It has become a tradition.
This year did not go as planned, but I couldn’t have asked for a more
perfect day. The air was warm, the
breeze was cool. The trees seemed to talk
as the leaves rustled softly. I watched
our children, running excitedly back and forth with shouts of joy to one
another. My smallest waddled around,
completely overwhelmed by the magnitude of everything the patch had to offer.
I listened to the older ones, as they tried to explain to
each other just where we would go next, what we would do. The pure joy on their faces made me smile. As I looked at my best friend, I couldn’t
help but think, “She is one of the bravest, strongest people I know.” We are incredibly blessed to have these friends. Of course there were moments of breakdown. What 3 year old could handle a 3 hour play date
without some source of frustration, right?
The tantrum pulled me back to real life for just a minute.
As I hid behind my camera, trying to capture the raw,
unprotected emotions displayed by the children, I couldn’t help but think what
life would be like without them. Where
did I find joy before I was entrusted these 2 beautifully distinct souls? What filled my days and my nights? What filled my dreams and my nightmares? What made me whole, gave me inspiration to be
better and to do more?
And then I remembered…they did. They filled my dreams before I ever knew them. I
knew I was put here on this earth to be their mom. As God’s plan for our family has been slightly
different than the plan that I had envisioned, I am reminded that he is in
control. As crazy as our wild days(and
nights) can be, I find peace in that.
