Success and failure

So I blew it. Well, maybe not blew it, per se. Almost made it. I needed a 7 or higher to pass the final exam to get my QKA certification...and I got a 6. Almost makes me wish I'd never come close, like gotten a 3. But to come close and fail, that was a kick to the stomach. But I know now what I didn't know a few hours ago (meaning I know which things I didn't know, not that I know all about them). But yeah. Hopefully I'll get another shot at this when the next testing window comes around next spring, and even more hopefully, that I don't need to get another textbook. But even if I do, I have a better idea of what I need to study, and what I need to do to make time to study, even with a lovely wife, 2 great (if occasionally noisy) kids, a busy church calling, and a home that constantly needs tending.

Speaking of home, I had a minor success here tonight. Lisa's out at Relief Society Enrichment, so it was just me and the kids. I got them fed, played around with them for a bit, got Asher through a bath, got Leah to fall asleep in record time, had a great time reading Ash's alphabet book with him, listened to him say his prayers (he's actually saying his own now, even if it's just hello-thanks-amen) and laid him down, all by 8:15. When I came downstairs, I couldn't help but feel pretty good about the good evening I'd just had with my kids. And that's when it hit me - to paraphrase Harold B. Lee, no worldly failure can negate success in the home. It didn't matter to my kids that I failed my test. As long as I was where they needed me to be, that's all that mattered. And, when it all comes down to it, that's all that really mattered at all. Thanks Asher and Leah for teaching your old man something. :)