In preparation of the upcoming Thanksgiving festivities, I felt it appropriate to pull one of my all time favorite mugs to kinda kick-off the much anticipated holiday season. Most mornings I rise early with the hopes of sitting quietly with a cup of java, my bible and the peaceful sound of absolutely nothing. A pre-holiday morning though is more in line with a loud and thunderous boom then the sound of the troops planning their attack of the day...then while most put in a request for leave from their post at the holidays...not this company...they prepare for the arrival of their fearless leader...Dad.
I have a phrase that I often use that with the subtle change in my voice can express two totally different meanings. The phrase "what have I done to deserve this family" is something I say lovingly beginning with a breathtaking "wow"...meaning how is it possible that I have done something so wonderful in my life to be surrounded by these amazing people . Then when I say the same words...start with a heavy sigh of frustration and then that phrase is more like "what have I done to deserve this people in my life" followed my a SMH.
I have wondered what it would be like to just go through my day with everyone on mute...but what fun would that be. Life would be an even bigger mess...if that was even possible. I mean who would tell them to pick-up there dirty clothes in the hallway, empty the dishwasher, get out of my recliner before you break it...again...and even don't hit your brother in the head with that yo-yo...again.
So, what happens when I am not around to supervise? Well, everything I have taught them goes right out the window! My fifteen year old goes from being a gentleman to tossing up a peace sign and mumbling "sup", my nine year old would leave the house without using the "less is more" approach to accessorizing, my seven year old would be determined to listen to everyones conversations so that he would get a chance to repeat a bad word and not get in trouble for it and my newly crowned teenager would arrive to swim practice dawning her Jonas Brothers blanket as a cape. Let's not forget our fierce leader who spends his days as a "professional", only to transition into the comedic trio of Jeff Foxsworthy, Ron White and Larry the Cable Guy. Where does this leave me? Yep...you guessed it...holding the "here's your sign".
I have no doubt that God knew that I would be the exact mom that would fit into this kind of crazy. God knows that I am so very grateful each and everyday to stir around in all this crazy. God knows that I am thankful not just at Thanksgiving. He knows that I am thankful for when things turn out blissfully and he also knows that I am prayerful when things are not going as well as I would like. Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful for not just this time with family, but for all the times we have with our family throughout our lives.
Note: the fifteen year old isn't pictured due to doing what he does best...sleep.
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