the every-day moments we aren’t prepared for

i love being a wife!

i love being a mom!

and, despite all the trials and hardships I have endured, I am really thankful for the life I’m in. i’m thankful for my #1 – my awesome husband – to share it with. i am thankful for my children and for my family and friends. i really do just love my life. I’m thankful for the many blessings bestowed upon not only me, but also my family.

i am thankful.

twenty-three years ago I became a mom to the most beautiful little person in the world – my son. He was the beginning of who I truly am. since then, I’ve welcomed four more boys and four girls into my life, in that order.

a lot of firsts.
a lot of trial and error over the years.
a lot of failures and WINS!
a lot of laughter and tears.
a lot of fussing, guiding, and threatening to pull my own hair out.
a lot of snuggles and hugs and kisses.
a lot of temper tantrums, eye rolls, gritting of the teeth, stomps across the floor, and my favorite (not!) yells and/or screeches between children.
and let us not forget – the slamming of doors.

yep, you get it. if you’re a parent then you get it. some homes have much more of this than others and if you’re home doesn’t have it at all then consider yourself lucky!

anywho, raising nine children and burying one really puts perspective on life.

last week, my husband and I saw our youngest child, my little baby, off to kindergarten. When I dropped her off at school on the second day, she said ‘okay mommy, you just open the door for me and then you leave.’

geez, demanding much?

i kind of smiled and giggled as she made her way through the door and took off down the hallway to her classroom.

it didn’t hit me until later….my last child, my baby, my little snuggler is off to school. through the day, as i periodically checked FB, images of her as a baby popped up on my screen. *tears* no more babies at home all day.

so that’s that, but that’s not all.

in the midst of all the first day of school chaos and getting into the school year routine, I have a new first on my list. changes i am not ready for are occurring and i want to cry! if i’m being honest, i did cry. twenty-three years of parenting, eleven of those years were boys only. i ended with four girls.

everything changes with girls! people used to tell me boys were easier. uh-uh, i said, no way. boys are stinky and loud and rough. girls are softer, not so loud and not as stinky.

i was wrong.

parenting girls, it seems, may be a little harder after all.

i am certain my house is about to get even more chaotic. yall please pray for this momma.

Find your reason to smile & keep smiling
~ Shannon ~