Oh, The Irony

So I think there is a meme floating around out there where you go to your fourth photo folder, and write about the fourth picture.

Actually, it's probably not even floating around anymore, but in lieu of actual content, I thought I'd go out on a limb and re-float it.

When I opened my fourth folder, I nearly spit out my Diet Dr. Pepper (which is not on sale ANYWHERE in the Denver metro area and I finally caved in and paid full price for a 12-pack today after going without for 2 weeks while fruitlessly waiting for a sale.)

(I know.) 

The picture I found is one of the very first things that made me realize I had to start blogging.

Yes, that is us circa summer 2006.

(I can scarcely look at myself so nicely browned because my legs are currently the color of a jar of paste.)

(As if anyone knows what paste is anymore.)

Desperate, or should I say DESPERATE to go on a run for a little "relaxation," I loaded up my 4 year-old and 2 1/2 year old for a little "run" in the double jogger.

Bribing them with an out-and-back trip to Dairy Queen, I pushed that beast (weighing well over 100 pounds, including the babies) up and down the hills of our former 'hood.

Every 100 yards (it seemed) someone needed a drink, a book, sunglasses, a jacket, a jacket taken off, a snack, a toy, and finally MY SANITY.

(Go ahead and feel my pain here.)

As we arrived home, Lilly was wearing her chocolate ice cream cone and dead asleep.

Jackson was nodding in and out of dreams, but still awake enough to ask for more milk.

Naptime was ruined, laundry had doubled, the stroller was broken, and the "fun" I strived for ended up more like a disaster.

And I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

So instead, I started to blog, because I realized that if I couldn't laugh, I'd cry my eyes out.

Looking back, (I'm going to get all grandmotherly now), I can't believe how quickly the years have gone by.

Those two sweet babies are now 5 and 6.

There are no jogging strollers at our house.

They ride their 2-wheelers while I run.

Heck, they participate in their own triathlons.

They find their own snacks, brush their own teeth, and beat me in MarioKart.

When did all this happen?

So tonight, while I was tucking in the two hearts that exist outside my body, I lingered.

Lilly curled up and fell asleep on me. I could've carried her upstairs right away, but instead, I laid my hand on her back and felt her lungs rise and fall.

I ran my finger through her hair, kissed her cheeks, and rubbed her earlobes.

After I rested her in bed, I turned off the lights, and for more than a moment, just stared at my baby.

Walking across to Jackson's room, he greeted me with a smile from underneath the covers.

When he asked for two stuffed chameleons, I didn't worry that he's still sleeping with various animals.

I handed them over and got down on my knees to listen the highlights of his day.

Hearing how he loved learning about the digestive system and also seeing me (source of future embarrassment) visit his class, reminded me that while he loves grown-up things, he is little.

Little.

(Big, but little.)

Any tiny glimpse of perspective is an amazing gift from the Lord.

Today I needed that so badly.

Each day, each moment, each breath that they take is God's grace living in this very house with me.

I am so blessed.