The things I used to take for granted,

are not so important afterall...

This post is part of "Hi/Lo Thursday" on the Riggs Family Blog. Check out their blog to read everyone else's "Hi/Lo" posts and get your link on their site.

My high's this week are the things that have replaced the things I used to take for granted...

An empty bed...all to myself. Don't get me wrong, sometimes my very own spot to sleep would be great, but...I would be missing night time snuggles from the most precious, wonderful still 3 year 4 year old ever and knowing that the most wonderful husband in the world is only an arm's length away. So many people are alone and unhappy and I have all of the love I could ever need.

A full night's sleep...each night. Oh how I miss that! But...then I might not have the chance to spend that one on one time with the most beautiful, sweet 8 month old to ever exist. Waking at night to nurse him and spend quiet time with just him is a very special thing to me. Now, do not get me wrong here...I love me some sleep, but I have years and years ahead to come where there will not be a very needy, loving infant in the house and oh how I will miss that.

A shower at all during the day before noon...alone, with no one crying, pitching a fit or banging on the shower door! I used to just lay in the tub at night for what seemed like hours, soaking, relaxing, sometimes reading, then have a shower in the morning to start my day...now I do good to get a chance to bathe at all. Good thing I do not do much to work up a sweat! I do not miss it, you will never hear me complain because I have 2 precious little ones at home that need me in the mornings. I do not want to miss a thing. Just knowing that they want me around brightens my dreary days.

Talking on the phone to a friend...those days are long gone. They are replaced with a quick text message or hurried email, just to let them know I do still think of them. I miss my friends, but I have made so many new ones through my children's activities. I do get a chance to spend time with new friends and their children. I would not trade my life for anything. I get to stay home and be available for my children, not only the little ones, but the big ones too. I do not have to miss field trips or parties or field days or programs, I can be there when they need me and I dread when the day comes that they no longer need their Mom.

Quiet rides in the car...those never happen. I am glad. I do not do well with total silence. I am a people person and a loud car means that I am surrounded by people. People who need me, need me to take them somewhere, people who will be spending time with me when we get to the somewhere special or wherever we might be going. What I love most about the car rides now? The laughter...it is the best sound, it is magical.

Listening to my music or watching my shows...I forgot what that was like, but that is ok with me. That just means that my children have tastes and opinions of their own. They are thinkers and doers.

Sleeping late...that will not happen again for a looong time, and by then I might just be too old to enjoy it. That's ok...it just means I have longer to spend with the people I love.

There are so many more things that I used to take for granted, some before kids, some after...I have thought a lot about those things and what is really important and things are not important, the ability to sleep late, or all night is not important to me. Yes, I am tired but I have the rest of my life to rest. I do not want to miss one moment with the people that I love. If it means staying up past midnight to have a moment alone with my husband, that is what I will do. If it means getting up 5 times in a 6 hour period to nurse and spend time with a precious baby, then that is what I will do. If it means wearing wrinkled laundry because I was not able to fold it because my babies needed me, well...who cares! I know I do not. If it means hand washing one cup just to get drink, so be it...the kitchen can wait. If it means breaking my toe on a star wars figure in the middle of the night, oh well...I have 9 more!

My family is the most important thing in the world to me, so...if you stop by and my hair is up, I am still in my pj's, it doesn't look like I have bathed in days, it is past noon, the kitchen is in shambles, the living room is a wreck an laundry and toys are strown from one end to another, just ask yourself if my kids and my husband look happy because that is all that really matters to me.

I know there will come a time when I am showered, dressed and have everything neat and clean and in order, and let me just tell you, I will probably be just miserable inside! I live for my family and when my children are all off on their own, I just do not know what I will do with myself. They are way more important to me than a spotless house.

Hug your children and husbands just a little tighter and longer, you just never know how long you have.

My lows this week...my heart breaking lows...

The passing of sweet Kayleigh Freeman. Please continue to pray for her precious family.

Also...without going into much detail, please remember my sweet friend "Kay" . (*name changed and some details left out to protect their privacy.) She was pregnant...up until today sometime. (I do not know the details of today.) This morning she was supposed to be induced at 19 weeks. Her precious baby (recently discovered to have some problems) had gone into heart failure and her specialist was afraid to let the pregnancy continue for fear of her safety and well being. Please remember this precious family. The need prayers and support. I hope I did not divulge too much information but I know she needs prayer right now so I hope she will not mind.