The Toy Box Years: Children Are A Gift From The Lord

The Creators of the Toy Box Years

The creators of the Toy Box Years are my two beautiful daughters and wonderful, handsome soldier husband.

"Nani" (our oldest) is a 11 year old 6th grader who loves Taylor Swift, ballet, books, fashion designing and sewing. Ask her what she wants to be when she grows up and it changes daily to anything from "an artist" to "a teacher" to "a singer/dancer". Nani is also currently fighting a battle against brain cancer -- recently diagnosed in June 2016.

"Nudgie" (our youngest) is a very smiley, very happy, very giggly, very spirited 8 year old 3rd Grader who's favorite toys are anything that gives mommy an anxiety attack - ladders, stepstools, the climbing wall at the playground. Like her sister, she has a love of reading and coloring, loves gymnastics and still provides mommy lots of snuggle time!

"My Marine" is my high school sweetheart. We've been married over 20 years and met when we were 17. (You do the math....) His favorite toys are Blackhawk helicopters, the lawnmower, our steam cleaner, and microbrew beer bottles. My husband is also my hero in that he proudly serves his country as a Blackhawk crew chief (hence his favorite toy!). And need I say that there is nothing hotter than my man in uniform!

All About Me......

Once upon a time I had a career and worked in the corporate world. Once upon a time, I dreamed about leaving that all behind to follow my true calling -- being a wife and mommy.

The first part of my calling was fulfilled in 1995 when I married my Marine (now soldier) and my love. Little did I know that being a military wife would change me in so many ways and that because of that, I would have an extended family all over the world from Japan, to California, to North Carolina.

The second part of my calling took a little doing, but I finally achieved that dream in 2004 with the birth of our first child, followed 4 years later by her baby sister.

So now, when someone asks me what I do for a living - I simply smile and say proudly that I'm following my calling - I'm a mommy and a wife -- and I couldn't be HAPPIER -- I'm living in the Toy Box Years!!

Lately, I've been impatient with my kids. Hearing them, but not really listening them. Seeing them, but not really seeing them. My words of late have been, "clean your room", "not now, maybe tomorrow", "mommy's busy right now"

Looking back and reflecting on that after reading that verse this morning made me so sad. I don't have many tomorrows left. Danjela is 5 -- she'll be 6 in December. How many more days do I have left where she'll want to color with me or play dolls with me or play a game with me? Nadija is a walking, talking cyclone. How many more days do I have left where she will want me to hold her and rock her?

I love my girls with all my heart and soul. But sometimes, I feel that being a mom gets in the way of being a mom - if that makes sense. I get so wrapped up in laundry, cleaning, cooking that I forget to take the time to read, color, play.

So for today, I will look upon my girls as the gift from God that they truly are. I will take the extra minute to sit and read or color or play a game. The laundry can wait -- but my time with my girls can't.

12 comments:

Missy | Literal Mom April 11, 2010 at 5:21 AM: Awesome post - and very good timing for me, as well! Thanks for sharing.
Jackie April 11, 2010 at 9:02 AM: Great post! I am very impatient with my son too. Yesterday I didn't even want to take him bike riding because I had tons to do at home. I ended up being glad I did because I was able to talk to him on the long ride (and really listen), and then we went to the park and he had a blast. That made my day even better! And, I got everything done after he went to bed anyway.
Thank you for sharing this verse.
Carly April 11, 2010 at 9:36 AM: I think you say it best being a mom get s inthe way of being a mom. Wondeful post.
Buckeroomama April 11, 2010 at 9:38 AM: Great post. Yes, sometimes being a mom does get in the way of being Mommy --the kind that my kids really need.
One Photo April 11, 2010 at 1:24 PM: Great post and you are so right, all those must do Mommy tasks get in the way all too often of what is really important. It is hard to stop yourself sometimes but so important to step on the brakes and just enjoy the here and now. It will over with so quickly.
Stephanie April 11, 2010 at 1:30 PM: HI There. Just came ovefr from MBC and entered one of your fab book giveaways! Hope you have a second to pop over to my blog.

I totally get what you mean when you say being a Mom gets in the way of being a Mom. It's so hard not to get cuaght up in all the things I have to do, I must remember my twlo little girls don't really care if the floor is a bit sticky or the counter is a mess! lol

Nice to meet you.
Angela April 11, 2010 at 1:45 PM: Sometimes I feel like I go in "self-preservation" mode, where I'm not really hearing them or seeing them, but I'm still physically present. Yep, not good enough! Good read!
Helene April 11, 2010 at 5:04 PM: This is a very wisely written post...and as always, very well timed!
Carrie April 11, 2010 at 8:20 PM: God must be speaking to us moms today! I am going to link to you post from mine, okay? Hope you had a great day with your kids!
Vanessa April 11, 2010 at 9:53 PM: Beautiful post! This has been on my heart lately, and I've really tried to play with my girls more! You are so right, the time will come when they'll be off doing their own things, and I don't want to miss my chance to have quality moments with them!
Marci Goodwin April 11, 2010 at 10:41 PM: Love this post! That has so been my heart lately. I need to see my children as the gifts they are and realize this season passes too quickly. My children are 9 and 5 and I want them to stay little, but they keep growing! I need to pay attention and be present.
Erin @ Closing Time April 12, 2010 at 9:33 AM: These days when they are little fly by so quickly! I need to stop and enjoy them, too!