God made dirt and dirt won’t hurt.
Whew.
We have a dream that one day we will actually have a garden.
JJ constructed a raised bed for us last year and we just grew weeds. This year, if we don’t get moving soon, it will be the same.
But it has been a wonderful place for two brothers to get out the diggers and just get dirty. Because that’s what boys do.
In their rain boots on a sunny day.
And the squeals of delight, and the gleeful laughter that rolled from their hearts, and the intermittent dirt tornadoes that surfaced every few moments were enough to remind this sometimes exasperated mom of two young boys just 15 months apart that it isn’t always about getting in bed by 8 p.m. every night or being sure we put our shoes away in the correct bin.
Not to mention the older sister who doesn’t always understand the attraction to a box of dirt and would rather swing. The one who is testing to see how far she can spread her wings before she will be corrected as of late and the same one who told me that a character in her book was idolizing money instead of God.
The one whose compassion is far deeper than my own.
And I begin to wonder, really wonder, if it really is all about wearing your “Fireman Boots” on a sunny day…
Or your performing on a stage for the first time ever…(isn’t that little one in the orange vest so handsome?)
Or the first day of the 2011 Slip and Slide Season…
Or swinging in just your Wolverine skivvies and your Lightening McQueen shoes…
On this Multitude Monday, I thank my Father for:
436. Boys and dirt
437. Diggers that work and the sound effects courtesy of little boys that accompany them
438. Preschool voices singing “What A Wonderful World”
439. Real ice cream – not frozen yogurt.
440. Much needed rest
441. A daughter who is blooming and testing and learning
442. A mother who is my biggest cheerleader – even when she’s in the minority.
443. Good books to read with the children. Right now, we are loving this one.
444. Chicken on the grill
445. Time with new friends
446. And time with old friends
447. A moment to breathe
448. The joy Slip and Slide Season inevitably brings
449. The simplicity of bubbles and their staggering appeal
450. The opportunity to be a mother and the homemade trinkets that were presented to celebrate
This week may you see what’s around you and wonder…
Joining in with Ann for Multitude Monday and Jen for Soli Deo Gloria Sisterhood…
love it! and seeing these pictures of your boys lets me know that the things that chandler does that i just don’t understand are completely normal in boy world!! :)
I love this..makes me smile and remember the days when my boys (also 15 months apart) were little and loved dirt that much..wait, they are 13 and 14 and they still love to play in the dirt lol. Hope you had a great Mother’s Day!
My dear, you truly manage to write to my soul. I too often get caught up in the specific things in life and forget to look at the broad picture. I LOVE the pictures of the kids. They are seriously SO cute!! And how else should you swing if not in your skivvies? :)
I’m so ROFL over your last picture (I think D has a pair of shoes exactly like that…)! Just priceless. :) :) And I love to read your Multitude Mondays. It always reminds me of the things I need to thank God for in my life as well. :) :)
My favorite shot is the underwear, the shoes, and on the swing. Life just doesn’t get any better than that for a little boy!
Yes, one day you will have a garden. My oldest has always wanted a garden. We’ve tried in small ways & haven’t been very successful because I am still learning how to garden, too. This year we have a garden and he is doing all the work to maintain it — weeding and watering and trying to keep the squirrels away. It is amazing!! He is 12 — almost 13 this summer. Love how you are embracing where you are at in motherhood. It is encouraging to see.
oh goodness! These are THE BEST photos ever !! thanks for the giggle today !!!
Love, love, love! What a beautiful way to see the dirt. ~Jessica
Adore the photos so much. Your family is beautiful.
And beautiful gifts as always.
<3
Yea for Wolverine skivvies and lightening McQueen shoes….love it!
So sweet!
Sometimes I wonder if God lets us practice letting go of the little things (that may or may not seems so little at the time — mud on the kitchen floor, perhaps) so that we can eventually let go of the big things…releasing them into His Hands.
This was really sweet. Those pictures are so cute-especially the little one on the swing with just his skivvies. I could see my little guy doing that when he was younger. What wonderful days.
THat last picture…yep…I’m pretty sure that’s what it’s all about :) LOL! LOVE IT!
You are a wise mama and making the better choice…also I’m throwing in my vote for the last pic!
Natalie, that truly is what life was meant for. To take joy in the simple things. There is such a presence of sacredness in the ordinary of life. We all want God to show Himself in a big way, but sometimes it is a simple of swinging away in our skivies and shoes. (PS that’s my favourite) :)
Adorable. I needed the mud face for my blog post today. Gotta love a dirty boy!
Have a beautiful day filled with sunshine and Son-shine!
Pamela
boys and dirt…that was my boys! loved their diggers and cars and playing in their underware too! The last picture is SO boy! One time Dakota..who is now 16 thought it a good idea to get naked and “surf” the gushing water after a huge storm that coming down in front of our house. Needless to say, our neighbors enjoyed it. I was horrified at the time..but did get pictures. To this day I look at them and just laugh!
xo
LOL! I love the last picture! That better go up on the poster boards when he graduates!
So sweet and love that last shot……here’s to dreaming :)