Yesterday we decided to pretend it was summer... you see, if it weren't for all the blasted snow days that we had, I think we would be on summer break...right...now. As it is, Mike has all of this week left, and the boys and I have 4 days NEXT week as well! While we realize that life is not over, and that many are suffering in much more tragic ways, we still are chomping at the bit for summer. So, yesterday we decided to pretend, just for the day, that it is indeed summer. Pretending is a lost art, I believe, and possibly highly underrated. WE (the family of pretenders) spent a wonderful, perfect day on our own tiny slice of the beach... i think it even made facing reality today a bit less painful :)
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
Twice as many should equal twice as much...theoretically!
God gave us TWO ears and ONE mouth... so why , oh why, is it SO much easier for me to impulsively talk, talk, talk rather than LISTEN??? It seems that every now and then, my mouth just runneth over...or my typing fingers, or something. I like to use airspace, and cyber-airspace, apparently. This is not who I want to be, or how I want to be remembered. I know that this is not what God desires of me. Here's hoping that with God's help, 34 is not too old to turn over a new leaf in this area. And to all of you that I see in real life, feel free to tell me when I'm hogging all the airspace and making it difficult to breathe!
Friday, May 20, 2011
Ever heard of Mother's Day Monday?
If you've never heard of Mother's Day Monday, don't feel bad...few have. But I love it! Mother's Day Monday was created in my family this very year by my mom, my sister, and me. And we plan to celebrate it annually. I understand that it would seem that one would celebrate Mother's Day with her children, it's almost a given, I suppose. This year my boys and I celebrated earlier in the week, with cards and gifts they chose themselves, and a wonderful Life Books Royal Wedding magazine from Mike. They really went all out being considerate and thoughtful this year, and I want to give them the credit they absolutely deserve! I felt very special and honored. I love all three of my guys, and am so thankful for them. Then, as an extra bonus, Mike agreed to a plan my sister and I cooked up to spend Sunday afternoon, evening, and all day Monday with Mom on a girls' mini-escape. Hoff (brother-in-law) and Dad also agreed... let me just take this moment to publicly say to the three guys...THANK YOU! The extra time, effort, and funding required from them for us to enjoy this time together was not lost on us, and we say THANK YOU!!!
Life gets busy, full, hectic, and expensive. Sometimes we feel like there is barely time for a long chat on the phone, let alone 24 hours away together. But this time of Mother's Day Monday was all we had hoped for...we stayed at a hotel in downtown Indy thanks to Kelly and a cheap deal through hotwire. We leisurely window shopped in Broad Ripple. We ate knaffa (a delicious dessert with orange blossom on top!) outside at a restaurant by the river and the Monon while we enjoyed a rare slice of sunshine. We soaked in the hottub and talked. We had beauty night and colored hair. We looked at magazines. We went to sleep late (some of us later than others, as Mom & Kelly both snore! ;), and we watched the Today show as we got around the next morning. We had lox and bagels for brunch. We shopped at Circle Center where I bought three pairs of shoes all at once! We walked and laughed and talked. We enjoyed each other's uninterrupted company and the blessing of mothers, daughters, and sisters.
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| I remember what Kelly was talking about, and Mom thought she was hilarious, but I think I'll keep the story to myself! |
Mother's Day Monday...may the tradition never end.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Nothing Worthwhile Is Ever Easy... But with a friend it's Possible!
And now to the point of the post (and yes, I am very aware that it took FOREVER to get to the point...)
About a week and a half ago I achieved something I didn't believe was possible. It was worthwhile. It WASN'T easy. But with my friend it happened. I RAN! And not just a little bit! I finished a half-marathon. And I ran the entire thing. I never stopped...not once..... 13.1 MILES, PEOPLE!!!! I finished in 2 hours, 18 minutes, and 20 seconds. And yes, that means I actually ran for 2 HOURS 18 MINUTES and 20 SECONDS!!! I still can hardly believe it. I realize that many have done this, have run this inconceivable distance, and even run it much, much faster than I did. But we're talking about me in this post, and until Saturday, May 7, 2011, I had not. And I did not actually believe I ever could.
But Anne did.
As mentioned in the previous post, Anne called me up one November evening and asked if I would consider doing the mini with her. Eventually I agreed...partly because I had been sedentary for WAY too long, but mostly because I was amazed, (and secretly flattered) that she believed I could do it, and that she wanted me to do it with her. I told her I would only do it if she would commit to train and run together at least 1-2 times a week. Otherwise I knew that I would eventually give up. So that's how it started. In November I couldn't even run for 10 minutes without feeling as if my lungs were collapsing, and unfortunately, that meant I could barely run a mile. I was again incredibly doubtful that running the entire 13.1 miles could be a reality for me in May. Anne wasn't.
Quite honestly, I never actually enjoyed the training. Running is not fun...inevitably your breathing gets labored and your legs hurt. The reality that you are not oh, so young hits you often like a 2 x 4. First, my ankles hurt. Then, it was my knees. It was COLD outside. In February we ran a "Think Spring" 5k ~ those 3.1 miles felt like 13.1! The realization that a 5k is not even quite a quarter of a half-marathon is not a pleasant one. The realization that we actually paid money to torture ourselves, plus money for a hotel room was also discouraging. What was I thinking??? Through all this Anne was encouraging. She kept telling me I was doing alright, that I was even ahead of where she was at the same point in training last year. At the same time she pushed me further than I would have ever gone alone...earning herself the loving term "Hitler". Later in training when we went for a long run and my knees were killing me, she went ahead and then came back for me. She never made me feel bad about slowing her down.
While I never really enjoyed the running, I did enjoy achieving longer distances and times without walking. Before this, 2 miles was the longest distance I had ever consecutively run, and I'd never planned to try to go further. The other plus? Spending time with my friend. Life as a teacher, mother, wife, daughter, & sister is full. I'm always WAY behind on my "to do" list. Often, there just isn't time in the day for a nice long chat on the phone, or coming over for tea... but because we needed to get the run in, we got to spend time chatting as well ~ at least until the point in the run when we could no longer breathe! I am so thankful for the opportunity we had to renew our friendship and to spend time sharing about our lives, our children, our God, and everything else in between. In high school our friendship was worthwhile AND easy. As 30 somethings, our friendship is just as worthwhile, but sometimes not quite as easy to find the time for. I think if anything, this is what would motivate me to put myself through such a journey again. I'm proud of this accomplishment ~ absolutely! I can say I've done it, and in some ways, that's enough. No need to repeat it. There are definitely a zillion things calling for my time and attention these days. I am certainly NOT wondering what I could be doing with the hour or two previously spent on the workout and recovering. But, less than 2 weeks following the big event, I find myself missing the time spent doing something good and healthy for my body while simultaneously doing something good and healthy for my spirit. Hopefully the time spent together was good for her spirit, too. I'm hopeful we'll be training together again soon, as long as it's not for a triathlon!
Nothing Worthwhile is Ever Easy ~ Mike's high school cross country coach said those words all the time. I started dating Mike when I was a junior in high school and he was a senior. I also started dating Mike during cross country season. I knew nothing about cross country. Nothing. But I learned...and fast. One thing I learned fast from other runners' girlfriends was to avoid the coach. He didn't believe in runners having girlfriends, they said. Apparently his theory was that his runners had all of their lives to date, but only a moment in time to be a good runner. In retrospect, I'm not sure how it happened that Mike and I ever began dating, because at that time he lived and died according to everything Coach said. Somehow we did though, and the gain was all mine. Not only did I have a nice boyfriend with a sweet Letterman's jacket, I gained a true friend (Anne) who was also dating a runner at the time. When she and Mike both graduated that spring, I cried more over her leaving me than I did over him ~ (at that time I figured boyfriends could come and go, but surviving a year in high school without my truest friend there with me seemed unbearable!) Anne and I cheered at meets together...first cross country meets, where she boldly said to Coach, "Coach, you be nice to her(me), she's scared of you!", and later track meets. We enjoyed the sidelines together, cheering and laughing, and building a friendship. We made good luck signs and went to Dairy Queen and had sleep overs and shared perfume. And even then I realized that what made our friendship so precious to me is that it was easy. I didn't have to pretend to be someone I wasn't, or compromise my values, or compete for Anne's friendship. We just clicked...we were kindred spirits, as the movie says, and I loved her. Still, I watched Mike work as hard as he could to be a scholar athlete, and I saw what Coach meant when he said, "Nothing Worthwhile is Ever Easy." And I believed that it was true...most of the time.
Fast forward 17 years...I'm married to that scholar athlete ( I have been for 12 years!), and believe it or not, Coach's two sweet girls were the flower girls in our wedding. Coach is my principal at the school where I teach! Anne is still one of my truest and dearest friends... by a miracle we even live in the same town! And more and more Coach's mantra that Nothing Worthwhile is Ever Easy proves itself to be true.And now to the point of the post (and yes, I am very aware that it took FOREVER to get to the point...)
About a week and a half ago I achieved something I didn't believe was possible. It was worthwhile. It WASN'T easy. But with my friend it happened. I RAN! And not just a little bit! I finished a half-marathon. And I ran the entire thing. I never stopped...not once..... 13.1 MILES, PEOPLE!!!! I finished in 2 hours, 18 minutes, and 20 seconds. And yes, that means I actually ran for 2 HOURS 18 MINUTES and 20 SECONDS!!! I still can hardly believe it. I realize that many have done this, have run this inconceivable distance, and even run it much, much faster than I did. But we're talking about me in this post, and until Saturday, May 7, 2011, I had not. And I did not actually believe I ever could.
But Anne did.
As mentioned in the previous post, Anne called me up one November evening and asked if I would consider doing the mini with her. Eventually I agreed...partly because I had been sedentary for WAY too long, but mostly because I was amazed, (and secretly flattered) that she believed I could do it, and that she wanted me to do it with her. I told her I would only do it if she would commit to train and run together at least 1-2 times a week. Otherwise I knew that I would eventually give up. So that's how it started. In November I couldn't even run for 10 minutes without feeling as if my lungs were collapsing, and unfortunately, that meant I could barely run a mile. I was again incredibly doubtful that running the entire 13.1 miles could be a reality for me in May. Anne wasn't.
Quite honestly, I never actually enjoyed the training. Running is not fun...inevitably your breathing gets labored and your legs hurt. The reality that you are not oh, so young hits you often like a 2 x 4. First, my ankles hurt. Then, it was my knees. It was COLD outside. In February we ran a "Think Spring" 5k ~ those 3.1 miles felt like 13.1! The realization that a 5k is not even quite a quarter of a half-marathon is not a pleasant one. The realization that we actually paid money to torture ourselves, plus money for a hotel room was also discouraging. What was I thinking??? Through all this Anne was encouraging. She kept telling me I was doing alright, that I was even ahead of where she was at the same point in training last year. At the same time she pushed me further than I would have ever gone alone...earning herself the loving term "Hitler". Later in training when we went for a long run and my knees were killing me, she went ahead and then came back for me. She never made me feel bad about slowing her down.
While I never really enjoyed the running, I did enjoy achieving longer distances and times without walking. Before this, 2 miles was the longest distance I had ever consecutively run, and I'd never planned to try to go further. The other plus? Spending time with my friend. Life as a teacher, mother, wife, daughter, & sister is full. I'm always WAY behind on my "to do" list. Often, there just isn't time in the day for a nice long chat on the phone, or coming over for tea... but because we needed to get the run in, we got to spend time chatting as well ~ at least until the point in the run when we could no longer breathe! I am so thankful for the opportunity we had to renew our friendship and to spend time sharing about our lives, our children, our God, and everything else in between. In high school our friendship was worthwhile AND easy. As 30 somethings, our friendship is just as worthwhile, but sometimes not quite as easy to find the time for. I think if anything, this is what would motivate me to put myself through such a journey again. I'm proud of this accomplishment ~ absolutely! I can say I've done it, and in some ways, that's enough. No need to repeat it. There are definitely a zillion things calling for my time and attention these days. I am certainly NOT wondering what I could be doing with the hour or two previously spent on the workout and recovering. But, less than 2 weeks following the big event, I find myself missing the time spent doing something good and healthy for my body while simultaneously doing something good and healthy for my spirit. Hopefully the time spent together was good for her spirit, too. I'm hopeful we'll be training together again soon, as long as it's not for a triathlon!
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| Me, Maria, & Anne before the race...don't we look happy and energetic? |
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| Still waiting for the start... |
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| There were SO many people there...over 30,000! |
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| The corrals begin at A (where the FAST people are (like Grant's kindergarten teacher...no joke!) ) We were in O. |
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| Only finishers get these totally awesome medals:) |
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| Mike was a fabulous support system throughout this entire journey. He never complained about the time I took to go run, he watched kids (ours and the Lowes') when we needed him to so we could run, and he stayed at the start the entire time until we began running. I couldn't have done this without him! Knowing you have a friend that believes in you, even when you don't, and accomplishing something you thought impossible - because she believed you could, is very worthwhile. |
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Like Trying to Escape the Freight Train...
It's Coming. . . .
Unless I figure out a way to halt time, the reality that I cannot avoid Saturday, May 7 forever is painfully clear. Saturday is the designated day for the Indianapolis Mini Marathon. This would not really be a big deal to me except for one minor detail... during a moment of complete and utter insanity I signed up to participate. Why would I do such a thing? Whatever could have possessed me to make such a decision??? A little review~
Anne called in November to see if I might be interested in doing the race with her this year (she did it last year and survived). My gut reaction ~ NOOO WAY!!! What good could EVER EVER come from running 13.1 miles in ... a ... row??? But, (there's always a but, is there not??)
*I was flattered she thought I might even possibly be capable of this feat
* I have gained pounds in my sedentary lifestyle that I thought might want to jump ship if I began running (No such luck, by the way, they seem to be exceedingly comfortable living with me!)
*I thought it might be an avenue to new shoes, and I LOVE new shoes! ( I got 2 new pairs of shoes, but I'm not yet sure that this is the best way to make that happen!)
* Mike said, and I quote: "I think it would be good for you," (He later acted shocked when I told him I'd signed up, and claimed he thought it would be good FOR me, not necessarily a good IDEA...I'm sure you can see how my misunderstanding occurred!)
* I wanted the kiddos to know that Daddy is not the only one who can exercise.
* I felt the "Now or Never" pressure ~ possibly never is not always bad!
The nerves are setting in. I didn't sleep too well last night, I was dreaming and waking up with thoughts of the race. I fear the humiliation of going so slow that the little golf cart comes to pick me up because I exceed the maximum time limit. My body has proven that it is not quite so young and resilient as I had hoped ~ 34 is NOT the new 20, just so you know!
I fear getting lost, oversleeping and missing the start, under sleeping and being too tired, forgetting my shoes, broken down cars on the way, traffic jams, losing my ticket, looking rather stupid, slowing Anne WAY down, and throwing up...to name just a few.
In January I still had dreams of running an amazing race and finishing 10 minutes faster than my goal. I invited much of my family to come be there at the end to witness my triumphant finish. That dream has since turned into the previously mentioned nightmare, and I would like to request that everyone stay home, at least except for Mike ( he's my emergency contact, and I need him to hold my jacket!)
As I try to deal with this anxiety and still live daily life this week, I fully anticipate that tonight I will dream that I am tied to the train tracks as the freight train blows its horn wildly and is barrelling straight towards me...
I am trying to escape the Freight train...
but it's turning into a big train car full of Sport Beans....
Possibly I should give up trying to live daily life this week and focus my attention solely on halting time...
Unless I figure out a way to halt time, the reality that I cannot avoid Saturday, May 7 forever is painfully clear. Saturday is the designated day for the Indianapolis Mini Marathon. This would not really be a big deal to me except for one minor detail... during a moment of complete and utter insanity I signed up to participate. Why would I do such a thing? Whatever could have possessed me to make such a decision??? A little review~
Anne called in November to see if I might be interested in doing the race with her this year (she did it last year and survived). My gut reaction ~ NOOO WAY!!! What good could EVER EVER come from running 13.1 miles in ... a ... row??? But, (there's always a but, is there not??)
*I was flattered she thought I might even possibly be capable of this feat
* I have gained pounds in my sedentary lifestyle that I thought might want to jump ship if I began running (No such luck, by the way, they seem to be exceedingly comfortable living with me!)
*I thought it might be an avenue to new shoes, and I LOVE new shoes! ( I got 2 new pairs of shoes, but I'm not yet sure that this is the best way to make that happen!)
* Mike said, and I quote: "I think it would be good for you," (He later acted shocked when I told him I'd signed up, and claimed he thought it would be good FOR me, not necessarily a good IDEA...I'm sure you can see how my misunderstanding occurred!)
* I wanted the kiddos to know that Daddy is not the only one who can exercise.
* I felt the "Now or Never" pressure ~ possibly never is not always bad!
The nerves are setting in. I didn't sleep too well last night, I was dreaming and waking up with thoughts of the race. I fear the humiliation of going so slow that the little golf cart comes to pick me up because I exceed the maximum time limit. My body has proven that it is not quite so young and resilient as I had hoped ~ 34 is NOT the new 20, just so you know!
I fear getting lost, oversleeping and missing the start, under sleeping and being too tired, forgetting my shoes, broken down cars on the way, traffic jams, losing my ticket, looking rather stupid, slowing Anne WAY down, and throwing up...to name just a few.
In January I still had dreams of running an amazing race and finishing 10 minutes faster than my goal. I invited much of my family to come be there at the end to witness my triumphant finish. That dream has since turned into the previously mentioned nightmare, and I would like to request that everyone stay home, at least except for Mike ( he's my emergency contact, and I need him to hold my jacket!)
As I try to deal with this anxiety and still live daily life this week, I fully anticipate that tonight I will dream that I am tied to the train tracks as the freight train blows its horn wildly and is barrelling straight towards me...
I am trying to escape the Freight train...
but it's turning into a big train car full of Sport Beans....
Possibly I should give up trying to live daily life this week and focus my attention solely on halting time...
Monday, May 2, 2011
Don't leave me hangin'!
Just to preface...this post is pitiful. I know it. This is glaringly pitiful.....but I have experienced a small bit of rejection today, and if you know me, you know I struggle with that. just....a.... bit. ~so, here is my sad, desperate cry...if you happen to glance over this spot, if it makes you smile, laugh, or even roll your eyes, would you please, please, please leave evidence that you saw it (i.e. a comment!) I suspect I may be suffering from a cyberspace complex...unrequited love in blogland. I come home from an evening out and kiss my kids, chat with my husband, and then...just real quick, of course, I do a little check to see if anyone visited my little site. I feel like Shopgirl and NY152 on the movie You've Got Mail (one of my all time favs!) Once again, I am aware that I am pathetic, sad, and needy....but maybe, possibly, might you humor me???
Much Love,
Jen
He Can Ride!!!
There have been numerous occasions in the last 6 years when Mike and I are clearly reminded that while we have two sons, they are very different little people. This seems like a very easy concept to grasp..."elementary, my dear Watson," but as many parents would agree, comparing your children and expecting them to be somewhat the same is an easy trap to fall into. I remember moments after Grant was born being rather surprised as I commented to Mike, "Look at him! His nose is different than Isaac's! They look different!" Apparantly I had expected my babies to be little carbon copies of each other...considering I was completely aware that this baby was coming along 2 1/2 years after his big brother, and were clearly not identical twins, I have no idea why the possibility that they may look a bit different was so tough to grasp.
Among the differences between my boys is when they have learned to ride their bikes...sans training wheels. A few days prior to his 5th birthday Isaac took all of 15 minutes to learn this skill...while I was on a quick errand to the drugstore ( His daddy promised it would take longer than that and that I wouldn't miss it...plenty of opportunities for pictures and videos, no worries! Note that I have NO pictures or videos of this milestone as he caught on so quickly, and was off and riding forevermore!)
Contrastly, I was beginning to give up hope that Grant was ever going to learn to ride. Before you laugh and say, " Jen, EVERYONE eventually learns to ride a bike!", let me just say that this is not so, and that I have a very dear friend who could never ride a bike until after her 30th birthday! Learning as an adult was not such a fun process for her, especially as her sweet husband dubbed her "stubborn, unteachable, and a bad listener!!" This is not a fate I desired for my Grant-Boy. And yet, the struggle continued...last summer we bought a bike for him that seemed to fit him better and would be easier to learn on...Nope. I bribed him and withheld treats all at the same time..."No more neopolitan ice cream until you can ride your bike. Then we can go right to the store and get some!" (Neopolitan ice cream is his fav, and we had recently run out.) Nope. Mike patiently coaxed and coached. Nope. Mike impatiently coaxed and coached. Nope. We tried peer pressure..."Isaiah and Cambel can ride! And Cambel isn't even in kindergarten yet!!! Don't you want to ride with them and Emily at Camp this year???" Nope.
But people, I present you now with proof that miracles DO exist!!! As Isaac has been enjoying riding his new road bike this past weekend, Mike's disorganization has thoroughly paid off. (Before that sounds like a dig, let me be quick to say I am just as disorganized, and I am absolutely NOT insulting my husband!) Grant asked Mike to find his training wheels so he could ride his bike too...but, Mike couldn't find those training wheels anywhere! So, as I happily blogged and made picture slideshows Saturday, a miracle was occurring right outside... and...on Isaac's 9th birthday...Grant learned to ride his bike! My only complaint...I missed the maiden voyage. I didn't even know it was going on! Somehow though, after all the time and struggle, the triumph lessened the pain of missing the very first ride, and I happily took a few seconds of video of the following rides to be preserved for all time. Way to go, Grant Evan Michael! You can Ride!!!!
Among the differences between my boys is when they have learned to ride their bikes...sans training wheels. A few days prior to his 5th birthday Isaac took all of 15 minutes to learn this skill...while I was on a quick errand to the drugstore ( His daddy promised it would take longer than that and that I wouldn't miss it...plenty of opportunities for pictures and videos, no worries! Note that I have NO pictures or videos of this milestone as he caught on so quickly, and was off and riding forevermore!)
Contrastly, I was beginning to give up hope that Grant was ever going to learn to ride. Before you laugh and say, " Jen, EVERYONE eventually learns to ride a bike!", let me just say that this is not so, and that I have a very dear friend who could never ride a bike until after her 30th birthday! Learning as an adult was not such a fun process for her, especially as her sweet husband dubbed her "stubborn, unteachable, and a bad listener!!" This is not a fate I desired for my Grant-Boy. And yet, the struggle continued...last summer we bought a bike for him that seemed to fit him better and would be easier to learn on...Nope. I bribed him and withheld treats all at the same time..."No more neopolitan ice cream until you can ride your bike. Then we can go right to the store and get some!" (Neopolitan ice cream is his fav, and we had recently run out.) Nope. Mike patiently coaxed and coached. Nope. Mike impatiently coaxed and coached. Nope. We tried peer pressure..."Isaiah and Cambel can ride! And Cambel isn't even in kindergarten yet!!! Don't you want to ride with them and Emily at Camp this year???" Nope.
But people, I present you now with proof that miracles DO exist!!! As Isaac has been enjoying riding his new road bike this past weekend, Mike's disorganization has thoroughly paid off. (Before that sounds like a dig, let me be quick to say I am just as disorganized, and I am absolutely NOT insulting my husband!) Grant asked Mike to find his training wheels so he could ride his bike too...but, Mike couldn't find those training wheels anywhere! So, as I happily blogged and made picture slideshows Saturday, a miracle was occurring right outside... and...on Isaac's 9th birthday...Grant learned to ride his bike! My only complaint...I missed the maiden voyage. I didn't even know it was going on! Somehow though, after all the time and struggle, the triumph lessened the pain of missing the very first ride, and I happily took a few seconds of video of the following rides to be preserved for all time. Way to go, Grant Evan Michael! You can Ride!!!!
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Happy birthday Isaac Boy!
* I wrote this post last night....I just had so much trouble getting the video added that it didn't get posted until today. Please humor me and pretend that it was posted on April 30...;)
Today is Isaac's 9th Birthday. Each time one of my boys has a birthday, I find myself amazed at how old they are, amazed at how quickly the days, weeks, and months passed since their last birthday, and amazed at how much they've grown and changed in the year that has just flown by. And this day is no exception. Isaac is growing and changing so fast, and the sad thing is that life gets so "full" (the nice way of saying hectic and busy) that I often find I've missed the process and just get a glimpse of the results!
We looked through his baby book today, and the reality of all this development and change was poignantly clear. I found myself missing that baby... the soft, snuggly baby skin, the sweet, toothless baby smile, the unmistakable sweet baby lotion smell, mixed with the genuine article! Yet in the midst of all of this sentimentality and nostalgia, I realized how thankful I am for the boy that I have, and how blessed I am to have a healthy, energetic, intelligent, "normally developing" (whatever that means!) son. The challenges are certainly different than in babyhood...then it was changing diapers, multiple nighttime feedings, and fussy evenings. Now we have to check to see if homework and piano are done, remind this boy a zillion times to pick up his clothes, and, on occasion, check his attitude. But the "fruits of the labor", so to speak, have remained, and maybe even increased over the years, as well! When he was a baby I got to watch him sweetly sleep, giggle at whatever tickled him, and celebrate as he achieved new milestones. Now, I can still climb up to his bed and watch him sleep (if I just slow down and put down the laundry to take the time to do it), watch him laugh and giggle ( unfortunately often at things I find rather dumb or gross...typical, so I hear), and definitely celebrate as he achieves new milestones. Being able to time travel back and forth within the stages of his childhood and relive the sweetest moments would be lovely, but obviously not possible. What's a mom to do? Pray, pray, pray...that we bring him up to love and honor God, that he undoubtedly knows the love of his parents and brother, and that we train him up in the way he should go, so that as he grows older, he will not depart from it. And while I pray, I intend to pay attention... to watch him sleep now and then, to try to laugh and giggle here and there with him, to absolutely notice and celebrate my boy's achievements and milestones, and to thank God every day for the blessing of being his mom.
Happy birthday, Isaac-Boy. You are loved.
Today is Isaac's 9th Birthday. Each time one of my boys has a birthday, I find myself amazed at how old they are, amazed at how quickly the days, weeks, and months passed since their last birthday, and amazed at how much they've grown and changed in the year that has just flown by. And this day is no exception. Isaac is growing and changing so fast, and the sad thing is that life gets so "full" (the nice way of saying hectic and busy) that I often find I've missed the process and just get a glimpse of the results!
We looked through his baby book today, and the reality of all this development and change was poignantly clear. I found myself missing that baby... the soft, snuggly baby skin, the sweet, toothless baby smile, the unmistakable sweet baby lotion smell, mixed with the genuine article! Yet in the midst of all of this sentimentality and nostalgia, I realized how thankful I am for the boy that I have, and how blessed I am to have a healthy, energetic, intelligent, "normally developing" (whatever that means!) son. The challenges are certainly different than in babyhood...then it was changing diapers, multiple nighttime feedings, and fussy evenings. Now we have to check to see if homework and piano are done, remind this boy a zillion times to pick up his clothes, and, on occasion, check his attitude. But the "fruits of the labor", so to speak, have remained, and maybe even increased over the years, as well! When he was a baby I got to watch him sweetly sleep, giggle at whatever tickled him, and celebrate as he achieved new milestones. Now, I can still climb up to his bed and watch him sleep (if I just slow down and put down the laundry to take the time to do it), watch him laugh and giggle ( unfortunately often at things I find rather dumb or gross...typical, so I hear), and definitely celebrate as he achieves new milestones. Being able to time travel back and forth within the stages of his childhood and relive the sweetest moments would be lovely, but obviously not possible. What's a mom to do? Pray, pray, pray...that we bring him up to love and honor God, that he undoubtedly knows the love of his parents and brother, and that we train him up in the way he should go, so that as he grows older, he will not depart from it. And while I pray, I intend to pay attention... to watch him sleep now and then, to try to laugh and giggle here and there with him, to absolutely notice and celebrate my boy's achievements and milestones, and to thank God every day for the blessing of being his mom.
Happy birthday, Isaac-Boy. You are loved.
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