The good stuff...

that makes my day.

Days as a mom are full.

Full of laundry, cleaning, cooking, picking up, diapers, messes, dishes, whining, refereeing, fits, crying...well, you get the picture.

But on each of those days, that can seem so full of the hard stuff, you also get the good stuff.

Like walking in on an impromptu piano recital, by a brother & sister.

Like seeing your baby sitting so still, you could almost see him growing right in front of you.

(that's the piano I learned to play on...& I can still play out of that book. I know you're impressed, since you can see it has pictures & stickers in it...I got skills baby)

Like little feet, so proud to be able to climb on & off a not so sturdy bench.

Feet that did get tickled.

And noticing a green sticky note, once the picture is downloaded, on the end of the piano.

A gift from a little girl to her mama.

It was a picture of us.

Like crawling around the corner to snap a picture of your little stunt man playing & finding him, instead, standing on the coffee table, sucking his thumb.

He always makes me laugh.

Like watching him attempt to jump off.

And, hearing him count in his baby way, only to stomp his foot really hard, then ask you for help to "jump" off.

Like a picnic prepared by a 4 year old.

Like unrolling a long sheet of white paper & discovering your daughter already knows what a crown is & how to draw a picture of one.

And watching her creativity blossoming in front of your eyes.

She's got a gift.

And remembering, seeing the blurry red & green spots, that she first drew pictures of Bob & Larry for her little brother.

A glimpse into something more important that's blossoming.

Kindness & love & generosity.

That does this heart some good.

Like taking a close up picture of my little girl's hand, to freeze in time, how small she still is, & to one day look back on these days in wonder & awe.

Wonder & awe knowing where we were now, & where they are then.

This job can seem rough, until you see the good stuff.

Then, it seems, indescribable.

I am blessed & challenged with a tremendous job.

Teaching & loving my kids to my very best each & every day.

I am grateful.

For the good & tough stuff.