Choosing Joy

The days go by so quickly now.  It's a blur of diaper changes, meal times, kitchen clean up, trying to accomplish household tasks and striving for more sleep.  The last several weeks in our house presented the boys coming down with their first respiratory and ear infections.  After a course of antibiotics, they looked and acted like they felt so much better. I was fighting the virus off at the same time.  Sickness and the seemingly ever present teething baby has meant interrupted nights. I felt like it was back to the days of having newborns when I saw every hour on the clock. Eric was gone for almost two weeks straight on a business trip.  My whole being felt weary in the morning as I tried to drag myself out of bed.  Blogging required energy and of which I had none. 

This is not a grumbling post however.  The Lord has been faithful in giving me encouragement in my day to day tasks whether it is from a bit of Scripture popping into mind, a book I am reading or sweet moments with my family. A couple Sundays ago our sermon was on how a complaining and grumbling spirit tells the world that the gospel is a lie.  If we have the hope of heaven how can we grumble about life's everyday "frustrations"?  The gospel itself puts all things into their proper context.  Life is hard because we are sinners in a fallen world but there is still so much goodness within to be thankful for.  Thankfulness and joy can be a choice. I have been thinking on this choice and grateful for the moments God gives me to buoy my spirit and keep me marching on.  In the big picture I have seen:

 

Abraham and Winston learning to wave and to say hi.  The look of pride on their face when they know they have used it in the proper context is priceless.

Baby boys proudly clapping his hands when you ask them to do so.

Brothers playing nicely together, laughing together and genuinely enjoying one another. 

Baby boys beaming when they see and hear their papa over the iPhone on Facetime. 

Winston gently touching Abraham's face and Abraham reciprocating by giving Winston

a hug (more like a head grab) during a 3 a.m. feeding during their yucky sickness time. 

Asking the boys, "Where's brother?" and having them smile when they see one another. 

 Abraham calling Winston 'baba.'

Baby boys figuring out they can delay nap time by having happy shriek contests and

 "conversations" with one another across their cribs.

Baby boys mastering the pincer grasp and wanting to be more independent

and feed themselves more finger foods. 

'Mum-mum-mums' coming over the baby monitor to let me know they are

 done with their nap. 

Baby boys learning more self-control and to listen when mom is telling them

something they need to do (or not do).

Smart boys figuring out to say 'da-da' when they do not like what mom is doing e.g. wiping their faces after a meal.  Now mind you, the part that brings me joy is that they understand that their papa is there for them as well and not that they are trying to get out of the thing they do not like. 

Boys learning to crawl faster and faster and pull up on things.  Their curiousity and

constant discovery of the world is amazing. 

The boys sleeping through the night again (for the most part) and waking up

 in happy moods. 

 

 Abraham snuggled up with Papa and ready for bed.

Winston is figuring out to take away things too.

My baby boys are not going to be babies for too much longer.  I am trying to savor and absorb these little moments I get to have with them.  Next month I am going to have toddlers.  Everyone says it goes by fast and it does.  I am loving where we are right now.  It does not mean that the day to day is easy but there is so much joy mixed in.