Stages

As of late, I have frequently found myself torn.

Torn between wishing my children could just stay little

And wishing they could JUST GROW UP!

 

Is it any wonder that I feel these sentiments? That I love the precious snuggles, lisping speech, "mom is everything" phase? While also struggling to love the enormous amount of work, utter dependence, and lack of sleep?

At times, oh so badly, I wish they were not so dependent. I wish they could just do something, ANYTHING for themselves. And to hear something else come from their mouths that's not, "MOOOOM, can you

dress, feed, fix, buckle, snap, read, clean, wipe ME?"

But nope. Right now it's all about momdependence. And maybe it's not so crazy to wish for a little less of it.

Or is it?

Cause when I think of their sweet little voices saying, "Moooooooom, can you snuggle, read, hold, love, craft, tickle, nurse, make, feed, hug me??"  something in my heart just melts and bursts with joy over how much I LOVE this phase.

The next stage of life is both longed for and cried over.

I never knew being a mom would make me crazy like that.

Lord, give me the strength and wisdom to love every minute, and to live each one for your glory.

Goggles

My kids are very safety conscious, as you can well see.

I’m not sure if it comes from their mother being a nurse and the stories I tell about what happens to people when they aren’t safety conscious… or if my boys are just truly aware of the dangers of cutting lumber with their plastic handsaws.

But either way, every time I see them put on their safety goggles, I say, “Oh yeah! I love a man in goggles!”

And then we giggle together. My boys get me like that.

One of those moments

Yesterday, I had one of those moments.

You know, the kind of moment where you are just trying to snap a couple of sweet pictures in the backyard… when all of a sudden you start thinking about what you are doing, who you are capturing, and the amazing beauty of it all.

Yes, one of those moments.

A simple photo shoot went from an outward task to an inward reflection. And before I knew it, there were tears in my eyes as I began to truly notice the sweet little faces, the precious round cheeks, the shouts of laughter, and the mischievous grins… and the wonderment that they are mine. That they were given to me from God’s good hand.




When you see those faces, no wonder I started crying, right? Or am I just entirely too biased?

I admit that I have always been a crier and if you read any of my blog posts you’ll see this happens to me frequently. From my earliest childhood days, till my advanced young age of 28, I have shed countless tears. Most of those tears from joy and gladness, and comparatively so very few from frustration or sorrow. God has been so good to me. I am blessed beyond measure, beyond description, beyond anything I could ask or think.  Thank you, Lord, for my children.

“Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,
         The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
         So are the children of one’s youth.
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them.”

Psalm 127: 3-5

Thankful Thursday

Little signs

Spring has SPRUNG!

At least it has here in the South.

It still being February, I had my reservations (as does all the frost bitten dead grass surrounding Mr Green Grass pictured here) that the warm weather would be here to stay. But this past week we haven't had a day below 60 degrees. And in truth, most of the days have been over 70.

I kid you not.

I expect that we'll have one or two cold spells before warmer weather is here to stay, but for the time being, we're loving it.

Big time.

We actually hit the beach on Friday (a bit windy, but still quite pleasant) and hosted my dear Joshua's 3rd birthday party outside yesterday morning.

Love note

I walked into the kitchen this morning and saw this sweet little love note waiting for me on the counter. It just about brought tears to my eyes.

Not only is it reason #501,987 that I love my husband, but it's also the sweet reminder that our love is not about one special day a year.

Not Valentines Day, our anniversary, or even my birthday. It's about loving each other all day every day.

We don't do it perfectly, but I'll tell you, we really love loving each other.

I bet my husband received as much delight from sneakily writing this note last night (and the several others I found while getting breakfast ready for the kids!!), as I did finding it this morning.  Look how this simple act of love brought us both such joy and pleasure!

I'm so thankful that God brought Nick and I together. That he blessed us with a firm foundation grounded in Him, and gave us creativity and mischieviousness to delight each other throughout our marriage. Thank you, Lord, for my husband.


Linking up with Thankful Thursday