Being a part of a family really is an incredible thing. By choice or by birth…all 7 members of this
household are stuck together and have to learn how to navigate all the ups and
downs of life together.
Sometimes…sometimes
it is joyful and easy.
Sometimes…especially
among the kids… it is epically bad.
But…because
we are a family we keep trying to learn to love, and to forgive. Scenes like this prove my point better than
words ever could.
Here is Jack, happily reading books on his bunk bed to Marian and Lucy…when only hours before he had nothing but harsh words and total rage for one of his sisters (whether or not it was deserved I won’t get into). And the amount of screaming and shrieking on the sister end was almost unbearable (and I must say I have developed a pretty high tolerance for that over the years). And during Family Home Evening when we were writing what we loved about each other on little Valentine hearts, there was more than one person who loudly proclaimed they couldn't possibly think of anything to write. It blows my mind that pictures like this are even possible after days like we had today. But I guess it shouldn’t. I’m learning that this is what families do.... at least our family.
We try to love one-another…we often fail in a big way
(myself very much included)…
but then... we try again.
Amazing.
So now the big question is how long do I let this moment of sibling love continue? I put them to bed an hour ago…9:00 is creeping up and I know I’ll have grumpy children in the morning if I don’t put an end to their sibling love-fest soon. Truth is, they might be grumpy tomorrow anyway so I think I’ll go watch the DVR’d Downton Abbey instead. Plus…with the rate at which our basement is getting finished the kids aren’t going to be sharing a room together for much longer! Now there is something that will really increase sibling love…separate bedrooms for all!!!!
(Grant and Gracie are exempt from previous statement)
...unless Gracie finally gets fed up with Grant throwing every.single.item. from his crib (often including his pants) into her crib whenever he wakes up.)
