Ah Ha!

Since Riley came along, I have had several 'ahha' moments - answers that have eluded me forever are finally shining through. Here's a sample:
Questions:
1) Why did Mom almost never get a babysitter, often forfeiting her sanity to her eight kids?
2) Why did she cross her ankles and collapse at the hips when she sneezed?
3) Why did she stay home when Dad took us to the movies?
4) Why was there always a stack of parenting books on her nightstand when she could have written her own?
5) Why did Dad do the round up every morning and evening for family prayer/scripture study?

Answers (at least, what my own experience suggests might be the answers)
1) Previously, I thought maybe it was the money or not wanting to impose on others but now...I think it is more to do with worrying that no one knows their needs like you do, which could be miserable for child and sitter. Also, I have no practice being away from Riley so when I am I'm still in care-mode: I hear a noise that sounds like her and for a split second think, "Is Riley crying/hungry/tired..." Even at the movies this happens.
2) Because now that you've birthed a big ole baby, when you sneeze if you don't relax your abs completely and cross you legs you might pee your pants. This also makes trampolines their own kind of torture. And laughing too hard...
3) Time alone to nap or read or do whatever you please is golden. Plus, it gives you a chance to miss them: I'm always super happy to see Dave and Riley coming home to me.
4) Because being a parent is a huge job you want to do right. For stay-at-homes like me it is your whole life, so those books are what interest you.
5) Parents want to prepare their children to live their own lives and be happy, and Dad wanted us to know what was most important: having a family and gospel-centered life. They both did. Did they succeed? As Dad says, "The jury's still out on each of us," but I think we all know that family and God come first. I'm so so glad that growing up I always had the comfort of knowing that my questions had answers, if I asked and listened, that there was a purpose behind everything, that I was loved by my family and by a Heavenly Father, and a lot of other truths that make all the difference. Those scriptures we read as a family taught to love, not hate, have faith, not doubt, be valiant and strong and true, and that God has an infinite supply of all that is good. I've rewritten this paragraph five times trying to say what I feel without boring or offending, There is, after all, a lot to be said about truth. I guess what I want to say is, I get it, Mom and Dad. I appreciate the foundation and anchor you provided us. Life is meaningful and happy. Thank you!

Picture of the first 6 of us 8 kids, probably right before church. Starting from the top left, Angie, Andrea, Lora, Jon, Me, and Danny. How Mom had time to snap a picture after getting us all ready for church is a mystery yet to be answered. I guess having us all so happy in church dress was too exciting to pass up.

And guess what Riley did while I was writing this! Seriously?!
She rolled over to my open scriptures and started eating them. And so the challenge begins. :)