Lately...

I've been so busy living my life that I haven't had much time to write about it. I'm a neglectful blogger! But I've been thinking how important it is to keep a record of our family and how special this blog will be for our kids someday, so I've decided to find a little time to write a post every day this month. (Ha ha! Wish me luck!) It might be just a few words, but it will be something. I love blogging! It's so therapeautic to write about life. Somehow, it helps me to put things in the right perspective. And I love learning more about people that I don't really get to know and to get a glimpse of what life is like for them. I love that it's such a great outlet to feel connected to other women who are going through the ups and downs of womanhood and motherhood just like me. I love you all!! More tomorrow. :)

Back to School

I can't believe how the time is flying! Celeste has started 1st grade and she LOVES it! She met a little girl from our church that sits next to her in class. That was a great blessing for her. They instantly became best friends. (I love how kids do that!)

Our little Benny-bud has also started school. He's enrolled in a 4K program here and he really enjoys it. It's a great (and free!) preschool opportunity offered by the school district to help prepare 4 year-olds for kindergarten. It's well organized, with wonderful teachers (and did I say, free?!)

It's been nice to have a little extra time with Charity and Baby Jakey. We usually read together, have learning time, or go grocery shopping. I can't believe how much easier it is to shop with only 2 kids. (Although I remember complaining to Mr. Wonderful about shopping with 2 kids when Celeste and Benny were little.) Interesting how perspective changes the more kids you have... ha ha!
Brotherly love!

I'm really happy here in Wisconsin, but now that life is getting more fast-paced and stressful with my new church calling, and Jon's responsibilities at work, and the kids activities, I have had a tendency to get caught up in trying to get everything done, and help get everyone where they need to be, and keep everything clean (that's a joke), and keep everybody fed and happy. Sometimes, I try to "run faster than I have strength" and then I get discouraged. It seems that all too often I forget to stop and simply enjoy the moments. Here is a quote by Anna Quindlen that makes me cry and inspires me at the same time:

"But the biggest mistake I made as a parent is that I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of the three of them sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages six, four, and one. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less."

This quote resonates with me so much because one of my worst fears would be to be so busy running around and getting things done, that I would completely miss the point of it all... which is to find joy in this journey called motherhood. I don't want to look back in regret someday, so I think I'll take a moment right now and go watch my little ones sleep. For all too soon, precious moments like these will be gone.

Silly Boy

Lately, Jakey has brought me his toothbrush and toothpaste at nighty-night time. But tonight he accidently grabbed the wrong tube. I don't think he would have liked the taste of that diaper cream!