Lady Cady

Faith * Family * Life

Family

The Life of a Bishop’s Wife

My husband is currently serving as the Bishop in our ward. Some Sundays it’s hard to tell who is more tired at the end of the day – him or me! I always knew that the calling of Bishop was a hard, busy calling (and I think he’s doing a great job!!) but once I became a Bishop’s Wife, I gained a whole new appreciation for all the Bishop’s wives out there! Especially the ones with younger kids at home, like in our family. This is definitely not the easiest phase of life I’ve ever been in, and we may not be seeing all the blessings now, but I know Heavenly Father is aware of our sacrifices and the blessings will come.

While at church I sat and smiled
And watched my husband for a while
He took your tithing, shook your hands
Quietly listened to your plans
And then at 10, with humble heart
He took his seat so we could start
Then after prayers and three talks too
He once again shook hands with you
He chatted with the youth some more
Then walked with them there out the door
At 11:05 he started to teach
Listened kindly and didn’t preach
12 o’clock was time for home
But with our four I drove home alone.
For he must stay and meet with some –
We won’t see him until he’s done.
I’ve spent the day with our Four,
I got them ready and out the door:
Waited for shoes to all be found,
I’ve chased our toddler all around.
Calmed our deacon from his fright
Of passing the sacrament just right.
Combed the wild, tangled curls
Of our only baby girl
Rocked the baby as he slept.
And listened to your talk and wept
Grateful for the Savior more
Then I’ve ever been before.
Once my husband gets home too
We’ll read and study something new
Come Follow Me time for the week,
More like Christ is what we seek.
And with our toddler on his lap
My husband tries now not to nap.
Later after we all eat,
But before it’s time to sleep,
We snuggle up and watch a show.
Then it’s prayers and bed we go.
It’s goodnight to my Favorite Five –
I feel the luckiest alive.
Life’s not easy, no it’s not.
But I’m grateful for my lot.
Blessings come in many ways
Even on the hardest days.
We made it through another day,
Another crazy, busy Sunday.
This won’t always be my life
But for now, I’m the Bishop’s wife.

What a Blessing is Each Day

A few weeks ago we celebrated my two oldest kids birthdays. This year we celebrated each birthday while camping, which was an adventure… I can’t believe how fast they are growing! I am now a mom to a teen/tween/toddler/baby. My oldest kids have birthdays that are just two days apart so it sometimes makes for a crazy week! I decided to start a tradition this year of writing my kids a special poem for their birthdays. While I’m not going to share those here, this one came to me while reflecting on our week and we embarked on our epic drive home. 🙂

What a blessing is each day
To watch my children grow and play
To hear them laugh and hear them squeal
What they think is a big deal
To help them learn to make good choices
to hear their tender little voices
To see their art and towers too
And with them find out something new
To see their forts ‘neath woods so tall
To watch them kick and throw their ball
To camp with them beneath the stars
Crawl on the floor and play with cars
To snuggle on the couch at night
And give them hugs when caught in fright
To watch the bugs crawl on the ground
To see their joy when stuff is found
To make with them some cookies, yum
And watch them eat them one by one
To go with them to brand new places
To wipe their smudgy, dirty faces
To teach them how to clean a mess
To teach them how to get all dressed
To see the breeze blow through the trees
To help them pray while on their knees
To give them rides upon my back
to make each one a mid day snack
And while the years go way to fast
I’m glad for memories that last
How glad I’ll be to look back one day
That I watched them grow and play.

The Daughter of a Queen

This past week was Girl’s Camp in our Stake and while I am not currently serving in Young Women’s or have a daughter yet old enough to go, I do have a husband who was invited to Bishop’s night. I love making treats for the Youth so I made several batches of Chocolate Chip Treasure Cookies courtesy of Mel’s Kitchen Café and a couple batches of Rice Krispy Treats, also courtesy of Mel, and I bagged them up all nice and cute like and tied them up with a ribbon, and this poem I was inspired to write last week.
Then off they went with my husband to the crazy experience that is Bishop’s Night at Girls Camp. In it’s own special way, this was my way of testifying to the Young Women (and now to you) that even if we don’t fully understand it yet, we are beloved Sons and Daughters of Heavenly Parents, who love us deeply. And we are much happier when we never forget it.

Last night I had a lovely dream-
I was the daughter of a queen.
With soft and flowing locks of hair,
And a heart that always, always cared.
And when I felt her warm embrace
I knew this was my favorite place.
Arm in arm we talked awhile.
Arm in arm she made me smile.
Many things she taught me there,
Many things with such great care.
Not only how to be a queen,
But also things that are unseen.
Like how to have a loving heart,
And make the right choice from the start.
Best of all she told me how
to make it through the hard times now
By never, ever letting go
Of my faith, and things I know
And trusting in the Lord’s Great Plan
And not the many ways of Man.

As with the dreams beneath the moon,
I found the new day far too soon.
Missing greatly that great place.
Missing greatly that kind face.
So in the morning on my knees
I begged for much “Remembrance Please”.
Then the spirit spoke to me
And I remembered faithfully
That while a veil may be in place,
And I don’t remember each great face,
Heavenly Parents wait for me.
Heavenly Parents hope for me.
That I’ll make it through the hard times now,
And make it back to them somehow.
To sit beside them way up there,
To sit beside their Golden Chairs.
And while down here it may not be seen,
I am the daughter of a King.
I am the daughter of a Queen.

A History Book – For Toddlers!

I recently came across this book. It’s called The Tuttle Toddler’s ABC’s of the American Revolution and it’s a history/ABC book for Toddlers! I love learning about the history of our country during the American Revolution. It’s one of my absolute favorite time periods to study and so I was excited for this find to begin teaching my two Littles all about it as well! Bonus – they are also learning the letters of the Alphabet. I love effective multitasking…

But back to the book. I’ve become a bit wary of many “History” books anymore, as so much is changed or interpreted and told as “history” rather than the truth of how things really happened. This book though is great! My older two kids, who actually know a lot about this time in history already, often sit and listen when we’re reading them too. They like to add in details that aren’t mentioned. It is a board book after all. 🙂 I love that I’m laying a strong foundation for my kids education. That’s something that’s important to me.

There are two other books in the series as well – The Tuttle Toddler’s ABC’s of Liberty and The Tuttle Toddler’s ABC’s of Economics. I’m sure you can take a guess at what each of them are about. They are great too! So if you are looking for some fun board books for your kids that teach about history, economics, and liberty, be sure and check these books out!

Little Boys

I’m a mom to three cute/sweet/crazy/adventurous boys – well the youngest is still a baby but he’ll be having adventures with his brothers soon enough. Each day brings new surprises (and a need for chocolate…) but despite all of it. I wouldn’t give up even one single moment – even the ones I feel like pulling my hair out. 🙂

Little boys with all their toys,
Their messy faces and their noise.
The jumps and tumbles that they take,
The laundry messes that they make.
In the yard, each dump truck tire,
Sunk down deep in muck and mire.
The flips and flops off my new chairs,
The things they tumble down the stairs.
Their tender kisses and their hugs,
And the way they capture bugs.
The balls that they can’t seem to find,
The rules that they can’t seem to mind.
Pictures of their smiling faces
That show up on my phone in places.
The afternoon of rough house play
And all that they forget to say.
Cars that race across the floor,
The always open back porch door.
Blocks that like to stack up tall
Crumbs all over, oh so small.
Despite the crazy each day brings,
I’d never trade it for the Things.
How boring would the quiet be
Without the boys I love with me.

A Thank You to Fathers

Anyone who is a parent understands what a thankless job it can be at times. We never know how much our parents sacrifice for us or all the many things they do for us. Have you ever pondered on that thought? Moms and dads really are priceless. This poem was inspired by my hard working husband and my own father. And to them I say “Thank You for all you do.”

Fathers do you know how much we love and cherish you?
We thank you for the hard work and the loving things you do.
We thank you for the jokes you tell that keep us all in tears.
We thank you for the hugs you give that chase away our fears.
We thank you for the shoulder rides that made us feel so tall.
We thank you for the books you read when we were oh so small.
We thank you for your patience when you taught us how to drive.
We thank you for showing us the things that we should strive.
We thank you for the pancakes and the summer barbecues.
We thank you for not getting mad at loosing favorite shoes.
We thank you for the things you made for each and one of us.
We thank you for the rides you gave in Glamorous Family Bus.
We know there isn’t any way we can show how much we care.
We hope we never go astray – for you we wouldn’t dare.
For you have loved and laughed and taught and everything you could.
If that’s how much our father’s feel, then why ever would we should?
For in the many quiet ways you cherish and you love,
We also see the perfect love sent down from Him Above.
And in those quiet moments that we very often see,
We come to understand how important you are to be.