Mother's Day

Yesterday was Mother's Day.  The kids were so excited to celebrate me, but, truth be told, the hugs and kisses and "I love you, Mommy's" were about on par with any other day.  So were the many mothering moments that fill my days and have become (mostly) second nature to me after almost 7 years in my role of mommy to little ones.  I imagine wishing I could re-live one of these days 10 or 20 years down the road.  These days are very full.  My kiddos are very needy, as they should be at 6, 4 and 1.  And their kisses, smiles, snuggles are abundant.  I am the center of their little world (with Luke a close second), and it is an honor to be the one to serve them so intimately throughout each day.  A few mothering moments stand out from yesterday - 

- Lucy's happy paci smile when I went to get her from her bed

- Isaiah tackling me with "Happy Mother's Day!" and hugs

- Luke and the kids setting the table with pastries and fruit salad

- Drying Noelle's hair on my knees while Lucy chewed on her toothbrush

- Changing Lucy's diaper to her chant of "bi-per, bi-per, bi-per"

- encouraging/nagging everyone to do clothes/dishwasher/potty/hands/teeth so we could get out the door on time!  Come on, everyone!

- putting out clothes for all the kids

- trying to get everyone to look at Luke on a sunny, hot morning for a mother's day picture

- dropping off the kiddos at Sunday School and retrieving Lucy from her table seat at the end of class

- walking around at the back of church w/ Lucy in the carrier trying to give her a much needed/wanted snooze

- the kids giving me roses at church, and Lucy's joy at swinging hers around and smacking me in the face with it during worship

- trying to close my eyes or even pray for 5 seconds with my eyes open during communion while wrestling Lucy on my lap and tending to Noelle's needs of kleenex and reminders to put her legs down and to whisper and that, no, she couldn't have more snacks right now

- Noelle gagging as she coughed at church - giving those around us reason to believe she was close to throwing up right there

- opening the candles that each kiddo had chosen for me

- putting Lucy down for naps with her high pitched, sweet request to nurse - "nuh?  nuh?"

- laying with Noelle in her bed at nap time with her request to "sleep with me for 6 minutes, mama" and "I like your hand on my cheek right here while I'm falling asleep."

- Isaiah wanting to share his joy and excitement over particular Angry Birds levels.  "Mom!  Watch this!"

- Packing a picnic dinner of egg salad sandwiches, veggies, and chips... and then serving up quick bowls of cereal before bed

- hugs, kisses, prayers and the relief of bedtime

This mothering thing is a pretty sweet gig.  I'm so grateful to mother these children.  May I get better each year and may they forgive my many faults along the way!  

Lucy scribbled.  Noelle drew herself with me.  Isaiah drew a butterfly - "I even used a ruler to make sure both sides of the body were the same!" And Luke gave me a Pepperdine sweatshirt.  Sweet family.  I'm blessed.