remembering

My kids love to hear stories about when they were just babies.  They giggle when I tell them the things I remember craving when I was pregnant with each of them that I could never eat again (think cans and cans of pork and beans!)  They laugh when I demonstrate how each of them kicked and moved inside of me; using my insides as practise for all of their future sports endeavours.  And they hang on every word when I describe to them the awesome wonder and anticipation I felt while they grew inside me those nine months.  Their eyes grow huge when I tell them I remember loving them the minute I found out I was going to be their mom.
As a family, we like to remember a lot of things.  The good times, the bad times, the funny times.  Supper at our table is never dull while the kids remember their day at school and recount all of their learnings and adventures.
Yesterday, we spent time as a family remembering what happened 10 years ago on September 11, 2001.  I told the kids as much as I could recall about that day since only my oldest two were born and they were so very young.  We watched some of the beautiful memorial service in New York and then later in Washington.  And I think each of them in their own way understood that while something really bad had happened ten years ago, goodness, beauty and love had multiplied out of it.
I loved President Obama words when he said "that the United States did not and will not ever declare war on another religion."
Hatred would too easily follow.
I loved the scripture verse he used; "weeping will last for a night, but joy will come in the morning." 
Ten years ago, the US had one of it's darkest nights.
Because we live in a fallen world, dark nights happen to all of us.
But joy will come. 
What a promise.
No matter what life throws at us.  No matter how hopeless our situations can seem. 
Whether in this world or when we see the sweet the face of Jesus in the next.
"Joy will come in the morning".

This is good to remember.

what a week

What a week this has been.  Back to school is exhilarating and exhausting!  Carys has been a bundle of emotions.  And last night after tucking her into bed, I couldn't wait to go to sleep myself.  Once I got the older boys to bed, I practically raced to my bed and leaped in- so delighted to be finally able to rest.
About an hour later however, my seven year old called out.  He was having a nightmare and needed me.  Thus ended my night of sleep.  It wasn't until sometime close to 3 am that I was able to crawl back into my bed and even then sleep evaded me, my brain was overtired, overstressed and overwhelmed.
Morning came, and with it all the rush and stress of the routine to get the kids out the door.  Jonah came out of his room a little after the others were off.  Still sleepy from his rough night, he smiled at me, put his arms up and wrapped them tight around my waist.  Then he looked at me and said "Thanks for watching over me last night Mommy."
I couldn't respond.  The lump in my throat was so big.  At times, this being a mom thing, on call 24/7 is just so hard.  But then there are these precious times where our children bless us with their heart and words.  This was one of those times.
I hugged him tighter and whispered a prayer of blessing over him.
Then thanked my heavenly Father for always watching over me and giving me the grace and strength to make it through the days He has given me.