Thanking Fellow Mama Bloggers...On the Journey!

At home with the girls, I often roll like a yo-yo up and down - having a great day & then a bad day, all within a matter of minutes.  Life with my two girls (and the husband:) is amazing but far too often I get caught up in the daily to do's of cooking, cleaning, pottying, teaching, even the fun things like reading books, doing puzzles and playing on the swing set can get lost in the shuffle of life.  I am so thankful to have found support in not only my real live friends, but also those women that I don't know who are blogging about their honest experiences as mothers.  

From the moms who admit that they are terrible housekeepers to those who admit to letting their children watch TV (gasp!) to those who share all of their creative and productive ways of playing & teaching their children, it is so refreshing and reassuring to find other moms, working and stay at home alike, loving and struggling through the same things.  I am especially grateful to be reminded that raising children is a journey, it is not a rushed result.

Just last week, as we were leaving the house to run some errands, Lena ran off to one of our flower beds, through the new sprouts of grass and over the freshly spread mulch - in her brand new sandals - hopped over a plant or two along the way and squealed with joy as she bent to smell the wide open pink tulips bathing in the sun.  

My initial instinct was a cringe, my mouth opened and then...I paused and thought (something I don't always do in the heat of the moment - but I am so glad I did) - She's got it right!  I am appreciative that in that busy moment, I took a step back and made time to see the magic of God's world through her eyes...

There simply is no good reason not to stop to smell the flowers.  

So, instead of pleading for her to STOP...I enjoyed the moment and have played it over many times in my mind...just as a reminder to be thankful for all of the blessings in my life...to stop leaping forward to look for the next opportunity, but instead savoring the one at hand.