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| the sweet moment when a child begins to move around for themselves, to explore and realize independence... |
It's in the moments.
We carry a very heavy load for nine months, planning and making ourselves crazy, all for the moment we see that sweet face for the first time, for the moment our other children see that new human being, for the moment I remember why I got married in the first place to have this wonderful family.
I love the moment at the end of day when the truth slips out of my children and they share with me something that has been worrying them and mystifying them and I am able, perhaps with an answer or perhaps not, to be able to share a confidence with them.
The sweet moment we catch our children slipping off to dreamland, sleeping like an angel, is a serene joy and is second only to the moment when I realize all my work is done for that one day at least and I can finally go to sleep myself!!!
We work on manners for months on end to see our children pick up a toy another child drops and GIVE IT BACK TO THEM instead of keeping it for themselves.
We clean the entire house over and over and over only to see the moment when our children begin to pick up their own things to help out. Thank the Lord for these moments though few they are!
We talk about how to love your sibling as if they were your best friend like a rambling tape recorder for that one moment when they sit down for movie night and hold hands electively.
We plan, shop, wrap and decorate all for that moment when our children stand humbled by the magic and beauty of the sparkling Christmas tree for the first time. This moment always gets me teary.
We stay up late at night after a hard day of raising kids and running a house and errands for a moment of peace and quiet and calm.
We work through every letter sound in the alphabet ad infinitum for that moment when a child gets the thrill of "reading" a book for themselves for the first time. What a triumph!
We sit in church with wiggly worms for YEARS until finally everyone sits as they should and listens in mass. A moment for the angels that help me weekly I am sure!
I love the teaching moment when my children come to me with a question and I am able to answer in a way that reaches them.
When I am asked and don't know the answer, there is sometimes a priceless moment where they go and get the answer and bring it back to me, with a joyful grin of course! How I enjoy telling them "I don't know"now!
We say a meal prayer at every meal-even the snack for heaven's sake-and then one day I forget to say it and they all chime in perfectly in my stead. What a moment!
I particularly enjoy the moment when all of the children are old enough to "sit" at the table and we are able to eat as a family.
The moment I catch one child lovingly teaching another makes my heart beam.
I like the moment when I get to cuddle up with a child and a book and savor a shared story!
I like the purity of the moment when the children make up and say they are sorry after a spat and I am able to do the same when I have been thoughtless to them.
I remember all the hard work I put into building our home and how wonderful the moment was when Mr. Darcy carried me over the threshold-even though I was five months pregnant at the time!
We have been keeping our forest "fairy" houses up and we are rewarded each morning with moments of squirrels and birds darting in and out for shelter and food.
I enjoy the moments that come with all the firsts of childhood-feeding themselves, getting dressed ALL BY THEMSELVES, learning to ride something, learning to crawl, pull up or walk, learning to brush teeth or hair and learning to go to the bathroom unassisted. These may seem mundane to you but in my eyes they are the payoff for a lot of hard work and determination and I share the joy with my darlin's for each one!
I will go weeks without a date night with my husband, mostly due to our still nursing baby, for the moment when we can go alone and feel completely comfortable that all four of our darlin's are safe and happy and we are free to enjoy our timeless time together.
I cannot go without the moment first thing in the morning that I inhale the aroma of a fresh cup of well creamed coffee ALONE. My children will tell you this moment defines the rest of the day-in their darlin' verbage of course. A similar moment with a cup of hot tea in the afternoon assures the calmness of the afternoon and evening routine as well!
The many messages I leave in trying to get hold of friends and family who are, God bless us, as busy as we are, is rewarded in the moment when we finally catch up with each other and can connect again.
I remember as a young girl that I realized that life was made up of many moments of hurry up and wait. In case you didn't know me then, I was an introspective nerd. I have been unable to shake my "inner nerd glasses" off the tip of my nose so I had to start a blog to exercise her out! I have often contemplated how you must get no reward many times before you finish the race and see the payoff. I believe God was teaching me to reward myself with the idea that all things really do pass away and this constant state of change is a blessing. For someone who is a bit of a routine nut, this was a great lesson for me to learn. At any rate, let me share with you my wishes for the moments in this day for which you have been waiting and watching. I celebrate with you the moments you will have this year that have been a long time coming. May they sustain you as you "patiently" wait for the rest. This patience is the lesson I hope I am teaching my children each day with the help of the most patient One of all. I pray he will continue to work on me and make me a worthy example for the darlin's at least! Heaven knows I need all the help I can get. ;-)
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