SLOWING DOWN

Often times, in the middle of a challenging day with my kids, 

I wonder what in the world was I thinking having three children. 

Then there are other days, when I wonder what in the world

I would do without them in my life. 

Lately, I've been having more of those days.  

I am one of those task oriented people.  I love to check things off my "To Do List".

The more productive I am, the better I feel about myself.

In the past few months, my outlook has drastically changed. 

Even more so as of last week, when my doctor actually ordered me to SLOW DOWN.

Slowing down is hard for someone like me.

But the more I do it, the more I like it. 

Don't get me wrong now, I'm still checking things off my "To Do List",

but at the end of the day, there are always several things left on there and 

slowly but surely, I'm becoming okay with it.  

It took me a few years to realize how fast time flies. 

Now that I'm am aware of the fleeting moments I have to spend with my children,

I am trying to soak up as much of the good (and bad) as I can. 

Take my daughter, for example, she has the most beautiful hair and always has.

She has been complimented on it her whole life.  

I always wanted to fix and play with it and she would have no part of it. 

Well, since she is a BIG 5th grader now, low and behold, the girl spends 20 minutes

on her hair each morning.  Lately, I've noticed how lovely it looks when she 

comes down in the mornings and I have made sure to tell her so. 

This morning after the kids had left for school, I went upstairs to tidy up.

It looked like a salon exploded in her bathroom. 

My first instinct was to be annoyed that she left a big mess.

However, I ended up chuckling to myself because I realize 

she is growing up and this is going to become an everyday occurrence.

I might as well embrace it.

My middle child just started playing tackle football.  

Yep, he's only eight, but football is a big deal around these parts.

He's still a little guy, but he is playing quarterback.

I always think of him as my tiny, blonde, blue-eyed baby.

Last night, during their second game of the season, I watched

him out on the field, confidently calling out plays in the huddle. 

They haven't won a game yet, but I couldn't be more proud of him.

Again, growing up so fast.    

On Monday, my baby boy got ahold of his big sister's I-pod.  He was sitting at the island scrolling through her pictures. I looked up and he had a few tears running down his face. 

Now, as evidenced by this picture below, he's a pretty tough little five year old.  

Having two older siblings, he acts like he is five going on 13.  

I asked him what was wrong and he said "don't look at me".  

I finally realized he was looking at pictures of her old dog, Charlie. 

I held him in my arms while he cried his sweet little eyes out.  

Even though Charlie passed away in July, he was just now dealing with his feelings of heartache.

It was one of the sweetest and saddest things I have ever seen.

I will never forget it.  

So sorry for all the mushiness, but as I was running errands today, 

these experiences kept creeping into my thoughts and I felt compelled to write about them. 

Oh, and my husband left town with the good camera in his car, so I can't really take pictures 

of any fun projects I'm working on right now.

 This slower pace of life seems to suit me well.

How about you, do you feel like you are going a million miles an hour each day, 

or do you slow it down and enjoy and ride?