My Sweet Baby Boy has Turned 5!

Landon turned 5 this month and we had a blast celebrating his special day over and over and over!!! First, we hit Build-a-Bear and the Rainforest Café to celebrate with his bestest buddies!

And then on his actual birthday we brought cupcakes to his pre-school classroom AND had his favorite dinner along with ice cream flurries (with a candle in them of course!) He was so funny about his dinner request…turkey with mashed potatoes and gravy, mac-n-cheese, and strawberries! Quite a combination!

Then on the weekend we had to have the big extended family party as well! That one had a football theme. He loves football (especially the Cardinals…and the Vikings)!

As I sat and thought about how fast the time had gone and how I could hardly believe my baby had already turned 5, my heart was moved and God urged me to see how important the years…the weeks…the days…the moments of my life are with my children! I mean, I know that, but do I REALLY KNOW that?! I try to be present and I try to do what is best, but I know when I take a very honest look at MY life, I can see that sometimes the “trying to do what is best” gets in the way because it makes me over-commit and strangely enough my focus is on my “busyness” as opposed to being on my family! There are so many things to do and so many of them seem like they would be great for the kids, great for me, great for our family….but I have to draw a line in the sand and pick only what we can do without me becoming mentally absent, often distant, and sometimes even cranky!

I am stepping back quite a bit. Sometimes it feels weird and I don’t know what to do with myself in the quiet moments. It feels strange to not always be rushing around! But, I have found so much more time and mental ability to stay totally engaged with both the boys and my husband. I don’t feel myself losing my patience as often and I feel like we have more time to just simply enjoy each other. Will I EVER get caught up on emails, phone calls, and everything else? Probably not…but that’s okay.

I want to be sure to not miss even a moment…not a moment of the good, the bad, and the in-between. I am so blessed to be given the family I had always dreamed of and I don’t want to take a minute for granted. I want to carve the memories into my mind and on my heart so that they can last forever. I want to cherish the incredible gift God has placed before me …the gift of parenting…the gift of caring for His children while they are here on earth!

“LORD, help!” they cried in their trouble,

      and he saved them from their distress.
He calmed the storm to a whisper

      and stilled the waves

What a blessing was that stillness
      as he brought them safely into harbor! –Psalm107:28-30