Dec
01
2012
The girls and baby had just finished running around the house squealing with glow sticks. Derek was working late for two days in a row and I had my hands in the sink trying to conquer at least one pile of mess. I put the baby in bed when he came up and practically asked to go to sleep. We played peek-a-boo with his discarded pants on the changing table. His laughter sweet wonder deep in my soul.
Aeralind and Bronwyn rush to the bathroom to brush their teeth and use the potty. I pull down our Advent Journey. Dig out the Jesse tree ornament. Find a wrapped animal to add to their “barn” that they are slowly unwrapping.
We read the story about the fall. How the snake convinced Eve that God was holding back on her. The lie I still hear whispered today. I wonder what their little hearts are absorbing.
There are shrieks of delight as they unwrap the camel. They kiss him and tuck him in the barn for the night. And Bronwyn she carries the Jesse tree ornament to the tree. The one with the Snake and the Apple. She smiles and Aeralind joins her. I ask them what the other ornaments are.
“The stump with the branch. The earth. The snake and the apple.” Their tiny voices tell me. I wonder at how even in their little lives God is making way for the wonder of the gospel despite my shortcomings.
Nov
29
2012
A dollar store can of shaving cream + three children = 40 minutes of fun + leftover shaving cream for later!
This was fun and easy… although none of us liked how the shaving cream caked up on our hands and I’m pretty sure Sedryn wasn’t too excited about the few little tastes he took 😉 Oh, and my table was gloriously clean afterward.
Nov
28
2012Bronwyn: May I carry baby?
Me: No, he’s too big.
Bronwyn: Oh. When I’m a mama, I can carry my baby.
Me: Bronwyn, you can carry your baby wherever you want .
Bronwyn: Yes, and I’ll buckle him in his carseat in my pink car. With my dog.
Nov
28
2012The gratitude journal, it falls missing one afternoon.
Lost.
Somewhere between the dashboard cubbie at the beach and the switch from the Corolla being my primary car to the Camry being mine.
Lost.
Satan uses my scatterbrainedness to stop the pen he hates so much from scrawling the Eucharisteo of the Lord’s Glory across the page. My heart wanders.
Lost.
Moment pass. The morning (probably the last) where the year old nursling falls asleep early in the morning snuggled right up to my side and we sleep for hours cuddled together. Aeralind’s hand so soft on my cheek asking me, “Please, Mama, can we go see the chickens.” while we’re at the farm. Bronwyn’s crazy “ballet” as Ruthie plays “Bless the Lord (10,000 reasons)” on the violin. Sedryn’s young voice whispering “All done” when the violin stopped and asking daddy for “mor” milk. Girls tucked around Mrs. Margaret lulled by the reading in her soft English accent. A surprise date dancing on a Tuesday night. These moments pass.
Lost.
Unrecorded.
Ingratitude.
No quiet thanks for those beautiful moments. No pen to count the ways He loves.
But redeemed (it’s my identity after all!). These moments here.
Joanna shares this song on Facebook (that place I love for the way God uses, yet hate for the way it allows us to wear masks), this challenge bringing me back full circle. “Don’t you want to thank someone?”
I pause. Turn again. Repent. Won’t you do the same with me? Pause… listen for a few minutes of Rest. (Or just don’t stop listening to it… over and over and over like I am doing to steady my wayward heart.)
Don’t you want to thank someone for this?
I know I want to. Join me?
