AT THIS MOMENT, KEEPING IT REAL

First please excuse the bad photo, it was the best out of the 8 I took. When they are playing and focused the last thing they wanted was me stopping them or telling them to slow down for a photo, lol  but I had to get just one to remember this night and this time in our lives.  It's moments like this that remind me again how much I love telling our story, their story, our family, our routines, our EVERYDAY MOMENTS that happen minute by minute. Ali Edwards wrote in her newsletter last month about how one picture can be told many ways and I LOVE LOVE that about her and have felt the same way. So I thought it over and this is the story I choose about this photo.


We have had a rainy and wet winter so far, not to much snow at all. The kids have cabin fever though and we are waiting for spring weather to come. Well to our delights it came this week and Rich and the kids decided to take advantage of it. The other night as I came home from my grandma's house I could see the garage lights on ( we usually never have them on) well I smiled and though I bet they are outside playing basketball. Sure enough before I get to our home I see 4 figures running around the driveway and am blessed to see this amazing family of mine. We have had some tough days lately and the kids have been fighting and not getting along, we have good moments to but those bad ones have left me feeling a little down and empty lately. Trying to figure out a way to keep the peace in this house is a struggle for me and I keep working on it. But on this night my heart is filled with joy and my eyes water a little and I look at Rich and he smiles the "I LOVE YOU AND IT WILL BE OK SMILE" and he knows what I'm feeling. I don't dare tell the kids but just having him know me this well means the world to me. He hates it when I am down, he will do anything to make me happy and feel joy at all times if he could.

This one single act of him telling the kid lets go outside and play ball made a huge difference, I watched them play and enjoy each other and work as a team and be encouraging to each other while playing. When they were done playing and feeling happy and tired they came in and it's like magic happens. The girls talk to Sam like he's human and he treats them like queens as he use to. His sisters (ALL 3 OF THEM) are his favorite people in the world and he tries to show them when he can. They got drinks and snacks and sat around talking and getting along all thru the rest of the night and at bedtime their was extra hugs and love you's said and kids going to sleep with smiles on their faces. That night I thanked Rich and thanked God for giving me this moment when I needed it most. I know that it's a tough job and I'm doing the best I can with and for these kids of mine. Starting to realize that I may not always be able to keep the peace and their may be bad times but these good times make it that much sweeter and will keep me going the next day and thru the next fight or anything else. This is our story and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else but here living it and loving them.
I'm sure some of you feel this way so if you need some extra love or hugs right now I'm sending them out to you!!! Thank you for letting me keep it real here sometimes.