Arnold

 

She's not here to defend herself so here I go...

Perhaps it's the summer and we've stayed up late talking.  Perhaps it's because Munch is far away and Arnold can't talk to her.  It could be that we are growing up or that I'm figuring out how to be a better listener.  Whatever the reason I have found a new and more meaningful relationship with Arnold as of late. 

We've never had a bad relationship this is just somehow different, changing... growing.  I am moving from a parent/child relationship to a friend/parent/child relationship.  This probably doesn't make sense to anyone else but me, so it's a good thing this is my blog.

I have treasured our late night (or rather early morning) talks.  Our conversations range from the atonement of Jesus Christ to a handsome young man who has made her reflect (if I included the word swoon I wonder how much trouble I will get in when she gets home) and consider.  We filled the spaces in between with hopes, dreams, disappointments, silly things that have happened in the day, books that we are reading, missing Munch, text conversations, people we admire and how they have blessed our lives, interesting news stories.  I give advice that the wisdom of my life has to offer, which quite frankly is not very much.  She teaches me from the wisdom, that I marvel, one so young has.

I cried today as I held this beautiful daughter of mine, who doesn't like to give hugs, so this was a special treasure for me.  Words were not necessary to express the love we feel for one another.  I cried for the stories I will miss while she is gone, for the memories that I will not get to share.  She will come home a changed person.  She will have new things to teach me, a stronger testimony of a merciful Father in Heaven, a renewed sense of who she is and what she wants to accomplish in life.  I can't wait to become reacquainted with my daughter again. 

I will never be able to teach my children as much as they are teaching me.  How grateful I am to be a mother.

Comments

[Kait]

She is beautiful, and you refer to her most lovingly...truly heart-warming. She is almost your spitting image. She looks so much like you in your wedding picture that you posted a short while ago.