I often find myself longing for clean floors, toyless living areas, and quiet. However I am quickly reminded that I prayed for these boys, that we came way too close to losing both of them before we ever held them, and that someday soon I will have clean floors, toyless living areas, and quiet every day. And on that day, I will miss these days of chaos, dirt, and noise.

As a mom of grown girls and elementary age boys, I am so aware of how little time I have left to soak up with my little men. They still like to snuggle and hold my hand. My little one still kisses me goodbye at the bus. I know some people would say that they shouldn’t be in our bed, ever, or that they should fall asleep alone in their beds, but I am too busy soaking to listen. I’m soaking up their breathing sounds, their contented smiles as they snuggle in to my hug, their changing scents, their deep questions, devotion time and all the other sweet parts of saying good night to these precious gifts that are our children.