This girl never ceases to amaze me. Whether it is offering deep insight into something, caring for her siblings, showing how to be a good friend, consoling someone when sad, or sharing her testimony of the things she knows, I learn from her everyday. If I'm paying attention, that is.
This picture depicts her and some of her stages right now so perfectly. She loves Cinderella, above all other princesses. She loves to color, and is a perfectionist. She is always the last to finish coloring at pre-school, home and in primary. She is obsessed with modesty, so you can see she is wearing a random shirt under her favorite spaghetti strap nightgown so she can be modest. She has a LOT of hair. It is past her shoulders, but it is just SO thick, and she manages to get it tangled doing anything, so I do lots of "princess" hair. Seriously, I'm ready to do their hair for prom with all the practice I get!
A few months ago, I was laying by Emma during her quiet time. We were just talking and out of the blue she said, "Mom, I don't know if I'm going on a mission or not."
I told her that was ok, she can be a missionary right now. We talked about some of the things my little sister is doing while on her mission. When I said that she was sharing her testimony, Emma interrupted me and said, "Can I do that?! At church? In front of everyone?"
We talked about it and I explained the rule that Jared and I have, our kids are welcome to bear their testimony's as soon as they are big enough to go up and do it all by themselves. But I told her she can bear her testimony to anyone anytime she wants to.
That very day she started practicing. Maddie picked up on it, too. They stand up(usually on something), and share their sweet testimonies. They vary, but usually include that they know the church is true and something about their family. Emma has shared her testimony with friends, grandparents, cousins, and really anyone who will listen. The Young Women were assigned to clean the church in November, so she shared it with any and all Young Women who took the time to listen. I would find her in the primary room at the microphone and a couple of girls sitting on the floor, listening intently.
On Sunday morning, I asked the girls, "Guess what special day today is?!"
Maddie said, "Sunday!"
Emma said, "Fast Sunday! I get to bear my testimony!"
I was really excited but so nervous for her, but I really thought she would change her mind. Only two weeks before the primary sang a couple of Christmas songs, and she couldn't find the courage to go up front even with her friends, sister and teacher, I knew there was now way she could go up entirely on her own.
We got to church and she was contentedly coloring and eating pretzels, so I thought she had forgotten, and wasn't really listening. After 2 testimonies, she set her things down and said, "Mom, is it my turn now?"
She started walking(we were only probably 12 rows from the stand), and she literally inched her way up. She is so small, no one saw her and a couple of people went before she even reached the stand. I had prepped her- how to walk, that the Bishop would giver her a stool, the microphone would be lowered for her, not to touch the microphone, etc. But I failed to tell her what to do with herself when she got up there and someone else was speaking. So she just stood there, confused, at the top of the stairs. Jared went up and guided her to a seat off to the side.
Then she walked past the apparently scary Bishopric to the microphone and clearly and confidently shared her testimony, "I like to stand and bear my testimony. I know the church is true. I know my family loves me and I can be with them forever. Jesus Christ, Amen." I didn't see her walk back because I was crying to hard. And Jared went after her, and he was very emotional, too.(I have only seen that man cry once since I've known him!)
A little later, Maddie went, too. She got to the top of the stairs and saw the Bishop and said, "Mom, it's Lacie's dad!" He is our next door neighbor, and Lacie is one of their very favorite baby-sitters and friends. So Maddie just sat on his lap. She got up to the podium and you couldn't even see her, just the very top of the flower in her hair. She couldn't see us, either, and I think she forgot what she was doing. I walked up and whispered, "Maddie, bear your testimony." She gave me a surprised look and said, "OH!" And then she whispered her testimony into the microphone with both hands cupped around it. "I like to bear my testimony. I know this church is true. Amen!"
They are such brave little girls. I'm so glad they have each other, but especially glad that they have such good examples in our ward and family. They made that choice after watching others that they look up to show them the way.
I'll always be grateful for this day, the day Emma overcame her biggest fear to share her testimony. A sister in the ward later commented to us that is Emma's "missionary heart" showing through. A couple of the Young Women said they were so proud because they KNEW how long she had been working toward that goal. It reminded me that a goal is never too big if it is for the right reasons, you get the right guidance, and you put in the work to reach it.
