Celebrate as Usual

8 years ago we celebrated with a four week ago and being more scared than ever at the whole life and parenting thing.

7 years ago we celebrated via phone in two different states with a strained conversation about finding a new apartment quickly.

6 years ago we celebrated with our two sons and whirlwind of family coming and going to meet our newest.

5 years ago we celebrated by pinching every penny so we could celebrate with newly weds a month later.

4 years ago we actually did something. We celebrated with a rare date that resulted in labor and delivery of our first daughter the next day.

3 years ago we celebrated while on the road making another cross country trip; family, friends and sacraments.

2 years ago we celebrated in the mists of laundry and packing for book end sacraments, baptism and wedding.

1 year ago I thought you brought me flowers-they were for you other girl. We celebrated with "all is well" with our newest blessing.

This year will be much of the same, no fancy celebration or date. Just us and our littles doing what we do, eat, laugh clean up, bed and maybe, maybe if we are lucky we can have some uninterrupted time to talk tonight.  Or rather put together a birthday cake and decorated our dining room. (I doubt it though, our birthday girl is in transition and hasn't let us sleep for awhile.) Somehow all of this is comforting to me. These little people are our fruits of what took place 9 years ago.

Thank you for letting our family take up this time in our lives right now. Thank you for not being upset when we don't get to do what we had planned because someone is scared or sick or had other plans. Soon enough our littles won't be little anymore and won't need us as much, so thank you for being present in the moment God has given us. Thank you for having patiences when mine is out and for giving me time every morning to start my day without people underfoot. Thank you for showing our children what authentic masculine love is. Thank you for being their go to for all things facts and faith. Thank you for dancing with the girls and making bows and arrows with the boys. Thank you for letting me focus on this moment in life too. You make me better. You make us better.

I love you, Philip.