Parenthood

I knew when we were expecting our first child that my world was about to change. I just had no idea how very different it was going to become. It is so easy to focus on the negative parts of being a parent. Our selfish hearts often begrudge the sleepless nights, the lack of quiet, the difficulty of finishing a sentence. Or maybe, we wish that we could pursue unrestricted travel, leisure, or careers. I have even found myself feeling like holidays are only fun for children, but when you are a parent they are all work! Yesterday, we had a chance to have a fun day at a water park. Another opportunity to think of my children as a hindrance to my ability to get the most out of the experience, to enjoy all the rides that I wanted to go on. By the grace of God it was a very different day. I had a wonderful time, with each of my children, doing life with them. I tried very hard, to see each experience through their eyes. I loved convincing my one-year-old of the joys of playing in the water. It was a delight to see him walking along the "beach" with his brother and wanting to be there! He had a wonderful time. Being the one that your little girl holds on to when the ride is too scary is a priceless treasure. Seeing the thrill on the faces of my big boys when they did something that they thought would be too scary and being there to urge them on was a joy. I am so very thankful for the stretching and growing that being a mommy has brought in my life, but I am also grateful for the treasures of watching them grow and being a part of their journeys of discovery!