Colson is.... SMART!

I have always loved, and frequently write about, the lessons I learn from my little ones. There are so many little life lessons every day, and I know that this is just the beginning! As we were sitting around the table at dinner a few nights ago, we were talking about the good qualities in each of the kids and Kylee got excited to create an alliteration with the words we were using. "Mom! Listen, we can all have words that start with 'S'. You called me sweet, Kaden is silly, and Colson is (think, think, think) SMART!" She was so proud of herself, and quite accurate too. Kaden is always trying to be funny and make others smile and laugh; Kylee has a tender, sweet heart and, like her Mom, is often lead by her emotions rather than her mind; and Colson is a thoughtful, deep thinker that often comes up with simple statements that can blow me away. This week has been full of them.

For the last 2 weeks, Colson has had some frequent symptoms of aches, pains and fatigue. After a bout of abdominal pain woke him from his nighttime sleep and caused him to cry in pain for an hour, we decided to take him in. Our pediatrician is great, and after a thorough exam he stated that he wanted to have some blood work drawn. I looked at Colson and told him carefully that he would need to have a pokie today. He furrowed his brow and pursed his lips (his very serious, deep-in-thought look) then took a breath and stated, "Mommy, Jesus already knew that. We just know now." He seemed to be able to rest assured that because Jesus knew a pokie was coming, he had nothing to fear. He very bravely, without tears, took the pokie, watching as they drew 4 vials of blood from him.

Well, the blood work was abnormal and the symptoms continued, so we had a week of testing and frequent calls with the doctor. I felt very concerned for my little boy (a bad combination of a nurse who knows the possibilities and a worried mommy who doesn't want to see her son suffer) and it was a wonderful comfort to think of Cole's statement, "Jesus already knows." It does make it so much easier to walk the road before us knowing God is already there and knows what's coming!! (And, for an update, things have been OK- minor problems that are being resolved and the symptoms are improving...we just need his blood work to continue to improve as well.)

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Another recent experience in our lives was the possibility of taking in a newborn baby for a 6 week time period. Initially, I recognized that to most, our lives are already off the charts on the craziness spectrum with the load we have. However, my heart soon took over my mind's ability to think and I decided that we could make it work - anything is possible for just 6 weeks, right?? Well, I started to take to heart the good intentions of dear friends who thought it would be too overwhelming, but nothing got to me as much as the thoughtful wisdom of my 4 year old boy. At a family meeting discussing the possibility, Colson was pensive, then looked at me intently and said, "I think that might be too much for our family, Mom." He was absolutely right. The decision was easy to make after that.

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Another time, I cannot remember what was missing, but there was something that I was searching for. I felt flustered and my kids must have sensed it. Colson furrowed his brow once again (the sure sign that something important is about to come out of that sweet little mouth of his) and stated, "Mom, you can't take it to heaven with you anyway." I laughed, then teared up, then held him in a strong embrace. His little statement brought me back to reality, reminding me of what was truly important... and what was not.

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Lastly, on a bit of a lighter note, I had a bad hair experience this past week. I've been going to the same place for nearly a year now, and have always been pleased with the results. However, on this day I returned home with a head full of splotchy, chunky blond streaks and spots. Just not the natural, blended in look that I've always gone for. When I returned home, Colson looked at me and said, "Mommy, you look like a funny zebra!" Kaden heard the statement, looked at me and broke out laughing. Soon, both boys were in hysterics. I couldn't help but laugh along with them, though I had felt on the verge of tears just moments before.

The following day I had an appointment to "fix" the hair and the boys were fortunate enough to get to come with (ha ha). As we got in the car, Colson proceeded to tell me I was "boootiful" and how much he loved me. He sure knows how to get to me. When we arrived at the hair salon, Cole walked up to the desk and declared, "You need to fix my Mommy's funny giraffe hair!" It was just what I needed to lighten up the mood!!

To be carried

The other evening, Kylee and I were blessed to be able to go to a fun musical together that our neighbor girl was a part of. I really enjoyed having a date with my girl and we had fun! It ran much later than her normal bedtime, and as we were leaving she reached up her arms and asked to be carried. I couldn't remember for the life of me the last time I had carried my little girl. At just 5 she's the eldest in our household of 4 kiddos, so I often have high expectations of her to be helpful and responsible as I try to find ways to keep the boys close to me while I trudge around with a heavy baby carrier and all the books and bags needed for any given outing.

"Absolutely," I stated, as I scooped her into my arms. Her heavy head was quickly resting upon my shoulder as she began to drift into slumber. I just loved the feeling of carrying this precious, growing girl in my arms once again. It had been soooo long.

In the moments that I walked in silence to the car, my mind wandered to my own childhood memories of being carried. I remember the feeling of total surrender, while someone else did the walking for me; I remember the security and safety of feeling that someone else was in control and would get me to where I needed to be; I remember how good it felt to know that the arms that held me belonged to someone who loved me deeply. I loved the opportunity of being able to provide those things to my little girl in that moment.

Does it sound familiar? I hope so! To those who know Christ as our Savior, we too get to be carried by the One who made us! When we are too weak, too tired, too lost, too scared, we are able to look up and ask, "Will You please carry me through this?" I have had many times in my life when I needed to be carried and rest securely in the arms of One who knows where I'm going and One who loves me deeply. Oh to be carried... what a wonderful thing.

you're gonna miss this

Exhaustive. Just one of the many words to describe motherhood. At the end of a day full of laundry, dishes, sweeping, food preparation, nose wiping, bun wiping, bath giving, verse quizzing, discipline giving, toilet scrubbing, game playing, book reading, appointment making and phonetic practicing, well... I often feel worn out and quite exhausted. I am one who really tries to embrace this precious stage in life, understanding just how quickly time does pass. Still, there are days when going about the aforementioned that it is easy to forget to cherish the moments; when I am tempted to ask (after the 3rd cup of spilled milk), "when will you grow up?"; when I wonder if this is truly what I signed up for. During one of those hectic moments while hurrying to get the baby to a visit, the country song "You're gonna miss this" came on the radio. I looked into the rear view mirror and saw my 2 boys - so big now at 4 years old - chatting about back and forth, full of funny faces and crazy expressions. Tears started rolling down my face as I listened to the words - the chorus, especially - of this song. Even though my kids are still "young" at 4, 4 and 5 1/2, there is so much that I already miss!! Each stage passes so very quickly! I hope that every day I will remind myself that in the future I will miss these adorable, yet exhaustive, days!!

You're gonna miss this.
You're gonna want this back.
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast.
These are some good times,
So take a look around.
You may not know it now, but you're gonna miss this.