The kids have been home for almost three weeks and it's been a lot of fun and I have loved being with them. But at the same time, being together stuck in the house due to extreme cold and sickness most of that time can be a little rough. There have been many moments when I have questioned my sanity and my mothering skills.
There has been a lot of fighting, not wanting to share, complaining, and huge fits by a certain two year old. Sometimes I wonder what on earth I am doing wrong.
And then.
THEN.
Every once in a while I will see something sweet in them. I will see an act of a kindness or a glimmer of hope that they are actually learning the things I want them to know.
So I wanted to share some tiny moments over the last few days so that I can have this post to remember the sweetness of these days. These are the things I don't want to forget when I'm older and grayer.
I'm leading a study by Annie Downs called "Looking for Lovely" starting next week at church. It's about finding the good moments, the God moments in our every day life. I think as moms when we feel discouraged or down on ourselves - we need to look for the lovely in our days and our kids. The little glimpses of glory in the mundane.
At one point on Christmas Day, I looked at Harper and I could tell she had been crying. I was worried she had her feelings hurt or was disappointed in her presents so I asked what was wrong. She said “Oh i was just thinking about how Jesus came down to earth and it made me cry happy tears”.
Mic drop.
I don’t know where I got this girl but I’m so glad she’s mine.
Tuesday, Hollis had the stomach virus all day. She was finally better and then right before bed got really sick. I was cleaning it up and Scott walked through the living room to find Harper kneeling and praying for her sister.
The one she had fought with all day the day before. :-)
Even Will Holden shows tenderness. One day this week I got mad at the kids and kind of snapped. Will Holden looked over at me and said "I'm sorry Mommy". I told him I was so sorry for yelling and hugged him. He pointed over at Harper and said "tell her". So I did the same for Harper and then he pointed at Hollis and said "tell Hollis". He is always looking out for them.
Hollis has a lot of sweet moments too. She is SO kind to Will Holden.
It makes the fighting and the complaining and the yelling (mostly me) all worth it. When they say precious prayers or ask if we can give money to a person in need or say something encouraging to a sibling - I'm so glad to know maybe I haven't completely ruined them.
Thank goodness - Jesus is their ultimate Father so I just point them to Him. They are His after all. I just get the pleasure of being their mom.
