moments

Some days you want to pull all of your hair out, are tempted to say bad words, or take a flying leap off the back deck....

And then there are other days, when your heart is brimming with thankfulness for this beautiful family you have been blessed with. It comes in small, regular moments, like when you are watching a movie as a family and you have this huge couch that everyone could have their own space in, but you are all snuggled up together. Hubby by your side and two sweet girls in each arm.

Or when those two sweet girls are playing so well together. When the little one comes out dressed for church and the big one tells her how pretty she looks. Or when the big one is crying and upset and the little one tries to comfort her by telling her that everything will be ok.

It's moments when your almost 7 year old volunteers, I mean really volunteers, out of nowhere to empty the dishwasher...the best that she can, and you understand that she has a good heart and is probably going to turn out ok.

When you decide, "dangit! we WILL do this Family Home Evening thing!" and after a few weeks of consistency, your kids start asking what FHE is going to be, (even if their biggest interest might be the treat).

You just realize that doing all the "right" things that we have been taught to do is WORTH IT!! Because it really does bring your family closer together.

There have been moments when I doubted marriage and wondered what the heck I had gotten into and if this was really going to work out. But after almost nine years, I am able to see that this has been an amazing journey so far. One with a lot of ups and downs, but today I really see that I have what I always wanted...or what I always thought I wanted. I just didn't always know it before.

We have come a long way! Building a family takes a lot of work and even more faith. And I am certainly glad God is patient with us as we are learning how to do it.