Our first day of Winter was spent almost entirely outdoors...we are having nearly 60 degree weather here, so we played, sang, told our story, and crafted all outdoors today. It was fantastic.
I awoke from a strange dream this morning to find the sunlight pouring through our bedroom windows...
Sunlight was everywhere...
This was most welcome and celebrated, as yesterday seemed so dark in many ways...
The children were all incredibly cranky, especially my W. Cooperative play just wasn't happening, no one cared for our lunch, rest time was not as peaceful as usual, and my mood dropped, too.
I saw 2 horrible car accidents while waiting in a long line of traffic after visiting the bustling craft store....everyone is in a rush to get somewhere by sometime...
The evening ended with a loud thunderstorm and sheets of cold rain.
But, yes, today has been incredible.
Our story this week is The Nativity Story, which is easily one of my most favorite...
This story teaches us much about love and humility; the children have emotionally responded to it in such a way that we're holding back the "awwww's!" I try not to make remarks, such as "that's so sweet", (especially after one girl blew a kiss to baby Jesus in the manger at the end of the story) as I know that this is their very honest way of digesting what has just been laid before them.
We also did some simple Christmas crafting with pinecones we found at the park...
We dipped the pinecones in melted beeswax and sprinkled/rolled them in silver glitter. After they were dry, I wrapped floral wire around the top and bent the remaining wire into a hook for hanging. They look so sweet!
Yes, a wonderful day indeed. Days like these make it pretty easy to forget about the adult conflict and struggle I've been facing almost all month from various angles. Sometimes I feel like nothing is ever good enough and I'm constantly running to catch up with whatever makes everyone else happy....as a mother, caregiver, friend, relative. In the end, I know that I am doing the very best I can, day in and day out. There may be dusty corners in my home...an unkept cabinet under the sink (or two..)...laundry which needs to be folded...a note I've forgotten to send...but I feel that the things in my life that need my real and undivided attention are being taken care of first. Everything else can wait.
Speaking of what matters most....
Congratulations to my brother and his wife,
new parents to a beautiful baby boy, Luke Patrick
I'm so excited to be an Aunt :)
Your post reminds me of this wonderful poem:
ReplyDeleteSong For a Fith Child, by Ruth Hamilton. 1958
Mother, oh Mother, come shake out your cloth
empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
hang out the washing and butter the bread,
sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.
Oh, I’ve grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew
and out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo
but I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren’t her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
for children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.
Happy Holidays to you and your family!
Oh dear Rebecca, I know the feeling of not quite doing enough, or it not being quite enough- though working hard for everyone all day long! HUGS to you, you are so wonderful!
ReplyDeleteHappy Winter Solstice, and a very Merry Christmas!
Love, Melanie
Rebecca - Congratulations Auntie!
ReplyDeleteHeather - what a lovely poem.
Hi Rebecca,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on becoming an aunt! I really enjoyed your post today - inspiring and lots of pictures. Would you mind sharing where you found those lovely prints in the first and last picture? Thanks so much!
Happy Holidays,
Bonnie