Last Day of Christmas… Beginning of my Birthday Week

It is hard to believe that this photo was taken less than 6 years ago. That’s my sweet little girl. She was such a mama’s girl. Now she’s everyone’s girl – she loves people. This photo has nothing to do with Christmas… but it reminds me of how short our time is – that these moments we have each day are quickly becoming memories.

I missed posting a Christmas photo yesterday because we were traveling and saying our goodbyes to family. It was a fun week away from home and a rare treat to have Daddy off for a week at Thanksgiving and a week at Christmas. That in itself was a Christmas present. So yesterday should have been my last day of Christmas… but I was busy enjoying the moment and didn’t make time to blog.

The kids have been a lot of help for their pregnant mama in the past few months. Especially over Christmas, that has been true. I don’t talk about it much in here, but I have been quite uncomfortable with this pregnancy. Originally, I thought that I was getting kicks in my rib cage, but I have discovered that it may actually be a spot on my bone that feels bruised on my chest. That has had me worried – and in a great deal of discomfort in the past week. I’ll probably go to the doctor this coming week to find out what is going on.

Knowing that Mom can hardly bend over to pick things up, both of the children were extra helpful last night as we unloaded the Christmas loot and suitcases. They helped us unpack, sorted the laundry, and then disappeared downstairs. I could hear them using tape. I wondered what they were up to. Knowing they like to make people welcome signs when they come over, I figured they were making me a ‘Happy Birthday’ sign. I gave them a little while and then we tucked them in.

This morning, Morgan asked me to come downstairs with her. She had hidden two gifts under the tree. I read the birthday card she made me and then opened the presents. There was lip gloss, a little notepad, and some pop rocks candy (all things that she had gotten for Christmas that she was re-gifting). Then I opened the bigger present. It was the Starbucks reindeer that she bought on our trip. She gave me 5$ and asked me to get it while we were stopping for coffee on our long drive last Sunday. She had carried the little deer around with her all week over Christmas and I was shocked that she was giving it to me.

“You don’t have to give me your deer, sweetie!” I said when I opened it.

“I bought it for you.” She smiled.

“But you carried it around all week. You love it. It’s your deer.”

“No, mama. I bought it for you.”

I didn’t want to hurt her feelings by not accepting her gift. Hugging her, I told her thank you. How proud that makes her mama that she would give me something that meant so much to her; something I know she would love to keep. She took it upstairs and put it in my quilt cabinet with the other stuffed animals that I have kept through the years.

Later, I asked Kevin, “Did you know that Morgan gave me her deer for my birthday?”

“Yeah,” he said. “She told me she was getting it for you. She really wanted to buy you something.”

Wow. What sweet kids I have. That’s the best Christmas and birthday gift a girl could ask for. The love of her children.

Lord, please teach me to be as good a parent as you are… teach me to love like a child. Help me not get caught up in being an ‘adult’ – and don’t let me miss the moments you are blessing me with every day. Let me make the most of my time – give the most of my heart – and truly be the blessing you intend me to be. Amen.

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