I finally have time to write again!

A couple of days ago I was walking out of Costco with an overflowing cart, including my two little boys crammed into the seats of the cart (yes, Costco carts have room for two kids in the front seat, genius).  We passed a woman in the parking lot who had a little girl with her who was probably about ten.  The woman aww'd at my boys and as we walked past she nostalgically said, "I miss those days, but at the same time, I don't,".  I smiled and laughed because although I am on the opposite side of her statement I knew exactly what she meant.

My boys are now three and a half and one.  Baby P is literally stumbling his way into toddler-hood with amazing speed.  At the same time, I feel like Little B is on a precipice, anticipating all the growth and changes that will come when he starts preschool in the fall, and on some level I think he knows big change is coming too.  They are both becoming capable of doing so many things, yet at the same time my heart panics anytime we are near water because there is so much they are still not capable of.  Our days are filled with joy filled beautiful moments and deep sigh inducing frustrations, continually admonishing Little B not to knock his brother down from behind, or into hard objects, while simultaneously making room and time to read as Baby P picks up books from the book shelf, stumbles with them into our laps and settles in to be read to.  I spend my days making three different meals for every meal (one for Hubby T and me, a gluten-free meal for Little B and a meal that can be eaten with only two teeth for Baby P), trying to keep an energetic bursting with life three year old happy and occupied now that Little D isn't around to play with (at least on a regular basis), counting the minutes until it's time to put Baby P down for a nap so that I can have a little bit of a break, and then counting the minutes again until it's time for him to wake up so I can see his beautiful smile (who needs a break from this anyway?)

 My second semester of school was much harder but still incredibly rewarding.  I'm impatient to learn more but equally grateful for the break.  I'm impatient to put all I'm learning into practice but equally grateful that I don't hold all that responsibility yet.  I'm searching for new food inspiration (somehow almost all the food blogs I follow have dried up, any suggestions?) while enjoying some summer favorites (we had Greek Panzanella tonight, awesomely amazing every time).  I'm wrestling with all the clothes in my closet that no longer fit my post baby body and still struggling, a year later, to accept how I've changed.  I'm trying to reach out to mom friends who I've met in past months to build new relationships, to be a blessing to them, and to find new friends for my kids (we may actually have a birthday party with friends for Little B next year!)  I'm staying up later each night with Hubby T (working our way through Season 6 of Mad Men) and "sleeping in" until six am when Baby P wakes up, but somehow partly wishing I still had that 5:30 alarm so that I would have time to do my bible study and quiet time before the boys wake up.  I am anticipating Vacation Bible School at church, a weekend trip to the beach with college friends, and a week out of town to visit family later this summer.  My cup truly, in any and all ways you want to interpret it, runneth over. 

All this to say, while it may be summer and Hubby T may be home from work more and the heat and humidity may make me feel a bit sluggish, life is moving onward.  And we're moving along with it with a mindful appreciation for all we have, hope for all that is to come, and faith that God will meet us there.

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock..." Matthew 7: 24-25