Time Out

We've been so busy the last couple of weeks with camping, a day at Lagoon, 2 birthday parties, and we're currently in the middle of a 5-day family reunion (I'll do a post on that later.) We've been staying up late, getting up early, and just going, going, going all day. The girls and I decided to take a break from all the activities today and catch up/relax so we can be ready for a full day of activity tomorrow! When I glanced at the clock at 2:00 this afternoon and realized the house was still messy with cupcake crumbs and greasy fingerprinted windows from yesterday, my first thought was to bark a reminder to the girls to please stop goofing around and clean up your messes, for crying out loud! But before I began barking, I stopped to listen. All 3 girls were playing with Makenna and Kasidee's birthday gifts. They had set up a My Little Pony town and were having a blast playing together. "Hi! My name is Rainbow Pony. Do you want to come out and play? We're having a tea party!" "Oh, that would be lovely! It's nice to meet you - my name is Sparkles Pony." "Isn't it a beautiful day out? What a wonderful day for friends!"

Hmmm.... I stood there at the kitchen sink, hands still dripping with sudsy water as tears filled my eyes. I cried and sniffed silently, so the girls wouldn't hear me, but my shoulders shook as I realized how precious this time is. Don't you wish you could just stop time for a moment and hold onto it forever? I had been so preoccupied with straightening up the house and putting away birthday party/gift messes that I almost missed and messed up a tender moment between sisters. I love, love, love having all of my girls home with me. I want to relish these last days before school starts and schedules begin and they are gone....