Monday Blessings

With my extremely flexible and varied schedule, I never know what the day may bring. I wake up with some sort of plan in mind. That plan usually involves some kind of cleaning task, organizing assignment, or reading plan... how often do those things happen?--we won't go there. Today's plan involved nothing. Now that I've started my TV fast, I find myself sitting on the couch doing nothing for periods of time. This morning I planned for that to not happen.

It didn't. I awoke to the ring of the telephone. I was asked to babysit my 9-month-old cousin. Of course I agreed, as I had nothing else going on. I've realized more and more how fast children grow and I want to spend as much time with the children in my life at every stage that I can. His mother called me ten minute later to warn me that her 4-year-old was staying home because he found out I was coming and my 9-year-old cousin was going to be at their house as well. These three turned out to be the greatest blessing the day could have provided.

I love childhood. Though I am happy to be an adult, missing college greatly as of late... there's enough there for a few posts, I love to play child's games and with toys and to simply enjoy children. They have nothing to worry about, and for a time I have the opporunity to experience that too. We played pirates, pirate language and sword-fighting included, we even gave the baby a bubble wand to use as a sword. I even enjoy the "again" parts of playing with a 4-year-old when he wanted to slide down his slide on a snow sled into the sandbox over and over. And then later when we finally got the "Mouse Trap" game board set up we made the net drop on to the mice at least 22 times. There is something soothing about repeating these activities and seeing him find joy in them everytime. We played train, making noises while pushing a laundry basket train car around the house full of stuffed animal "customers."

We even played memory. I love that Jake, the 4-year-old, is learning to use reason, logic and memory to play games. His rate of learning and retention is incredible. He got the first match of the game. It was by sheer luck, but it was a triumphant moment. We all give little kids "help" when playing games so they can succeed. Of course we helped him, but he had success in the game all on his own. I find myself trying to imagine what these children will be like as they grow. I can't wait to find out and to know them at each stage in their development.

I wonder often if I have the patience to be a mother. Can I love someone enough? Will I be any good? If what I experience and feel with my cousins is any indication of what motherhood may entail, I certainly hope I get the chance to have that experience.

I don't work tomorrow and therefore have no plan. I wonder what blessings Tuesday will hold.