I LOVE to take picture of my kids. I don't do it well, but do it regardless. I must confess though, I despise having my picture or any video taken. Well, before this week anyway. What happened to change my mind you ask? I'll be happy to tell you, in hopes that someone may learn the lesson that I did.
In order for me to explain I need to revisit the past. Sometimes these particular days seem so long ago, and other times seem like just yesterday. Growing up, I was very close to my grandparents (and still am, to the only grandmother I have left), they are such an important part of who I am today. They (along with my mom), taught me dependence on God, how to pray, that the Bible was to be my authority, character, integrity and what it means to really be a family, by loving unconditionally. Some days I'd give just about anything if I could speak to them one more time. To ask for a word of wisdom, or especially to hear my sweet "Grams" say, "Hey babe!" Because little things are important...
Fast forward a little. When Scott and I got married and started having babies, 3 years in a row, things became very busy. It was a whirlwind of sleepless nights, diapers, feedings and pacifiers. (I can't imagine what it must be like for some of my sweet friends who have twice as many as we do!) I think we must've been in "survival mode" for quite a while, it certainly felt like a jungle some days! I wouldn't have asked for it to be any other way. Those beautiful babies began growing and learning and moving (at the speed of light!) and I really wanted to cherish every moment. Because little things are important...
Finally, moving to this week. The kids and I have been doing some major cleaning. We're preparing our homeschool room for Aug 15th, the big day, school begins! We're also gathering items from all over the house in order to host a hopefully successful "one man's junk is another man's treasure" weekend. AKA a yard sale. (As a side note, I have begun to figure out that any "extra" storage space, just becomes a place for junk!!) Anyway, during this excavation of many items, we came across boxes of photos. The kids got a kick out of looking through tons of them. But just as we were getting back to work, we found valuable treasure. A box of home videos. It would have been very easy to put them aside until all of our work was completed, but instead we began to watch them. And have been watching them...for three days.
Oh what fun it has been to see their reaction to their faces and voices on the 'big screen'! I have been amazed at how many videos they want to watch, and how many they want to watch over and over and over again. There are videos of each of their births (ok, not ALL of it), birthday parties, holidays, special family anniversaries and get-togethers. Most of my favorites are while everyone is donning bed-head and pj's. :) I'll tell you we have laughed until we cried and cried until we laughed! Hours and hours of memories. "Living" proof of the heritage of love passed down to them through generations. Absolutely precious memories.
Then it hit me.....
This is all I have left of those sweet family members and friends that have gone on to be with Jesus. This is all that's left of my children as babies. The photos are great, but the video is priceless. OOOOHHHHH, to hear the sound of their voices! Brings tears to my eyes even now.
To hear the thrill in my mom's voice as she watches 3 of her grandchildren being born...
To hear my Granddad say, "Oh goodness me!"...
To hear my Grams in excitement over her favorite people and holidays...
To hear my brother-in-law share Scripture with us and challenge us to raise Godly children, as we dedicate each one of them back to the Lord...
To watch my sweet husband absolutely silly in love with his babies...
To hear Gracie's perfectly precious 2 year old lisp as she stands barefoot in the grass going through the list of names of all of our cows...
To hear my handsome Walker shout "Yee Haw!" in his black George Strait cowboy hat, while riding the bull his Big Daddy gave him...
To hear Jackson's amazingly adorable contagious infant laughter as he entertains his brother and sister...
To hear Scott's parents renew their wedding vows at a special celebration for their 50th wedding anniversary...
You get the picture.
So what is my lesson? Not wanting to participate in the pictures or videos is not only vain, it's downright selfish. These home videos have helped to resurface so many memories. Memories that have been buried under years of mostly survival and busyness. I pray that we will not only be more intentional in building the foundation of the love of God in our family and home, but also in building a treasure box of special memories for our children. And I pray you will do the same. Because little things are important...
