Single Mom Life - The Moments That Matter

This past weekend was incredible. My grandparents were here from Fresno. My aunt was as well. Saturday the boys and I drove to Sandy to visit with everyone. Oh, how my boys love their great-grandpa. And, oh how he loves them! Grandpa is one of my favorite people of all time. He is just a gem and I am so honored to call him mine. He told me a couple of times that he is so proud of the way that I have raised my boys on my own and what good, good young men they are. Coming from my grandpa, that meant the absolute world to me.

Sunday, everyone came to my ward. My Braxton and Colton were being ordained to Priest and Teacher, respectively. It was Fast and Testimony meeting and it was the only opportunity I've ever had to bear my testimony in front of my grandparents. I totally took the chance to do that. I spoke of our family theme this year, Honor. I told the story of "17 Inches." I reminded my boys that their mama knows that we are children of our Heavenly Father and that He hears us and loves us. I know that. I spoke of the Priesthood in our home and how Jackson gathers us for family prayer every morning, how we have a family message every Sunday night, how we honor each other and ourselves every day.

Then, my grandpa stood at the pulpit and bore his testimony. I wish that I had it recorded. My sweet, fragile grandpa stood and spoke about how each week when he works in the Fresno Temple, he always feels impressed to put the names of my boys and I on the prayer roll. Then, as he watches those gather around the alter to pray for the names on that roll, they are all - in unity - praying for my boys and I. He spoke of what good young men I have. He spoke of his love for us. He spoke about how the Church is true no matter where we are. Gosh, I love him.

Then, we moved to the Bishop's office. First, Brandon ordained Braxton to the office of a Priest so that he could in turn stand in the circle to ordain Colton. As Brandon began the ordination, I looked up for a moment. Jackson was directly in front of me. To his left was my pops. There was a large gap. There, in my mind's eye stood P. When the ordination was over, Jackson sat next to me and sobbed. I leaned in and told him what I saw. He nodded his head and said, "Yes, Mama. He was here. He was right here with us." Colton was then ordained by my grandpa.

This single mom life is not as single as I sometimes feel. Angels administer to us every single day. The veil is thinner than I sometimes think. This family that I have, that we have, is the greatest family of all. I have been told that at the beginning of each day, angels meet and discuss those who they will be administering to that day. I believe that to be true. I cannot tell you the number of times that my boys and I have felt the love and presence from those on the other side of the veil.

To see that all of my boys are worthy Aaronic Priesthood holders is no small thing. I realize that I had such a small part in that. This past weekend reminded me that being a single mom is so much less single than it might sometimes appear. We are surrounded by love and support and my boys are amazing.