Higher than the sky...

It is the month of LOVE. Kind of sad that for most of the year we don't think about L-O-V-E as often as we do in February. Of course, this month we are constantly reminded because everything is adorned with hearts and lace and arrow shooting cupids. With all of this reminding I've also been remembering, and realizing - my, how love grows and oh, how time flies!

I remember as a young mom feeling inadequate at being able to put into words the intensity and depth of love and adoration I felt for two precious little boys.

They had completely and totally stolen my heart...never to return it. I would often watch them role play. (Nephi and Zoram was a favorite). Remember guys? Sometimes I would not be able to help myself from momentarily interrupting their fun for a quick hug or snuggle, an "I love you" or "1-2-3." And then they were right back to their play without missing a beat. Because they were such verbal little guys we would play again and again a favorite game of trying to describe how much we loved each other. "I love you as much as_______or I love you more than______. " (You might imagine some of their silly little boy answers). But sadly, nothing ever seemed to explain to them, in terms they could understand, the almost constant state of bursting that my heart felt because of their wiggly, entertaining, inquisitive, gentle, mischievous, sweet little boy ways. Until one day. It was my turn in our game and I just happened to say to them "I love you higher than the sky AND deeper than the sea!" Immediately I saw it in their expressions. Both pair of big, beautiful brown eyes became HUGE! They looked at each other and started to giggle with delight. They understood that that was alot of love! And so for all of these years, it has been our mantra. Even when little boys became big boys. Even when big boys left the country for several years - this childhood phrase frequently found a way into our email's. Often shortened to just a quick "higher than the sky" with a response of "deeper than the sea," it became a comfortable bit of our very own family code language.

And then these two little love bugs came along...

... and this little jingle became an even tighter weave in the fabric of our family's language.

I didn't realize all those years ago when I first, quite by accident, delivered that little phrase that it would be repeated again and again and for years and years. And I didn't realize how in the blink of an eye I would be loving not only children but grandchildren.

So, it is a bit of deja vu when these big, beautiful green eyes look up at me

as once again I try to explain -

"I love you higher than the sky AND deeper than the sea!"

My, how love grows and oh, how time flies!