How do I stop time for just awhile? How do I get my boys to stay so sweet and innocent? How do I get them to want to cuddle with me past the age of what age they make you stop. How do I get them to always think that Mommy is the bestest thing ever?
I love my boys and I love seeing them grow and learn but I really want them to stay the same. We always thought it would be awesome to keep a “copy” of your kids at certain ages. For example we would have Preston, aging and growing but we would also have a 2 year old Preston. Wouldn’t that be cool, cute? Weird? Yeah I know. But I just want to savor every minute. I get all caught up with life and then I blink and my boys are 6 months older. 6 months is huge too when they are this young. A lot changes in 6 months.
So for now, I will go along with the way God has it playing out – just need to journal and take lots of pictures. So many things are forgotten, I hate that!
So wish me luck tomorrow morning that I don’t cry to hard and embarrass my sweetie – WAIT THOUGH – he doesn’t get embarrassed by me yet… see what I mean?
I posted a link to our YouTube account, here on the top right side of my blog. The one i embedded in this post is the first one we have ever made. We get the most views, ratings and comments on it, so I chose to post it. If you ever have a moment, check them all, just click on the thumbnail to the right. Hope you enjoy – we love making them. We are definitely due for another!
Yep, you guessed it. I am one of those people. One of those people whose children have never slept in a crib, with the except of a nap or two between all 3 of them. In the beginning it was for safety and convenience. Knowing that they are safe and nearby was reassuring. For convenience because I nursed all my boys and it was nice to not even really have to wake up for too long to nurse at night, let alone not having to get up, turn on a light, and the like. So I am a very tired person, in general, because I have never slept without a little one nearby. I do absolutely love it… I love looking over and watching them sleep, I love hearing them take their little breaths, I love having them right there with us. What I don’t love however, is the lack of sleep, I have turned into a super light sleeper. I wake at almost any movement and noise.
Just two nights ago as I laid on the very corner-edge of a king sized bed, I was thinking how ridiculous it was that I was occupying only 5% of the entire bed…meanwhile Samuel was smack dab in the middle with arms and legs stretched out to their fullest potential.
One compromise we did make with the other 2 – we will lay with them until they fall asleep. OK OK so I know we aren’t necessarily doing things by the book, but hey – they are only young once. I guess I have just succumb to the fact that I will always be tired at least until my kids have grown. Then I can stay up all night worrying about where they are and what they are doing. :O)
Something my two oldest boys have been saying lately makes me bust a huge smile every time! They think that attaching a huge number to things they say really demonstrates how strongly they feel. So when it comes time to saying goodnight, they have been saying:
Preston the 6yr old: “I love you sixty billion, five hundred, eight-five” (any large random string of numbers) OR “I love you higher than any number God can count”
Oliver simply says: “I love you five hundred”
I love it, love it! Makes me feel happy and loved.
I remember when I was young when I tried to show my Mom how much I loved her I would open my arms up as wide as they would stretch and tell her that’s how much I love her. Still do… but don’t express it so much anymore. Next time I see her, I will prepare my arms to open up wide, wonder if she remembers.
Not really one for nostalgia, I have to say that sometimes it is fun to have your memory tickled.
Sometimes it’s a smell, for me fresh cut grass takes me back to my endless summer days when my Mom would have to literally yell for us from the porch as the sun went and street lights went on. Pinto beans cooking, with chili brewing – it never fails I am instantly taken back to my Grandma’s house. The funny thing about that is – it actually reminds me of her sidewalk and porch – because you could smell this delicious aroma as soon as you entered her yard, it never failed to lure me in, quick like. Even recalling that memory – I remember her front door was a little hard to open and would always make a very distinct sound, I can almost hear it now. Also, more times than not you would walk into my Grandma’s and hear the pressure cooker cooking away. Miss those sounds.
Sometimes it is a song, a movie, pretty much anything. I have some things I have recently remembered from my youth, thought I would type em up and enjoy the memories.
I remember going to the mall, the mall was everything, had everything, it was the place to be in the 80’s. I remember going to the T-Shirt shop (remember those?). I picked out a baseball jersey shirt (the kind that are white in the middle and the sleeves are another color) now came the exciting part, which transfer to choose… I remember standing there looking at a display containing at least 100 iron-on transfers. Some had funny sayings, some had sweet ones, some with cute little animals, some with rainbows, some with sparkles. I used to love to watch the Tshirt “master” carefully place the tshirt down, the transfer, then push that super hot lid down and steam it to complete the transfer. I still remember the smell of a hot tshirt and the feel of it. Weird I know!
The mall also had an arcade which was a gathering spot for me and my family usually before and after a movie. Remember classic video games? Remember life before tokens? Remember when anytime somebody was playing a game you wanted to play- protocol was that you put a quarter down and rest it on the bottom of the screen, as if to say “I’m next”, lol! Tons of fun memories at the mall.
Let me tell you- the last post I wrote I was seriously tired.. still am, maybe even more. But something has changed. A new perspective! God’s timing is always perfect. I am and have been worn out, bogged down, discouraged and I think most of it does have to do what exhaustion but also, has to with me not looking at “the big picture”. The big picture… Watch this, be inspired, be encouraged!
Now I am off to play with my boys, my oldest is home sick today – perfect timing. Can’t wait to enjoy my ordinary day!
Is this the case for you too? I don’t mean to be an ogre when I am suffering from lack of sleep, but everything irritates me. I am even totally conscious of the grouchiness but I still can’t snap myself out of it. YUCK!
Ok, so nobody with kids ever told me that you basically go through life exhausted. I never knew all my acquaintances with children were living these “secret night lives”. At night, in our house, there is always 1 kid waking up for whatever reason. Once we get that child back to sleep, we doze off just in time for the next child to wake us. Boom we are snapped out of that nice, syrupy, drowsy sleep, only to have to go and take care of whatever is they need (water, bathroom, Me). Then we doze off again, what will it be next? Another child? Alarm clock? Loud neighbors?
I am just so tired! I will probably read this post later and remember that I was in a seriously grouchy fog. Enough rambling. I am alone for the next 30 minutes, night night (yes it is 8:41AM) !
Thank you Jesus. Reflecting on what this day is truly all about.
Taken from Dayspring.com – Heart to Heart with Holley
Easter Prayer
LORD, Thank You for the gift of HOPE You gave us on Easter morning. Because of You we know That no problem is too difficult And even death does not have power over us.
Thank You for the gift of JOY You gave us when You were resurrected. Because of you we know That no matter how challenging life may be, In the end we will rejoice again.
Thank you for the gift of LOVE You gave us when You laid down Your life. Because of You we know That there is no sin too great to separate us and we are incredibly valuable to You.
Thank You for the gift of LIFE, You gave us when You left the tomb. Because of Easter we know this world is just the beginning and we will spend forever in heaven with You. We celebrate You, JESUS, With hearts full of praise and gratitude For who You are and all You’ve done for us! Amen.
Honey,
I love you! I love you. I loved you from about the 2nd day I knew you! It was 10 years ago that I walked into my new job and found that I had been seated right next to a quiet guy with beautiful eyes and a love for the Broncos. What an adventure we have been on. Endless conversations at Starbucks, the Marriott, Shelbys! I treasured every moment with you. I would pray to God that he would make you my husband! I hung on your every word.
I didn’t know God would answer my prayer, not only did he answer that prayer he even threw in 3 great boys! Who would have thought?
Now… what an amazing partner you have turned out to be. You are our provider, caregiver, everything, teacher, meal maker, playground pal, laudry-do-er, dishwasher – you take such wonderful care of us.
Thank you Honey! Thank you thank you. I can’t wait to see what the next 10 years has in store for us! Loving you always, Your HoneyBun
