best days of my life

it's very rare when life goes as planned. usually, in our house, we're just trying to keep up with the chaos. trying not to be swallowed by the insanity.

i read a blog the other day that talked about how older women come up to us mom's in the thick of toddler-hood and say, 'enjoy these days, these are the best of your life'. and how we're so freakin' tired and just want them to go to bed that it just heaps more guilt on us that we're not enjoying 'the best days of our life'. this blogger suggested that looking forward to bed time is okay - and even normal. and that what matters is to be in the moment. to take the rare moments of pure bliss and burn them into your mind. and that really, those are the things that stick. those are the moments we'll remember. and that's why one day we'll probably turn to a haggard young mom and tell her 'she's in the best days of her life'.

isn't it funny how once something is said aloud, pointed out, or given words you just couldn't find - how it just changes your perspective?

last night we had one of those 'moments'. it was a truely restful sunday. we all fell asleep at one point or another during the day. we played games, we cleaned the house, we played wii together.

we sat down for dinner and there was no complaining. no one commented how they didn't like the food. no one spilled their milk. they passed with manners, they ate all their food and asked for seconds. and when we were just about done eating, isaiah picked up the bible.

matt usually reads to us at dinner, but without even asking isaiah picked it up and began to read. and read he did. the entire section. the girls were silent, intent on listening to the new voice that was speaking the same truth. i watched in wonder as my son took on the role his daddy has...with eagerness and confidence.

when he was finished alaythia decided she was also going to lead us. she instructed us on who would sing and when to sing. we were to pick our favorite song and sing it for each other. around the table we went, even little soph singing 'Jesus loves me'....'they weak, he be strong!' alaythia making up her own songs which are the truths of God sung back to him. isaiah drumming to the beat. daddy's voice cracking because he was overcome with emotion.

we moved to the living room to play a game. everyone involved, everyone happy, taking turns, mommy and daddy flirting, sophia adding her own rules as we went.

it was perfect. a rich, sweet, blessed time as a family...and i found myself thinking, 'maybe these really are the best days of my life'.

2012

it's the first day of a new year. you'd never know it if you just popped in on our house today. the same routine, the same events. a quick mention here or there on 2012, but for the most part it was business as usual.

yet tonight my heart is full. full of the past year and the hope of the next. life is mundane and rich. routine and unexpected. what the past held i could not predict. what the future holds i dare not dream.

but i'm grateful. grateful to be where i am. loving, living, learning, giving. and centered in the heart of a great God.