You might need tissues...I did

Ok, maybe it's just me, but this poem that I stumbled upon while investigating the world of home schooling just floored me. I printed it out and I swear that I am going to live by it!!!

To My Child

Just for this morning, I am going to smile when I see your face and laugh when I feel like crying.

Just for this morning, I will let you choose what you want to wear, and smile and say how perfect it is.

Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry, and pick you up and take you to the park to play.

Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink, and let you teach me how to put that puzzle of yours together.

Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the computer off, and sit with you in the backyard and blow bubbles.

Just for this afternoon, I won't worry about what you are going to be when you grow up, or second guess every decision I have made where you are concerned.

Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies, and I won't stand over you trying to fix them.

Just for this afternoon, I will take us to McDonald's and buy us both a Happy Meal so you can have both toys.

Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you a story about how you were born and how much I love you.

Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the tub and not get angry.

Just for this evening, I will let you stay up late while we sit on the porch and count stars.

Just for this evening, I will snuggle beside you for hours, and miss my favorite TV shows.

Just for this evening when I run my finger through your hair as you pray, I will simply be grateful that God has given me such a precious gift.

I will think about the mothers and fathers who are searching for their missing children, the mothers and fathers who are visiting their children's graves instead of their bedrooms, and the mothers and fathers who are in hospital rooms watching their children suffer senselessly and screaming inside when they can't handle it anymore.

And when I kiss you goodnight I will hold you a little tighter, a little longer...It is then that I will thank God for you, and ask Him for nothing, except one more day.............

I found it here

(mostly) Pictures from yesterday

I feel like we have been stuck in the house for an entire season. Declan got sick the weekend of October 10th. I didn't take him ANYWHERE for an entire week. Not even to the grocery store. While we were sequestered, I let him wear his pajamas all day (he considers that a real treat) and let him watch waaayy too much tv. The five days (or so) when his throat was sore were the absolute worst. He got not sleep, and neither did I. Brian and I both got (mild) sore throats and poor Brendan has had a stuffy nose for a week now. Declan has been feeling better for several days now. It's October 21st and I guess his last day with a fever was a week ago. He went to preschool today and I'm praying that he has a good day. He was kind of anxious about it. He was pretending that he couldn't remember anybody's name (saying Pophia instead of Sophia, etc). When I dropped him off, I heard him tell his teacher that he still wasn't feeling very well, but I'm 99.9% sure that that was for sympathy only.
Anyway, it is actually kind of nice here today, weather-wise. It's 60-some degrees out and the sun is shining. Yesterday was similarly mild (although less sunny) and I managed to take the boys outside in the backyard after Brendan's nap. Here are some pics from yesterday:

You can kind of see in Brendan's face that he's still not feeling 100% himself:

I love watching my boys when they are together and exploring:

I like how you can see Brendan's little teeth in this shot:

Sooo serious:

A poppy:

Declan enjoying the swing: (he is restricted from lots of physical activity b/c of the mono. No soccer, no gymnastics, no playground equipment except swings. Mono can cause an enlarged spleen and if it is hit hard enough, it can rupture and kill you. fun stuff)

Love this shot of my hardy white roses underneath the already red/orange maple tree:

This is from two days ago. Brendan playing in Declan's room in the morning - our usual routine:

Photos: Sep 22 thru October 3 (waaaay behind)

The boys were playing (separately) in Declan's room. I left (to get coffee) and when I came back, this was happening:

Right before going to Brian's 20th high school reunion (which was very fun, by the way)

Brendan gets a kick out of this orange construction hat and puts it on whenever he sees it:

At Richard's (and Tony's) birthday party: Brendan wasn't quite sure about going down the slide at first:

Tony got this cool remote controlled car for his 50th birthday and Brendan LOVED it!

And, you can tell this one is from September because Brendan was wearing shorts as he lounged and ate snacks:

October already, oh man

I was not ready for it to be October already. I haven't pulled out the boys' winter coats and sweaters. I haven't even located MY winter clothes yet - I think they are in the attic somewhere?!? And last night we had a power outage that really put me to thinking about ORGANIZING! I couldn't find matches! And when it's pitch black and you have two flashlights and about a million candles but no matches, that is one frustrating scenario. Brian's BBQ lighter finally worked and we lit the candles. But then I started thinking that I should get out some extra blankets and whatnot in case the power didn't come on for a day or so - it would get mighty cold in the house without heat, let me tell you. I was a little stressed when the power first went out, I hate feeling unprepared. But by the time I went to bed, I was at peace. I said a prayer and put it all in God's hands and slept like a baby. The power did go on again at 2am. And I've been feeling mighty grateful ever since. And mighty determined to not let myself get caught flat-footed again. So, call me Captain Organization today. Gotta run and clean out some more drawers while the baby is sleeping...