Kids Really Do Know Their Fathers

Four of the last four work days have been....let's just say less than a walk in the park.  With my job there are always ups and downs, bad behaviors and awesome growth. Throughout each day there is typically a good share of everything but enough of the good to carry through the bad, except the last few days.  I don't want to be a complainer, that's not the point of my post (which I will get to, I promise) but it doesn't bring me pride and joy to restrain a violent child so they don't hurt themselves, me or anyone or anything.  Restraints aren't necessary too often but each of the last four days has required them.  Especially now that I am expecting I'm a lot more cautious when it comes to physical kids and restraints but there have been a few moments each day where it got quite physical.  

Yesterday in particular had me worried about the health of my baby.  I had been hit in the stomach a few times and an official "non-violent physical restraint" had been needed on another child for a good while where I tried to keep the kid away from my stomach but was not successful all of the time.  My baby has been a lot more active the past week or so and it has been so fun to feel her and have the assurance that she's okay.  Well, after the physical aggression had been diffused I couldn't feel my baby.  I started feeling some pain in my stomach.  Three hours later my baby still hadn't moved and my stomach still hurt.  Now, I didn't think that anything that had happened was severe enough to really cause any damage to her, but I was getting worried. 

I called my Dr. brother-in-law to get his opinion but he'd started residency that day so was busy being a resident and I didn't want to bother my local Dr. so I just went home ready to take things as they came.  Justin and I sat down for dinner a little while later with me still feeling pain and no movement from the baby in over 4 hours (extremely unusual at this point in my pregnancy).  

Justin said the prayer on our food and as soon as he started speaking my stomach started jumping.  In his short blessing on the food and us our little girl all of a sudden let me know she was alright probably 10 times by moving all around.  It had been a scary day and she just needed her Dad.  Through his prayer the priesthood he holds blessed us.  She recognized his voice.  She was strengthened by the power of the Lord and the faith of her dad.  She just needed her Dad.  

Little ones know their fathers, and they know them always.  

A few days earlier, when he was trying to talk to her she was moving all over the place in my stomach almost seeming like she was playing a game with him.  She'd move to one spot and as soon as he'd try to talk to her there she was in another spot, and then another and another, like hide-n-go-seek.  

Whether in fun or scary times, little ones need their dads.  They know when they're around that they can have fun but above all that they will be safe.  

With my own Dad and father-in-law our little family is so blessed.  We are safe with them around and have a  good time too.  My Father in Heaven is another Father who is always there for me, who I have always known.  Such strength, comfort and joy comes when I listen for His voice and let His power bless me, whether in scary times or not.    

We won't hold our little one in our arms for another 17 weeks or so, but she already knows her Dad and is finding comfort in him.  He is my hero and protector and I need him as well.  There sure is a reason life is supposed to be lived with an eternal companion.  

How incredibly blessed I am to know these special fathers!