The Lee Kid Quartet on Easter Sunday 2011.
Last night The Hubby and I sat on our front porch and watched one of mother nature’s furious miracles. In less than five minutes the following happened: the sunny skies turned black, a small breeze picked up stirring the once calm air, a few leaves, branches and dogwood flowers began swirling through the air, the wonderful smell right before it rains filled the air, it began to sprinkle, the wind picked up until it was howling and knocking branches out of our trees, the lightning began to strike and the thunder to boom loudly, and a sheet of rain passed over our house and pounded its marching feet on the ground like a million soldiers. Then the Earth was clean, the pavement was sizzling and all was quiet again. It was amazing to behold.
Sometimes I feel like my life is the same as that storm. It’s really calm and beautiful a lot of the time. But then things start to pick up. We get busy. Our calendar gets really full. We are running from one thing to the next. With the disruption of our usual routine (which faithfully includes family dinner TOGETHER) comes tired children. Their tiredness brings emotional crisis. There is back talking, disrespect and anger that starts to whip around like the wind. Things figuratively fly through the air – contention, insults, threats. Occasionally, and unfortunately more frequently lately, comes the booming thunder of an angry parent’s voice. Usually – at least with the youngers – after all is said and done, comes the rain of tears down freckled cheeks.
So we’re enjoying the calm sunny skies that come before the storm and the clean after the rain right now. Having two kids doing the puberty thing is awesome fun. Having another who’s almost eight {baptism age in our church} means he’s getting all his naughtiness out before the big day. And then there’s the little fellow who’s decided to embrace the almost terrible two’s.
It’s a beautiful, tumultuous storm going on here! But it’s all good. Have I ever mentioned how much I love thunder storms?
7 comments:
You handle it all with such grace!! I was just telling Q the other day, I feel like all we seem to do is be the mediator or ref between my two older kids! There are moments of peace like you mentioned, but most times they are in the midst of the storm. A big test of patience for us!!
I believe in you Sam. I believe you can handle the challenges that life throws at you. I believe you have the patience, the fortitude and the grace to overcome the emotional roller coaster of teenage-dom. And all the other perils that each age brings. Your a great Mom and I know your getting it right.
When sacred schedules are disrupted, storms result and emotions run high. Too true. Unfortunately, we are rarely mere spectators, but we can avoid being the wicked witch on the bicycle. =-)
Onto sunny news: B and H have the same bright yellow Easter sweater. Makes me smile.
Is it bad that it makes me giddy with anticipation that I get to come and play with them? Even though they bicker? You can throw them out the door with me and I'll take them home with me for the weekend. It'll be good fun. And really, they are fiery because they are awesome. They are made of some seriously strong stuff. Who wants milk toast for kids anyway? :-)
Cute Easter smiles! Hope you had a wonderful weekend, storms and all.
Hope that the storms don't last long and that you all can enjoy sunny skies!
Those kiddos clean up nicely.
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