My favorite time to gather my thoughts and pull the loose ends of my day together are at the end of the night when everyone's tucked in asleep (as in you). I often find myself seeking a warm cup of coffee as I gather my laptop to reflect upon our day together but as this new 'Kindergarten' routine is slowly unfolding, my thoughts are everywhere.
A pile of loose suitcase ends are piled on my bedside table waiting for me to place them in their proper locations within our home. That little pile reminds me of you jet lagged with me in the big bed half asleep...."Mommy, when are we going to see those twinkling lights again!?!" You were referring to the lights illuminating in the crevices of the mountains that you could see each night from Yiayia's and Papou's veranda. They are one of our favorites to watch for as the blackness of the night embraces the solitude of the village.
Your backpack, lunchbox, snack box, my purse, and an unfinished coffee mug sat on the kitchen counter as I was putting up your dishes tonight. The clock was ticking but my mind was racing around in circles as it thought about getting you in bed on time and finding the right moments to put away today's memories and prepare for tomorrow's blessings. The array of our belongings piled throughout the kitchen reminded me to count the joy of the day-----having the opportunity to be a stay at home mom this week to see you off to Kindergarten each day, the warm smiles and good-mornings from the teachers/staff at your new school, the glitter you wanted sprinkled in your hair to scare the jitters, the touch of Mommy's perfume on your wrist to smell Mommy when you were lonely, the reminder that you can pray away the unknown by asking God to help you through your day.......from your tear stained face to the words softly pouring out, "....but Mommy, I won't get to see you until the end of the day!"
Little words that tugged at my heart strings a little more than normal because I know the depth of your heart------how you long to share our days together. How you intently listen even when you don't always mind!?! How you analyze and question everything.....how important it is to be part of my day....how deeply you care......and I was reminded of this yesterday at the pool when you asked, "Mommy, did you save one errand for us to do together?"
I pulled out of the school parking lot with tears in my eyes thinking about not seeing you until the end of the day and how I had to encourage you that I'd be with you all day in your heart. The tears streamed but the lyrics enveloped me, "And if there's anybody here who's found Him faithful...Anybody here who knows He's able...say amen....Anybody here found joy in the middle of sorrow...peace in the storm, hope for tomorrow...and seen it time and time again...just say Amen!" And I had my confirmation through the music by Finding Favour that you were in good hands-----that God would see you through your day------that I wouldn't be conflicted about your day as I stayed focused upon my work....and His protection...guidance...
I touched up the kitchen. Then, I took a in walk outside in the beautiful summer weather and came home to a busy morning of blogging work as I sipped on juice, water, and coffee and prayed for you. I needed to run a few quick errands but I rolled one into car pool pick up time and saved one for us to do together just as you requested.
A smile played across your face as you jumped into the truck at car pool. You were excited to share that you ate all of your lunch and that Mrs. Jennifer wanted some of your Summer Salsa. You suggested that we print her out a recipe so that you can put it in your lunch box and give it to her during lunch tomorrow. Grand idea----always thinking! You shared that Tuesday was always Music Day......additional chatter and snacking unfolded all the way to Kroger as I watched the traffic and parked. In Kroger, you were super friendly and courteous. You talked to everyone and helped pick up items that were in the wrong locations. We zoomed out towards home in time to gather an hour poolside before your hour of gymnastics. So I'm thinking that we need a dinner box in addition to your lunch box and snack box that you use at school.......our day was filled with activities.......one cartoon with five little kittens running around everywhere until you put them back in the basement! We discovered that your Mommy cat, Princess Girl, likes Avocado Corn Salsa and Triberry Refrigerated Oatmeal. She's a silly cat------and you're a silly, serious little girl.
One catalog of 'once upon a time' titles followed us to bed but your thoughts took over as you started your own quiet reflections and tears streamed down your face...."Mommy, what did you all day without me? Did you wash dishes all day?" I asked you to tell me three things you liked about school today......music class, the playground, and Mommy coming to get you at the end of the day! You reiterated a statement I've heard all week, "I just want you to be in the same classroom with me!"
I know you're making progress........we're making progress! Sometimes what we want more of gets put on hold until we have to take care of what's before us-----the task at hand. We all have to find the balance in our day to work and play.........to make sure that loved ones don't have to wait until the end of the day to see us......to be with us!
Even Daddy had his own agenda today. Piles of work to take care of.........he's often called it 'busy putting fires out all day' and today he was literally covered in smoke burning fields of sunflowers for Dove Season......at least I think that's what he was doing since it's mid-August and preparations must be made......but that was only one of many tasks he had on his mind today. He even had 'complicated' homework to tend to--------that's another season in our lives that's around the corner......
For today.......in this moment.......at the end of the night all we can do is pull together all of our thoughts and pound them out on the keyboard.....pen them in our journal.....count them as joy......bundle them with love and pour them into our prayers for God to help us see, hear, taste, touch, and smell what matters most......Kindergarten......it's just a season of new beginnings. I'm right here little one praying for you.......cheering you on until the end of the day.
I must say that two nights of not setting the table for the three of us to eat dinner together is a little unsettling.......it's a favorite time of mine for our family to come together. Tonight, you were fast asleep before Daddy stepped into the backdoor but the little pitter patter of Kindergarten feet made their way down the hallway and into Daddy's arms about an hour into your slumber..........I'll count that as unexpected joy....a simple gesture of love as Daddy lifted you into his strong arms at the end of his day and carried you back to your bed to finish your dreams. I think it was 'cotton candy' that you were supposed to be dreaming of tonight...our prayer's ending for tonight.
I love you little one!
A pile of loose suitcase ends are piled on my bedside table waiting for me to place them in their proper locations within our home. That little pile reminds me of you jet lagged with me in the big bed half asleep...."Mommy, when are we going to see those twinkling lights again!?!" You were referring to the lights illuminating in the crevices of the mountains that you could see each night from Yiayia's and Papou's veranda. They are one of our favorites to watch for as the blackness of the night embraces the solitude of the village.
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| An after school pile of...... |
Little words that tugged at my heart strings a little more than normal because I know the depth of your heart------how you long to share our days together. How you intently listen even when you don't always mind!?! How you analyze and question everything.....how important it is to be part of my day....how deeply you care......and I was reminded of this yesterday at the pool when you asked, "Mommy, did you save one errand for us to do together?"
I pulled out of the school parking lot with tears in my eyes thinking about not seeing you until the end of the day and how I had to encourage you that I'd be with you all day in your heart. The tears streamed but the lyrics enveloped me, "And if there's anybody here who's found Him faithful...Anybody here who knows He's able...say amen....Anybody here found joy in the middle of sorrow...peace in the storm, hope for tomorrow...and seen it time and time again...just say Amen!" And I had my confirmation through the music by Finding Favour that you were in good hands-----that God would see you through your day------that I wouldn't be conflicted about your day as I stayed focused upon my work....and His protection...guidance...
I touched up the kitchen. Then, I took a in walk outside in the beautiful summer weather and came home to a busy morning of blogging work as I sipped on juice, water, and coffee and prayed for you. I needed to run a few quick errands but I rolled one into car pool pick up time and saved one for us to do together just as you requested.
A smile played across your face as you jumped into the truck at car pool. You were excited to share that you ate all of your lunch and that Mrs. Jennifer wanted some of your Summer Salsa. You suggested that we print her out a recipe so that you can put it in your lunch box and give it to her during lunch tomorrow. Grand idea----always thinking! You shared that Tuesday was always Music Day......additional chatter and snacking unfolded all the way to Kroger as I watched the traffic and parked. In Kroger, you were super friendly and courteous. You talked to everyone and helped pick up items that were in the wrong locations. We zoomed out towards home in time to gather an hour poolside before your hour of gymnastics. So I'm thinking that we need a dinner box in addition to your lunch box and snack box that you use at school.......our day was filled with activities.......one cartoon with five little kittens running around everywhere until you put them back in the basement! We discovered that your Mommy cat, Princess Girl, likes Avocado Corn Salsa and Triberry Refrigerated Oatmeal. She's a silly cat------and you're a silly, serious little girl.
One catalog of 'once upon a time' titles followed us to bed but your thoughts took over as you started your own quiet reflections and tears streamed down your face...."Mommy, what did you all day without me? Did you wash dishes all day?" I asked you to tell me three things you liked about school today......music class, the playground, and Mommy coming to get you at the end of the day! You reiterated a statement I've heard all week, "I just want you to be in the same classroom with me!"
I know you're making progress........we're making progress! Sometimes what we want more of gets put on hold until we have to take care of what's before us-----the task at hand. We all have to find the balance in our day to work and play.........to make sure that loved ones don't have to wait until the end of the day to see us......to be with us!
Even Daddy had his own agenda today. Piles of work to take care of.........he's often called it 'busy putting fires out all day' and today he was literally covered in smoke burning fields of sunflowers for Dove Season......at least I think that's what he was doing since it's mid-August and preparations must be made......but that was only one of many tasks he had on his mind today. He even had 'complicated' homework to tend to--------that's another season in our lives that's around the corner......
 |
| Daddy's Homework |
I must say that two nights of not setting the table for the three of us to eat dinner together is a little unsettling.......it's a favorite time of mine for our family to come together. Tonight, you were fast asleep before Daddy stepped into the backdoor but the little pitter patter of Kindergarten feet made their way down the hallway and into Daddy's arms about an hour into your slumber..........I'll count that as unexpected joy....a simple gesture of love as Daddy lifted you into his strong arms at the end of his day and carried you back to your bed to finish your dreams. I think it was 'cotton candy' that you were supposed to be dreaming of tonight...our prayer's ending for tonight.
I love you little one!
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