A Messy House, A Thankful Heart

I did something crazy yesterday, girls.

Are y'all ready for this?

I did...nothing.

At all.

Except this:

The thing is this: I want to soak in every. single. millisecond of this baby. Her ocean blue eyes, her rich chocolate brown hair, her milky perfect skin, her puffy bow-shaped lips, her tiny hands and even tinier feet.

I could go on for days.

Before Caroline, I lived my life a lot more rigidly. I arranged my days around to-do lists and kicked myself in the rear when I fell short of accomplishing them.

Know what I call a success these days?

Holding in this girl. Going to sleep at night knowing that I really savored the moments of the day, which God so generously gave me. Seeing my husband walk in the door and pick up our daughter, his face beaming as he says, "Hey kiddo." The three of us spending a Friday night on the couch snuggled up in front of the fireplace with cheese pizza and an even cheesier Lifetime movie.

I have a sneaking suspicion that no one will remember me for a spotless kitchen floor. Or a stack of perfectly folded towels. Or for my promptness on replying to emails.

No, I'd rather them say that I was a great wife and a great mom.

Isn't it the quality of the relationships with those we hold dear that really enriches us?

I tend to think so.

My wish for all of us as this holiday season kicks off is to drink each moment in fully. Live in the here and now. Don't fret over a perfect table setting or making sure the house is in magazine-order condition. Instead, just take it all in.

I think one of the best ways to thank God for the people in your life is to spend your time with them well. Make it count.

I wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving, my friends.