"How would . . .

I make you
as proud of me
as I am of you?

How can I raise
my level of
righteousness
to reflect yours?

How, how
can a man
ever be the equal
of one of Heavenly Fathers
Special daughters?

It is with this
I struggle to understand
your love of me . . ."

"I don this

apron and take
up a skillet
to cook,
then clean,
then iron,
then bathe the kids,
check the homework,
(did you really brush
your teeth?)
then to read with each alone,
then together
the scriptures,
finally to have
family prayer,
where a small voice
asked a loving Heavenly Father,
"Please let mommy come home
soon with the baby,
daddy's okay
but he's a lot to learn."
And then to put
to bed each in turn,
with the oldest saying,
"Dad, its okay,
only a couple more days,
you've tried."
I don this
paper and pen
to capture this moment
when my child's
love allows me
to appreciate
even more,
the mother
of their home ..."

"It started ...
with an introduction,
then with a timid
touch of the hands,
finally, it started
with loving vows -
forever, eternal.

And now this miracle
of my life
my lovely wife,
need I say
how much you
are what I am?

And it started
when I grasped
what it meant
when you said,
"I love you."

"Father . . .
How can I have
so great a stewardship
as to journey eternally
with one of your
righteous daughters?

May you be patient
as I struggle
to emulate your love
of me to her.

May you be forgiving
as I stumble
to understand
her frailties.

How can I
thank you for
this glimpse
of forever?"

"There . . .

feel it just now
as another, and another
small hand
placed on ours
across this Holy Altar,

hear their voices
(Mother, Father -
Yes, Yes, Yes!),

feel it just now
as tears freely flow
and angels sing
and forever
seems like only
a moment
as I hold your hand,
just now . . ."

"Mother . . .
what a special
honor to be bestowed
upon your humble handmaiden.

Father,
what did I do
to deserve this honor
to be called such by you
while in this mortal probation?

Mother,
what a special
title bestowed upon
thy righteous handmaiden . . ."