When we all work together

Hi my name is Liz and I have a picture head tilting problem. I get it from my mother. Any time we pose for a formal picture we tilt our heads at almost the exact same angle. We've done it for years and have several family portraits that display this trait. As you can see here, the boys may try but it's us girls that have got the head tilt down. It's a family thing.

Yesterday we were fortunate enough to have the support of our family as my oldest not only turned 12, but was able to receive the Priesthood. In additional to that excitement, it was also the ward primary program. It gave me the perfect chance for reflection. As the kids clearly sang every song, and a huge number of them stepped to the microphone to recite their memorized parts, I thought back to what life was like when Zac was first born. In those 12 years we haven't moved, but have lived in several wards and stakes. When we first moved in, church was a 30 min drive through two cities. Now we can see 9 steeples from our front lawn. 3 of them are Stake Centers. We had no young men. No youth to prepare, bless, or pass the sacrament. Now, on most Sundays, we have almost a full two benches of Deacons in addition to our healthy group of Teachers and Priests. Our primary still fills all the choir seats, several rows of additional chairs, and a few pews too.

At the end of our Sunday meetings, my family (all 15 of us and many more in spirit) filed into the Bishop's office where with the help of some amazing examples Zachary took a big leap into adulthood. He sat in a chair surrounded by grandpa's, an uncle, and his Dad and beamed. As he shook hands and gave hugs after I looked at my grown up young man standing there in his first suit and knew he wasn't my baby anymore.

He's officially entered the land of Mom and Dad having less and less influence in how he thinks and acts. Motherhood hasn't always been easy. More than once I've felt that I'm doing a horrible job and doing more harm than good with my kids. My efforts alone would not have been enough to steady him, even if they had been perfect. Luckily we are a family. Brothers, Sisters, Cousins, Aunts, Uncles, Grandmas, Grandpas, Great Grandmas, Teachers, Scout Leaders, Friends, and more have all worked together to help empower him. He is unique, special, amazing, and loved.

That night we sat and watched The Amazing Race as is our usual Sunday tradition. Nathan cuddled in my lap. During the show, the contestants needed to leap off of something high to get their next clue. When we heard what was to come, Nathan leaded over to my ear and said, "Don't worry, Mom. I'll protect you." Knowing my horrible fear of heights each time someone leaped his covered my eyes with his arm and patted my back. Half way through the show, as I reveled in the hour of quiet family time, it hit me. This is when our family works best. When we all work together to keep each other safe and happy.

When we acknowledge the fact that we have problems, and when my brother taking the family picture above gets everyone to tilt their head, since Mom and I were going to do it anyway. We we laugh and play with cousins all afternoon. And when I can acknowledge my gratitude for all those people who influenced Zac for good. All those people who helped a little piece of him grown into who he is today. I'm so proud of all my kids. I love watching them discover what they are capable of and treasure every second (okay not the ones where we scream at each other but most of them) of the time I get to spend with them.