A Sappy Read

I can’t believe Isaiah is already 2 weeks old! Would you believe that little stinker already rolled over last night?? (Front to back.) Each time we add another child to our family, HA – oops…who do I think I am?? Each time GOD adds another child to our family, time goes by faster and faster. There’s a reason I have joined the scrapbooking cult – they only stay memories if you can REMEMBER them!! I like counting my blessings but lose count when they’re moving and growing at the speed of sound. These times are so precious but time goes by so quickly; it’s bittersweet. I love watching my children grow and become the unique individuals they are but I get teary-eyed as they lose their baby fat and get beautiful/handsome figures, their chubby fingers become strong hands to help haul wood or cook on their own, and I am no longer their favorite person on the planet. Heck, right now, Isabelle and Autumn crawl up on Lenae’s lap more often than mine. But that’s our family – most 19 yo young ladies are too preoccupied with themselves, boys, etc. to have time for toddlers. I don’t need to be jealous – what a blessing!

Recently, our home church ladies were sharing via email why the season of raising babies, toddlers, and youngins could be called the "Golden Years" and how to "have" joy in the midst of it all. I’m feeling sentimental so I’ll share my 2 cents that I shared with them:

It's golden because of the trail I blaze running through the house to get things done!! HA! That being said, I have a lot to say but not enough time to say it all at once.

My daughter (15 yo), Jillian, commented that I'm lucky - I get to have the little ones while having "big ones." That is such a blessing. I'm blessed by watching them grow into young ladies and, now, I have a young man (!!!!!!!) coming up who all agree that our babies and toddlers are the cutest, funniest tots on the planet (sorry folks, but facts are facts). There's not a day that goes by that we don't laugh... a lot...together because of little ones, middle size ones, and the big ones bring quite a bit of laughter, too. Yes, it can be crazy here, but the good kind. :o)

And later I added:

Wow - everybody is anxious to get in on this one! I don't have time to read the other ones right now which brings me to one thing I (selfishly) enjoy about having babies - READING! I didn't get to do that as much with Isabelle since she wasn't able to nurse well. VERY SOON, I will have an "excuse" to sit and read as many emails as it takes to nurse Isaiah or Cherish. OR I can read the Homeschool Companion cover to cover instead of bite-size pieces in the "Oval Office." OR I can read a "grown-up" B-O-O-K in less than, hmmm, 3 months. On joy - I am NOT a joyful person by nature. BUT, I am not in my old nature. If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation! I need that this week as much as anybody. It's going to be hard to be joyful today. Autumn has been having nightmares every night for awhile and has added sleepwalking to her nightly routine (please pray - under spiritual attack over here). As if I'm not tired enough with being great with child, I haven't slept well in DAYS! We were awakened very early today due to a screaming, fearful fit. SO, I'm too tired to be "happy." What's to be happy about? I want to go back to bed! BUT...do I have patience? Do I have joy? The Fruit of the Spirit is LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE...... MANY Christian folk tell me on a regular basis that "they just don't have the patience like I do to have a lot of kids." If I'm on the ball, I tell them they're right and I don't have patience, either, but Jesus does. I'll ask them if they received the Holy Spirit, they say yes, and I say, "Well then, He gives the patience - you don't have to have it!" That tends to leave them mumbling to themselves. Me, too, for that matter. ;o) That also makes me accountable - mostly to my children. And we ARE accountable to our children. What a burden but what a privilege. Jesus gives us joy, which is not dependent on a full night's sleep, how pretty my kitchen is or is not (struggling with contentment on this end), how well-behaved my children are at the moment, or how clean the house is (or is not). Joy comes from knowing who we are in Christ and that our training, cooking, cleaning, playing, cutting and pasting have eternal value in the eyes of our Father. Now, I need to jump into the Word real quick (yes, real quick, I'm a mommy, for crying out loud) for a booster shot, myself! One more thing, I'm going to miss it when a Hello Kitty Band-Aid and a kiss have supernatural healing powers. :o) Hugs to all!