all too quickly, and therefore should be cherished instead of just endured or wished away. Kevin and I just looked at each other and smiled through the tears we both had in our eyes.

So, to Michelle or anyone else who might feel pity for the amount of work I have to do every day, please don't. Because as much as Kevin and I wish that it could, it won't be like this forever.

gifts from above

Here are some wonderful gifts we've been given: our 3 angels and beautiful photos from a generous and talented friend....

Life's a song and dance :)

A few little joys of life with girls include the huge amounts of singing and dancing that go on constantly. Last night Ryn was setting the table and, in between each placement of a fork or a spoon, she would do a graceful leap to the next spot with arms outstretched. I was too slow to get the video going in time, but maybe we'll see that again :). And right now, as I'm typing this, she is reading me a story and, in between each page, she is standing up and twirling the book around.

Elle was giving her Ward Tour on Sunday in the halls at church. She slept during Sacrament Meeting and was unhappy and unwilling to go to nursery when she woke up. Kevin had her out in the hall to calm her down and she saw the Primary's bulletin board display on temples. Immediately, she started singing "I Love to See the Temple" and a few sisters were within hearing distance and started a crowd. With every new person that stopped to listen, Elle would oblige them by starting over and then end each rendition with a curtsy. It is a pretty funny sight to see such a tiny little thing singing full songs, completely on key. No worries about stage fright, either. She eats up that spotlight. :) But she also doesn't mind sharing it--often in the middle of any song she's singing she will pause and launch the invitation, "Sing with me!"

Another cute moment was the first lunch time that we had together, just us 4 girls. I had Eden in her bouncy seat up on the table where she could see Ryn, Elle, and I. As we started to say the prayer, Ryn explained what Eden needed to do in her cute Mommy voice, "Eden, when we say the prayer, you need to fold your arms and close your eyes."

And last night, Elle and I were lying down on the couch, reading books. I sat up to go help with dinner and she said in her most commanding 21-month-old manner, "Hey! Come back here!"

And so I greet each busy, non-stop day with these songs in my heart :).

Michelle's turn!

For those of you who do not yet know or haven't heard us talk about our sweet friend Michelle, here is your chance and her turn.

What do we mean by her turn? Well let us delve into some of what we like to call her Robin Hood traits.

She is always giving--of her time, her talents and her love. And not just to her own sweet family but to countless numbers of people that have been touched by her goodness. You see, Michelle has a gift for writing and for photography (just to name a few). On her marvelous blog and through her insight, (which can be found in newspaper columns, church magazines and the site Segullah) she is always showcasing the good and wonderful things that happen in the lives of others and then shares them with everyone that follows her. In many, many ways touching so many people--just like Robin hood, she takes the good that is happening and shares it with the poor (or poor in spirit) lifting us all to greater heights. Just take a spin through some of the comments left on her blog, sometimes by complete strangers, and you will see her powerful influence for good. (And let's not forget the many adorable girly hand-me-down clothes that she showers down upon our girls!)

So we thought--"Hey, it's Michelle's turn, it's time someone showcased you!"

Michelle and Erik, her funny,sporty super hubby, have 5 energy loaded boys and the adorable little miss Mary. They are amazing parents, friends, and neighbors.

We experienced the famous phrase, "If you want to know someone, walk a mile in their shoes."
A while back Michelle and Erik decided to take a very, very rare little trip together, just the two of them. You see they are the type of parents that love and cherish their children so much that they want to share every good thing with them. We can relate to this because, just like them, we would be thinking the whole time on a vacation alone, "ah man the kids would love this, we wish they were here." So they asked us to watch their kids while they were gone. We believe that a true testament not just to the type of parents you are but also the type of people you are is seen through your children. And these kids are gems! So sweet and loving, so generous and kind--just like their mom and dad.

Michelle is the type of person that will juggle a full day of 6 kids going to and from different schools all day long and still find the time for a morning workout, early morning scripture study group(hosted at her home), a photo session with a newborn, a new blog post, making meals, sports and music lessons for the kids, and taking in our two little busy bodies while we tended to our newborn baby girl---and much more....and......through all this, LOVE!

Yep, and then even at the risk of her own fatigue, frustrations and normal human failures she finds the time and finds a way to fit just one more person in and sometimes many more. Like Robin Hood who would risk his own safety and life to give to the needy and poor...Michelle seems to have a natural gift for reaching out to others and giving of herself. She definitely lives by the motto--" For Whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it." Luke 9:25

To give you an idea of how much we love Michelle: our girls will jump up and down and sometimes even bonk a head in sheer excitement when they hear or see her. Michelle and Erik and Mary are often included in our little girls' prayers and just the other day Ryn was singing the family song..." We love Mommy, she loves me, we love Daddy yes sir-ree..." and so on. Her second verse consisted of " We love Michelle, she loves me, we love Erik and Mary yes sir-ree." Her positive influence is felt. You can't trick our little girls--if it's not genuine they know it, and with Michelle it's genuine!

This little tribute does NO justice to all that can be said about Michelle but we wanted to at least let people know this much. We only wish we were as gifted as she is with the camera to capture the love and goodness of her and her family. Well, not yet anyway.......sorry Michelle we stole this from your blog :)....We love you and your amazing family, thanks for your friendship and love!

And thanks to your Robin Hood ways we are all much more Merry!

How God changes the world for good!

E.T. Sullivan wrote" When God wants a great work done in the world or a great wrong righted, he goes about it in a very unusual way. He doesn't stir up his earthquakes or send forth his thunderbolts.Instead, he has a helpless baby born, perhaps in a simple home out of some obscure mother. And then God puts the idea into the mother's heart, and she puts it into the baby's mind. And then God waits. The greatest forces in the world are not not the earthquakes and the thunderbolts. The greatest forces in the world are babies!" ( The Treasure Chest)




I have thought about this a lot but even more intently since baby Eden arrived. There is just something that happens when a helpless, new, innocent, pure baby is in your arms. The sound of their breathing, the rise and fall of their little chest and the delicious sound of their little grunts and moans. And is there anything more precious than when a baby erupts into a little cheerio yawn? I could go on and on about how easy it is to pass on a good nights sleep to just stare and admire this little piece of heaven lying in her crib.

The fact is that babies change people, and change them for the better. Tenderness, care and love spill out of the most rugged people as they cradle that helpless little body. God knew that he would be able to reconnect and touch the lives of His children here on earth by allowing them to care for, raise, worry over, teach, love and even discipline his little one's. After all isn't parenthood a small glimpse of what our Father in Heaven experiences everyday? The exquisite joy that a parent feels when their child chooses the right and the bitter suffering that comes with poor choices. I now know without a shadow of a doubt how much my parents love me and my siblings. The famous phrase that we all heard growing up " You will never know how much we love you until you have children of your own." was often followed by our "oh, brother" and rolling of the eyes! But, it is TRUE! I also have a greater understanding and appreciation for my Father in Heaven and for all that He has done for me and given me so that I might know who He is and of His infinite love for me. I also have a greater desire to please Him and bring Him as much joy as I can and try and limit the suffering and disappointment I might cause Him.



"Behold your little ones. Pray with them. Pray for them and bless them. The world into which they are moving is a complex and difficult one. They will face heavy seas of adversity. They will need all the strength and all the faith we can give them while they are near us. And they will also need a greater strength that can only come from a higher power.They must do more than just exist. They must lift the world! And the strength necessary to do so can only come from what we will teach them and from their testimonies and knowledge of God.

How much more beautiful would the world be if every father looked upon his children as his most precious assets and if every mother saw her children as the crown jewels of her life." Gordon B. Hinckley

Are we not blessed beyond comprehension as parents? After having tried and waited for 8 years to have children of our own I can now say that we are so very blessed to have these little ones in our hearts and homes. I am a better man, husband and human being because of my babies! And hopefully both I and my children will be a force of good and happiness in this world.

Proud Papa, Amazed Husband!

So here we are ----4 yrs ago the Dr's both here and in France were telling us to basically plan on adopting because Kit's "environment" was inhospitable and my boys needed a lot more than a life raft to get to were they needed to go! And after blessed Ryn opened the door we now are enjoying the miracle bliss of a new beautiful, chunky sleeping angel girl.
Eden Taylor Linkous was born Friday the 6th of February at 9:46 am. A healthy, exquisite 9lbs 20.5 in long.I will let Kit give more of the actual labor and birth details but I would like to share some of my fatherly/husbandly perspectives.
First of all, my wife is amazing. Not only is she beautiful and talented and sweet and generous (and has excellent taste in men:) but she has the strength and patience of 10 women. Thursday night I was supposed to coach our Y/M ward basketball game. Kit was between 5-10 minutes with contractions and so I thought I would call someone to cover for me. She said just go and coach them and then we can go to the hospital. I said okay, your the boss ( for all you men out there, if you haven't embraced this concept in everyday life, trust me,,,, embrace it whole heartedly during pregnancy)
When I got home we headed off to St Marks, where they informed us that we would need to do some laps around the hospital to help Eden come, 2hrs to be exact. My feet were aching after a while and there was my dear Kit as pregnant as can be bookin it and never complaining. I imagine that after 8 yrs of waiting to not just be a mother but to be able to know what it felt like to go through the whole bonding experience of being pregnant, she was not going to complain.
When Eden was born, in fact with each one of our sweet babies I have been amazed at the love and admiration I have for Kit and for her role in our Heavenly Fathers plan of bringing these spirits into this world. For her ability to teach, love, and care for them (and me, sometimes the biggest baby of the three:) she is amazing!! I am blessed!



The happy before photo's!

Isn't she breathtaking!

And Again!

Hospital marathon, for 2 hrs.

Here is EDEN!

Our best friend Michelle said it best...............

If your name is Eden you have to have your 1st pictures in the Garden Grandma Linkous created!

Need you even ask who captured this adorable moment? Yep you guessed right.............

The gifted,talented eye of Michelle....thanks for these amazing memories! Michelle and sweet Mary with Eden.

Some pre-delivery thoughts....

I've been thinking these last few days about many things. Yes, it's kind of the pregnancy scatter brain that keeps jumping from one thing to another, but it's also my soul getting prepared to greet this new life I'm helping to create.

On Sunday I was thinking how the end of a pregnancy is a little like waiting for the second coming of the Savior--no man knoweth the hour or the day :). But, for both, there are lots of signs that let you know that it is coming sooner than later and they push you to get as ready as possible. There is much to prepare--physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, and the more you prepare, the more confident you feel. You know, however, that even doing all in your power you will never be perfectly ready. There will still be qualities you haven't perfected and so many things to learn and so you surround yourself with people who can help you and you trust in the Lord's infinite mercy. And then when the big event actually happens, it brings you more joy than you could have ever imagined.

The other theme that keeps coming back to me is the need for patience and gratitude in every stage of my life (and this pregnancy). A week ago, I couldn't wait for Eden to come. The thought of her waiting til her due date of the 12th was unthinkable. I felt so huge and uncomfortable--with the most banal activities like trying to pick up something on the ground, sitting on the folding chairs at church, standing up, sleeping, etc. becoming almost impossible. All I could think was, "I can't wait for her to come!" Even though I still am excited to meet her and will definitely NOT miss the discomforts of the 9th month of pregnancy, I started realizing this week that the amount of sleep I will be getting once she gets here will be even less, I will no longer be able to just sit and enjoy a Sunday School or Relief Society lesson with no distractions :), and taking care of 3 is going to be a whole new adventure. So right now, I'm grateful for each day I have before her arrival and patiently enjoying the blessings of that day. When she comes, I will be grateful for all the new and wonderful blessings that she will bring.

And that will truly be any day now. The doctor told me this morning that he will be very surprised if she waits through this weekend!