The Little Things!

  I think one of the coolest things about motherhood is how much they teach you just by having fun. Seriously, not too many of us "grown ups" can say that we have quite as much fun playing on the floor with a book and a spoon the way that a little one does... but our whole adult lives, we are striving to get that free, unbounded sense of silliness back. The awesome thing is that, when our child opens their arms and says, "PLAY WITH ME!" you get an open invitation to relive how awesome it was to be so innocently and sweetly entertained. That door of fun and nostalgia is opened up in a whole new way...Without knowing it, they remind you of all the little things that make life all that much more enjoyable that we, as busy, active and responsible parents, sometimes forget how to do.


  Like...


  Making a MESS! How fun is that!? SO FUN! Most of the time, we are running around trying to keep our heads above the mess; subdue the dishes in the sink before the mutiny arises! Set phasers to stun! I'm giving her all she's got captain! (Please read that in Scotty's voice- it will really enhance the reading of this entry.)


 But what of going through a bunch of your books, scattering them around the room while simultaneously rolling around on the floor in a pile of once- upon- a- time folded neatly clean blankets? Then moving on to a crawling, giggling chase-a-thon around the floor with a lot of "I'm gonna get you!"s and "I'm gonna kiss that belly!"s? Pretending your a horse while a little one latches on to you and rides all around the house with you? The best thing in the world.

  Oh yeah, and taking silly pictures with each other just because you have a face. Another one of the wonderful and fun things I was reminded of by my daughter. :)


   God has a lot to say (and to teach us) about ALWAYS being joyful- and I certainly learn a lot about it through Gwen! Life is so much easier and no less meaningful when we manage to suffer well, and always keep our heads up, eyes on the horizon... excited for the next step- no matter how scary it looks. Maybe that's one of the many reasons why our body gets ready to have kids when it does- right after you've really started to get a sense of the world, after you've moved on from innocence and being taken care of by your family... you're probably starting to stress more than you have been, being more responsible and all, and then BLAM, you're pregnant! More stress, physical and otherwise, lots of planning, events, talks with the husband or father (or maybe no talks at all... sad day, but it happens) all the while thinking to yourself , "Man, I hope I can keep this things alive and happy. I have no idea what I'm doing!" Then, the baby comes. Here you are- a swollen, busted open, exhausted and sweaty mess, holding the most awesome little package you have EVER seen in your life. She is so beautiful- looks just like you with her Dee-Da's features and you can already tell she's gonna take you to town. Suddenly, it clicks! All you need to do is take care of her as best you can and LOVE her with everything you have. Unconditionally, unabashedly and with great patience no matter what.
Joyfully! The way God loves us.


   And lucky for us parents- that means a whole lot of learning what it means to be a kid again. :)