15 minutes

In 5 days Hannah, our oldest daughter will be turning 14.  As I reflect on the past 14 years I realize I have not cherished every minute with these 3 precious gifts God has given me.  So many days our feet hit the ground running...Getting out the door for school on time (of course we are always running a few minutes later than planned), after school the hustle and bustle continues.  Get to the store grab a snack and  finish any homework that needs to be done from the day, change into practice clothes...Hannah you're practicing in Bolivar tonight, Allee you're in Springfield tonight, Emma your practice begins in 30 minutes.  By the time everyone gets to the house at the end of the day it's 8 PM or later on most nights.  Then on top of all the running... I let myself get caught up in so many things that really aren't going to make a difference in the future.  I stress and worry about so many trivial things that I think people care about.  How clean my house is...the piles of dirty laundry that seem to overflow our laundry room ALL the time...trying to keep my van clean...dinner for 5...paying bills...plus trying to run a business....these are just a few of the things that I let myself get weighted down with!  And standing in front of me this whole time...3 beautiful young faces!  I try so hard to take 15 minutes with each one of them as I tuck them in at night.  Just 15 minutes to talk about their day...what happened at school...read a story or a bible devotion to them.  15 minutes is all I give them some days.  WOW...and then on some nights I cut them short of that 15 minutes....because the laundry is beeping, the dishes need to be done, or "Girls we are getting you in bed late tonight, so you need to get to sleep for school tomorrow."

So to all my friends with young children, cherish, CHERISH every little minute!  Those days that seem to be dragging on forever because you didn't get much sleep last night because of crying babies or those days that you just want a little time out for yourself because your toddler just dumped their plate of food on the floor for the 5th time...Take that nap and snuggle those babies, play with your sweet little gifts!  Because you too will soon be looking at this little 15 minutes with your kiddos in the face before you know it!

Our Hannah should still be that sweet little toddler with the strawberry curls...saying things like "Be careful with Hannah"...or calling Aunt Sarah's car..."the stinky car."  Don't get me wrong...I love this stage of life we are in...But MAN do I miss the stage of life when I could do crafts, take naps, or bake cookies with my little girls because we didn't have a laundry list of things to get done!

ENJOY life's LITTLE moments!!!