Blue Sand

I woke this morning with a to do list that felt like a mile long. I have spent so much time at the school since the beginning of the year (for reasons that I am not allowed to mention because in case you haven't heard, it's no D day) that my poor house has been a little neglected. The sun was in rare form for a northwest fall day. As I was picking up toys, I passed by the back slider door and caught a glimpse of the sand table in the back yard. I felt an urge to go put my hands in the soft blue sand that it contained. "Maybe later...David would love to play in the sand after I get a few more things done", I thought to myself. I went upstairs and the laundry pile was overwhelming. I took a load downstairs and started the washer. As I turned to go get the cleaning supplies to begin cleaning the bathroom, I could see the sand table through the window with golden rays of sun dancing around it but, as I looked away there was Mt. Washmore taunting me. I took a deep breath, "I have GOT to get this stuff done" I sighed to myself. After a few more minutes of cleaning I could feel the beautiful blue sand beckoning me to come and play. I didn't waste another minute, I scooped up my son and took him outside to play in the blue sand.

The bulldozers brought in the building material and the gallant castles were constructed. The dinosaurs tromped through the forest, finally destroying the castles with the help of the giant (aka 19 month old toddler that loves to knock down towers and destroy castles built of sand). I didn't even think about the house work the whole time we played. Yes Mt. Washmore is still intact (getting smaller though). I was too caught up in the moment to take any photos. The photo at the top is from a different day when we first got the blue sand.

**revision** I wrote and posted this late last night and as I reread through it this morning, noticed that in my efforts to be poetic, I may have missed the point as I failed to articulate the sweet little toddler who was following me around while I did my chores saying "Play Mama?" It was for him that I went out to the sand not my own selfish desires to put off housework and kick back to play. My point was supposed to be to seize the moment and play with your kids. Yes the housework will always be there but the kids are growing faster than we realize in the daily mundane of life. Life is a delicate balance as we don't want to live in filth and teach our kids that housework is never important but in our hurry up and go life we don't want to miss what is most important in this world. I think too often we don't take time to really see our kids or seize the moments as they grow. **

This day reminded me of a poem that I received about 10 years ago. I was a young mom and loved my kids, but didn't really know how to cherish them. I was caught up in all that needed to be done to be a good mom. A friend had just gotten the horrific news, that the baby she had been carrying for 20 weeks had a birth defect that made it incompatible with life outside of the womb. (The official diagnosis was anencephaly) I learned in that season how to cherish my own children, as my friend went through the unthinkable. She chose not to take the baby's life prematurely and left the timing up to God. Her little girl was born in the middle of the night in mid July and lived for about 45 minutes. After her passing, my friend needed to share her baby. I was one of the privileged few that got to go and see this sweet little bundle. After I spent time with my friend and her baby (who was deceased), I went home and read the poem that was on my fridge and in those moments was changed. The roll of mom was no longer a burden and the stuff that went along with it no longer mattered. What mattered most to me was the (at the time) two precious lives that God had blessed me with (now I have four). I held my children a little tighter that day and have ever since.

Just For This Day... (author unknown)

Just for this morning, I am going to smile when I see your face and laugh when I feel like crying...
Just for this morning, I will let you wake up softly, all rumpled in your sheets and I will hold you until you are ready for the day...
Just for this morning, I will let you chose what you want to wear and I will smile and say how perfect it is...
Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry and pick you up and take you to the park to play...
Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink and let you teach me how to put those Legos of yours together...

Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the computer off and sit with you in the backyard and blow bubbles...
Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once not even an tiny grumble when you scream fro the ice cream truck and I will buy you one, if he comes by...
Just for this afternoon, I won't worry about what you are going to be when you grow up or second guess every decision I have made where you are concerned...
Just for this afternoon I will let you help me bake cookies and I won't stand over you trying to fix them...
Just for this afternoon, I will take you to McDonalds and buy us both a Happy Meal so you can have both toys...

Just for this evening , I will hold you in my arms and tell you a story about how you were born and how much I love you...
Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the tub and not get angry...
Just for this evening, I will let you stay up later while we sit on the porch and count all the stars...
Just for this evening, I will snuggle beside you for hours and miss all my favorite tv shows...

Just for this Day , when I run my fingers through your hair, as you pray, I will simply be grateful that God has given me the greatest gift ever given ...

Just for this day and every day there after, I will thank God for you and ask Him for nothing except.... One more day