Burnin' the midnight oil...

Well, here I sit at 3:15 in the morning, for the 4th morning in a row, in my dimly-lit kitchen with the sweetest little angel in the world on my lap. Despite our valiant efforts at keeping her awake all day so that she'd sleep all night, she is nevertheless trying to transition from a 13-hour time difference. And so are we.

I have to say that I might just start setting my alarm clock and making this a part of my daily routine, however, for these just may be the sweetest moments of my day. She sits here, all comfy in her little jammies, smelling sweeter than honey, playing with my hair, looking up at me about once a minute just so that she can be assured I'm still here I guess, and when our eyes meet again, she bursts into the biggest grin that is sure to "break" her face should it get any wider. She whispers the most angelic coo this side of heaven. Her "morning breath" is delicious. Her soft little cheeks must be sore from all my smooches. Her little belly is full, and there is a never-ending pair of arms just begging to hold her. The half-eaten, drool-covered Saltines lay all around us on the floor. I hand her another, and the look of adoration with each one melts this mama's heart.

Laundry is piled up, just-bought groceries cover my kitchen island still needing to be put away, toys are strewn everywhere, flowers need to be watered, dishwashers need to be emptied, China-stuff still needs to be put away. My house is trashed with empty Gatorade bottles and pizza boxes from countless teenage boys who make this their home away from home. Speaking of them, almost-grown boys sleep all over my house, and their cars line my driveway....What's so wonderful is that I don't even care! I LOVE it! With an almost 18 year old under my roof, a 15 year old, and an 11 year old, I'm accutely aware of something an older, wiser woman told me after Tyler was born, and that is: "The days are long, but Honey just remember, the years are short!" And boy, was she ever right!

So, sitting here jet-lagged and sleep-deprived, with accumulating messes all around, I'm thanking my great God for this moment...for tomorrow it will be gone, leaving in it's place something I have traded for it. I want it to be gain; not loss.

Thank you, Lord, for Macy Li! Thank you, Lord, for my entire amazing family who keep me focused on what and Who is really important. Thank you, Lord, for the way You use children to show us Your kind of love.