Give Thanks--Both Big & Small

Amazing how the title of my blog is "don't miss a moment." And yet, I feel like I've missed many over the past couple of months. I've allowed busyness--kid's projects, holiday projects, neighborhood projects and well, just life, to keep me from occasionally recording a moment or two on this blog. So this time, I'm not going to allow this "moment" to pass without recollection.

The past couple of weeks at church I have been overwhelmed by emotion--I guess mainly by the worship that takes place. I was particularly affected though pre-Thanksgiving weekend as they had a "Thanksgiving Service" which basically was a time of praise, worship, and thanksgiving. People were able to make requests of songs and could tell their "short" stories of why they are thankful this time of year. As I sat and listened to the various dialogues from people, over and over I continued to hear about people who had lost loved ones young and old, had a family member who was sick, or had relationships that were damaged--yet were thankful for what God has shown them, I realized how incredibly lucky I am. So this post is simply to be thankful for how God has blessed me.

I have an incredible husband that God has given to me. He's strong, wise, handsome, funny, determined, and an amazing provider for our family. I have learned over the past few months how fragile a marriage can be and sometimes just within the blink of an eye you can lose what you have if you aren't paying attention and attending to that which the Lord has given you. Thank you Lord for opening my eyes to that and thank you for a wonderful man. I have two amazing children. Yes, they try my ever-lasting nerve sometimes, but that's all to come with the territory. They are vibrant, full of life, energetic, and beautiful children. How blessed are they to me. I have a family, both near and far, who surround us and our children with their love and who is healthy. I have a house that covers my head and keeps me warm where some people don't even have that. I have food that is readily available where some people have to look and beg for theirs. I have a Lord that loves me, protects me, and is faithful to me and my family. Overall, I love life and I could not be more grateful for the things in my life that make me who I am today. So, thank you to those of you who shared their stories and reminded me of how fragile life can be, how we take people for granted, and how we tend to miss many moments that He has put there for us to enjoy and learn from.

Just rest, Mommy......

Okay, so here's how the story goes. For once in my life, my children are actually "playing" together. That means, laughter, happy sounds, not screaming, screaching, pinching, hitting, etc. It's after lunch and I am enjoying the moment. Wondering what I should do with myself for the next few minutes until the happy sounds turn to unhappy sounds, my son comes in and says, "Mommy, we're playing together. Why don't you just sit down and rest?" Okay, so I should have at that moment suspected something was drastically wrong, but for whatever reason, I did not. I guess I was too caught up in the moment that they were actually having fun together. So, I decided to sit down and read a page or two of my new book "Setting Limits with your Strong-Willed Child." For me, that title should read, "Setting Limits with your Strong-Willed Children." So, as I am sitting in the chair reading, my son comes in a few more times happily saying he and his sister are playing hide-n-seek and he can't find her. Thinking that this is really what's going on, I tell him to go find her so I can read a couple more pages. This happens a couple more times and I begin to hear sounds that are more suspicious. I ask my son, "Now tell the truth, what is Hannah doing?" As I begin to get up--more like hop up and run, I hear water running in my bathroom from the tub---never a good sign. As I walk in I see my daughter and my son soaking wet, the floor is about a half-inch covered in water and in my bathtub I find every shampoo bottle and lotion bottle I own, an entire package of Q-tips, kleenex packages (now of course not usable), and well a few more appropriate things like bouncy balls. As they giggle and continue to splash one another I try hard not to laugh and well you know be stern. It's not possible to keep a straight face. You know kids will be kids and I've always heard the saying that kids are "naturally drawn to water." So, we mopped up the floor with a few dozen towels, put tennis shoes, shorts, socks, etc. in the dryer, and fished out soggy Q-tips and kleenex packages from the bottom of the "pool." The discussion afterwards was as follows:

Mom: "Now Blake you are the older brother. Sometimes it is your job to help mommy. When your sister does something she shouldn't be doing, please do not join in her fun and please don't come tell a lie to me hoping I do not interrupt your fun."

Son: "Okay Mommy, but if we were naughty why were you laughing and smiling and not frowning?"

Mom: After a moment of silence as I pondered this response---"Well, honey sometimes its just better to join in laughter rather than get angry." (Wish I practiced that more than preaching.)

Moral of the story: When your 4 year old tells you to just sit down and relax-----proceed with caution. There is definitely a hidden agenda!

What's in 30 Minutes?

30 Minutes. Such a short amount of time, really. Some would say one could accomplish a lot in that amount of time, others may say nah--need more time to really get something done. Today, I record what can be accomplished in that short period of time from our house--both the good and the bad, the meaningful and the well, not-so-meaningful. From an 18 month olds' perspective: fill the bathtub with water and pour all the lotion containers and towels in that are within a hands reach; completely empty a cat's litter box with a sand shovel; pull all books out from a bookshelf and be enthralled with words on a paper from "Forever My Love;" climb into a wading pool fully clothed and not care a bit; or empty the bottom shelves/doors of the refrigerator, which includes dropping a glass jar of pizza sauce on the floor. You know now that I write this--these events occur in much less time than 30 minutes--more like 5. From the 4 year old: pull out every toy, stuffed animal, ball, etc. that exists in his room and "cover" the floor to make an "ocean;" read 3 Disney storybooks from the library; knock sister over and be naughty to her at least 5 times; learn a lesson in obedience by having his Big Wheel "stolen;" learn the basics of golf and football from daddy; teach his stuffed kitty, "Friendly" how to have "quiet time." From the Mommy: shower, dressed, hair dry w/out make-up; a cup of coffee; respond to 4 emails; a jog around the block; almost finish unloading groceries; fix a balanced meal for the family (in 30 minutes?? Barely); a chance to talk to daddy (with kids locked upstairs by a gate); a quiet rock with sick child in rocking chair; a chance to READ Disney storybooks and pray with son before bed; teach a child the importance of Obedience; whisper the ones you love "I Love You." From the Daddy: well, he'd have to answer that one. All in all, when it seems like time passes so quickly sometimes and we don't accomplish what we want to in the time we thought we could, that time really is spent doing something worthwhile. A toddler exploring her world, testing the waters.....A preschooler discovering his imagination.....A mom attempting to keep the house in order, yet love and care for her husband and kids.........A dad, well I would guess would be attempting to lead his family and love those he cares for most.

Introducing......the Next Tiger Woods and Barry Bonds

So some things come naturally for people and others have to work at it. Wanted to share my two athletes in training with whoever cares. Yes, some parents have dreams for their girls to grow up to become a delicate princess who's prim and proper in her ways and has dreams of her prince charming that will come some day and whisk her away. I, at this point, don't have a "dream" for what my daughter will become some day, other than my hopes are that she's kind, loving, is loved, and is doing what she loves to do. As of today, it looks like princess dresses and tiaras are in a far away land as she now learns the trades of baseball. Other than watching brother and teaching herself how to hold the bat, she's figured it out. Batter, batter, batter----swing!!!! And it's out of the park!!!!

Now for the boy in the family, he's well on his way to do something athletic in the future. Who knows what, but with the cost of college education multiplying daily, a scholarship in something would be nice. This kid is a natural when it comes to sports. Golf though, is his cup of "tee." No one taught him how to swing, he just picked up the golf club when he was 3 and hit that ball straight as an arrow all the way to the other side of the backyard. Dad, of course was more than impressed. So, for now we will watch our children grow and develop their skills in whatever they may be and wonder to ourselves what will this child be one day????

A Buried Treasure

"Motherhood brings as much joy as ever, but it still brings boredom, exhaustion, and sorrow too. Nothing else will ever make you as happy or as sad, as proud or as tired, for nothing is quite as hard as helping a person develop his own individuality--especially while you struggle to keep your own." Marguerite Kelly and Elia Parsons

So there's times in your lives that you sort through closets and find unexpected "gifts." Some things that are ready to be trashed, others that have potential, and others that just seem to be a buried treasure. I found in my son's closet the other day a stash of books that had been tucked away. I got them as a gift from my mother when Blake was a tiny baby. It was a gift for the future and I remember occasionally coming across them, but unfortunately for myself did not use them to the fullest potential.

Ever feel like with your child you have "quantity time" not "quality time?" Or those moments as a mom, you need your children to entertain themselves and you not be the ringmaster? I have felt at times that I failed in the realm of teaching my son how to play WELL on his own. At times when I've gotten down on my knees and played with him (yes, that is important), I forgot along the way the importance of them learning to play on their own. So at this juncture of my life, I'm choosing to help him learn to use that skill better and begin teaching his sister NOW at her young age to do the same. Not because I do not want to spend time with my children--teaching, playing, engaging---I do plenty of that. But because as life goes on, there are times that mommy has to do things without her children pulling on legs, running circles around her, etc. Full circle to the books! They are called "The Preschooler's Busy Book" by Trish Kuffner (or "The Toddler's Busy Book," etc.) A set of 3 books for 3 separate age groups (toddler, preschool, and young children) that has fun, creative, at home activities that you can do with your children or without. I am a mom who wants her children to have a vivid imagination and be capable. It talks about how to act as a helper for your child instead of being their teacher. Letting them learn on their own and run their own show, while knowing we are there to help them when and if they need it.

So, my first experiment from the book will be during the "witching hour." If you are a mom, I don't even need to tell you what time this is, but for others---from 5:00-7:00 (dinner preparation, plate preparation, dinner clean-up). My children become these creatures from another planet during this time and irregardless of what I attempt to "entertain" them with, they always end up in the kitchen at my feet. So, we are going to implement the "Crazy Can." In the can are cards with various activities that this book helps you create (no special materials, no time-consuming preparation or clean-up and no large amount of adult participation). When things get crazy, pull a card from the can and your preschooler has something to do (at least for 5 minutes, right?)

We'll see how it goes and maybe the witching hour at our house will become a little more calm, quiet, and collected.

Time to Regroup

Okay, so I knew this day was coming, just didn't want it to come this soon. You know a mother treasures the rare times the house is quiet as children are sleeping. Gives you a chance to sit down (what's that, you mean in a chair?), have a cup of coffee, type an email, read a chapter in a good book, take a short snooze, shower in peace, watch something other than Dora on TV, or simply just stare into space. I have treasured those moments now for 4 years, 2 months, and 12 days--I always called it my rejuvenating time, irregardless of what I was doing. Not only this week has my one-year old decided to rid herself of her morning naps, but my son has decided he's too big for sleeping anymore during the day. AAAahhhhh, such a sad, sad day. Yes, a rite of passage for him and for her as it shows they are exerting their independence and growing. Too fast, I might add. But, for me as their mother, it's a time to regroup. Time to figure out how to manage an entire day with no break as well as realign our time in how we do things during a day. I'll survive, I'll manage---just give me a few days/weeks to mourn the loss of time to myself. For now, we will try the "quiet time" in his room--encouraging an hours worth of play time by himself that is QUIET. For him, that's a difficult concept to grasp, but with the help of a little self-control and a clock to count down the minutes, I'm hopeful he'll still give mommy a short break. Transitions during childhood-----I believe they are always harder on the parents than they ever are on the kid!

Life's Too Short

Okay, I'm a first-timer when it comes to blogging. I'm normally not one to "join the crowd" when it comes to peer-pressure, but for this I'm succoming to the pressure. AAAGGGHHH!!! As a mother of two young children, I have learned through others that there are too many opportunities we miss as parents if we let the days pass as quickly as they do. I know for me, I forget things way too easily if it's not written down (I confess I'm a list-maker). So I know as the years pass there will be many moments that I shared with my children that I will forget because it's not recorded somewhere. So, here's my opportunity to record the funny and not-so-funny archives of our lives as we raise our children. Children--they bring us to our knees in frustration, they drive us crazy with rarely a quiet moment to drink a cup of cofee, they make our blood boil in times of defiance or rebellion, they make you wonder if "sharing" was actually a word that was never in the dictionary, I could go on...............But sometimes all it takes to reaffirm your job God gave you in granting you those precious gifts to raise and teach is a smile that captures your heart, a hug and an "i love you mommy," a snapshot of your boy racing through the wind on his big-wheel with not a care in the world, a peaceful sleeping beauty, or an "ah-ha" moment where you see they are actually starting to get what you are trying to teach them. All in all, life is too short to not be reminded about how these little creatures change our own lives--for the better.

For us, we are blessed with two of these creatures--Blake (4)--a son who is so self-defined it is maddening. He is full of life and energy, knows what he wants, how and when he wants it, and won't let you ever forget it. He has a memory that blows even my mind and shows signs this early of being athletically inclined. Oh how I sit and wonder sometimes how his gifts will be used in the future. Who knows what he'll want to be when he grows up, but what frustrates me about him today, I know will serve him well in the future. Number 2--Hannah (1, going on 4)---where do I begin? Where I thought I couldn't have a more challenging child than Blake, she turned 1 and turned the world upside down. She's vibrant, beautiful, and even more-so sure of what she wants or doesn't want. There's no girly-girl in her, except for when she twirls in circles as if she's dancing and flashes those blue eyes. Plays basketball, football, soccer, makes car and gun noises, eats dirt, picks up bugs, has no fear, and would rather be without clothes. I do not foresee ballet in the future for her. With only one kidney, the dr. said to avoid contact sports. When she was 6 months old I thought--no problem! At this stage, I'm not sure where that will fit into the picture. They brighten our lives each and every day, even if they bring me to tears. I hope to share just some of those moments with you--family, friends near and far and hopefully, they can brighten your day too and give you a laugh. Yes, I know this was lengthy. First post, hard to capture what you want to say. Future posts--short and sweet.