Gotta get me a kiss.....

Well, John has turned four and he is not the cuddly boy he used to be. He used to be content to sit rightnext to me all the time and shower me with hugs and kisses any time, any place. But, now that is not the case! He has,unfortunately, realized that he is four and that is a very old age and therefore not conducive to a mama who loves to kiss and hug these angels that have been placed in her life. I have been told that I do kiss John a lot, but look at him. To have one conversation with him and you wouldn't blame me.

I lived with a father who didn't always tell me that he loved me, but always, always showed me with that practical way that people have sometimes. So, I started to look for ways that John showed me that he loves me. Every single morning, after I get dressed, he comes into my room and says, "Mama, you look beautiful today", he actually knocks me over when I am down on my knees and I ask him for a hug and gleefully shouts, "Mama, I knocked you over with my love ". And, I am also sad to report, my Sean has taught these boys to "head butt". Even my baby, Hunter. So, sometimes, I go to Hunter's crib for a kiss and he butts me in the head and laughs with such joy. And while this Mom may really miss the close hugs and the sloppy kisses, I'll take the head butts.

Looking at my watch

So, yesterday after much trouble with my watch, it finally died. To say that I am a slave to my watch would be an understatement. I always know what time it is and always have it on my wrist. Well, I don't have time to buy a watch right now and I had to go two whole days without one and I have surprisingly found it quite liberating. I constantly look at it to see when the boys need to eat, when they need to sleep, when Sean is coming home from work and I don't like when I don't have the one tool that helps me keep order and structure in my home. I am actually going to have to feed my children when they are hungry, to lay their sweet heads down when yawns appear and eyes are rubbed and will be very pleasantly surprised when my husband comes home. I feel that I sometimes are rushing the days and so consumed with my schedule that I forget to live. So, God is taking me a little out of my comfort zone and I find that I am grateful for it. The push has done me a lot of good. I am always grateful for the surprises life has in store for me. Maybe, when I actually buy a new watch, I'll leave it on the dresser from time to time.....

Another Birthday

Yesterday the boys and I were in the drive-thru line at the bank and John said, "Momma, once I was in your belly and now I am out." The funny things kids say! Once I stopped laughing, I realized that I have been thinking about that a lot lately. You see, John's birthday is in two days and he is going to be four! I get very introspective when my children's birthdays roll around. I have moved past the thoughts on their first birthday of "Oh, thank goodness, I kept them alive for a year" ( I actually thought that on both my children's first birthdays!!) to the more important questions of "Did I show them enough how deeply I love them?", "Did I tell them enough how much Jesus loves them?", "Did I spend enough time with them?"

It does seem like just yesterday when John was in my belly and now he is going to be four. He can now brush his own teeth, pour his own cereal, get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, buckle his own seat belt, dress himself. Sometimes I miss him needing me so much and other times I am proud that I had a hand in helping to ready him for this big old world. Happy birthday, Sweet John. You will never know what you have down to this girl's heart. I am so proud of you.

Another Birthday

Yesterday the boys and I were in the drive-thru line at the bank and John said, "Momma, once I was in your belly and now I am out." The funny things kids say! Once I stopped laughing, I realized that I have been thinking about that a lot lately. You see, John's birthday is in two days and he is going to be four! I get very introspective when my children's birthdays roll around. I have moved past the thoughts on their first birthday of "Oh, thank goodness, I kept them alive for a year" ( I actually thought that on both my children's first birthdays!!) to the more important questions of "Did I show them enough how deeply I love them?", "Did I tell them enough how much Jesus loves them?", "Did I spend enough time with them?"

It does seem like just yesterday when John was in my belly and now he is going to be four. He can now brush his own teeth, pour his own cereal, get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, buckle his own seat belt, dress himself. Sometimes I miss him needing me so much and other times I am proud that I had a hand in helping to ready him for this big old world. Happy birthday, Sweet John. You will never know what you have down to this girl's heart. I am so proud of you.