Changes, and Choices, and Screaming Pregnant Women

This past week my work out instructor made a choice to not teach a certain class at my gym anymore.  You have to realize that this particular instructor (Jen) is amazing in everyway.... teaching over 14 classes a week from step, to spin, to peeeeeeelates to kick boxing, to whatever - she's certified to do it.  She's now going to teach other teachers how to teach - how about that for a cool job.  It's a dream of hers, but it came with a pricetag of letting her class go.  She was worried about her class, that's just how big her heart is.  I was very proud of her, she made a choice that involved making more time for her family.  Not an easy thing to do in our world today - making time for family.  She kept saying that to us - and some were upset by that choice - but I was very very proud of her integrity and her devotion to her family.  The world would have us be so busy with the world around us that those that are closest to us suffer.  The other day - my daughter Mandy asked me how I did it... I looked at her and asked - what?  She said - how did you keep it all together with our family.... It was certainly one of those moments you don't allow yourself to have - but coming from one of my children that lived through my parenting... it meant more that she'll ever know.  My mom, is a beautiful person, and I never went without, but she was also a very social person, I rememeber spending a lot of time with Artice, our babysitter.  I made a vow that my kids would seldom know a babysitter.  Now that they are all adults, I miss them so very much.  I miss the noise and the piles of laundry and all of those dirty dishes... wait - what am I talking about?  I miss their spirits in my home.  I thought of the times I said no to the world, because someone had a soccor game, a concert, or a dance recital.  As I get older, those are the memories that play through my mind over and over - because I made sure that they were put there.  As Mandy left the other night, I told her to memorize every moment of this pregnancy, I reminded her that she will be a wonderful mom, and a great protector of one of God's spirits.  She's concerned about the pain of delivery, (I reminded her of my screaming just for fun), but I also reminded her of one special concept:  Maybe it's so painful for a child to be delivered because they are trying to stay in the arms of Christ as long as they can.  I also reminded her, "Hey if you think it's painful now... wait 'till they are teenagers!"  So to my friend Jen, thanks for 13 years of kicking my butt in class, for choosing to be the mother that you are so amazing at, for making 'time' for those that love you, and for still teaching in the morning so I can still come to class.  To Mandy, yo punker kid, is going to be awesome, and loved, and freaking cute.  Enjoy the journey, you only have a few moments in time, and then they grow up and have babies of their own.  (and hopefully I'll still be going to Jen's classes)