Today was a day that took me back in time!  Last night I had this day all figured out (I should no better than that!).  The night ended up being a long night with the tiny one.  My husband was home and turned the fan on high so I could sleep while the baby slept this morning.  When I awoke I learned of the plans for the day and they were not at all like the plans I had made out J.  The children eagerly informed me that they were going to be going with their daddy to an auction.  Their eyes were wide with delight at such an adventure so I made up my mind my plans could still be carried out on my own.  Around 10:30am my husband left with our five oldest children, leaving me with the 1 year old and 6 week old.  I needed to run some errands in town and so I proceeded to get ready to go about my day.  I wasn’t able to do so very quickly, though, as the 1 year old hugged my leg and the baby fussed, wondering where his fan club had suddenly gone!  Eventually, I DID get out the door and made my way to town with the two of them secured in their car seats.  After running my errands I decided to swing by the auction to give my husband the cell phone.  I wondered if the children might like to come home with me…my 2 year old was the only taker.  SO, I headed the rest of the way home now with a 2 year old, a 1 year old and a 6 week old J.  When I got home I settled the toddlers in at the table for their lunch and then nursed the baby.  When he was done nursing and they were finished up eating, I prepared them all for naps.  By the time I got them all settled in for naptime I was spent and laid down for a nap myself!  As I laid there I remembered a time only THREE years ago when I was the mother of just 3 small children.  At that time, I don’t think I really realized how much work I was doing each and every day.  I think when a young mama is in that stage of life, she just pushes through it and it never crosses her mind that someday it really will be different.  Someday these little people will become school age children that will be a HUGE asset in the home and it’s management.  The physical work of caring for the things of the home will become easier and easier and caring for little bitty ones becomes more and more fun.  I missed my older children so much today…not only their physical help of assisting with meals, house clean up, baby loving and such, but I missed their companionship.  I LOVE having these precious people in my home to visit with!  Yes, today I went back in time in my life…and I did find myself greatly missing those moments, that phase of life.  It is gone and I can never REALLY go back there again.  I find myself cherishing the memory, though, because now I know as I look back, that it was truly the Lord’s strength that carried me through each day.  He is faithful to His promise, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!”.  He was my strength then.  He is my strength now.