Apple blossoms…
Circuses imagined up and created by my children, presented with pride to me on a Saturday morning…
clown, lion, lion tamer — who later became tumblers, tight-rope walkers, peanut vendors, and tap dancers!
Guitars and new songs about sunshine…
Smooshed cheeks that made me laugh…
Ryan coming home to mow the field of wildflowers that was our lawn (very romantic, but not terribly practical for playing)…
And an afternoon of amazing sky drama that only happens in the summertime…
Everyone to whom God has given wealth, and possessions, and the power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.
“Blessings, like children, are not ethereal and weightless. Sometimes they feel like they come at you like a Kansas hail storm—they might leave a welt!
But if you accept your lot and rejoice in your toil, God will give you the kind of overwhelming joy that cannot remember the details.
Motherhood is hard work. It is repetitive and often times menial. Accept it. Rejoice in it. This is your toil. Right here.
Those are their faces. Enjoy them.
The days of your life are supposed to be full of things like this.
But joy is not giddy. It is not an emotional rush—it is what happens when you accept your lot and rejoice in your toil.
So rejoice in your children. Look them in the eyes and give thanks.
You will not even remember the work of all this planting when the harvest of joy overwhelms you.” (Rachel Jankovic, Loving the Little Years, emphasis mine.)
Busy, busy, busy! Long days that fly by. Spent with four of my favorite people.
*****
last day of Friday School this year!
recovering from a late night at the boys’ spring concert
how? when? that tall??
bright blues, proud of climbing up the slide
who knew life could be so fun?
pigtails.
my helper
teeth.
scooch
highchair for a big girl!
*****
And lastly, this. Long awaited.
Is there anything better than a sunny day around 60 degrees, an old pair of jeans, and a trowel? I think not. The only thing that could possibly improve it is if a friend announced that she would make and bring you dinner. (I happily stayed outside even longer.)
I really and truly loved this past winter. There were so many special days with my four little loves, discovering magical worlds in our snow-covered woods, sipping hot cocoa on sub-zero days, reading Narnia in the winter afternoon sun… I didn’t want it to end. Maybe I’m God’s favorite kid, because it honestly seemed like it was never going to end.
Today, soaking in warm sun rays, listening to swallows make their annual nest in our birdhouse, smelling dirt and grass and the spicy scent of beebalm sprouts — I remembered how much there is to love in this season, too.
What’s this? Oh, you know, just my big boy shielding his eyes from the sun. Who knew that would be such a wonderful sight?
It’s been a real-live week. Rainy days, school that’s lasting about 6 weeks too many, teething baby, 2pm that you really would like to be 7pm… Real.
Jameson prayed this morning, “Lord, help us to know that even when we struggle, that’s just part of learning to know You, and that You’ll always be there for us.”
This little boy prophesies almost every morning lately. William prays things with insight I haven’t given him. It’s the Holy Spirit. It amazes me.
And yes, we struggle. We stop and ask for patience, grace, forgiveness. We love God and we love each other, but sometimes we love ourselves more. That’s sin, but 1 John 1.9 is in our hearts lately: He forgives and cleanses. Washes. Fresh start. Try again. And here’s a Helper.
*****
Jameson is playing coach-pitch this year. That’s him, on the left, in the air because he never stopped jumping in excitement. Best news: His Uncle Daniel is coaching him. All of his little baseball dreams are coming true.
He pushes me to my wits’ end, and he makes me laugh. I just love this kid. This morning, he was taking forever to clean the bathrooms. Forever. When I, exasperated, asked what was taking so long, he answered cheerfully, “I’m almost done, Mom! I’ve only got two left!” (He only has two to clean.) He knows how to see life half full!
William is happy and easy-going and smiles huge smiles at Fiona. This morning he kissed her and then informed me that “I think she can really feel the luuuuv when we kiss her, Mama.” Ha!
Beatrice suddenly stuck her arm straight out toward William, fingers splayed. “Wiw-yum, I am forcin’ you!” Huh? Oh!, we finally realized. She’s trying to be all cool and play Star Wars in her toddler-girl way.
Fiona was propped in her little rocker by Jameson, and then promptly surrounded by beaming siblings who were incredibly proud of her for sitting there. “Take a picture of us! Come on, everybody! Smile!” (Said Jameson.) (And yes, Beattie is wearing polkadots, crazy tights, and fishy slippers, with floral sunglasses in hand. Wow.)
Eight months old! I can’t believe it. This smooshy girl is happily wearing 12 month clothes, while laying contentedly on the floor without even the faintest desire to sit, let alone crawl. A bottom tooth surfaced last Friday — tada! No fever or crankiness or anything. Just a little sharp spot.
She rolls everywhere and finds the teeniest bits of junk to put in her mouth. Jameson’s task of vacuuming has been bumped from do-it-because-Mama-gets-twitchy-otherwise all the way up to LIFE-SAVING MUST!!
She goes bananas when her daddy walks in the door, doing her very best to compete with mobile siblings for his notice. She is thrilled to be carried by Jameson from room to room, despite his seeming awkwardness. She knows how to turn on the drama, whether it be a cheesy smile or fake sob. Mostly, though, she’s just happy to be — be in my arms, be among her siblings, be here with us, being a part.
(Don’t know where she gets that double chin. HAHA.)