you’re part of my heart

Posted on June 22, 2017 by Shanda

SUMMER
VACATION

We went to the playground.

The boys had friends over to play baseball, football, video games, fishing, swimming….

If we should be so lucky
as to touch the lives of many, so be it.
But if our lot is not more than the setting of a table,
or the tending of a garden,
or showing a child a path in the woods,
our lives are no less worthy.
Kent Nerburn

Grace and I went for a long walk through the woods, visited Sam-cat and the chickens. She read to me the medicinal values of yarrow and elderberry, she chewed yarrow even though she didn’t have a tooth ache and said it made her tongue numb. Mountain Laurel is in bloom and almost done. We ate wild strawberries and sniffed deeply of wild roses.

I think this is how we’re supposed
to be in the world ~
present and in awe.
Anne Lamott

We went together to take our small visitors home and then to the grocery store where she is getting ready to work this summer. I made chili and pasta for dinner.

It’s fake blood.

I sent Sarah upstairs to play while I worked in the kitchen. When I went to get her for dinner I found her on the floor…fast asleep.

Summertime, fun and exhausting!

How was your day?

grace (graduation)

Posted on June 21, 2017 by Shanda

It was about a week ago now that I met a homeschooling family at one of my son’s baseball games. The mom and I had a nice visit together as we watched the boys play and at one point Grace came walking by with her friend. I stopped her and introduced her to my new acquaintance. “Oh, I used to be homeschooled,” Grace offered excitedly, “I loved it. I never wanted to go to public school but mom made me.”

Part of me cringed to hear these honest words. However, after last night, watching Grace with her class and teachers, seeing her bright smile, how mature she was, how capable, her light shining bright, it all became clear to me.

She bloomed where she was planted.

She took a difficult change in her life and made the best of it.

She had ups and downs, more downs, a few more ups, on and on for the six years she was in school, rather like a roller coaster.

She had fun, tears, anxiety, sleepless nights, songs, dance, silence, wide eyed wonder, false friendship, true friendship, romance, responsibility, headaches, dizziness, academics, good grades, good books, teachers who were kindred spirits, teachers who were her second mothers, and through it all…….she had her faith in an unchanging dependable Father God keeping her steady.

She did it. Rich and I could not be prouder of our daughter.

*******

A month or so ago I was feeling a little desperate about Grace leaving home so soon and mentioned, half teasing, that she might like to take a year off from college and just stay at home with us (me). After all, she did start school when she was four and was younger than a few of the juniors this year. “We would have so much fun, Grace!” to which she replied (and I quote because I wrote it down):

“I know we would but. . . .we have all summer. And I need to move on with my life.”

I just had to laugh with respect, happy to have a child this steady and focused on her goals. I know how much she adores her siblings and depends on her parents. The relationships within the family circle couldn’t be better, which is to say, perhaps this is the very reason why she is confident in moving on; her needs are met so she is not needy or clingy. Plus it’s just her personality in general. She’s forward-moving.

She’ll be attending Christian college in the fall about 5 hours from home (not too far), easy enough to get her home for the holidays. I know she will have the time of her life there.

For our small town, the class of 2017 was rather large and cars parked all over the the place outside in the parking lots AND out of the parking lots. I drove up over the curb with my big mama vehicle and parked in the lawn! Saving seats was a hostile experience! But we all got squeezed in and you can see my view from the middle of the room. . . . . .thank the Lord once we sat down I found that I could see Grace if I leaned over to the right and then forward in my seat.

There she is!

Recognized with the other scholarship and honers students.

waiting in line for her diploma

two hours after walking in……the class left the gym to loud & happy music.

(dear girl; Emily–our neighbor and also Ethan’s girlfriend’s sister…kids rode the bus together for years)

and now for the fun photos:

With gratitude to the teacher who understands that some families NEED more tickets, Grace’s siblings were able to attend this year’s graduation ceremony. (all 9) Her two big brothers visited the old HS stomping grounds and saw some of their teachers and friends. (I say “old” but Ethan just graduated a year ago, and Jacob the year before that).

After getting through the crowd and out of the gym, we found our girl.

Oldest girl with youngest girl; oldest boy with youngest boy.

friends

adoring little sister

One of “our other kids” Zak, also graduated. He is a close friend of the family.

My husband coached him in wrestling.

brother Dave

W E N D Y ! ! ! !

I had left my purse unguarded in the hall so Jacob collected it for me. Brittany is another dear friend of the family and graduated with Grace.

Caleb and Seth got through the night thanks to the kindle and…..cheese. 🙂

Ethan with his girl.

My daughter, my friend.

Love you, Grace…

How hard the battle goes, the day, how long;
Faint not, fight on! Tomorrow comes the song. ~Maltbie Babcock

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grace (class night)

Posted on June 20, 2017 by Shanda

The washer and dryer are going, and outside skies are clearing up after being washed clean from a night of rainfall.

A mason jar of wild flowers, freshly picked, sits on the kitchen island.

A collection of baseballs over there on the end table from a now-ended season of little league.

Parker the dog is sleeping, with his head resting against my leg.

I scrubbed something disgusting off the porch this morning.

Sarah’s stuffed owl on the coffee table.

A stack of stuff emptied from someone’s backpack.

shorts, a tank top, freshly washed hair, and comfy birkenstocks on my feet

*****

Today is the last day of school.

Last days are a tad heart-wrenching, aren’t they?

(I swear they each grew a foot this year.)

Thankfully, “last days”……. are followed by “first days”.

*****

Grace’s HS graduation is tonight.

Rich and I were away for five days, we returned last night just in time to go to the school for a fun “Class Night” put on by the Seniors, for the Seniors. Grace looked so pretty marching into the auditorium with the rest of the students. All the moms and dads looked and looked until their eyes rested on their own dear child. . . . . . . .suddenly on the threshold of completing all those years of school. We couldn’t help but take the time to remember the years leading up to this day, as they grew from little babies all the way up to the 17 and 18 year olds that they are now. Lots of love was in the room.

After a 30 minute slideshow, the kids put on one last talent show up there on the stage.

I sat between Jacob and Ethan and it was fun, but today, right now, as I watch these videos of the two songs Grace sang with her friends, I’m a big puddle of mama-tears.

Grace wore a long white dress with roses on it.

at the present time

Posted on June 12, 2017 by Shanda

“forever is composed of nows.” Emily Dickenson

Now: recovering from a mild concussion, “pink shorts/don’t care”, having fun with a neighbor-friend (who arrived wearing his shirt), fried chicken party from mom in the kitchen, swimming in the pond, lacrosse in the yard.

Now: another summertime for romance

Now: with a little adoring sister who loves her, too.

Now: freedom to soar, to fly, to play

to laugh.

Now, with a faithful furry friend or two.

Now: time for graduation parties, a dear cousin, a loving family, and yummy food.

Now, sisters.

Now: contemplating a secret recipe, sleuthing, enjoying.

Now: for oops and for trying your best to recover what you lost.

Now: innocent childhood, cousins, holding hands, exploring magical places.

Now is the time for youth, skipping stones, bare feet, a mama who adores you.

Now: a tire swing hung from an old apple tree, and glow stick bracelets, and soft green grass.

Now: a trip back home to where your Dad grew up, climbing trees, flowers in the garden.

Now: for memories, for listening, for fathers and daughters.

Now; driving four hours to get back in time to watch your boy play baseball.

Now; cheerful friends, watching the boys play, music, blazing sunshine.

Now time to go home and fall into bed with that delicious “by God’s grace I did it all” feeling, and “it was very good”.

*****

And now it’s time for me to do lots of laundry in a ponytail, shorts and bare feet, with a dear son at home, thinking of the children at school taking finals, planning a graduation party, looking forward and not backward, reading and praying, talking to Jesus, a song or two, thankful always, with love all around. . . . . . .

Philippians 3:13 “… I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on. . .”

Posted on June 9, 2017 by Shanda

I slept so good last night, finally, after a week of having the world’s worst cold ever. I made it through the day yesterday with no nap (feeling better!), plus five miles of walking outside in the fresh air, two baseball games at the end of the day, trip to town for errands, weeding in the garden, cough medicine before bed, yes indeedy it all made for a wonderful night’s sleep. I woke up with my face glued to the pillow I had slept so heavily. It’s 8:30 and I still feel sleepy. Delicious..

Kids are all in school, their last day is the 20th.

There is so much going on in my life. So I haven’t been able to blog as much this week because I’m very distracted. However, I did take some photos here and there throughout the week so I thought I would make myself sit still on the couch and post them this morning. They are mostly nature photos. The sun has been shining bright and we have two lilac bushes in bloom attracting the most beautiful little creatures. . . . . . .

So I sit in front of the flowers in a lawn chair with my camera and it’s just the nicest time in the sunshine and perfume of the lilacs.

I love the tips of it’s antennae.

wildflower I smiled to see

the purple ones smell like grape koolaid. I’ve picked them and put them in the house for the most lovely of smells. . . ..natural air freshener at it’s best.

The peach ones smell good, too. Thanks to mom for sharing her irises with me.

Getting off the bus one day.

I sit on the bench on the side porch with a book and my camera next to me, ready to shoot anything interesting that comes along.

Ugh…gypsy moth caterpillars are everywhere.

This is a pretty little bird, my flash went off and the picture came out nice. I like it’s eye and beak.

A community of mourning doves at the end of the day…they were roosting together and cooing.

see the green grasshopper on the pansy?

It was raining outside, I was in the house on the phone with Tara, and took the photo through a window and porch railings. Not bad!!! I love these birds (Northern Flicker). They have stripes, polka dots, red, yellow. . .so pretty! They eat ants and beetles and have been visiting our front yard to find food.

so lovely (see the blue on it’s wing) –such beauty in a small bit of nature. . . .it’s wings flutter so quickly at times it’s hard to see the details, which is a nice benefit of photography!

Sarah got new clothes, she picked them out of the miniboden catalogue. I love their clothes and Sarah likes wild cats, reading about them, playing with her toy cheetahs and lions, so when she saw this shirt she just had to have it. So this is what she wore to school yesterday, and even though she’s not partial to a top knot, I fixed her hair in one. Adorable. She didn’t know kitty was coming . . . and then was so sweetly happy to hug him.

Back of the shirt. cute, right?

HUMMINGBIRD MOTH, one of my favorite visitors!! They flap their wings so fast they are a blur.

I threw something out on the porch at 8pm the other night and was surprised to see one “working overtime” in the dusky evening shadows flying around, dipping into lilac blossoms.

The bumblebees were most amusing…there were so many the became territorial. Flying, hovering, making contact with each other in the air, buzzing around. Pollen looked like gold dust. Wings as purple as the flowers.

It was quite a challenge to be fast enough to focus my camera on a hovering bumblebee.

last but not least…..I was at the edge of the woods at the end of the lawn and saw a chipmunk.

It was busy eating a dragonfly!!

****

As I was typing the last sentences, and before I had time to edit, the school nurse called because Dave had hit his head in gym class. He hit heads with a classmate, causing the classmates glasses to cut the classmate (he feels so sorry for that) and then fell on the floor hitting his head a second time. So he has a headache and has to rest in a quiet room today. . . . . . .

I just hopped online to edit and publish again. Happy Friday!

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birthday girl

Posted on May 31, 2017 by Shanda

Good morning, how’s this picture of mud for an opening to a blog post? The other day I was outside with my camera and one of the things I noticed that day was little animal prints in the mud by the stream.

The mosquitoes are so bad right now, it’s almost enough to make me stay indoors.

ALMOST.

Actually, I haven’t been outside much lately . . . .so what is keeping me indoors? and on the couch? Cold clammy weather and the world’s worst cold.

This big bug has almost human qualities, doesn’t it? sneaky, large nose, suspicious expression. . . . . .

The neighbor’s cat is frequently seen at our place. If I try to say hello he squats down in fear and then bounds away as fast as his four feet can take him.

Sometimes my cats communicate with it in melodious yowls.

A boy and his dog.

(Parker is sleeping in the same spot as I type, but his boy is at school).

From my sick spot on the couch, nature came to me! I looked out the window in time to see cedar waxwings land in the top of our tree by the garden. My Aunt Colleen and my mom both said they’ve been seeing flocks of them, too. Such beautiful birds.

CSC_1253

I kept hearing a strange bird call . . . .over and over. . . so (even though I’m sure it wasn’t calling ME!) t simply had to look for it and discovered a new sighting (for me) of a Great Crested Flycatcher.

hummingbirds are constant visitors to our feeder (thanks to son David for filling it up the other day)

I bought Sarah’s presents yesterday while she was at school. Michael and Jacob came with me. We went to Target, Costco, and Barnes and Noble. If you visit my instagram account you have seen the picture I posted of Sarah’s birthday requests, written in purple ink on a sheet of paper that I found in an empty room. She didn’t hand me the list, she didn’t tell me she was making one, I just happened to find it on the floor and then, last night and rather too late, another copy by my bed. Rarely do things like this get by my all seeing eyes, so I was especially amused and set to work, determined to get everything on the list, which was quite realistic and humble; a very basic birthday wish list.

Gone are the days (at least for now?) of siblings crowded all around the birthday child. . . .only Seth was interested in Sarah’s presents. They make a cute brother and sister pair when they aren’t bickering.

Sarah had a VERY very busy day yesterday. . .she went to the zoo all day long with her class. Despite being tired she was happy and pleasant for family time and birthday celebrations here at home.

However, I did have to wake her up from a very deep sleep this morning in order for her to get ready for school. Dear girlie. She was so excited for her birthday.

Barnes and Noble does free gift wrapping and the paper was so cute. . .lots of trees and open books and little creatures reading, and a shiny gold sticker on top.

I found Sarah the wolf books she wanted.

AND a book of her favorite Henry and Mudge stories.

She is a fantastic reader.

Meanwhile Seth was busy putting flour in a balloon to make a homemade stress ball. He was tapping the flour down the funnel with a wooden skewer.

Her face when she saw the My Little Pony play set.

She also got her plastic animals (a bear, a wolf, and a fox) and a “cat and jack” bathing suit. The bathing suit wasn’t on the list.

She also received a birthday card from Uncle Dave and Aunt Maria, and one from Grandma and Grandpa. She gets so excited to have money. 😉

The ponies have been a big hit. There are enough of them for her to be creative and entertained by very absorbing make believe adventures. The TV remote is on the floor because naturally she had to watch an episode of My Little Pony, too.

The boys blew up balloons for her and we’ve been having fun playing “volleyball” together.

When she’s playing with her ponies she doesn’t notice anything else happening around her.

Thanks to Michael and Jacob’s suggestion for dinner, I made a big pot of Shepherd’s pie, corn, and salad.

We had our whole family except Grace but with Michael and Zach. (Grace was at school for a Variety Show and missed her sister’s birthday entirely)

Everyone loved dinner and then it was time for cake!

Nice big brother lit the candles after we all had to search for something to light them with because David had left the whole box of matches outside and they were rained on.

It was a huge Costco cake, vanilla.

With chaos and noise all around her (7 boys! crazy boys!) she silently sat with her eyes sparkling, patiently waiting for us to sing.

My favorite photo of the day. 🙂

Happy Birthday, Sarah!

love has the run of the house

Posted on May 30, 2017 by Shanda

God is love.
When we take up permanent residence in a life of love,
we live in God and God lives in us.
This way, love has the run of the house,
becomes at home and mature in us,
so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day–
our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s.
There is no room in love for fear.
Well-formed love banishes fear.
Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—
fear of death, fear of judgement—
is one not yet fully formed in love.

We, though, are going to love—love and be loved.
first we were loved, now we love.

He loved us first.

1 John 4

***

Happy Birthday to Sarah Joy.

She has changed so much since she was born. . . . she used to cry almost every time we had to separate, even when her Dad held her, if she wanted mama she cried.

I wasn’t sure how she would adjust to school. She is in first grade now and I truly believe that going to school is what finally gave her confidence that she can do things apart from her safe person (me). In fact, I’m not her safe person anymore. She’s safe on her own, in a circle of friends, beloved teachers, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, siblings and both parents. In all this love there is no fear.

Seven years old today. Bright, cheerful, happy, and a lover of animals, bike riding, and reading. It’s fun to watch her grow. We learn so much from our children, don’t we?

***

“I’m thanking God, who makes things right.
I’m singing the fame of heaven-high God.” Psalm 7

It’s not an easy life, but it’s made sweeter and better with God in our hearts and the ones He blesses us with along the way. . . .family first, and then friends, like you.

Thankfulness & love overflows.

Happy Tuesday!
You are loved.

“I’m almost a pie,” said the rhubarb.

Posted on May 23, 2017 by Shanda

I bought strawberries last week and texted everyone that I was making pies when I got home but wouldn’t you know it, my friend Kathy texted me and asked me out to lunch because it was her birthday. I thought this was a pretty interesting coincidence because strawberry rhubarb pies are one of her favorites and I didn’t remember it was her birthday but had felt spiritually moved to make the pies so…..of course I went out with the birthday girl, but I didn’t get a chance to use up the strawberries that day and the family ATE THEM ALL in one evening.

Meanwhile, the rhubarb was growing and sending out invisible vibes to my mind; “I’m almost a pie…..I’m almost a pie……” “just come and cut me down and chop me up and add me to strawberries……” “put me in pastry!…..”

Every spring Rich, I swear, is determined to accidentally plow up the rhubarb patch. I guard it with my everything but still in the spring of 2017 he helpfully plowed up the garden when I wasn’t home. Later I stood by the side of the garden and silently looked down into the freshly tilled earth, hoping and searching for any sign of rhubarb. I picked up a piece of bruised and uprooted sprout, reburied it, my heart aching. I was sure it was all destroyed.

Let this be a lesson to remember from the rhubarb patch; There is always hope. Plants can still be alive underneath the dirt. Things can still grow and thrive after a near death situation.

Rhubarb is quite a marvelous plant with huge poisonous leaves– but once those are removed and carried out of the house and into the woods by a helpful child, we are left with crispy sour stalks and still that invisible voice (that must live in the stalks) saying “I’m almost a pie”.

Caleb says we should plant a strawberry patch. Wouldn’t that be nice?

There are thousands of recipes for using up rhubarb but I found an intriguing recipe for pie in a Taste of Home cookbook that called for an egg in the filling. Since we have a flock of hens and a never ending supply of eggs, I decided to try it.

I doubled the recipe and had enough filling for three small pies.

Strawberry Rhubarb Crumb pie

1 egg
1 cup of sugar
2 Tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups sliced rhubarb
1 pint strawberries, halved
1 unbaked pastry shell

Topping: 3/4 cup flour, 1/2 cup packed brown sugar, 1/2 cup oats, and 1/2 cup butter.

In a large bowl, beat egg. Beat in the sugar, flour and vanilla. Gently stir in the rhubarb and strawberries. Pour into pastry shell.

For topping, in a small bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar and oats; cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over fruit.

Bake at 400 for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350; bake for 35 minutes longer or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cool on wire rack.

RECIPE SOURCE: Taste of Home Baking Classics, page 107

There is currently one pie remaining. (The family loved it.)

This was my breakfast piece this morning, along with a book I found yesterday at Goodwill for 50 cents. It was one that I had discovered at Barnes and Noble and added to a running note on my phone “to look for at the library”. . . . I was happy to find it at Goodwill and can’t wait to read it.

This is my current book which I have to finish first:

West With the Night, by Beryl Markham

weekend report

Posted on May 22, 2017 by Shanda

He has been with me everywhere I have gone. Genesis 35:3

He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. Job 5:9

Not to us, Lord, not to us but to you be the glory. Psalm115:1

The friends and pleasures of which you speak cannot compare with the joys which I seek. Christian, in Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyan

If you love me, feed my sheep. John 21:17

*****

Sarah’s last school program for 1st grade. Next year she will be moving on to the bigger elementary school in town. (my baby!)

On a flower the size of a dime. Sarah and I made baby sounds at it because it was so small.

The tree we planted from Grandma and Grandpa (Rich’s dad and step-mom). The children never forget about this tree and love to check on it. “It’s growing, Mom!”

Lady’s slippers in bloom

We found a small toad….. I took this picture moments before she started jumping around (similar to a toad) because she’s trying to be brave holding it in her hands….but she’s really feeling rather squeamish.

~Buttercups and guess what? We all like butter, very much. Especially on toast and popcorn.

Gentleman Gray walked with us. I had to carry him back, he’s not a cat that enjoys walking in the heat through tall grass with a strange dog “over there”.

KYMZ7519

While I had Gentleman, my sister randomly texted me a picture of herself with her fur baby.

Sisters!

Tessa’s Jr. Prom! She invited Ethan, of course.

They’ve been dating almost 2 years.

It was so hot outside. I did a five minute photoshoot on the driveway before they left.

Aren’t they good looking?

cuties

They didn’t get home until around 1:30 in the morning so I didn’t sleep very well. Mom-worries, you know. 🙂 They had a wonderful time, so happy.

Lots of baseball games for the boys!

I turned to Rich and silently mouthed, “Take my picture!” seventeen times before he got it. I had to be sneaky because if Seth had heard me he would have run off — he likes to tease me. This boy…..we rarely see him during his brother’s games but every once in a while he’ll come visit me. In this case he was coming to say, “No one’s working the food booth today. If you had a key would you work the food booth Mom?” Maybe he was hungry. Or wanting candy. Look at his outfit. Batting gloves, knee high Garfield socks. He’s so cute!

But what I love the most…..is he is still so much a Mama’s boy and loves to come close for some obligatory lovin’ . He knows it’s his duty so mom doesn’t get lonely and sad because her children are growing up.

Grown up Jacob came to the field after work.

The little kids spent most of the time up in the unused announcer’s booth watching the game from up high. Sooooo cute. Rich and I could see them from across the way.

The little league fields are our “home away from home” these days, we are there almost every day. If I drove a horse and wagon I wouldn’t even have to direct the horse….I would just say, “Take me to the ballgame” while flicking the reins and off we would go in the wagon.

Our rabbits are not caged, they live free in the chicken coop and when I let out the chickens they are also consequently free to roam. Number 1 bunny never hops out, but number 2 bunny is more adventurous and we were highly amused when we came home from the game and found it talking to the cat.

Sunday night dates, we love Pinkberry and Auntie Anne’s pretzels at the mall. And each other. Rich says, “I don’t even want to buy anything I just love walking around with you.” He’ll stare at me while we eat our treats and say things like, “you’re beautiful.” or, “I love that hair color on you.” And he’ll walk behind me five steps as we go upstairs and whistle. You know, regular & comfortable married couple stuff like that.

We went to Barnes and Noble and I took a picture of books I want to look up at the library.

Sunday evening walk all by my lonesome. I picked a few wayward lily of the valley (they spread through the years and I found some fair game– in the ditch) one of them pulled right up with it’s roots attached so I transplanted it in the garden back home.

I found a feather on the side of the road. I also got scared by the neighbor’s little vicious white dog.

Thus concludes the weekend report.

bless all the dear children

Posted on May 9, 2017 by Shanda

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See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.

In church on Sunday Seth walked past his seated siblings in the pew to get to me. He had his fidget spinner in his hand and looked at me with intense eyes. “Will you put this in your purse Mom, or I’m going to play with it,” he confessed. I gave him a little hug, “You can fidget for now, Seth! Really, it’s okay!” and he went back to his place, Sarah and Caleb between us.

I thought about how easy it was to say “it’s okay” this time instead of “give me that!” and how it softened my own heart as well as his. I know it softened his because very soon he came back and sat himself between me and his sister, snuggling up close to me with his small hands holding the spinner. Eventually during the sermon the fidget spinner did end up in my purse, but even that was okay, because Seth knew that sometimes it’s okay to spin and sometimes it’s not okay to spin, but his Mom loved him and understood his thoughts and ways. He knew he was a good boy.

We listened to his Dad preach and I thanked God over and over for the small son next to me, leaning into me, playing with my hair, my hands, the rings on my fingers. I scribbled sermon notes on a piece of paper and meanwhile Seth was thinking about Mama and wondering and thinking thoughts so he leaned over and whispered, “Are you going to be sad when we’re all grown up?” and I looked at him and nodded a sincere “yes”.

He smiled as he sat back in his seat because it reinforced what he knew was true, “My mom loves me.”

I want to shout it from the rooftops:

BEING A MOM HAS BEEN THE MOST WONDERFUL BECAUSE the CHILDREN HAVE BEEN THE MOST WONDERFUL.

It’s not so much that I myself am a “good mom”, it’s that I know children are gifts from above and I have deep appreciation for the opportunity to love and be loved by them. Wow, what a blessing. So often I have this in mind as I bend down to hug, or reach over to pat any one of my children next to me in the front seat of the car.

WHY DID GOD GIVE me CHILDREN?

One of the reasons is, not only that they need me, but BECAUSE HE KNEW I NEEDED THEM. They, without even knowing it, have served and ministered to my heart in countless ways.

I need their love, I need their childlike wonder to show me what really matters.

We all do….teachers, bus drivers, coaches, aunts, uncles, dads; we are all enriched by the little people in our worlds. We can learn so much from them.

****

People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them,
but the disciples rebuked them.
When Jesus saw this, he was indignant.
He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them,
for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God
like a little child
will never enter it.”
And he took the children in his arms,
placed his hands on them and blessed them