Double Digit Logan

My middle little is 10 years old.  While I thought hoped boys would be less drama, Logan is coming into his own.  He's normally cool cucumber, but lately he's been showing signs of anxiety.  Hopefully it doesn't progress into more drama because I don't know how much more I can take.  Here are some pics of his ten-ness so far.

Of course the boys are back in town from Canada, so we had the annual birthday blow out with the three of them.

We let him light his own candles under the careful supervision of our resident pyro.  

And because of his newfound love of biking, his bike wasn't able to keep up, so a new sturdier one was gifted for his birthday.

Happy birthday, Log!  Loving my laid-back, lacksaidaical, loyal, laughing, light-hearted, logical, law-abiding, lively, lucky Logan, literally.  

The Art of Mothering

Guess who's in town?!  SEESTER!  She got in Friday, which was the last day of VBS.  We also had my niece staying with us that week, so we weren't able to get to see them until Saturday.  The kids were playing together in no time in the pool out back.  Lunch was had, electronics were flowing, things were well.  

Marley had come to sit on my lap because her tummy was upset.  I was at the dining room table talking to my mom, and she threw up.  It was all over the rug, my jeans, Marley's foot, ugh.  My mom and Kevin jumped right up to get towels and start cleaning up.  

Hoping it was a one time thing, the kids and I headed to confession without Marley and Kevin.  By the time we got back, food was ready to be picked up, and I dropped the kids off and picked up Kevin.  We got a text that Marley had thrown up again while waiting for the food.  

We ate and started home.  Marley threw up in the car.  Once home she went straight to bed, as did Kevin and I thinking we would be up a lot throughout the night.  She surprisingly slept straight through and started to throw up again that morning.  We all had tickets to go with both sisters and cousins to a baseball game.  Marley asked me to stay with her, so Kevin took Rory and Logan.  

While sitting on the couch with Marley, I realized that this was the perfect chance to get caught up on laundry, make some meals, tidy up, etc.  In the middle of all this, she would ask for a drink every now and then because she could only have a tsp. of ginger ale or apple juice every 20 minutes.  When she seemed to be feeling better, I asked what she wanted to try and eat.  She started to rub her eyes crying and said, "What I really want, I can't have."  I asked what that was, and she replied, "For you to sit here and cuddle with me."  It took the breath right out of me.  

She wanted me because when you're sick, you want your mommy.  Instead I was running all over the house trying to get things done instead of cuddling and caring for her.  Sure I was giving her drink and food, but I forgot about the love and attention kids need when sick.  I stopped what I was doing and sat with her the rest of the day.  We painted our nails, colored, and read books.  

I read a quote this morning that stopped me in my tracks.  I'm big on HAVING to serve my family because that's God's will for me.  Just like Marley being sick, I missed the mark on my service to my family too.  Here's the quote:

"I pray that you will understand the words of Jesus, 'Love one another as I have loved you.'  Ask yourself, 'How has He loved me?  Do I really love others in the same way?'  Unless this love is among us, we can kill ourselves with work and it will only be work, not love.  Work without love is slavery."

-Bl. Mother Teresa of Calcutta