Monday, October 20, 2008

Taking Pictures With My Heart.

For the many times I've had to say, "GIRLS!" in my I-mean-business voice.

For the hurried mornings I've not greeted you with a smile and a hug.

For the many nights you've eaten cold cereal for supper, without complaint.

For all the times we've been late. (And it's always my fault.)

For the days when I let you watch loads of Scooby, just so I can clean.

For the afternoons we haven't spent in the pool.

For the nights we didn't play on the swing or catch lightening bugs.

For the times I beg, "Just give me 5 more minutes and then I'll play with you..."

For buying you chicken nugget Happy Meals more times than I care to admit.

For the hours I've spent on this computer.

For the times I've said, "No, we're not getting out the play-dough today."

For not taking you to see your great grandmothers more often.

For the evenings I've said, "No, you cannot stay up 5 extra minutes!"
For constantly thinking every other mother in the world is doing it better than me...
For never giving myself enough credit...


For all of this and much more, I want to say thank you to my most precious gifts.

It is a privilege and a blessing to be your mother. Today, and everyday, I'm taking pictures with my heart. I love you both, and I never want to forget this time in our lives.

Because one day you'll both be teenagers. And Daddy & I will most likely want to shoot ourselves in the head.

50 comments:

Julie said...

they are so adorable... and amen to everything you said...

there is a post at my blog that I think you will enjoy... ;)

Weeksie50 said...

Aw, what a sweet sweet post.
And a darling photo to go with it..
You are blessed.

Kristen Schiffman said...

You just made me tear up. Seriouisly, I'm crying over here! lol.

I Love Purple More Than You said...

Boy, I could've copied your post in its entirety and put it on my blog, for how much I could relate to what you wrote. SO true! (except my kids prefer Wendy's chicken nuggets) ;)

What a great picture of your gorgeous girls!!!

CaraBee said...

So sweet and so true. I am constantly telling myself to stop and notice the special moments as well as forgive myself for all of the moments that I can't make happen.

Driftwood and Pumpkin said...

So sweet. My darling daughter is 9 and just beginning to get sassy. Oh, the days gone by...hold tight, it goes fast!

Unknown said...

Ahhhh yes.... I've had those thoughts so often...

What beautiful girls...

And just to add, my daughter is 9 and has been sassy for about 10 years now.. :)

Michelle said...

Awww, that is sweet. What did you do?!?! lol

Amy said...

They are adorable. Next time, next post, I think you should say all the things you do right, because I am sure they way out weigh those "not so good" moments. I imagine you are an amazing mom.
I like the end part too. That was a great last line.
Also, I just noticed your "commercial" right above this comment. You're awesome. I did read those. Wait, I'm gonna check, ok, 32 days. You psyched?

Shannon said...

Aw, sweet!

I think I've said or done just about everything on your list...

And my girls are only two years apart. Holy moly I am not looking forward to the teenage years... and my poor husband. He'll have three menstruating females under one roof!

Kori said...

Oh Lula that was the sweetest. They are just darling.

Rhea said...

Taking pictures with your heart, I love it! What a sweet, sweet way to say you love them. :o)

Kori said...

Pics of our Super Fun weekend are all on Kat's Blog. You're gonna love them. So go, go now.

Heather said...

"But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." (Lk 2:19)

That's the first thing that came to mind when I read this post.

'Cause isn't that what we do everyday? Storing up all these little things that our babies do and say so we can remember them later, when they're teens, and then again when they're (choke) grown and out of the house.

Not one single mother on this planet is perfect. But those of us who are striving to be, loving our kids like crazy and trying to do what's best (at least most of the time)...we are doing God's work here on earth. No one said it would be easy.

I love this picture! (I was a thumb sucker, too, Caroline).

Jen said...

Thanks for the reminder. I really need to start taking more pictures with my heart. Especially after the morning we just had.

Heather said...

Well said, momma. Well said.

sassy stephanie said...

Aww, great post. And so scary true!

Caroline said...

That was really sweet of you mama! I realized yet again this morning (after being away from my redhead all weekend) that there really is nothing more important to me than him and his daddy!

Your girls are very blessed to have you as their mama.

jori-o said...

Brilliant.

And thanks.

Cristin said...

Love this...

S Club Mama said...

thanks for your sweet comment on my post today. I agree that God is so easy. Sunday in church the pastor was talking about how people question the miracles, especially the virgin birth. It never even occurred to me to question those things about God. He is who He is!

Unknown said...

Oh, I'm sure you're better than that. Those are some cute little girls you got. And yes, we definitely need to enjoy them now while we can.

Anonymous said...

Yes, I am alive. BArely, but I am here. And I have a pumpkin spice bath bubbles to send you. Sitting right here for about 3 weeks. Grr. But I will be better, I promise.

This post was so sweet. It made me a little teary and then laugh. I am off to catch up on the rest that I missed. Email me your address and I will send you off the bubbles. Yummy.

April said...

Just know that you are not alone...I could have written the same post this morning (if only I were that creative)...but I know you are a great mom because you had a great example!

By the way, Anna Peyton asked for a cellphone yesterday on the way to our church picnic....Yikes!

Amy said...

They are so cute and I bet so sweet. Yep, the teenage years, I am a dreadin' them too :D

Claremont First Ward said...

Your girls are so beautiful.....and this post brought tears to my eyes. And gave me chills. And then made me laugh. :)

Brandy said...

Your girls are beautiful. And so is there mother.

~BTW, when will you be accepting applications for the Lula Worship Center? Keep me posted.~

scargosun said...

Awww! Why on earth do you keep a list like that? ;) What about a list of the days you DO get the play doh out? They remember those the most.

Sandra said...

What a sweet post. Your girls are beautiful.

Anonymous said...

How adorable! :) I love your post - brought tears to my eyes. Yes you really would know I am a preggo lady! :)

Oh and BTW, HEY from SITS... commenter above me! Heh!

Nice to "meet" you

- Anna

Becky said...

what beautiful babies you have....

Swirl Girl said...

what a lovely post...
and your girls are positively adorable.

they look as though they are rapt in the DVD gaze...no?

Ash said...

That list is proof that you ARE a great mother - because you care enough to have those feelings.

At least, that's what I tell myself when I lay my head down at night and that identical list runs through my brain.

After all, tomorrow is another day...

Em

Unknown said...

Yep! Enjoy them! You will be ready to scream when they are teenagers and then you will wish you had them back even as teenagers when they are all grown up!

Trish said...

Love it!!

You are an amazing mamma

KatBouska said...

Awwww...why'd you have to go and make me feel all "guilty"...now I'm gonna have to pay attention to MY kids.

Dang it.

Awesome post Lula.

Sissy said...

Bought the Hunger Games the other day, but haven't gotten to it yet. I know it shall be good, since Lula endorsed it.

I saw the Twilight book with the movie cover and I am not in love with it as much as the original. I think they are making the movie posters and things too dark...the story isn't that dark. In fact, I think of the twinkling Edward in the meadow and think of the story as sparkling. Ok, maybe that doesn't make sense but I think you'll get me. Hopefully.

Nik said...

You my dear just made me tear up. That was such a sweet sentiment. It's true we always do let the day to day things cover up some fo the things we should say or do.

Thanks for reminding us what we SHOULD be doing.

Anonymous said...

YUP! Nuff said...

Vicki said...

How sweet and sentimental. I think back sometimes at how much my girls handle from me and I'm in awe that they still even like me.

Insane Mama said...

Seriously delicious kiddos. Yes, cherish them now before they are teenagers!

Keys to the Magic Travel said...

Awww...this is such a sweet post. And you are such a better mom than me. Because my line would have to include apologizing for never buying the play dough in the first place. I am such a slacker...

Debbie said...

What a great post and such sweet a sweet sweet pic...And I have to say, but I love the thumbsucking...I just think it's so sweet. Don't know why..just do...Now let the girls play play dough tomorrow...I'm going to... especially after reading this post.

Anonymous said...

Sweet sweet! You made me feel so guilty!

Jyl @ MommyGossip said...

Hey there! I haven't been around much lately. Hope you had a fun time at the library last week. I need to read your past posts to see if you wrote about it. If not, e-mail me and let me know how it went.

Also... try and join in on the twitter fun tomorrow night at girl's night out. You'd love it. You can RSVP at my site and see more details on our new blog at mommygossip-gno.blogspot.com.

BTW: My dad just told me he bought Twilight in Spanish. He is living in Guatemala for work right now and loves to read books in Spanish to improve his language skills. I thought it was funny that he bought Twilight.

And... last but not least. Adorable post! I'm with you on cherishing this time with them.

Jennifer P. said...

There I was about to cry, and you had to go throw that "shoot ourselves in the head" line in there! Thanks for turning that tide pretty fast :)!

I love that picture! Too precious!

Putting the FUN in DysFUNctional said...

I'm reading this to my girls tomorrow! Beautiful post.

Jaden Paige said...

Awwww you totally choked me up right there! What a beautiful post. And your girls are gorgeous... Don't doubt yourself as a Mommy, I'm sure they love you just the way you are (even without the extra 5 minutes!)

Anonymous said...

So precious!

Angie's Spot said...

Those are 2 gorgeous girls! And I have felt those words so many times (especially lately). I'm just hoping that in 10 years, they don't feel like I let them down as much as I feel like I do.