I sit here, in the quiet, alone.

J is at school. O is having quiet time. T,S, and C are napping.
So, I sit, and I type and I pray.

These days are very full. Full and busy and I am often overwelmed. Overwhelmed and wearied by the responsibilities I face.

This is why I sit, and I type and I pray.

I pray for endurance and strength to make it through these tiring days where the work feels like it relentlessly follows me, weekdays and weekends alike.

I pray for rest. For the ability to find the moments required for much needed rejuvination.

I pray for a gracious and merciful attitude toward my loved ones.

I pray for quietness for my heart.

Most of all, I pray for perspective.

Perspective to remember that this is only a season. A blessed season that I will miss and when my babies are grown. I will miss it when when they can take care of themselves and they no longer need me in these same ways.
I will miss it when the work changes course and becomes more about shaping character than wiping bottoms. When they do not call for me during the night, when they do not run to me crying with their owies. When they have lives of their own, with activities planned and time out with friends. When they are too busy for construction paper cards expressing their love for me and crayons no longer litter the floor of their bedrooms, where their masterpieces are made.
I will miss these days when the laundry I fold become adult-sized clothing rather than small little pants and shirts and underwear with Scooby-Do on them.
I will miss the pitter patter of those little feet that I remind again and again not to run through the house.
I will miss the days of little ones sitting in my lap to read Bambi before bed.
I will miss it when they no longer smell like baby shampoo, and wear their footsie pj's after a bath.
When the sippy cups are gone and they go the the refrigerator themselves and pour their own milk in big cups, and I see their faces and remember that they used to be little ones, I will miss this stage of life and I will think back and remember my children when they were young, and I will thank God that He gave me perspective to remember to savor these long, long days that will turn into short, short years.