Hold them close

What a sad day.  My heart is breaking for the families that have lost their sweet babies in Newtown Connecticut.  What a tragic loss of innocence in this world.  Those sweet faces that we have so much to learn from; those sweet faces that see the good in the world; those sweet faces that were taken away because of insanity.  May we all take the time to hold our children a little tighter today with gratitude in our hearts.  May we all get on our knees and pray for the broken hearts of Newtown that they may receive comfort and strength at such an awful time.  My love is great for them even though I don't know them; the parenting bond is great.

Warming my heart on a cold winter day

This morning we woke up to a little bit of snow. It's a little late in the year for snow but the excitement in my house was big!  All of the exciting things that come with snow was swirling through our house as conversations began. When I saw the snow however, it brought me back a few years to when I had the 2 boys and my little girl was just born.

My husband had gone on another business trip and in anticipation of the day I had to wake my crew up a little early. Doctor's appointments and errands to run was on the forefront of my brain. When the kids looked outside our window the excitement began.  Snow had come and they couldn't be happier. Once I looked out our window I realized this wasn't a little snowfall.  This was the biggest snowfall I had seen in a long time. Snow drifts were pressed against every door and wall of the house. Tears began to surface realizing what this meant... I was going to have to shovel the walk.  I didn't have time nor did I know how I was going to do this, get to the doctors appointment on time and take care of my little infant. I came up with a plan and getting the kids fed washed up and dressed I began to bundle us all up.  I guess my shower was going to have to wait... gross I know but I had to do what I had to do. We opened the door and saw my walkway and large drive way had already been shoveled! Shocked I began to look around to see one of our neighbor boys (probably about 12 years of age) walking back to his house shovel in hand. Now the tears really did begin to fall. What a special boy to go out of his way to show such kindness. He had no idea how that affected my day and the happy skip in my step that was created because of him.

There were 2 lessons I took from that moment: 1.I can learn much from the way other families teach their children and 2. I wanted my boys to be just like this young man; giving heart and not doing things for the recognition. Service in secret is the best kind of service:)

A lesson with a touch of humility...

So after I had my first girl, 2 years went by and we added our second little sweetheart.  She is a spunky handful that is always sensitive to the world around her.  She is now 8 and my husband and I decided to jump on the crazy train again and have another.  Yes... that would be an 8 1/2 year gap.  It seems odd to most that we chose to do this, but it couldn't have been more perfect.  This addition has brought so much love, excitement and genuine family care to each member I can't picture life with out this bundle of cuteness.

Well when we announced this sweet addition to our children, almost a year ago now, it was received with many mixed feelings.  Shock, disbelief, excitement, happiness and denial.  But our youngest was the one who had to slowly work through what this was going to mean.  She wasn't sure she was done with the title of being the "baby".  She wasn't sure she wanted the attention to go else where.  She wasn't sure about many things.  But deep down her excitement for what was upcoming slowly took over.  By the time our 3rd little girl arrived she was beaming with excitement and the challenge of being the big sister was welcomed.

Because she was now the big sister there was much she felt like she needed to do in helping out.  This "help" wasn't always easy for a mom to take.  From a mother's perspective she didn't always hold her right or burp her properly.  Sometimes when she would change the diaper it wasn't snug enough or maybe it was too tight at times.  Through a series of what I thought were "teaching moments" one day I told her how great she was with her little sister.  At this she let out a deep breath of relief; then with complete sincerity in her eyes she looked at me and said, "Thanks mom.  It's been a really long time since you complimented me".  Wow!  I was cracked over the head with a little humble pie.  She didn't mean it rude, I knew that.  She was saying it with so much gratitude.



Sometimes it is easy to be caught up in "teaching moments" we forget the "loving moments".  It is a work in progress, but I want so badly for those around me to feel the love I have for them and not the "teaching moments" that I feel they need.  With much love much more can be accomplished.

The Sweetness of a Moment...

I love the look on a child's face.  There are many.  But the gaze that gets me every time is when they are piecing things together.  The way a child works things through into their perspective amazes me.  Here is an example to explain what I mean...

When my husband and I decided to begin our family journey we didn't waste any time.  We had our first son a year and a half after we were married then 2 years later we had our next little guy.  My inexperience lacked the preparation for what 2 boys would bring but we love to relive the many stories that they have created through the years.  2 years later we had our first little girl.  This is where I began to see what was possible through the eyes of a child.  

At this point in our marriage my husband had a travelling job.  I was a little selfish and only saw how hard it was for me.  While I was in the midst of this "woe is me" moment I took myself and the three children to church.  Of course we got there late and I was exhausted.  As we gathered ourselves outside the chapel I finely had a moment to sit when my littlest boy came up to me and asked me to help him get a drink out of the water fountain.  "Really..." I thought, "I just sat down!"  I selfishly told him he was going to have to wait.  I watched those sad eyes work through what I had just said.  He turned to his brother and found comfort as my older son told him he could help.  I watched as they walked over to the fountain together.  It was at this moment that my oldest son got down on his hands and knees.  My other son stepped up on his back now able to quench his thirst.  He stepped down from the fountain and then got on his hands an knees; my oldest son then stepped up to get a drink himself.

What a lesson I learned that day.  If we could all take the time to see when we need to give someone a boost we would all benefit from that service.   Children have a way of seeing things differently than adults and sometimes we don't give them the credit that we should.  The sweetness of that moment I will treasure always.