Well, it looks like I may have found myself a new photographer for this blog: Kekoa. It is fun to give him the camera and see what things he captures. Obviously at age 4 it is mostly by chance, but it seems to be working out for now. So here is another naptime shot. I was helping Ikaika fall asleep for his nap and thought it was again something I wanted to remember. The second picture is of Kaiks holding my "arm." Both the oler boys have an attachment to my left arm. I love it.
I thought this was a good chance to add this article I wrote to submit to the Ensign. Amazingly it has been accepted for print, I just don't know how soon it will be printed. So here it is:
Whole Enough, by Michele Reyes
When I was 17 years old, I lost my left arm in a car accident. I was traveling to a student conference in the middle of the night with five other classmates and a chaperon when we hit a horse. As a result of the accident I lost my left arm and badly damaged my left leg. It was an experience that would forever change my life. Though there have been difficult days and trying moments, I feel this refiners fire has given me an opportunity to witness the power of the atonement in a unique way.
My life now is all about being a wife and a mother, two roles I love deeply. Before the birth of my children, I often wondered about my adequacy to be a mother. I wondered how could I possibly do it with the use of only one arm? Twelve years later, I am right in the middle of motherhood with three sweet boys. I have adjusted well and for now the boys hardly notice that I am different than other mothers. My missing arm has gone from being a hindrance to a thing of love. Both of the older boys have become quite attached to what remains of my left arm. It is a source of comfort for them to hold when they cry and almost a necessity in falling asleep at night. This attachment might be because of many reasons, but I prefer to see it as evidence of the Savior’s ability to make something good out of something so tragic. I cannot describe the sweetness I feel when that part of me can provide such comfort to my children. Motherhood has brought a certain perspective to my physical limitation as I have felt the atonement already begin to heal me.
Having the use of only one arm affects everyday life. The daily demands of motherhood such as changing diapers, preparing dinner, or trying to comfort two or more children who just need mommy, have been sometimes difficult with my unique circumstances. These times give me reason to reflect on the reality of the resurrection and the Savior’s ability to heal me. Thus, the faith-promoting examples of healing found in the scriptures have special meaning to me.
One of my favorites is found in the Book of Mormon when the Savior visited the people in America and healed their sick. I have more than once imagined what it might have been like to have been there as one of those who were healed by the Savior. 3 Nephi 17:7 begins with His loving invitation:
“Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither. Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will heal them, for I have compassion upon you; my bowels are filled with mercy.”
Then, after recognizing that it was because of their faith that he could make them whole, he proceeds with his miracle.
“ And it came to pass that when he had thus spoken, all the multitude, with one accord, did go forth with their sick and their afflicted, and their lame, and with their blind, and with their dumb, and with them that were afflicted in any manner; and he did heal them every one as they were brought forth unto him” (3Nephi 17:9).
For me this account is one of the most touching events described in the scriptures. But my perspective has changed as I have embraced motherhood with one arm. I once thought I was one of the people who most looked forward to the resurrection and the idea of being made whole. But now I am not so much in a hurry. More and more I feel the reality of the atonement working in my life now. I realized the healing power need not be only when the resurrection occurs. I feel the wholeness has already begun when every night before bed, my son holds my arm so tenderly as he slips into peaceful slumber. This realization has been to me just as meaningful as any physical miracle of healing. I have decided that for now, I am as whole as I need to be.
Here the boys and I are at PCC. I love how no one looks at the camera, but me. Oh well : )
I took the boys to the park. It is getting colder, but today was a decent day. The boys had a blast playing in a pile of leaves. They were having too much fun to take a picture with mommy, but at least I stole a shot with Kekoa.
We are staying with the Olayan family while we are waiting to move into our new house. It's so hard to be patient. We spend a lot of time hanging out in the room, trying to stay out of the way. So for a little entertainment, how about a picture with mommy?
Poor Sepa has been sick. It is so hard for me as a mother to not be able to make things better for them. I finally took him into the doctor and Sepa has an ear infection. Doesn't he look so sad. My poor baby.
This is at Keisha's wedding reception. The boys found dirt outside and had a blast. Don't they look so cute in their aloha shirts : )
This was visiting the dinosaur museum this week with Kasandra and the boys. Not the greatest picture for Sepa, but I didn't have another picture. Oh well.
I haven't been feeling that great - baby sickness. So this week we are doing a photo booth again . . At least Koa looks cute.
Terrible blurry picture - I had Celeste take it with her iphone. But it was perfect for capturing what happens on a daily basis - climbing on mommy.
I am so not a fan of the way I look in this pic, but it has to do. Koa looks cute.
As good as it gets this week. My toes are in there somewhere.
This week we had Kekoa's Joy School graduation. He was so happy to be done. I was happy to no longer fight him about going. But I am glad we did it. I enjoyed being a part of his learning. He is a bright little kid.
Hooray, I finally got a picture of Koa and I. My first baby. What do I love about Kekoa?
Happy Mother's Day : ) Sepa was being a stinker so he didn't make it into the picture.
This week we had a couple days pf beautiful weather in the 60's. With Jessica and Kono in town we headed to the park. Yet again another picture of Sepa and I. I think this next week I'll try to get one with Koa. But this picture is fun. I love the expression on Sepa's face. He was having so much fun.
I love Sepa in this picture. He has the greatest shape to his eyes. Sadly, this poor baby threw-up this morning as we were cuddling in bed with his bottle of milk. So we had to all jump in the shower and clean up. He loves the shower. He loves water period. Oooooo, he's growing up way to fast.
I couldn't have posed this picture better. So cute. It makes me feel so loved to see this little one reaching up for me. I love my little Sepa. He isn't quite walking and I'm fine with that. I just hope he gets going for the summer when we are outside more often. He loves the outside. Whenever the door is open he heads straight for it, trying to make a getaway. Today he did just that even in just his diaper. Tonight he had a hard time falling asleep. It took me about a hour to finally get him to bed. I tried to not be impatient and just enjoy being with him. He is not going to be little forever and I don't want to miss this time.
We had a good Easter Sunday. I tried my best to teach he boys - especially Kekoa, who is old enough, about the Savior and the real meaning of Easter. I did get them a small gift and sent them on a treasure hunt to find it. Before we began I told kekoa that Daddy and Mommy got them presents because during Easter time we remember the greatest present of all with the gift of the Atonement and Resurrection. Kekoa was so disappointed because he thought that was the the only present he was going to get and not a new toy or something. I wasn't too upset with him. He is just a child. Here is a picture of me and the boys and the cute ties Mom and I made the day before. I love my boys.
I wanted to have a picture of Kekoa this week, but he was being a stinker at the time and Ikaika was more than willing to give me a kiss. I'll take it. The other day, Ikaika randomly said, "Mommy, we're going to have another baby!" Now, I am not expecting as far as I know, but it is a happy thought - to add another little one. And it's fun that Ikaika will actually understand what is going on this next time. I love each of my boys so much and I know that love will only grow as our family expands.
Well, it looks like I may have found myself a new photographer for this blog: Kekoa. It is fun to give him the camera and see what things he captures. Obviously at age 4 it is mostly by chance, but it seems to be working out for now. So here is another naptime shot. I was helping Ikaika fall asleep for his nap and thought it was again something I wanted to remember. The second picture is of Kaiks holding my "arm." Both the oler boys have an attachment to my left arm. I love it.
I had Kekoa take this shot. It was my only hope of getting something of everyday life and rocking my baby to sleep. It was hard to get a decent shot with the window in the back. And it is super grainy. But it looks very old and antique-ish. I was putting Sepa down for his afternoon nap. This is the usual routine. Putting on the white noise maker, rocking him and singing to him. I love the way he is holding my neck.
Not the greatest picture - but it does the job of documenting the week - the week I turned 30. So thirty years and three kids. I do not mind growing older. I just need to get the rest of my family before I get too old for running after children : )
