2951 to 2960

2951. My hard-working friend with dishpan hands.
2952. Banana muffins.
2953. Patrick manning the kids this morning.
2954. Sleeping in til almost 10!
2955. Grocery shopping sans enfants ... ahh bliss!
2956. My generous in-laws.
2957. Prepping some yumtacular freezer meals with my otl.
2958. The smell of donair meat pervading my house ♥.
2959. Finding Sam and Vava asleep in Sam's bed.
2960. Mango smoothies with 2 of my favourite people ♥.

2941 to 2950

2941. Hearing baby's heartbeat today.
2942. Sam's hilarious confession.
2943. Vava-love.
2944. Sam riding his trike around the sundial.
2945. Chat with our new neighbours.
2946. Wifi at the doctor's office.
2947. YouTube lullabies.
2948. Tim's coffee.
2949. Kisses from Patrick.
2950. Catching up on my overdue book study notes.

2931 to 2940

2931. Sam and Vava being so glad to find Jedidah still here.
2932. Having my first-ever massage ♥ ahh happy belly!
2933. Jedidah playing with the kids in the sunshine.
2934. Sam asking for "my Vava" when she was napping.
2935. Vava asking for Sam as soon as she woke.
2936. Meeting new people.
2937. Patrick putting the kids to bed.
2938. Slow-cooker supper.
2939. Patrick bringing me a just-because gift ♥.
2940. Vava being such a little mother to Pink Zebra.

2921 to 2930

2921. A productive morning rearranging the kids' room.
2922. Vava caring for Zebra like a baby - cuddles, kisses, even a clean bum!
2923. Sweet bargains at the store.
2924. Sam warning Vava against the danger of drinking coffee: "it is too hot. It will burn you so bad. And you will get a bite from a dinosaur."
2925. Gifts from Zambia!
2926. A letter from one of my Esther-sisters.
2927. Company for supper.
2928. Jedidah arriving!!
2929. Sam and Vava in their new Zambian clothes, announcing they are so pretty.
2930. A special phone call from my mama ♥.

2911 to 2920

2911. Vava and her friend screaming with happiness to see each other.
2912. The kids washing the chalk wall with sponges - so much easier than rags!
2913. My sister and I dressing in matching outfits - 3800 km apart :).
2914. Sam riding his trike like a pro around Vava and her bare toes.
2915. Sam saying bear food for bare foot ... "I wanna be bear food mama!"
2916. Sam trying to explain why Jesus died on the cross ... "dinosaur bit him?" (... we had a little chat.)
2917. Patrick painting with the kids after supper.
2918.  Vava in a diaper and bib, gleefully painting a whole picture blue.
2919. Realizing how close we are to baby K's birth ... ahh soon!
2920. Treats from our sweet neighbours.

2901 to 2910

2901. Vava asking for tickles, then collapsing into giggles and squeals.
2902. Manning the toddler room with Patrick, the best kid-entertainer ever.
2903. Sam eating chocolate chips with a pretend friend.
2904. Getting the best text from a (real-life) friend.
2905. Huge lake waves.
2906. Sam and Vava playing together in the sand.
2907. The way kids understand each other best.
2908. Getting the guest room set up for a special visitor!
2909. More pictures of sweet Tyler.
2910. No bedtime trouble at all from two very sleepy kids :).

2891 to 2900

2891. Sam's open-armed response to a sad baby: "come here, lay your head on my shoulder."
2892. Vava's independent play at the beach.
2893. Unexpected sunshine at the beach!
2894. When I told Sam that we don't spit our drink back into the cup before drinking again, he argued reasonably, "some people do, I think."
2895. Having three kids playing joyfully together upstairs :).
2896. Sam tiring himself out playing with a neighbour.
2897. A long shower.
2898. Sleepy Sam and Vava snuggling before bed.
2899. Patrick being home all day.
2900. A wonderful belly massage.

2881 to 2890

2881. Getting ready to go out with the kids, and Sam telling me I looked beautiful.
2882. Walking in the rain at Mission Marsh with Sam & Vava.
2883. Making 2 reasonably pretty toy boxes with contact paper and diaper boxes.
2884. Cheetos on sale :).
2885. Being married to Patrick.
2886. Chrissy coming for supper.
2887. Sam's adorable vocabulary - "you may not" and "quite" sound so funny and sweet coming from him.
2888. Vava always wanting to hug Sam upon waking.
2889. Earl Grey tea.
2890. Seeing a picture of a baby that looks just as I imagine baby K will look ♥. So exciting!!

2871 to 2880

2871. Driving from the grey city to the sunny beach.
2872. My friends' kids being so kind to Sam and Vava.
2873. Sitting on the sand in the sunshine.
2874. Feeling relaxed and refreshed.
2875. The energy to putter around and catch up on chores this afternoon.
2876. Washing dishes (and inevitably, dinosaurs) with Sam and Vava :).
2877. Crispy peanut butter cups.
2878. Patrick showering with the kids ... shaving cream beards and everything!
2879. Sam wandering around the house singing hymns.
2880. Vava wearing her headband and declaring she's so pretty. ♥

2861 to 2870

2861. A chance to read my Bible while my kids were awake, and actually pay attention to what I was reading.
2862. A great catch-up chat with one of my Tbay big sisters.
2863. Sam and Vava having so much fun with their friends I pushed lunch and naps back an hour... with no meltdowns!
2864. Supper cooking in my crockpot while I napped.
2865. Checking an errand off my list.
2866. Playing at the park with Sam and Vava and Patrick.
2867. Sam's sweet response. I told  him I was so glad God gave him to me, and he hugged me close and lovingly (if ungrammatically) replied "so do I!"
2868. A washer and dryer in my house, cleaning and fluffing our clothes :).
2869. My gorgeous husband kissing me goodnight.
2870. Baby K clearly preparing himself for a career in gymnastics or mountain climbing.

2851 to 2860

2851. Quiet ultra-early morning with my one true love.
2852. Hot mocha and a cozy blanket with my Bible.
2853. Patrick, writing.
2854. A restful visit with friends.
2855. Vava, fascinated with Lego.
2856. A gorgeous chat with my North Star sister.
2857. The kids gleeful to play on diggers when we picked up Patrick from work.
2858. Playing with the kids after supper.
2859. A huge laugh from Sam's cousin.
2860. Popcorn and a quiet evening in. ♥

Perfection

It hit me like a lightning bolt this morning.

I was reading an article over at theMOBsociety (a friend mentioned the site to me a few weeks ago and ohh I'm so glad she did), and the author mentioned that moment where we look at our kids sleeping and just drink in their perfection.

And that's when I realized what you all probably know already ...

Perfection is.  

Now.

It doesn't wait for the absence of imperfection.  It dwells simultaneously, and it's right there for the appreciative heart to notice.

My life is a far far cry from perfect.  There are so many things I want to do, wish I'd've done, and don't think I'll ever manage to do.  Character qualities I admire in others but so clearly lack.  Sins I keep on repeating.  People I've hurt.  Things that make my heart feel heavy, and full, and sick.  Imperfections (largely my own).

My sister told me once that when she gets frustrated and sick with the state of the world, she takes comfort knowing that that discontent is evidence of her soul longing for its true home.  Mmhmm. I feel that way a lot. Like so much time is spent in the gap between what our hearts desire and what we actually encounter. 

But I also find moments that are simply perfect.

Sam hopping off his bike to exclaim over Vava's sidewalk chalk scribbles, declaring they're too pretty to walk on.

Vava laying her cheek against Patrick's head, sighing, "aww, Papa."

When I drop something heavy on my toe and cry out, and they run clumsily into the kitchen asking, "you okay, mama?"

Patrick laughing with me over something that strikes the same happiness-note in us both.

A dresser full of baby clothes, waiting.

That flash of illumination in the heart when God speaks.

Perfect.  Merciful evidence of our true home, sprinkled (lavishly!) in the imperfect. 

Perfection is.

xo.