The Bathing Brigade

I am in a reflective state. You know, sometimes you go through life, just going. And other times, every sight, touch or sound means something other than what it is. Being surrounded by family that I don't see much anymore puts me there. The squirrel analogy was just the tip of the iceberg. My thoughts run deep and my inner dialogues are profound. My family (that is, everyone related to me whether by blood or marriage) is without a doubt the most precious thing to me in this whole world. I really didn't intend to get all sentimental.
It all started like this.

While all the family was here for Haley's baptism, I mean, when they ALL were at our house at the very same time, just being together, something unique happened. (On a side note, I am sooo happy and grateful that our families knew each other before Clark and I were ever "a thing". They liked each other and were friends. It means that when we have family/in law gatherings, it's like a big party of friends. And I love that. A lot.) It was evening, and bath time for all my kiddos. We trudged upstairs to do the deed and without a second thought I was followed by five enthusiastic helpers....Mo, Momma S., Sho, Megan and Sadie came bounding up the stairs behind me shouting out volunteering for the bathing brigade. "I got scrubbing!" "I'll take the drying!" "I'll get the hairbrush!" And WHOOSH! just like that, I was enjoying bath time. You see, with Clark gone a lot and the girls getting older, the bathing task falls squarely on my shoulders...and while the girls are mostly old enough to do much of it on their own, there is a good deal of "supervision" that still needs to take place (to avoid very over indulgent bubble baths, over excessive shampoo use and extended stays in the tub to the point of dangerously soggy skin-ness.) My job was easy. Every little burden had been lifted and the upstairs was a flurry of doting attention on my little people.

So it made me really happy.

And since then I have been thinking. How often in my life have I felt that rally of support? In particular by the women in my life. My grandmothers, my mother(s), my sisters, my friends. How often do I feel their shared excitement for my joys, consolation for my grief and respite for my tired body? They ease the hard things in my life; physically, emotionally, spiritually. This morning I have been reading from my Grandfather's history and I feel an even more overwhelming sense of gratitude and exhilaration to be part of such a legacy of people. I have been blessed that Heavenly Father's angels will be ever at my side. And they are.

Thank you for coming.
Thank you for being good.
Thank you for writing e mails and answering your phones and being validating and supportive and fun.
Thank you for making my life so full of happy and joy that I don't even get the chance to feel down about less pleasant things.

And thank you for helping me to bathe my children.