Gramma Betty

Our little family just returned from a six day trip to California.  Our trip was amazing & we were able to bid our farewell to Maligi Nua, I'll blog about it later.

After settling down from our drive, we were sitting in the living room watching TV.  Out of the corner of my eye I could see Ane jumping on the couch while smiling to the corner of our kitchen. I didn't think anything of this until she started waving and playing peek-a-boo.  She wasn't speaking, just making gestures.  I pointed her out to Sage & he asked "Ane, who are you playing with?" She sweetly, yet seriously replied "Gramma..."

Sage & I thought that was strange but figured that she was saying that because we had spent the past couple of days with his mom.  His mom, Heavenly, is Ane's favorite person in the world.  Ane mentions her but she's never pretended to talk to Heavenly when she isn't around.  We also thought it was strange that she would say that when her only deceased Grandma is her Great Grandma Betty.  Betty is Heavenly's mom who passed away when Heavenly was just a teen.  We've never really discussed her with Ane aside from a trip we took to her grave in Hawaii when Ane was just 18 months old.  Ane knows all of her living Great Grandmas & Grandmas & again, she's never pretended to communicate with them. 

Later while getting ready for bed Ane turned to me & said "Goodnight Mommy, I love you.." She then turned to Sage & said "Goodnight Daddy, I love you.." And then she looked at the foot of the bed & said "Goodnight Gramma, I love you!"  Sage & I then realized that she was communicating with someone or something.  Sage then said "Tell Gramma I say hi & tell her to tell Papa I said hi & that I love them..."  She then repeated what he said while continuing to look at the foot of the bed. We both were pretty moved by this & got a little emotional.  Ane then got up out of nowhere & gave Sage a big hug which I'm sure his Grandma told her to do.  

This morning Sage told Heavenly what had happened & she grabbed a picture of her mom.  She showed Ane the picture & said "Ane, who's this?" Without skipping a beat she replied "Gramma!"

How amazing that she knows who her Gramma Betty is when we've never shown her any pictures of her prior to this experience.  I've always believed that my girls have met their loved ones on the other side before coming to be a part of our family, this truly confirmed it.

"Try a little harder, to be a little better".... & quieter.

This week has been a challenge for me to say the least. I've been sick with the flu & it's been such a struggle. You don't realize what you've got til it's gone & in this case, it was my health. I'm thankful for the many days throughout the year that I'm in good health. These past few days have really opened my eyes that I need to be sure to take better care of myself because it effects more than just myself, it effects my entire family.

I initially got sick on Wednesday; body aches, fever, & cough... Well this cough eventually led to me losing my voice. Each day I would feel somewhat better but my voice has gotten progressively worse & worse.  On the fourth day of being sick & having basically no voice, I had realized how I not only had taken my health for granted but my voice as well.  This brought on the thought of how I've been using my voice.

Any mother can agree that having a 3 year old isn't an easy task. Most days I yell way more than I probably should to get my point across.  I have many things to work on when it comes to being a Mom but yelling is something I have found I need to fix.

I noticed that with no voice I wasn't able to raise my voice at Anelia when she'd do something wrong. As time has passed I noticed my voice was nearly all the way gone requiring me to whisper. I had spent so much of my day trying to shout at my daughter & this was the outcome. I then sat back & thought of one of my favorite yet simple quotes from Gordon B Hinckley, "Try a little harder, to be a little better.." I then replaced better with quieter & realized that I needed to make it a goal to speak softer to Anelia. I do not need to yell at her to get my point across.

My voice being gone has been a great lesson & possibly a punishment or sign that I need to work on this in my life.  So here's to "Trying a little harder to speak a little softer & be a little more quieter."