While Daddy's Away...

While Daddy's Away...
The kiddies will play.
And mama will, too.
He won't have a clue
the fun that they've had
while missing their dad.

They will rush through their school,
then do something "cool"
like books and play dough,
table games, tic tac toe.
There will be ice cream and sweets,
tasty treats can't be beat.

All these distractions will work for a while
but then it will turn into a fading smile
Extra hugs and kisses from mama just can't compare,
with having their sweet daddy there.

So at the end of a tiring, fun, and busy day
their thoughts turn to daddy and they wish they could say:
"I love you bunches!" to this wonderful man
a father who is dearly missed by his little clan.

Corny?...oh yes! But all true.
Daddy's away this week doing the work that the Lord has given him. Preaching a week of camp to 12-14 year olds in Buenos Aires. 600 miles away. A long overnight bus trip away.

Things just don't feel quite right when daddy's not home. Everything seems just a bit off-kilter somehow. I guess it's a good reminder of how much we take for granted. Of how often I take him for granted. His calming presence. Makes me feel safe. Makes me feel loved. Makes me feel content and at peace. Someone to share life's burdens and joys. I realize that ultimately all of those things come from my Lord. But they come from my hubby, too. Most definitely. I think that's partly why God has given him to me. To show me how all those things feel in a very real and present way. How I need to cherish the time we have together! How I need to remember that it's the "little things" in our life and marriage that really count. How I need to love and submit to him and show it.

God has given me a precious gift. A Godly and loving husband who is about His Father's business. A wonderful, hardworking man. A kind and caring father to our children.

I am truly blessed to call him mine.

Itchy Fingers

My fingers have that feeling again...my fellow bloggers know the feeling, right?! That itchy, tingly sensation that screams at you to just get a few words out via your fingertips. That need to rest them on the plastic keys and hear the soft and steady clicking as you let the words flow and the story be told. I get that feeling often. Unfortunately, I haven't seemed to quite figure out how to make that more than a feeling and turn it into a reality. You know how it goes, don't you?! Days steadily come and go, another morning to drag myself away from the soft sheets and hit the ground running with all the norms of motherhood. First there are bodies to clothe, mouths to feed, hairs to arrange, laundry to wash, dry, fold, sort, and put away, the overflowing sink full of dirty dishes, soon to be followed up with another meal preparation and, you know what that brings, more dishes and clean up. Crumby floors, scattered toys, books strewn from here to there and back again. Dirty diapers, runny noses, tears and screeches, laughter, tickles, and squeals of delight. Shouts of gladness, yelps of pain. General chaos with a few precious moments of peace sprinkled in, just to help me remember what sanity feels like.

Yep, that crazy mixed up life of a mom of littles. And it's the best thing in the world.

So, until I actually figure out what life looks like from the other side of the eight ball, let me just say that I do think of you as I go along my busy day. I do wonder how you are doing and wish that I had time to sit down with you for a good catchin' up chat. Wonder how you are coping with the mayhem that is your life. How the struggles are piling up. How the victories are won. What life is like on your side of the world.

And I bid you a most belated, Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and just so I can be ahead in something, Happy Valentine's Day, too!  I love you, sweet friend, dear family member, wonderful missionary lady, or blog acquaintance. And as I pause in my day, and you pass through my thoughts, I pray for God's blessings to be upon you. That He will supply that need, protect you and your family, give wisdom in the decisions that come your way, guide your path around the unseen bend or the upcoming fork in the road, and most of all show you His love and loan you His strength to help you through each day.