Happy Mother's Day!

I was stopped the other day on my way into the store by a high school girl. She was conducting a parenting survey and wanted to know if I was a parent. She's asking me that as I'm pulling a child out of the monster van we call Moby. Seemed obvious to me. After many intrusive questions (that I answered because she promised us chips and a soda), she asked some parenting questions. One of them sort of baffled me: What do you most like about being a parent?

I couldn't answer. As cheesy as it sounds, I couldn't narrow it down. So I gave her an incredibly lame answer, after doing my famous "uhhhh" for a full 5 seconds. I said, "Oh, lots of things." Then I watched her write that down and thought about how stupid it sounded. It bugged me. Really bugged me. So, today, while feeding Jo, I had a smidge of time to think about a few of the things I love about parenting. Since it's Mother's Day it seems appropriate to share them with you. I know that many of you are wanting deep, introspective things to be posted, but I don't have the fortitude or time for it now. I promise--coming soon! As a tide-me-over, check out the picture of the kids. I lined them up in order (excluding Josiah, since he's obviously not older than Everett) so you could see how Fetya actually is 3 year old size. Planning to just keep her birthday as given--she will be 4 in July.

Josiah (7 months), Everett (7 years), Ella (6 years), Elijah (5 years), Fetya (3 years)

And now for my top 5 "I'm lovin' parenting when..."

1-I can sit and watch my kids play and love on each other. My heart is full to bursting when I watch them enjoy each other. Not to say that I don't get my fair share of playing WITH them, but that is a wee bit different.

2-I catch (on the sly) one of my children making the right decision when the wrong one is soooo enticing. I usually have to fess up on seeing them and I always say, "You bless my heart!" Eli sometimes comes up to me and asks me, "Did I bless your heart then?" Love it!

3-A lightbulb goes off for one of them and they finally 'get' something that they have been struggling with. Learning is really cool; especially when you watch it happen for someone else. I'm a total nerd, I know.

4-I see how much my kids adore Seth. And I see how much he adores them. Don't be misguided and think our house is all just giggles and kisses. We have our fair share of grabbing and smacking, too.

5-Bedtime. I LOVE spending time with each of my children. I honestly enjoy them. Really, I feel like I need to convince everyone of that. I'm not at home because I'm being punished. I like these little people! But, they wear me out. Now that there are 5 of them, they really wear me out. That said, there is immense satisfaction in knowing that each one of the kids is happily tucked into bed. Then I sit and catch up with Seth and peek in on them so cute and cuddly in their jammies. Love it!

Okay, I have to add a number 6. I really love to hear my kids pray. We pray at mealtime as a family. We also pray before bed. We listen to each one of them pray and I'm always astounded at what they have going on in their minds. Fetya caught onto our prayer time already (they pray before each meal at Kids Care) and the past few nights she has repeated everything I've said as I'm praying (lots of 'Thank you for...'). Which works. Tonight was better though--she prayed in Amharic by herself after I prayed. I caught some "Mommy, Daddy, Jojo" in there. I didn't understand anything else she said, but I was in awe of this little girl who can adapt so well, so quickly. Here she is talking to God about her family. I love listening to each of my children as they lift each other up to God.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Mother's Day! I will work on posting about Fetya's health and the recent not-so-many answers we've gotten regarding that.