Precious Time

Even though some days are crazy and I am not sure that I can handle being a stay at home mom (I am new at this since I did work 2 days a week only 9 months ago), I know that my time here with the kids is the most precious thing in the world. They are growing up so fast and time is just flying by. When crazy days come and my soap dispenser gets broken and the kids won't nap and Leah is sick, I do several things to remind myself how short that this time is. I try to take a step back and laugh and realize that these are the best days of my life.

Too help me do this, I listen to country songs like 'Don't Blink' and 'You're Gonna Miss This'. Why is that country music is so good at the tear jerkers? The other thing I do is read an excerpt from a book. Karen Kingsbury is one of my favorite authors. She wrote a great series called the Redemption series. In one of the books in that series, the character in the book wrote a poem to her son who was about to get married. The poem made me cry and still does when I read it, but I think it's a great reminder of how precious this time is with my kids. I made a copy of these poem and placed it on my fridge and read it when I feel like I need a reminder. I picked it up today since this week has been crazy and decided to share it here as well.

"Long ago you came to me, a miracle of firsts
First smiles and teeth and baby steps, a sunbeam on the burst.
But one day you will move away and leave to me your past,
And I will be left thinking of a lifetime of your lasts.

The last time that I held a bottle to your baby lips...
Last time that I lifted you and held you on my hip...
Last time when you had a binky stuck inside your mouth...
The last time that you crawled across the floor of this old house.

Last time when you ran to me, still small enough to hold,
Last time when you said you'd marry me when you grew old.
Precious, simple moments and bright flashes from the past,
Would I have held you longer if I'd known they were the last?

Your last few hours of kindergarten, last days of first grade...
Last at bat in Little League, last colored paper made.
Last time that I tucked you in for one last midday nap...
Last time when you wore your beat-up Green Bay Packers cap.

I watched you grow and never noticed seasons as they passed.
I wish I could've frozen time, to hold on to your lasts.
For come tomorrow morning life will never be the same.
You'll pledge forever to your girl and she will take your name.

One last hug, one last good-bye, one quick and hurried kiss...
One last time to understand just how much you'll be missed.
I'll watch you leave and think how quickly childhood sped past.
Would I have held on longer...if I'd known it was your last?

The poem still brings tears to my eyes. I am so happy that my babies are still small enough for me to enjoy many more lasts. (I did leave out some of the middle of this poem since it was very long.) Things like this poem help me put crazy weeks back into perspective.