Oh, what the hail!

Excuse my play on words for my blog post but I just couldn't resist! Everyone in Arizona is still talking about the hail storm we had a few days ago (mostly to their home owner's insurance agents) and I must say it was one to remember...but my blog has less to do with the rain and hail and more to do with the aspect of being an 'Oh, what the heck!' kind of mom, let me explain...

One of the characteristics that I love most about my mom and want to carry into my own parenting is to realize that kids are only kids once, let them enjoy it, have fun, get messy, try new things, and don't worry so much! Now, I don't claim that my mom was perfect...I believe she was the perfect mom for me...but being a mom doesn't mean you stop being a person...and people aren't perfect! That being said there is NO perfect mom out there...if there was then she should write a book right now for everyone to follow and we will all have perfect kids and she will be a bazillionair! So, with that being said, don't feel like I think this is the way EVERYONE should parent, it is just the way I am trying to parent...and I am my kid's mom, not yours.

When the rain came in that day I saw Lily staring out the glass door at it...I could almost hear her thinking 'What is that brilliant substance falling from the sky?!' I thought to myself...'Oh, what the heck!' scooped her up and headed out into the elements (under my back patio) Elijah and Ava came following a split second later and Elijah looked at me and said (with his hands folded together under his chin like he was praying) 'Mommy can I please go out in the rain?!' and to his great surprise and disbelief I said 'of course!' his response was an excited and unsure, 'Okay, so I am going to go out there now and get wet?!' I said 'Yes,go!' and he was off. Ava was giggling uncontrollably at her baby sister discovering the rain and grabbing buckets of water to increase the fun.

Elijah rushed over and grabbed his friend 'snake' for a swim in a 'real' jungle swamp...

and before I knew it the fun was headed out front where we new there would be some great puddles...

I must say that being this kind of mom goes against the grain for me a little. I like things in their place, orderly, and I have stuff to do other than having to give my kids an extra bath and scrub the inevitable mud droplets off my carpet, BUT, seeing my kids enjoy this teaches me that dishes will always be there, but childhood will not. Saying 'no' can be easier, but these kinds of memories are FREE and PRICELESS.

*tear...OK, moving on! Avery came home from work and was right there with the kids, enjoying the weather, snapping pictures of the clouds with his phone, talking to the neighbors (who all come out in droves when there is any kind of weather to be seen) and I soaked it in; the laughter, the joy, the absolute beauty of God's creation, watching one of our neighbors purposely drive thru the puddles to drench the kids as they squealed, listening to the friendly small-town banter that Avery was sharing with another neighbor, which I am not good at but Avery is a pro, and he genuinely enjoys it. It was a special moment that I would not have experienced if I had remained clean and dry in the comfort of my home.

Look closely at that picture and you'll see it was a DOUBLE RAINBOW!!! I cannot look at the rainbow without hearing God's promise that makes my life anything worth living all...'No more condemnation'

Jesus took it all away, He cleansed me from all unrighteousness...

I once heard Pastor Brian of Vineyard Church talking about raising kids and something he said that day has remained with me ever since. I think I only had one child at that time but I am so glad for these wise words that are like 'gratitude glasses' to help me in the day to day duties of parenting...

He said that being a parent is not just about raising your kids to adulthood and then reaping the rewards of all the hard work you have done through-out the journey...no, in parenthood, in the everyday,

 the journey IS the reward!