Bedtime kisses

I was thinking last night, as I tucked the boys in bed, that bedtime kisses are such a precious way to end the day.

Often as we get ready for bed, I feel rushed and hurried, trying to get teeth brushed, clothes in the laundry and the last toys picked up before bowing our heads to pray together and sing a bedtime song.  I often feel an overwhelming desire to “just get them in bed already!!”

But you know, there is something about bedtime kisses that just makes the world stop.  The hurry, the rush, the fatigue… it stops.

And for a moment or two, or ten, we slow down. We breathe deep. And we enjoy those tender snuggles and kisses from our three little boys.

Isaiah likes to give 5 kisses and 5 hugs and likes to count them out as he gives them. It always makes me smile when I imagine him catching his breath and gasping for air in between kisses in order to shout: “One!” “Two!” “Three!” etc. My cheeks are always damp at the end… but its an endearing kind of dampness, the kind that fills me with happiness as I take in his warm breath and soft skin.

Joshua likes to give 2 kisses and 2 hugs. And he likes to divide the kisses between cheeks. He often grows distraught if he forgets to give each cheek an equal amount, and says things like, “Mommy!! I wanted to do two kisses on this side AND two kisses on that side so that they have the same ma‘mount.” And so we begin the kissing count down again, making sure each side receives the proper portion. I love being kissed so devotedly.

Noah is in on the act as well. He doesn’t count or measure his kisses, he just gives loud, wet smacks, and says “Mmmmmmah” as he does it. It’s so sweet it gives me shivers. Noah also makes sure to offer a few bedtime smackers to his brothers. He stands at the foot of the bunk-bed with arms stretched high, waiting to be lifted up to kiss his big brother on the top bunk. It melts my heart.

These bedtime kisses bring my day to such a precious close. I always leave the room, (as Nick sits down to read to them from a “chapter book” --currently the Chronicles of Narnia), with a smile on my kiss stained face.

Oh these boys and their sweet little kisses! Oh, may the day never come when they are too big to kiss their mama.

Or… too big for their mama to kiss them.

Because, I admit, I’m not the only one whose cheeks are covered in love. Truly, I cannot resist their round little cheeks, chubby little toes, and soft little hands and I smother my boys at least as many kisses as I receive.

Oh boy, I love it. And I’ll kiss them till the day I die.

God is good.

Bippity-boppity

I've lost all my creative energy.

Last week, I saw huge crates full of different bolts of fabric for $5 each at our local Wal-mart and was inspired to buy a couple and make curtains, pillows, and other nice accessories for our home. For a few minutes anyway.

Then I was snapping pictures and dreaming up clever blog posts and informational tidbits to pass on to my readers... but before I could even upload pictures to my computer, I lost interest.

So, as I said, I've lost all my creative energy.

At least I feel that way. Some may still think I'm clever and ingenious. But... I'm not. At least not today, or last week, or last month? Yikes. Has it really been that long since I actually wrote a decent blog post?

If only my fairy godmother could do a little bippity-boppity-boo and I could be back on track. Wouldn't that be nice?


But truth is, I'm burnt out. My husband was gone for a full month, serving our wonderful country in faraway places, and in his absence I became toast. Burnt toast. No energy left. No creative juices lying around. No desire for anything but sitting still.

Which never happens in a busy house with 3 boys.

So here I am. Sitting still. And typing, of course. Trying to get back into a groove. Trying to find my get-up-and-go, and wishing for a little bippity-boppity magic wand trick to get be back to speed.



On a happier, less depressing, and tiring note. My husband is HOME. And from the moment he first walked through the door, a load was lifted off my shoulders. To all those who have wonderful husbands like mine, make sure to thank the Lord for them every day, even every minute. God is so good to give us soul mates and help mates all tied into one.