Just more stuff...

Life is so full of events! Necessary events, unnecessary events, fun events, exciting events.. you get the picture... events. I have to say I am enjoying some of my days which are "uneventful". The days when I can wake up and just listen to the birds singing or take a late shower, or sit and play scrabble online(I'm addicted, anyone want to play a game?)
I remember the days with 4 kids and foster kids, where I thought I would never get a quiet moment. Was it selfish just to want to be able to read my mail in peace and quiet? The locked bathroom worked great for that!
Now the house is relatively quiet, and I am finding there are some noises I miss very much. The sound of several blow dryers in the morning, the sisters laughing and yelling at each other (you wore my favorite shirt and now I want to wear it) The 5 lunches I packed each day... assembly work??? Hey I forgot about that to post on a resume! I wonder if my family actually ate those lunches... I still have to smile thinking about Andrew in high school saying "Mom, do you have to write notes on my banana?" I miss the sounds of instruments being practiced, flute, trumpet, picolo, french horn, bassoon, piano, did I miss any? I miss running from field to field as 4 kids played softball, eating on the run so everyone got to where they needed to go. I miss learning Bible verses, working in Awana, diet cokes from 7-11 with a straw. I miss skipping school to go shopping, getting frosty's after piano lessons, sitting in my car reading during trumpet lesssons. Football games, band concerts.. oh wow, band! So much part of all those years. And who could forget the pets??? Awww Cuddles!!!! I know I know, I killed her! What about "Jerry, the bird?" Now that was a noise I could do without. I miss the walks, looking at ants or picking up leaves or making a snowman. I miss the bike rides to McDonalds to share a snack.. did anyone even know we didnt' have any extra money?
I share all of this to say, that I have figured out who Jody is. She is a mom, a caregiver, a lover of family. A woman who needs some noises, hugs from kids and now the love of grandkids. I don't want to "figure" out who I am anymore. I know God made me a mom. Sometimes that means I have a hard time letting go, sometimes that means I overstress myself worrying about my kids, but.. mostly it means, God gave me a deep love for my family. It is nice to not have to lock the bathroom door anymore to read my mail, but it is also nice when family is making noise again together.
I love you all!