Moments

It's the little moments that make life worth it.  Like when you go to check on the kids and find a little bum sticking up in the air...or watching your daughter skipping across the gym with her friend.  Or your 6 year old patiently sitting for over an hour while you do her hair for the Daddy/Daughter Dance.  Or seeing the enthusiasm and excitement of your 8 year old in his first basketball game - and the terror of when he actually gets the ball!

A friend asked me to come and talk to her 16-17 year old class in church about finding joy in different stages of life - while their age, as a college student, as a new bride, a new mother, and the middle mothering years.  So fun to think about and reflect on!  Each stage has soooooo many challenges yet so many rewards too!  I'd like to think that I would do everything the same way again, but I know I've made a lot of mistakes!  However, if I did it differently, I wouldn't have learned the same lessons!

This is one of my favorite quotes:
“Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he’s been robbed. The fact is that most putts don’t drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to just be people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. Life is like an old time rail journey…delays…sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling burst of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.” ― Gordon B. Hinckley

My kitchen gets completely trashed in the winter - that is how we come into the house and the floor just cannot stay clean!  It's a constant source of frustration.  The kids take their snow boots off in the garage, but there isn't space for a basket for regular shoes.  It's just not the most pleasing site when you walk into the house.  However, then I see the kitchen table - THIS is also a place of pleasure and pain each day.  Sadly I can't ever predict which one it will be from moment to moment.  I LOVE doing homework with Ben and Annie.  I LOVE to explain little details.  I LOVE giving Ben words to practice writing or helping Annie with her sentences.  I don't love when frustration or irritation burst their way in!  It all depends on the kids' attitudes...  Ah, the small moments...when the planets align...and the piano practice goes well...and the chores are completed...and dinner is on the table at 5:15!  Days like that make it worth the 85% when pieces are missing.  I LOVE my job - even when the moments aren't perfect!  More important - I love my partner who hears a lot more about the 85% of imperfection and helps me to recognize the 15%!!!

Post Christmas Celebration

 We came home and opened gifts from our extended family and sibling gifts.  Emily completely sets the cheerfulness tone in our family right now.  She loves each and every gift and gives hugs to say thank you.  Ben and Annie followed her example and even hugged each other!

 Andy was so THRILLED with his box full of dress shirts!!!  (thank you JCPenney for having our favorite Stafford no-wrikle shirts for $7-$9 each with free shipping!)  And one lonely pair of socks...

 Ben had so much fun with his board (until he took a spill and scarred his hip) and can't wait for nicer weather to use it again!  We all love our new aprons from Sis. Dayton!!!

 Emily had one more present, but it wouldn't fit under the tree.  She waited so patiently for Grandma and Grandpa's gift...

 Here comes Dad, bringing it down the stairs...

 A vanity - just like the little girls across the street!!!  So exciting! 

 The best part about this gift is that everyone can play with it together.  Emily is by far the best sharer in this house because she wants everyone to play!  Ben has a blast when I let him paint the girls nails.  They will just sit and do each other's hair.  Even Mitchell will sit on the little stool for a bit and pretend to play.  Or, he will pick up the stool and carry it around to climb on to reach naughty stuff.... 

After putting the vanity together, we spent the rest of the day playing with new toys and playing new games!  Quirkle is great fun - kind of a sudoku/crossword mix - but with shapes and colors!  Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!