Motherhood

 I often reflect on when they were little. The days felt long, tantrums encircled our hours and even the wrong colour plastic plate would set off a flood of tears. Cartoons filled the room, even if they weren't being watched and going to the park was all they needed to feel pure joy. I remember those days as clear as water. They were tiring but that phase of life was so beautiful. It was filled with so much intense care and love for them. 

This season of life is so wildly beautiful too. The same amount of intense care and love, maybe even more, if thats possible. The hustle of daily life and schedules. Their every need. Grades, sports, friendships and commitments. All entrusted by God to me, to us. This calling of motherhood has made all my dreams come true. Though sometimes hard and heavy, it is oh so rewarding and no where else I would rather be. I hope they can grow up and tell a story of their childhood that we can be proud of. I hope when they sit around with their in-laws and friends and reflect on what it was like growing up in our home that it will be filled with smiles and memories. I hope they never question how much love my heart carries for them. They are everything to us. Oh how lucky we are to have been entrusted with their precious childhood. 

Penny is now 11. She is right in between baby dolls and make up. She has the most beautiful and unique voice. I love listening to her sing her heart out in her room. She will never know that when she closes that door and feels all alone that I will often just go sit outside and listen to her. She brings a smile to my face and warms my heart. 

She is kind and thoughtful. She tries her best at school and loves basketball. She has lots of good friends and is a social butterfly. She loves chick-flicks and having me paint her nails for every occasion. She has the thickest hair, the longest eye lashes and the cutest dimple. Her joy is contagious and we are so wildly lucky to have her. 

Bentley is maybe the sweetest human on earth. This kid's heart is not an average size. He is so wildly compassionate and caring. When Im sad or hurting or feel anxious, he sees it, he has grace and love and always asks how he can help. He is mature beyond his years and my soul needed him. Bentley takes every hard trial with grace. He feels the emotions and then gets right to work. Recently he and I have been reading about animals at night time. I crawl into his blankets, side by side, and we read about fun facts of all kinds of animals. Its one of my favourite time's of the day. I love freezing time with him. 

Bentley has had curly hair for nearly a year now but is about to let it go back to his natural straight hair. He rocks his glasses and braces like the teenager initiation its been for decades, with confidence. He LOVES being in the kitchen cooking and makes the best breakfasts for himself and often for his sister too. My unconditional love for this boy is infinite and we are so wildly lucky to have him! 

Carter has shown more resilience in the last 6 months that I could have ever imagines a teenager to be capable of. He is so filled with grace, patience and hard work. He was handed a tornado of a trial this past fall and continues to have a good attitude despite the constant chronic pain he experiences. I think my heart has broke 100 times the last 6 months for him. Watching him in daily pain has been so hard, I cant imagine how he feels but he continues to push forward. His love of basketball and his teams hold him together. We are so lucky to have the village that we do, especially for Carter. 

Though most of our one of one time recently has been at appointments, I love our little day-dates together. We do appointments and then Starbucks or lunch. Ive offered to call friends to meet up with us and each time he has said "Im happy for it to just be us". He fills my whole bucket. Its so nice to just be with him. Talking basketball, coaches, teammates, school and friends. He truly is such an amazing person and the fact that I get a front row seat to his life is the biggest blessing I could ask for. He is a remarkable guy. We are so wildly lucky to have him. 

Kobe is turning 6 this summer. HOW!? This fluffy boy will forever be our baby. He is a kids dog through and through. He LOVES waking them each up every morning by busting through their doors, that are only opened a tiny crack, like the kool-aid man. Jumping on their bed by full sprint and licking their face and ears as much as he can before the shove him aside. He is the best cuddler and LOVES himself his own heated blanket. As long as he can see mom, he's good. He follows me around every where I go. When one of us gets home he jumps and gets so excited as if we'd been gone for a month. His love is so wildly unconditional and we are so lucky he is ours. 

I will forever cherish this perfect phase of motherhood. Being a Mom will forever be my favourite calling.