I'l confess that today was a bit more of a blur of activity than I like to have on a Sunday. Tim stayed home from church today to give Caleb another week's break from nursery germs as he is just now getting over the last cold. (Sidebar - that rockstar husband of mine has been working SO hard on finishing the mantel today and painting the french doors all day today. Love him). Because Tim stayed home, I covered for his turn in Children's Worship - in addition to my regular Sunday School gig - so I had 3+ hours of 4-6 year old duty ... it was a little tiring, especially after staying up so late last night painting and putting our house together.
We were home for long enough to eat lunch, clean up again, and rest for about 20 minutes before I had to take Jared to a class birthday party.
After that it was home again for long enough to help Tim clean up from his belt sanding project and then we were off again to Aunt Cathy's & Uncle Jim's for Family Dinner.
Oh how I love Family Dinner with the Mahoney's ... my boys do too. Jared was sure to bring his football because he knew that, "Uncle Jim would want to play football with me."
Dinner was delicious ...
Dessert was yummy ... (heart shaped brownies with strawberries and fresh whipped cream)
And... messy.
Can you tell Caleb liked it?
It was a sweet night to see my Aunts and Uncles and some of our other family. And ... get my butt kicked in dice.
Oh how I love my Aunt Cathy and Uncle Jim. Being in their home makes me want to be a better person. They are so very thoughtful and always reaching out to others in need. Case in point, tonight when we arrived we met a sweet girl who is a sophomore at Grand Canyon, playing basketball. Aunt Cathy used to work with her dad before he passed away 3 years ago. Aunt Cathy was thinking about her googled her. Upon realizing that she was so close and that the rest of this girl's family was in Texas, Aunt Cathy has been attending her basketball games and having her over to their home. Who does that?
Delicious dinners, beautiful home, thoughtful service, games, special holiday celebrations and gifts ... what's not to love? To know their story is to know that they've truly been through the fire and been refined in a way that has made them better and not bitter.
Who is it for you that makes you want to be a better person? Who is it that encourages you? Reassures you are doing a great job at parenting or whatever it is that you are doing that is so important? (especially when this parenting thing gets to be so very hard and you're just not sure you really are?)
Aunt Cathy is definitely that person for me. She cares about my silly house projects and weighs in with her awesome taste. She and Uncle Jim are always so sweet and welcoming. They're such good role models for us for putting a priority on family and making everyone around them feel valuable...
While in this season for me with small kids it can be easy to fall into more of the receiving end than giving with others outside my immediate family because it seems that all I do - All. Day. Long. - is give and give and give to these precious, but demanding, and very needy little people. I know that its right for this season, but I also pray I would have my eyes open to opportunities to give outside my immediate sphere and to help be that person to others when they need it. AND - I am always praying and trying to BURN into my memory how much it really means to have others give to me in this intense season of the little years so that when things slow down and they are all grown up I could be an encouragement other moms and young families with the encouragement that I, myself, have received ...
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