it's the little things in life....

Stories about my talkative, always-up-for-fun daughter are easy to come by. Just this week, she was telling me she wanted to be Barbie or Hannah Montana when she grew up....what? She has only one Kohl's no-name barbie type doll and is not allowed to watch HM just yet. I'm not quite sure about where that afternoon's declaration of future aspirations came from...never a dull moment with my little girl. She also spent three days last week planning a birthday party for her stuffed puppy, Abby. She decorated with streamers. She actually called friends to come over. She has her other animals ready at the table in her room. Three days - she planned and talked about her pretend party. My daughter is my joy. She just makes me smile...when she is silly, when she is spunky, when she shows her caring side....like when she found this rock in our yard, wrapped it in a blanket, built it a house, gave it a ride in her bike's basket, and asked me to babysit while she had to potty. Now, that is good stuff...it is the little things, the daily conversations, the pretend play, and the little dances she does as she gets out of the car....that sweeten each day...that remind me to enjoy life, to make the moments count.
Then, there are my boys...."Buddy" and "Bear" are my nicknames for them. Oh, their mommy loves them. My big buddy - I love to hear his thoughts, his reasoning, how he explains life. He reads and reads and reads. He had a fever virus all last week...which was bittersweet to him...he felt bad...but, he got to stay home. I would go to check on his fever and find him engrossed in a book. Oh, my heart smiles at how he loves to learn. He would look up at me and begin his synopsis of his story...so animated, so interested in the details. Oh, dear Father, what have you got planned for this child? If I did not find him reading, then he was asleep...so peaceful. I would stand over him, remembering, amazed at the time that has passed since God placed him in my belly....even longer, since He placed him in my heart. It is the little things like his grabbing my hand on our way into a restaurant today, it is how he explains what words mean to his sister, it is watching him do the robot dance, it is hearing him analyze a chess game...it is his quirky, silly self putting his football stand on his drink last Sunday at his football game...Oh, that is my boy...he reminds me that all of us are created in God's image for His purpose. God has a plan.
Then, my baby Bear...that baby of mine is hilarious! There are many moments, many little things with a baby that make you marvel at God's gift of life. His giggles, the way he smiles all over himself in the mornings, the repetitious games, those sweet baby noises, watching them explore their little world. My Bear is adventurous and strong and confidant. He is pure angel baby. Tonight, he was playing, looked over at me with the biggest smile, dropped his toy, crawled over to me, pulled up, and planted the sweetest/wettest kiss on my cheek. Oh, those moments...those little things....they make you want to give to others because you are so thankful for all you have been given. You know that today is a day that you are shaping a little heart and that you get to join in on God's miracle making. My Bear is my ray of sunshine...my baby boy...that lopsided grin makes me want to be better.
The little things in life are amazing aren't they? With my sweet husband and oldest at the game tonight 2 hours away and my youngest two asleep, I have had some quiet...to sit, to pray, to think on the moments that make my days, to think on the blessings that have decorated my memories....God is good...in all things...big ones and the little ones too........