Traveling with a 3 Year Old

Snippets of an ongoing conversation with Andrew during the last 30 minutes of our recent trip to PA to visit the grandparents. Andrew was very well aware that we were getting close!

* I'm trying to be patient mommy, but I just want to be at grandmom and pop-pop's. Can't you catch up to that white van...you're faster!

*Mommy, PA and pop-pop are the same. P for PA and P for Pop-Pop. "Puh"

* Mommy, look, there's a shooter (referring to a windsock). I explained what a windsock was and that someone we knew used to land his airplane in that field. "You mean our Dave? Dave with Luke, Dave who takes me on the merry-go-round...let's go visit him."

*Wow...all I can see are cows...

*Look at all the crows trying to eat the cornstalks. There's black crows and white crows...I wonder if there are any woodpeckers.

Andrew, living with you is never dull!!!

Joy in the midst of chaos

The dreariness of winter is here. We were blessed with two 60 degree days which were spent outside for hours on end, but the dreary, gray, cold, snowless days are upon us here in NOVA. And inside my house, chaos reigns:

Yes, that's my oven in the middle of the floor. And the missing cabinets in the corner were taken out by some high school boys during small group. We let them use a saw in our house!!

The metallic wallpaper is gone...after two days of scraping. And now, we're patching drywall after adding outlets, priming, and I will soon paint it a soothing OCEAN RIDGE blue.

One of my handymen...doing his work in his overalls, "just like daddy." Andrew loves working with tools...and loves looking at tools at the hardware store. This is a good thing since we seem to visit the hardware store every other day or so. His latest acquisition: his very own tape measure.

Our dining room table...this poor card table will never recover from the construction. But, it has been the hub of all activity in the house. It's where we eat, craft, go over bills, talk and enjoy one another's company.

In the midst of all the deconstruction, construction and craziness, I've found joy in such simple things:

Four top teeth soon...soon....to descend through the gums. I'm saddened that her smile will change, but thankful that some of the misery of teething will be over.

I often find my children in this position...books strewn all over the floor while both of them are engrossed in "reading" a favorite. The other day, I stumbled upon Andrew reading "Blue Hat, Green Hat" to his sister. Yep, there were tears!

The man I love...tackling new projects every day. Learning new skills; studying to solve problems; amazing me with his knowledge and what he can do; patiently sharing a project with his son; my heart skips a beat still.

There is joy in the chaos of life...and I am very grateful.

A Split Second Decision

There he was; thirty minutes past his bedtime, peeping his head out into the kitchen. "Are you done choppin' those pickles yet mommy?" He grins, with his gap toothed grin that lights up his face. "I really really want you to cuddle with me puhlease."

I've heard myself all day -- "Andrew, don't do that. Andrew, please. No, I can't paint with you, I need to fix dinner. Andrew, Andrew, Andrew."

It was a split second decision: do I nag about him still being up or do I run after him, give him a great big hug and go cuddle with him? By the grace of God, I chose the latter...and I am a better mother for it.

Yes, he's still awake....but during that quality cuddle time, we got to pray and I heard his sweet little voice talk to Jesus. And then God graciously forgave my faults by showing me just how much this little boy sleeps like his mom. Choosing to cuddle until he's really tired...and then pulling away and curling onto his side for a good night's sleep.

There are still things that need to be done tonight. Laundry to be folded, dishes to wash, lunch to make; but I got to spend twenty quality minutes cuddling with my boy. Thank you Lord for giving me the opportunity to just be a mommy tonight!