For those of you who have all young children and have not yet reached the stage where you look back wistfully on those (very trying and exhausting) young years, here's what I was thinking of this morning with my 4yo (and remembering this age with my 25, 20 and 18yo's).

There is no opera or classical composition or popular song in the world that is as priceless as the humming and nonsensical singing of a preschooler at play.  There is no Picasso or Monet or DaVinci as valuable as the first finger-painting of a toddler who brings it to you with beaming face and says "This is for you, Mommy".  There are no prize-winning roses as beautiful as those dandelions from the yard lovingly brought to you with a big hug and "I wuv you Mommy".    There is no world class spa that can ease your burdens and give you cheer like an unexpected hug and kiss when the world (and the laundry and the house cleaning and..) seems to be weighing you down.  There is no heart surgery done in the most famous hospital in the world that will cleanse your heart as much as a child's earnest prayer.  There is no greater joy on earth than when your child snuggles up beside you, looks seekingly into your face and with tears in their eyes says "Tell me about Jesus, Mommy".  No job, no money, no cars or house or earthly possessions of a queen or oil baron can buy things as precious as these.  These are eternal gifts.  These are the wages paid to a mother by a loving God who blessed her with children. 

May you have a day where your children are your delight.

-F

So here we are facing a new year and we seem to be facing new challenges each day.  Isn't it great to know we serve a God who already knew about all of the challanges before we did and will be with us each step?!  Wow - HE's so beyond our comprehension.  Our health challenges are dh's diabetes and continuing to try to get that and its affects under control (he is having issues with meds and we would love to get him off all of them by natural means instead), and now I have kidney stones (spent 3 days before Christmas in the ER then at home trying to pass one).  1s25 is doing well in grad school, just praying he will find a church home soon, will be retunring today from 2.5 weeks out West (we will post pics later!).  2s20 decided to come out of the military life and will be living with 1s25 and taking classes toward his Physics degree at a local university.  We're glad to have him close by and adjusting to not having our family's schedule around the military one!  In the next 2 weeks we will be helping him with furniture and setting up with brother.  3d18 is overseas right now for 3 weeks with relatives and is not going to take any college classes this spring (the ones she wanted were full) so will just finish her regular senior high school classes here at home and she'll work part time (we still haven't finished all her college apps - arrgg!!).  I am in that "senior panic" mode - you know, if you've had one - "what if I don't teach her about [fill in blank] now, will she ever learn it".  In the meantime, we can't wait to see what the Lord will do with her trip!!  4d8 is loving the idea of being 8 and I really need to spend more time with her - she is just so cooperative and such a great independent learner that sometimes I give in to the "squeaky wheels" around me and she doesn't get the time/attention she deserves.  5s4 seems to fight everything I try to instill re: routine, order, discipline, etc. and reminds me several times a day that in God's sight I act like a 4yo (rebellious, grumbling, selfish, etc.).   We have so very many, many things to be thankful for at this new year.  It sounds trivial but of course the first and foremost is for the gospel and the opportunity we have had to hear it and respond to it.  What else matters eternally besides that?  May this new year be one in which a phenominal number of people hear and accept the truth of Christ's love and the new LIFE offered to them.  Have a wonderful New Year and may you know the joy of a New Life!