Loving life

Spring is emerging in Carolina! The red buds are blooming and the established daffodils are in bloom (mine will take a little longer). I've ordered my seeds and come March 1st, I will allow myself to start turning the garden beds. For my Midwestern friends who saw snow this week, I promise you will see signs of spring in a few weeks. I find it amazing how much weather can affect our spirits. We've had our windows open, fresh air coming in the house and running around outside with light jackets. For the most part, the winter boredom and restlessness has lifted from my family. I am very grateful!

I mention the weather because it mirrors exactly how I am feeling right now. I realized that I really am living in peace. Sure there are rainy days and I have had bouts of sadness during these last days with my grandma. However, I am mostly enjoying these moments watching the awe of my children literally growing before me every day. And, thinking of the new life blossoming in the Spring.

Realistically, I have two toddlers right now so there are plenty of moments where I have to breathe deep so I don't pull out my own hair. My daughter's big thing right now is, "Momma, watch this..." and she does something like stand on her toes or wiggle her nose. Cute, right? Yes, the first 100 times. Now, I get that phrase every day all day long probably about 50 times, no exaggeration. I obviously have started the auto responses, "uh-huh," "great, sweetie," "that's nice," and "Momma's (driving, on the phone, cooking dinner, in the bathroom...) so I can't watch right now." I had the epiphany that just like I can't hold her like when she was an infant, this, too, will be over in a blink of an eye and instead of wanting to show me everything she will be showing her friends. So, Momma tries to watch everything she can and soak it up because that's what these days are about, aren't they? These sweet days are the foundation and building blocks that give us strength when these same babies head into their coming days of independence and eventually the dark side of teenage years.