Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Life Will Never Be the Same

My parents have a timeshare, and they took Nathan and Grace with them to enjoy a week of fun in the sun. This particular timeshare had an indoor water park, which the kids enjoyed immensely. According to Mama, they liked the water park with all the water slides, lazy rivers and whatnot, but what they really loved was the pool near the cabin.

Click to play Tyler

They had the best time swimming and playing together, without having to listen to me yell at them to be careful and stop running. I was not there to yell at them to stop having a good time running, because I was at home with Trevor enjoying the sound of, well...no kids running.

We ate out every night and came home to a house that looked exactly as we left it. No stray Lego pieces on the floor. No random parts of a dollhouse under the kitchen table. Just furniture and 2 cats.

Two sad, lonely cats I might add. We are clearly not as entertaining as the kids when it comes to keeping the felines happy.

While I'm on the subject of sad and lonely, I suppose I should include myself and Trevor. We enjoyed our time together, but the life we had before children is gone and we like it that way. Sometimes we moan and groan about never having a moment of peace, and about how we can't go out at the drop of a hat, but the truth is, we wouldn't trade it for the world. Our house is not home without Nathan and Grace in it.

People always say with a tone of great foreboding that your life will never be the same once you have kids. I always say it with joy and happiness to newly pregnant friends. Of course your life will never be the same. Just like when you left home for the first time, or when you got married. Life was never meant to stay the same. God intends for us to grow and expand, so that we can be used by Him.

Do I miss the days of deciding to see a movie at 9pm Friday night and just going? Sometimes. Do I miss being able to read (or sew, or visit with a girlfriend) all afternoon with no interruptions? Of course. But the joy of having a child love me unconditionally far exceeds the fleeting happiness that comes with those other things. Given the choice, I'll take those sticky hands and dirty faces any day of the week.

6 comments:

luvmy4sons said...

Yeah. Sometimes it takes being without something to realize how much you really do apreciate it. I stop and try to tell myself that when I feel like my head is spinning in eight different directions that some day I will have all the time in the world to sit in a rocking chair-enjoy them now. Sweet post! What a beautiful heart you have!

Heather C said...

Amen... I feel exactly the same. I wouldn't trade my life now, with everything my children bring to it, for anything. God has blessed us so richly through our families! Weekends away are nice, but it's always nice to come home. :)

Mocha with Linda said...

I agree! Sometimes I can't wait for some time alone and then when I get it I don't know what to do with myself and watch the clock waiting for them to get back!

The pictures of the kids are darling! I wish we had gotten to meet Nathan.

Buffi Young said...

Xandra...I'm with you most of the time!! (hee hee). When Mark and I are without the kids we miss them SO much...and then when they'r home we're desperate for them to take their naps and get in the bed. It's SO weird!!! But life is sure empty without them. I totally believe that God grows us up by having children. In the last 10 years...whew...he's really been trying to grow me up!! Maybe by the time they are adults, I will be too!! :) Love your post!! I am with you...I would never want to go back without them!!! Just have a few days here and there!! Life would definitely not be the same!!! Hope you have a GREAT weekend!
Love,
Buffi

Karen said...

Beautiful post, Xandra. My husband keeps telling me "you're gonna miss this." I know he's right.

Alana said...

I've enjoyed catching up on your blog. The picture of Nathan on the phone to you just broke my heart. Sounds like you guys have been busy. We have been oh so busy, hoping to get a post up and fill everyone in soon!