10 Reasons I Haven't Called You Back

1.       My oldest is talking to me.  Not sassing me.  Not yelling.  Talking.  The topic is immaterial.  It won't last long.  But I'm praying it lasts long enough.

2.       I just walked into the kitchen and Eddie (20 months) is sitting on top of the kitchen table pouring syrup on his feet.

3.       My brain cells were all used up today trying to convince the 5 year old that everyone does NOT hate her and she IS beautiful and I'm sure she WILL find a husband someday, but she really doesn't need to get so worried about it right now... she has plenty of time for that later. 

4.       I just got 6 texts from 4 different people in a matter of 2 minutes and I'm either a) busy ignoring them (just kidding) or b) trying to figure out if I know the answer to any of their questions.

5.       My oldest is sassing me.  Now she got in trouble...so now she's crying.  If I call you now, I'll forget that she's sitting in the corner and she'll think I care more about you than her.  

6.       It's 7:30 p.m. and I'm still trying to get supper on the table and baths finished. 

7.       Ed dumped out an entire box of frosted flakes on the kitchen floor.  

8.       Clare "needs to talk to me... It's really important."  [dramatic pause] ...Well, Mommy.. I don't know if you're going to believe this... but [dramatic pause]..., I'm not tired yet."

9.       I'm in the car, alone, and it's quiet.   

10.   Cuddling with Ed.  He's getting big really fast. 

I like my kids.  :)

Mom Love

I was going through my old posts and I found this one from near the beginning of this blog.  I had to repost it - it's just that good.  It's a version of I Corinthians 13, for Moms. It will make you happy and it seems appropriate for Mother's Day this weekend.  ( It's from Cindy Sigler Dagnan's book Who Got Peanut Butter on My Daily Planner?)

I can read bedtime stories till the cow jumps over the moon and sing "Ten Little Monkeys" until I want to call the doctor - but if I don't have love, I'm as annoying as a ringing phone.

I can chase a naked toddler through the house while cooking dinner and listening to voice mail, I can fix the best cookies and Kool-Aid in the neighborhood, and I can tell a sick child's temperature with one touch of my finger, but if I don't have love, I am nothing.

Love is patient while watching and praying by the front window when it's 30 minutes past curfew. Love is kind when my teen says, "I hate you!" It does not envy the neighbor's swimming pool or their brand-new minivan, but trusts the Lord to provide every need.

Love does not brag when other parents share their disappointments and insecurities and rejoices when other families succeed.

It doesn't boast, even when I've multitasked all day long and my husband can't do more than one thing at a time.

Love is not rude when my spouse innocently asks, "What have you done today?" It is not easily angered, even when my 15-year-old acts like the world revolves around her. It is not self-righteous when I remind my 17-year-old that he's going 83 in a 55-mph-zone, but rejoices in the truth.

Love trusts God to protect our children when we cannot. It perserveres through blue nail polish, burps and other bodily functions, rolled eyes, crossed arms, messy rooms and sleepovers.

Love never fails. But where there are memories of thousands of diaper changes and painful labors, they will fade away. Where there is talking back, it will (eventually) cease. (Please Lord?) But when we get to heaven, our imperfect parenting will disappear. (Thank you, God!)

When we were children, we needed a parent to love and protect us. Now that we're parents ourselves, we have a heavenly Father who adores, shelters and holds us when we need to cry.

And now these three remain; faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.


Happy Mothers Day.  (Hey, just had a thought.  Shouldn't moms get like a whole week instead of a single day?  :)  Think about it.  

Not Insignificant

Mmmmmm, a good thunderstorm. A quiet house. A quiet NEW house! I sit here at my kitchen table watching the rain blow closer... pretty much just as I imagined it might look from this spot.

I love the light in my home. The windows fill up these rooms with light, whether I ask them to or not. We have a perfect view of the new corn, growing faster than we can believe. And of the sky expanse that surrounds us. Surely the view of this sky will inspire my children to dream. It has me.

From this kitchen table I feel like nothing is impossible.

Different Kids, Same Mom

A couple of weeks ago I was really struggling with my oldest.  While we have a lot in common, she is still very different from me.  She communicates a lot like her dad – a code I’ve still not cracked.  It’s much easier for me to plow through things with Clare.  Somehow it seems like when the dust settles, we are on the same team.  Not the case with me and Soph.

Bogged Down

We sure can get bogged down easily, can’t we?  I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one that feels this way.  My house is such a mess today, but I really want to spend time with my kids.  But I also have some work that HAS to get done.  Yet, I feel so pulled to get back into the habit of blogging.  Ahhhh!

I am in awe of those who have time management all figured out.  I need to take a class.  I think the rules are somewhat different for moms with 18 month old sons, but I know you are out there getting’ er done with small ones in tow.  But do you get it all done?