Seasons

School is out. Summer is here. It is bittersweet...I don't have to get up early every morning to get them ready and on their way but, they will be home all day...you moms out there know what I'm talking about. Today, I had some time in the car just to think about stuff. Ick! dangerous. It seems I am in the season of my life where the little victories are so meaningful. Today, all my laundry is done, folded and put away. Now I know this does not seem like anything major but there are six people in this house. Each night they take off all their clothes and throw them on the floor in the laundry room. Every morning they dirty the towels I lay out for them. I don't even want to talk about matching socks. As I type this, there is only one wash cloth in my laundry basket and I am proud to say it will be empty for another 3-4 hours.

Last night I tried a new recipe and my family...all 5 of them...loved it! Again, this might seem a strange thing to celebrate but, with four children, that is a whole mess of pickiness sitting around the dinner table every night. A meal with no complaints about the food is a minor miracle indeed.

Yesterday, I had lunch with my youngest child and her father who is also my husband and upon reflection, it was nice to go out to eat with him...just to see him...in the middle of the day. Sounds weird, right?...Well, I don't normally see Adam in the middle of the day on a Monday so to me, it was pretty nice. I also got to snap this really great shot of him with Els. She enjoyed her first grilled cheese and spilled juice all over her white shirt and then could barely keep her eyes open on the way home. I found myself wondering at her knack for falling asleep so quickly. People don't usually fall asleep unless they feel comfortable and secure...brought a smile to my face. She really is just one of the gang...mine.

SO, I find myself often torn between wanting to get it all done...have everything finished, cleaned up, put away and wanting to just sit down and enjoy the little things that happen in my home each day...Flip's sound effects, Ruthie's daily readings of her stories and poems, Rusty's hugs and kisses and his little pats for the animals when he walks by them and Ellie's curiosity. Such little things...Where does the mother of four find the time for all of this and all of that and that special time she craves with each child each day? Seasons...they do indeed change.