with these hands: Bits: Sweet Spots

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Bits: Sweet Spots

This is quite possibly one of the greatest surprises of motherhood.

These sweet spots.

After mornings of spilled cheerios and incessant squabbles, my grumpiness growing-- it seems-- by the moment. After afternoons of chasing littles and their scooters up and down sidewalks, scraped knees abundant, my half contemplating putting them to bed at 3 pm. After the worn edges of evening, waiting on Daddy who's working late, and their picking at dinner like a blown out of proportion dagger to my heart.

After these things, come sweet spots.

Instant renewal found by the slip of a final chubby hand in mine, her two sisters having already stretched their fingers into the slender form of little girls. A shared book, everyone scrambling for my lap or the crook of my arm, and all of us lost in some other world for a good half hour or more. The shouting of, "It's Surprise Day!" {Code for, "I don't have a clue where we're going.") Meandering all over town, shouts from the backseat guessing our every destination. Shared Chicken Minis, hashbrowns, melon for breakfast. A trip to the Children's Museum on our annual membership and smoothies to refuel us. Last stop: The fun used bookstore up the road where we score practically the whole Laura Ingalls' collection for $12.50.

The sweet murmurings and happy contentment found in lovely surprises and the beautiful mundane, all of us often gathered around the worn wood dining room table sharing life every single day. All of us spread between two bunks and a daybed whispering prayers, Alysse curled up next to me. Daddy taking turns rubbing Hope's feet, then Maddie's back. The quiet that follows in the house that has been bursting with life and energy the whole live long day.

I am grateful for the sometimes struggle because it turns up the volume on sweet. And, I find, the more I get in tune with sweetness of this time together the less often we struggle. There is something so powerful in looking for good, even when it's hard.

So thankful for the spots Fall, in particular, offers us.

It really is something pretty special.
***

::"What does Alysse do when you homeschool?" I've been asked this a time or seven. She joins in, sometimes when I don't even realize it, evidenced by the fact that she told her Sunday School teacher that there were cumulus clouds in the sky last Sunday. Or that she told me her lunch was in her digestive system the other day. But often, she just slips off and I find her mulling over her collection of treasures-- leaves, rocks, flowers, and grasses. Sometimes I find her a little something like this.

Occassionally she also gives her five year-old sister a hair ~~massacre~~ cut. Oy. At least I can boast that I offer career training around here.

::I love when communities come together. We were very intentional about our neighborhood, wanting the chance to impact and be impacted. So when a church up the street opened its doors for a neighborhood fall festival, filled with so many different kinds of people each with their own stories-- we feel privileged to be there.

Mary Poppins even carried her umbrella high above her head the whole way, much to the delight of passersby.

:: One day I will be so sad when I do not find Noah's wife in my silverware drawer or a cowboy doll in my make up bag.

:: Halloween. I am not even trying to be politically correct anymore. I love this holiday. We aren't into scary, never have been. But what a sweet spot for building community, doors flung open wide. Introductions to neighbors we might not otherwise meet. Giggles and pretend, chili cook-offs at church and silly photo booths and bounce houses and face painting. Such a good, good day.

:: Watching our TN Volunteers lose again? Not so lovely. Save the snacks and being able to stream it live off Joe's computer (plus the girls' hollering, "Come on TN!!")-- football season being the only real time we wish we had cable.