So Many Little People, So Few Me
Me With My Precious Kids on My Birthday
It’s kinda exciting in a way when there’s nothing left of me - because I get to see God step in and amazingly sustain me. It’s hard not to feel like I’m falling short because, well, I am. Thankfully, God knows how much I can handle and though he stretches me constantly, He is sufficient.
This morning was a great morning - I got to cuddle with Yakobe while Sam played guitar for our praise and worship time before devotions. I have been praying for opportunity to bond with him. It’s very hard because neither he or I are the touchy feely type.
I look back at the weeks that I have been unable to blog and find many moments to treasure:
Laying in the backyard with Thomas and Emily finding shapes in the clouds, pushing little ones on the swings, singing with the children, walking around Greenfield Village and the kids diligently filling out their notebook pages on the way home - comparing Colonial life to late 1800’s. I see them working together to run the turntable…I see Sam crawling into Yakobe’s bed to chat before sleep. Yakobe trying to finish a math book in one day…Katie getting competitive to work harder in hers…Reading “Tommy the Cowboy”, watching Shirley Temple in “The Little Colonel”…listening to “Caddie Woodlawn” and “Sarah Plain and Tall” on audio book in the van… Abbie and Katie playing Polly Pockets on the porch for hours on end! I hear Thomas say, “Mommy, can you read me a story” before bed when I always make one up for him. I hear Emily say, “Mommy, let’s make snails out of playdough - a mommy, a daddy, Sam, Abbie, Katie, Yakobe, Thomas, Emily and Nathan” …That’s a lot of snails! I remember cuddling and nursing Nathan - which is a miracle in itself. ….and just being together
Some days are harder than others - honestly there are many moments where I daydream of time with just my husband (usually far away like in Florida on the beach - I can dream can’t I?). I count down the weeks until football season is over. I miss him.
Last Wednesday we had the football team over for dinner. The children all pitched in and helped clean up and cook with me. They really are a blessing. Don’t get me wrong - it’s not all a bowl full of cherries… There is bickering and whining and tattling and hitting. There is ungratefulness and laziness and I definitely don’t respond how I should all the time. When I vent to Mark and ask for his perspective, he lovingly says, “Are you doing your best?” And really, as much as I can, I think I am. I long to do better, I self- evaluate probably too much. But, God is good and encourages me to press on.
I pray that I would always see moments to treasure each child. I pray that each would grow up to serve our awesome Savior. I pray that many would see and know that our God is incredible and that they would want to know Him too.
Here are some photos….
Running the Turntable at Greenfield Village
Resting at Greenfield Village
Emily and Katie Playing "Old Ladies" in the Bath
Tom as Old Man in the Bath
Emily at Her Birthday Breakfast
Playing Playdough Before Bed
Fun in the Mud Box
