I Will Not Stop

Every Christmas season I tally on a new "most" to my embarrassing moments list. This year it happened as we were shopping at REI. We went there because the hubby was picking up a present for me for Christmas. Hubby let Atrain ride one of their bikes while they were shopping in the store. I came in a little later with Jdog in the stroller and hubby went to pay for his items while I took Atrain to put back his bike. Well, he headed in the opposite direction with his bike and started going really fast. I kept telling him to "slow down, slow down," then finally, "stop Atrain, listen to me, Stop!!" I was running after him while pushing baby J in the stroller! He was riding that little bike as fast as he could through the store, dodging customers and clothing racks. "Can you hear me?" I asked him, and he answered, "I WILL NOT STOP!" over and over again. I laughed out loud, but was also rather angry and embarrassed. I got a lot of laughs and dirty looks and, "I've never seen that before," comments. Finally I cornered him and grabbed him. It was my initiation moment as a mother of two. If I hadn't had Jdog in the stroller I could have caught him long before I did, but all is well that ends well. Atrain got a good lecture about listening and obeying.

Atrain's "I WILL NOT STOP" words are still ringing in my head. I've decided to use them as inspiration--I want to be as determined and headstrong as my little boy when I face adversity. I want to look my challenges in the eye and fearlessly proclaim, "I will not stop! You can't make me give up--I will not listen to your voices telling me to feel inadequate or unprepared or doubtful! I will not stop believing in what I know to be true and trying to be the woman and mother that God knows I can be! I will not stop!" It's my new motto for 2011. How do you like it? Never stop, Elder I. Never stop being who you are and discovering more about yourself and the man and missionary God knows you can be.