We loaded up into the truck Saturday morning and as we headed down the road towards the South Hills, I couldn't help but grab Bron's hand as I looked around at what we'd brought with us: 3 boys in the backseat (one ornery child complaining about his mittens), 2 dogs hanging their heads out of the bed of the truck, and what feels like a ton of gear.
"Look at this chaos we've created!" I exclaimed.
"Why did we do it to ourselves?" Bron replied grumpily. But underneath he had a smile.
"Well, we can't take it back. I kind of love it."
It's true. This chaos we call family has steadily grown over the last 12 years. There is more of everything these days. More clothes to wash. More whining. More messes. More noise. More food for the table. More moments when I feel overwhelmed by it all. There's also more teasing. More laughter. More hugs. More "I'm sorry." More "I love you." More teaching. More learning. More purpose. More prayer. But most of all, more joy.
Everything has its opposite. I'll take the lows any day for the highs that erase their memory.
I turned 34 years old a little less than a month ago. I don't make a big deal of my birthday here on the blog because I feel like being somewhere in my 30's just isn't noteworthy. It's just another year on the planet. Looking around, however, I am really proud of what Bron and I have accomplished thus far together. A loving husband, three healthy kids, two crazy dogs, and a house out in the country may seem very boring and ordinary, but it's actually a very beautiful life. Sometimes it hits me hard just how lucky I am! I have so much to be grateful for.
So Saturday morning, feeling a little extra nostalgic about being the lucky wife and mom to these boys I get to call mine, we forged our own trail up to Ross Falls. I have never seen the snow so deep! As we reached the top, I just kind of slid into a hole created by the creek bed. Two minutes later, the kids were in there with me. It was really incredible to be down there surrounded by walls of snow! We had a blast but had to head back down the trail quickly once Conrad soaked himself in the creek. No worries. Conrad was all right. Bron stripped him down and got him warmed up in the truck. I hope my little boys know how much spending time with them and making memories with them means to me!
