How things change

How things change....

With our oldest, he thought graham crackers were cookies until he was 3. Baby Guy had a dum-dum as his bedtime snack last night.

We used to hate, hate, hate single serving prepackaged food. Now I can't imagine a long car trip without juice boxes, and we leave single serve applesauce at the church for our daughter.

I used to vacuum daily so the apartment would look nice. I now vacuum daily so the house isn't a health hazard.

We used to think that a dishwasher was a luxury that we could do without indefinitely. Now if it breaks for a couple of days it's a crisis.

And stay the same...

We used to wish for a washer and dryer. We still do wish for a second washer and dryer.

Our first official home did not have a working oven, so we cooked in a toaster oven we received as a wedding present. Our current home does not have a working oven, so we cook in a toaster oven, albeit a much larger one than the one we received as a wedding present.

When I met Mr. M, I was fascinated by him, wondering what kind of freak would work in fast food with an engineering degree. I am still fascinated by Mr. M, and wonder what kind of freak can stay so calm all the time when he has six kids.

And we should be careful what we wish for....

We wished for smart kids. Our oldest could read by the time he was four. Any coincidence that we could only switch cookies with crackers until he was three?

We wished for our children to be close in age. Six kids in eight and a half years definitely qualifies.

We wished for our children to be close to each other. A one year old and a two year old make a dangerous team, as is evident by the amount of snack food that's raided by flipping a laundry basket, pushing it into the kitchen, then climbing on it. As are 4,6, and 7 year old boys who realize there's no screen or storm in the window outside their bedroom before you do....

And we have learned to be grateful for small successes

Like Princess P and Baby Guy both keeping their clothes and shoes on long enough to load to car.

Our oldest taking out the trash without being told.

Seeing Chip sit still with a book

Watching Bob help Princess D tie her shoes.

Getting through another day, another month, another year, as a family growing in grace through God.