Hard Things...

The last few weeks we watched a good friend die. I watched his family- his wife and 3 children- stay by his side, lovingly giving him words of comfort and encouragement even though their hearts were breaking with grief. Real love is doing the hard things- for him, fighting a relentless disease with every fiber of his being in order to not leave his family without a provider/protector. For them it was letting him know that he can let go and return back to that God who gave him life... telling him they will be okay, even though they know they'll be lost without him. Real love was sitting together with him by his bedside, holding his hand as his body struggled to take his final rattling breaths. I saw real love standing together beside the coffin at the viewing, the teenage son bending down to kiss his father's brow. I heard real love as his wife asked, "Isn't he so handsome?" when others could only see a cancer ravaged body. This was real love that I witnessed these last few weeks, not a Hollywood type of love that comes and just as quickly goes. Real love bonds even tighter during the hard things, and that is what makes it eternal.

Why Jen's Loves?

I've decided to start a blog to express my gratitude for all the things I love. My first love (without this one all the others would be meaningless) is for my Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ, and the restored gospel on earth! Next is my family...my incredible husband, my wonderful children, the spouses and children of those who are married, and all of my extended family. Related to this second love is the love I have for being an at-home-mom. I love all that there is about it! I loved being there for my kids, and still being available for them if they need me when they are away from home. I love the challenge of "Thrifty Living" and trying to economise in helping my husband with the finances. I love making my home a piece of heaven on earth, creating an atmosphere of peace, joy, love, and beauty. I love to use my talents, especially art, to bring those things and people around me in my paintings. I plan to use this blog to show my art, express my feelings about those things that I love, and write those ideas that have helped me as an at-home-mom. Hopefully it will do others as much good as it has done for me!

Never Too Late!

Yesterday I graduated from Brigham Young University Idaho with a Bachelor of Science in Art/Integrated Studio Studies/2-D emphasis. It took me 12 years from start to finish, and I am now 50 years old. I've overheard students talking about getting certain things done in their life before they were 40 and too old to enjoy it- saying this as though 40 years old was practically dead. I wish we could understand when we are young that being older and wiser is a lot better than young and foolish. I waited to go back to school so I could be home to raise my children. To me, they were the most important mission of my life- more important than degrees, more important than a career, and much more important than working just to get out of the house and feel "fulfilled." I loved every minute of my life as an at-home-mom! The only thing that I regret is that I wasn't always as patient as I should have been, and that I can't do it all over again, reliving each moment and relishing them with as much joy as possible. Now, when I have more time I can do a little of those things that I wanted to do and I definately don't feel like I'm going to die any time soon. Life is wonderful!