The Phoenix: Epicuriousmothering Rising

Piper and her cousin Paige (whose birthday was Saturday) Piper Jane was born 14 years ago today.  It was one of the hottest summers in history during the final months of my pregnancy (I wore a mumu every day and slept on top of the AC vent), but the day she was born the heat broke and the fresh autumn wind blew down the canyons and the air was crisp and clean as I walked around the hospital trying to start labor. It took us three years to get Piper here and lots of tears, loss, fear and trepidation.  But when she came to us, after a short crazy labor and in a tiny, loud, beautiful body, I thought, Oh my darling girl, you were worth the wait. I haven't stopped thinking that.  Today, as I watched her laugh and dance and giggle her way through her day, I kept thinking . . . I'm so glad we didn't quit (and I wanted to . . . it was too exhausting mentally and physically to keep having miscarriages).  She fills our house with joy and laughter and a touch of drama....

Here's my Sunday Confessions (good day for it right?): I sometimes (more often than I like) lose all perspective.  I'd like to think I know when this is happening, but I have no idea.  Perspective just slowly but surely slips away and life mysteriously becomes more and more challenging for no apparent reason.   Then comes a morning like this morning, listening to a talk from years ago by Thomas S. Monson, and my perspective comes right back to me.  Like magic. Today, for the first time, I realized that the best part, the magical part of perspective is that it gives . . .  actually . . . it infuses you with hope.  And that hope, it invigorates your mind and you think, Wait, I can do this or that.  In fact, I want to make these changes in my life so that I can get all these things done.  Just like that, you're more excited about waking up in the morning. You feel like life has a bit more purpose and reason.  And maybe, just ma...