Aren't They Great?

So last night Allie had to go over to the church for a cub scouts meeting, and I saw it as a great opportunity to go looking (again) for something for Mother's Day. So I packed up the boys in the car and we headed over to Wal-Mart.

We got there and went in (on the side by the pharmacy, cards, etc.), and I immediately bypassed the greeting cards section because to my thinking there was no way I was going to be able to keep 3 boys happy and entertained without at least 2 of them grabbing every card they could reach! :) Anyway, we were already past that part of the store when Shane looked back and said, "Dad, we have to get Mom a birthday card!" (I guess at that age they're all birthday cards...)

Reluctantly I turned the shopping cart around and headed to the cards, telling myself we were only going to stay there a minute or 2 and that I'd just try to find a card some other time when I was alone. Shane hopped out of the cart and walked over to the birthday card section (completely bypassing the Mother's Day section), and then almost instantly his face lit up and he said, "Dad, this one is GREAT! This one would be perfect for Mom!" Then he turned the card so I could see it, and it was a big Thomas the Tank Engine card...and it was even shaped like Thomas. :) I couldn't help but smile and say that maybe we should get a different card, and he immedately responded by showing me 2 or 3 similarly-themed cards. The great part was that with each card that he picked out, his face lit up and he was totally smiling when he showed them to me.

I was finally able to drag him away from the cards so we could resume our trek through Wal-Mart, and a minute or 2 later we rounded a corner to head towards the back of the store. Of course, there, right in the middle of the aisle, was one of those big bins where they store those oversized balls (you know, the ones that are usually 2-3' in diameter?). Shane immediately ran over to the balls, and, reaching into the bin and grabbing a ball said with pure joy and excitement on his face, "Dad--we should get Mom her own special ball!!"

Well, we didn't get Mom her own special ball. I mean, something that special would probably be better saved for her birthday instead of Mother's Day, right? :) But after our trip to Wal-Mart (when I was done cat herding and could finally relax) I got to thinking about Shane's suggestions for things to get for Allie...

Aren't kids just the greatest? I mean, think about it: here was Shane--finding and thinking about things that he just LOVES and that get him totally excited. In his mind, if he loves things this much, everyone else must love them just as much, so why not give them to a person he loves so that that person can be just as happy as he is? What a pure, tender, sweet, innocent love kids have. It's impossible not to notice it and be touched by it. In his mind he was getting the things that he could get to MOST show Mom how much he loves her and how special she is to him. It's no wonder the Savior taught us to be more like our kids...

We sure have some special boys. Every day we thank our Heavenly Father for the family we have and the sweet spirits that He has brought into our lives. They sure keep us on our toes and there's no doubt in my mind that they've taught me a lot more about being a good father then I've taught them about being good sons. Sorry for getting a little sentimental...I just love my boys and am sure proud of them! They're the greatest!