Lost and Found

I lost my keys yesterday.

Again.

So, um, back in April… I lost my set of keys to the van. And I never found them.

Then, yesterday, I lost Matt’s set of keys to the van. A fact that slapped me in the face just as I was heading out the door to make two visiting teaching appointments, get Daphne to Music Camp and run a few errands before nap time. Yeah. That was a little stressful…
I had all the kids searching, I was throwing stuff all over the place looking under everything with no success.
So, after realizing that the keys were genuinely lost, I popped Tori in the stroller and hustled my little bootie over to my Visiting Teaching Appointments. (Thank Goodness we’re in Utah where you can walk to those, right?) And, we missed Music Camp. Bummer.
At this point, I was frustrated and sweaty, but not too concerned. We had just driven the van last night, so the keys had to turn up, right? Right?

We came home and searched and searched and searched. I tore the entire house apart looking for my keys and then I put it back together again, still trying to find my keys in the process. I combed through closets, dug through garbage cans, dumped out purses, bags and backpacks. No Keys.

In the midst of all this, Isaac and Daphne had declared World War III of the Siblings upon one another. As much fun as Summer is, the truth of it is that the break provides a 24 hour period of time with which your children can antagonize, tease, fight and non-sensibly compete with one another over absolutely nothing at all.
So… after an intense weekend of ridiculous fighting, I pulled out the big guns. They were sentenced to their bedrooms for the entire afternoon. No playing out of the bedrooms or with each other until Matt returned from work. (And I followed through!- Yep- I’m a mean Mommy!)

So… I was a little hecked out. (That’s an invented family ‘phrase’ essentially meaning exasperated. My adorable five year old nephew, Austin made it up after he walked home from Church in July once. He’s a teen ager now.)

While I was preparing dinner, my fantastic husband came home from work and joined in the search. He told the kids that if they found it, he would take them to get a huge treat wherever they wanted to go. We sat down and prayed that we would be able to find our keys. (Something I don't think I have ever prayed for before!) And a new fury of searching began. We looked EVERYWHERE.

Now, while we did NOT find the car keys… we did find several things that had been missing for some time, including:

-Matt’s Swiss Army Knife
-The Power adapter to our defective Portable DVD Player that needed to be returned
-Four missing Hair Bows (that’s a way bigger deal than it sounds like)
-Two missing Shirts
-Several Missing Toys
-The Angel topper to my Temple Figurine
-And A Veritable Treasure Box.

Seriously. Here it is:

Do you know what that is?

Of course you don't. But my heart leapt when I opened it. It is a box of keepsakes... mementos, etc. There are items in that box that I gave up on finding over five years ago. I was ecstatic!

Inside, I found years and years worth of cards and notes and mementos.

For example, I found the note my Mom wrote to me after my second miscarriage back in November of 2003. I have remembered many of the words and feelings of that note, her willingness to help carry my burden during that time has made a huge impact on how I deal with trials and sorrows in life. I am so grateful to have it again.

I also found notes from my precious, forever Sister-Friends Carole, Marcy and Amy. Notes that supported and encouraged me through difficult and trying times and that made me laugh through it all!

I found the note Matt's mom sent me upon hearing of my Baptism. The inside contains the most beautiful poem:

Like the Lily of the Valley
Pure and Simple
A tribute unto God
I seek to bloom
In heaven's meadows
where mortal footstep has not trod

Lay me down unto the water
Raise me up
Into the light
And like the lily I shall bloom
In the sunshine
Lovely, Sweet and Bright

She wrote several wonderful things inside, including: " I hope to meet you someday."

Or have you bear my grandchildren, you know... whichever. Hee Hee.

Who would have thought back then??


And do you know what else I found in that box?

My Amazing Husband.

Okay, not really. But I found gobs and gobs of reminders of why I love him so much.

I found letters he wrote to me shortly before we were married (but still living in two different states)... One in particular that read:

"I miss you so.... I am willing to wait forever to be with you, but I am glad I only have to wait 26 days. It seems like 26 days is forever, though. Everyone up here got the invitations today and they all think you are beautiful.... I love you so much. I want to take you to the temple. Think about me today? Love, Your Matthew."

I also found a few poems that he wrote to me early in our marriage as well as one he wrote about the Savior. Bet y'all had no idea my Matthew is a poet! When I die, you can have all his poems and publish them. But for now, they are staying right with me.

I needed to find that box on that hectic day- I know it was a tender mercy from the Lord. Perhaps it is the whole reason that I lost my keys.

Although I consider us to still be a very romantic couple... it was kind of a jolt to see how mushy and syrupy-sweet things were back then. I still get plenty of love notes... things have just changed a little. While we don't have as much time for romantic declarations of affection... He does provide more substantive real-life moments like this:

I cannot explain to y'all how my heart swells looking at that picture. Or how I watched him this morning in the garage, in awe of how he called into work and went late so that he could fix Isaac's bike in time the Cub Scouts activity this morning. (which of course only happened because I hadn't checked the schedule ahead of time to know what he needed to bring)

And there are also moments like yesterday evening, when he came home from work and searched everywhere for my missing keys, without even a hint of frustration at my absentmindedness. I know that sounds silly--- but I felt so loved by him.

It was such a reminder to me that marriage isn't just about romance. And that actions often speak louder than words. While I do not need to hear him say how he wants to be with me forever (although I certainly enjoy it!), I do need (and continually receive) reminders that he will be with us forever by these every day little actions...

forgiving my carelessness without a thought,

fixing a bike tire without me asking,

dancing in the family room with our daughters,

kissing me goodnight.

And how at this stage of our marriage, actions often speak louder than words.

Back to the drama of the keys:

So just as I had given up was sending a message to our friends, the Smiths, (who are locksmiths by trade), my heroic hubby walked down the stairs with the keys I lost back in April. I could have kissed his face right off!

I am so humbled to be his wife.

Finding my treasure box reminded me of how easily I take him for granted... how I have come to expect all of his generic awesomeness. I remember today what a blessed, blessed woman I am to have him in my life.

Thank you Matthew. Thank you for just being you. I thank God for you every day- I am so thankful that He helped you to find me.