I love moments like this. When I can step away from the normal stride of life and be delighted by simple changes, like breakfast for dinner. I remember as a child having foil wrapped Ding Dongs with candles and party hats in the middle of the night. My parents had called it a "midnight party." In reality, it was only 10:00 p.m. but my sisters and I didn't know any better. All we cared about was that we were asleep, and now we were awake and about to eat a dessert. It was so wonderful.
My sister Heather was born on March 17th, St. Patricks Day. My mom would really get into it. We would always have pancakes for Heather's birthday, and without fail, they would always be green. My mom would even dye the milk green. We were so serious about it, that we would all prepare the night before, ensuring that our green p.j.'s would keep us from getting pinched. And of course, I had to learn the hard way that boys like to hide their "green." I think I was 12 the first time my cousin Johnny punched me in the arm for pinching him while he was wearing green underwear.
April Fools day was always lots of fun, too. Mainly because we could get away with telling lies and insults as long as we said "April Fools" at the end. The practical jokes were limited to the imagination of sheltered girls, so the toilet always had plastic wrap on it. Sarah once did a slight variation with Vaseline, it was a joke to say the least. Sometimes they pranks didn't go so well. My mom filled frozen pops with colored water, but my dad didn't find out till June... One of my sisters told my mom she was pregnant, which led to hysterical tears and then anger... And then there was the time I was working at Starbucks and scared one of the managers... Good times. At one point my mom had to put a limit on the jokes as some of the remarks were more cutting than fun.
I love that I get to start new traditions with my girls. The fact that we got a Christmas tree this last year was a total thrill. And watching Abigail attempt to pick up a pumpkin that weighed more than she did, made my sides ache. Breakfast for dinner is just one of the many things I hope my girls will fondly recall when their older. It will probably take a while, as I am sure that they will be embarrassed of my as teens...
I just put Abigail down for the night, and Rachel went down about 15 minutes before she did. I am reminded of another tradition we have. Some would call it a nightly routine, but it means so much more than that. Before we put the girls to bed, I(or Stephen) will take them around to give everyone good night kisses. And then, as we quietly slip into their dimly lit rooms, we pray over them. I have no idea what Stephen prays... I pray the same prayer my mom used to pray over me.
"Dear Jesus, Thank you for my Abigail. I love her very much. I pray your blessings on her tonight as she sleeps. Give her good and pleasant dreams. I pray that she would come to know and love you at a young and early age. May she follow you all the days of her life. Help her to be a good big sister to Rachel. And help Daddy and I to be good parents for her. We love you. In Jesus' name, Amen."
Its very simple. A prayer that a child could remember and recite. There are of course a few add ins from me, but its the prayer I remember from my childhood. I can not recall a lot from my early years, but I remember every word that she would pray over me. It was sacred. Well, I guess it still is. I hope my girls grow up with more than just traditions and silly memories. I pray that they would look back on our nightly routines and see God in their lives.
No comments:
Post a Comment